Confirmation: A Team Sport

It’s no secret that I love doing baptisms at Holy Trinity. It is a delightful experience to hold each baby (even the crying ones) and dunk them in the water of new life in Christ. As the water drips off of their naked bodies, we sing ♫“You have put on Christ” and I can’t help but beam with joy for the newly baptized. 

On the day of your baptism, God said “yes” to you. You are wanted, loved, forgiven and chosen to live among God’s faithful people with grace and purpose. On each person’s baptism day, God’s people gather to add their “yes!” to God’s “yes!” for the newly baptized. As baptized Christians participating in another’s baptism during worship, we promise to receive them as wanted, loved, forgiven, and chosen people. 

And we make promises to be in relationship together with God’s people as they develop in Christian faith and life. 

Confirmation instruction is one of the many ways we live out that promise to help them grow in the Chrisitan faith and life. At the time of their confirmation those now grown babies will affirm their faith--the faith in which they were baptized. We’ll repeat the the marks of a Christian faith and life that were spoken at their baptism: 

to live among God’s faithful people, 

to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s Supper

to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed

To care for others and the world God made

And to work for justice and peace in all the earth. 

Promises made at baptism are nurtured in the life of the congregation. Confirmands need mentoring and nurturing from their community of faith to grow, question, appreciate, learn from and live into a baptismal way of life; a Christian way of life. In other words they need you; yes, you! 

This year’s confirmation instruction will be guided by a curriculum called Chosen Together. I like the name because we are in this together. Confirmation is not just for the pastors, confirmands and their parents, but the whole congregation is encouraged to be part of their faith formation. Throughout Chosen Together confirmation, the students will be expected to talk with others in the congregation about their faith and they’ll ask you questions that help us to reflect on what we are learning in class. Typically this would happen in the pews after worship, but because of the pandemic, they’ll need to do phone calls or zoom. It would be helpful to have a long list of people who say “yes” to being contacted by our confirmands. If you're open to 10-15 minute conversations with our confirmands, please let me know. 

Confirmation is a “team sport,” meaning that confirmation is only ever as strong as the surrounding community. Thank you for being part of the Holy Trinity “Confirmation Team” and committing to engage with others in the Christian faith and life through words and actions.

At Six Months: Overwhelmed

“The six-month mark in any sustained crisis is always difficult,” writes Dr. Aisha Ahmad, political science professor and Director of the Islam and Global Initiative at the University of Toronto.

Ahmad goes on to say that it is completely normal at six months for us to struggle or slump, to want to “get away” or “make it stop.” We’ve learned a new normal: new ways to eat outside at restaurants, host meetings, teach and learn, even have fun. But the autumnal equinox brings shorter and cooler days. Our patience is running thin even as we realize that more innovation, creativity, and patience is being called from us.

Many of us feel irritable and exhausted. Overwhelmed.

As a faith community we turn to our spiritual ancestors for inspiration. One Lutheran I would hold up is Martin Rinkart. During the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) he was pastor in Eilenburg, Saxony (Eastern Germany). The walled city was a refuge from fugitives suffering from epidemic and famine.

As other clergy fled the town, Pastor Rinkart sometimes officiated as many as forty or fifty persons per day—some 4,480 in all! During 1637—the worst year—his wife died as well. Refugees had to be buried in trenches without services.

Amid great risk and overwhelming conditions, Rinkart continued to minister to the people in his city, giving away nearly everything he owned to the poor and needy, barely able to clothe and feed his own children.

During hardships beyond imagining, Pastor Rinkart wrote a table prayer for his family. In all things he taught his children to give thanks for the “countless gifts of love” provided by our bounteous God.

May this beloved Lutheran hymn inspire us with hope, clinging to the grace of God that “frees of all ills” as we live into an unknown future.

Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices,

           who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;

who from our mother’s arms, has blessed us on our way

           with countless gifts of love, and still is our today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,

           with every joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;

and keep us all in grace, and guide us when perplexed,

           and free us from all ills in this world and the next.

Winter Solstice (Pr. Craig Mueller)

The winter solstice this year will occur on December 21st at 10:19 pm. Following the shortest day of the year, days will lengthen and nights shorten.

During the final seven days of Advent the Church sings the O Antiphons during Evening Prayer. These antiphons are the basis of the beloved hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” which we will sing this coming Sunday. Read these reflections on all seven O Antiphons.

The antiphon assigned to December 21 is most appropriate for the winter solstice:

O Morning Star, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

During Advent we have been learning to sit in the darkness, savor the darkness, learn from the darkness.

In the darkness of the earth, a seed germinates. In the darkness of the night, sleep renews. In the darkness of a womb, new life emerges.

Winter has its own beauty for those who take some lingering moments to notice. May these lovely words from the sending hymn last Sunday be our solstice prayer as we long for Christ’s coming and the great celebration of the incarnation at Christmas.

Heavy clouds that block the moonlight

Now begin to drift away.

Diamond brilliance through the darkness

Shines the hope of coming day.

Christ, the morning star of splendor,

Gleams with a world grown dim.

Heaven’s ember fan to fullness;

Hearts grow warm to welcome him.

-       Mary Louise Bringle

Advent and Christmas blessings of grace and peace to you, whether you will be celebrating in Chicago or with loved ones in other places.

Faith Story: Kurt Reichardt

This is an "end of life" story. Of course it has a beginning, too. Just as the "no one lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel" (Matt 5:15) doesn't start there, but rather with "You are the light of the world." WOW! In Baptism, marked with the Cross of Christ forever, be THAT!

Well then, the beginning is this: as with many of you, we came upon Holy Trinity with a relocation. However, it wasn't for the kids or the neighborhood, but for that final room to light our flickering lamp. We were looking for authentic, reverent liturgy, great music, preaching that was forward looking and theologically sound, people who valued diversity (we are a mixed race family) and yes, where social ministry outreach blossoms, the poor and anguished are fed, and where LGBTQIA+ and "straight folks" worship and work side by side. Moreover, we wanted to realize that "impossible dream" before my spouse would suffer the end ravages of Alzheimer’s Disease. Good luck.

But you are not surprised that we found that congregation, that staff, those welcoming people who understand that the charge to be "the light of the world" means "Us. Here. Now." We found it because our daughter and son-in-law met our skepticism with Philip’s advice to Nathanael: "Come and see!" Joyce joined the choir, I prepared the Altar and we began to repeat that invitation just as others here do. There isn’t a supplied Evangelism program here. People come because they are compelled to tell others what they have found – what we are privileged to experience. That is why we return thanksgiving not only in service, but by financial support of Holy Trinity’s Word and Sacrament gathered hospitality, service and outreach ministries.

Since our second location’s genesis in the South Loop, you will most likely find me there with my family worshiping late each Saturday afternoon along with 30-50 members and seekers, perhaps reading a lesson or sharing hospitality. Joyce was committed in burial there almost two years ago, as she was commended to Eternal Life in a full Eucharistic Choral Service at our Lakeview site three months later. I’m now one of our oldest members; that is why I said "This is an end of life story." For we came here committed to this being where we will light our lamps to shine along with yours in the Winter of our earthly lives. It is where I implore you to join me in affirming Isaiah’s call (Is. 60:1) in a musical cacophony: "Arise shine; for your light has come..." – as a first cadre in support of those next century Holy Trinitarians, witnessing that "the glory of the Lord has risen upon you." Come and See.

An Anti-Racist Reformation

Perhaps like many of you, I look forward to celebrating Halloween this weekend and next week. Our neighbors host a fantastic Halloween party each year; costumes required, so it is sure to be spooky and crazy fun. 

But what I’m really looking forward to this weekend is wearing red on Sunday. Why? Because it’s Reformation Sunday, and at HTLC we only make a big deal about the Reformation about once every 500 years or so when there’s a big anniversary to celebrate. Recently a former pastor donated a beautiful red chasuble to us, so it’s time to celebrate with Reformation red again. 

Seriously though, a fun fashion opportunity is not the reason we are recognizing the Reformation this year. The church is constantly reforming, re-imagining itself and making changes to be more inclusive for everyone whom God adores. 

The Reformation began in 1517 when Martin Luther challenged the church’s theology about salvation and sacraments. On October 31st he nailed 95 theses (statements or protests) which initiated a religious movement that became known as Protestantism (It’s not just for Lutherans).

Diana Butler Bass, American Christian historian, wrote

It strikes me as interesting that those who followed the teaching of the new reform movement did not come to be known as ‘Reformists,’ instead of ‘Protestants.’ Luther and his associates were protesters rather than reformers—they stood up against the religious conventions of the day, arguing on behalf of those suffering under religious, social and economic oppression. These religious protesters accused the church of their day of being too rich, too political... having sold its soul to the powerful. The original Protestants preached, taught and argued for freedom—spiritual, economic and political—and for God’s justice to be embodied in the church and the world.

It is time to put the protest back in Protestantism.

The heart of Protestantism is the courage to challenge injustice. Protestantism opened access for all people to experience God’s grace and God’s bounty, not only spiritually but actually. The early Protestants believed that they were not only creating a new church, but they were creating a new world, one that would resemble more fully God’s desire for humanity. The original Protestant impulse was to resist powers of worldly dominion and domination in favor of the power of God’s spirit to transform human hearts and society. Protestants were not content with the status quo. They felt a deep discomfort within. They knew things were not right. And they set out to change the world.

This Reformation Sunday we have the opportunity to get our protest on. To challenge injustice. To stand up against racism. To commit to learning about our own place in a racially unjust system.

Maybe you, like me, and like the early reformers, feel a deep discomfort within and know things are not right. Are you ready to set out to change the world? If not the world, to change yourself? We have an opportunity to engage with the Chicago Metro Synod working toward long-term anti-racist congregational transformation. This weekend we will sign a covenant with Another Pebble, the Synod Anti-Racism team, for a two year process of learning, engaging, advocating and changing.   

Join our staff, congregational council, the anti-racism team and the rest of the community in wearing red this weekend to worship. Bring a red pen too. Let’s sign this covenant and begin the good, holy work of protest and reformation that will transform us, our congregation and our world.

Intersections

Intersections can be risky and dangerous. Whether on foot, on a bike, or in a car, extra caution is needed when approaching an intersection.

Recently I was a behind a car turning left and was already in the intersection. The other turned car so late that by the time I followed, a red-light camera got a picture of my car and license plate and I got a very expensive ticket!

At Holy Trinity we make connections between church and world—how our baptismal calling intersects with the way we live, work, vote, serve, volunteer, and pray. Holy Trinity has a long commitment to bringing our faith into the public sphere. For many this intersection is reflected in the radical welcome we announce in worship.

Our community began to work on inclusivity in the early 1990s when gays and lesbians were publicly welcomed into every aspect of parish life. This passion for justice naturally leads to others. In fact, intersectionality is the way that many describe forms of discrimination (racism, sexism, homophobia, classism) that overlap. Our commitment to environmental justice is another example as climate change usually affects the most vulnerable in society.

Holy Trinity’s commitment to antiracism work has grown gradually over the past 15 years. At least 24 persons have attended a 2.5 antiracism training event. We have had several council and congregational retreats focused on racial justice. A number of books have been read and discussed. A passionate antiracism team has guided this work.

The weekend of September 28-29 will mark the beginning of Holy Trinity's two-year partnership with the Antiracism Team of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the ELCA. Through this partnership, Holy Trinity will work with a leader from the Synod Team to discern and enact a plan for the future. What does it mean to do the work of dismantling institutional racism in our church? The Synod Team describes the process as follows: "Challenging racism requires us to look beyond individual acts of prejudice towards the systemic barriers that marginalize members of our family; barriers embedded in our policies and procedures, in our faith tradition, practices and beliefs."

We ask that you join us for an important forum this weekend: following HTLoop worship this coming weekend on Saturday, September 28 and HTLakeview worship on Sunday, September 29.

We will make a commitment as a congregation to this work on Reformation Sunday, October 26/27. The church’s call to continuing Reformation is an intersection worth our reflection and response!

Holy Envy: A reflection on my recent trip to Colorado

Back in March of this year, Barbara Brown Taylor released a book called Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others. I haven’t had a chance to read it just yet, but as I spent last week with students from the South Loop Campus Ministry, traveling through Colorado, I experienced my own case of holy envy. It happened to me at the Shambhala Mountain Center (SMC), a Buddhist retreat center, where the students and I spent two days immersed in nature, meditation, mindfulness, and yoga

The Tibetan form of Buddhism that we were being taught at the SMC so wholeheartedly embraced color and art, silence and ritual, and goodness and being in such a profound way, that I was struck with holy envy.  I was encountering God and goodness within myself and the world around me in ways I never have before.

Being in the midst of the Rocky Mountains also gave me a sense of geographic envy.  I’m a Midwesterner to the core, and everytime I caught a glimpse of the mountains, it took my breath away. I found myself longing for even a hint of elevation back home in Illinois.

Despite my holy and geographic envy, I did not return from Colorado a Buddhist convert or a mountain man. I am still secure in my Christian faith and at home closer to sea level in the Midwest, but I will testify that my experience traveling to a different place and familiarizing myself with the faith practices of others can and did invite me to find God anew.

Hopefully soon the hold I placed on Barbara Brown Taylor’s Holy Envy will be ready for pickup from the Harold Washington Branch of the Chicago Public Library right by HTLoop, but until then, I took a peek at the online preview of the book, and I found this quote which that captures the impact of my trip to Colorado:

“The God of your understanding is just that: the God of your understanding. What you need is the God just beyond your understanding.” -Rabbi Rami Shapiro

This was my experience in Colorado, and I hope it was for the students as well, but I wonder where you might also be being called to go outside of your traditional understanding of God, experience holy envy, and discover the God just beyond your understanding?

Peace,

Pr. Ben (click my name to send me a message)