From the Desk of Pastor Ted…

Month of May (most recent on bottom)
Sunday Bulletin Articles, Newsletter Information, and Report to the Council

 

May 4, 2008

A Family Happening

This weekend, Joan and I travel to Columbus, Ohio to celebrate with our family the college graduation of our youngest child.  All four of our children have benefitted with their educational experiences in the colleges and universities of our church (ELCA).  We have a profound appreciation for the investments of previous generations that continue to bless present and future generations.  A particular blessing for me is the invitation I received from Capital University to provide the invocation for this year’s graduation ceremony.  Three of our four children (and two daughters-in-law) attended Capital… five “Cap” grads in our family.

 

May 11, 2008

Some Teaching In Worship

I was asked by the Worship Committee to provide some teaching during worship about some worship details… such as:

• Why this or that?
• What’s the thinking here?
• How does worship planning occur?
• How does one handle the perennial reactions… “But, that’s the way we ALWAYS DO IT!”
  or “But, THIS is the RIGHT way!”?

So… I’ll offer some words of explanation here and there during the service and in this little weekly column.

Today – Confession/Forgiveness

In making the green LBW, the confession of sins was extracted from the red SBH’s liturgy and placed BEFORE worship as an option (with the words “may be used”).  The same approach was used with WOV (With One Voice).  The Kyrie (Lord, have mercy) is a form of confession in and of itself.

      The new hymnal (ELW) strengthens the worship service’s connection with baptism with another alternative to confession of sin… a liturgy called “Thanksgiving for Baptism.”  Either approach lifts up God’s grace and love.

 

May 18, 2008

The Wording of Today’s Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness

I’ve included an Order for Confession and Forgiveness in this worship bulletin just before the opening hymn.  From where do these words come?  Answer: from the worship resources of our church’s publishing house: Augsburg Fortress.  Each year, Augsburg assembles creative wording for various liturgy parts, including: confession, introductions to the day and readings, prayers, blessings, and more.  I have a foot-high stack of Augsburg’s Sundays and Seasons resource books in my office from the past ten years.  The resources of Augsburg Fortress provide creative, theologically sound, timely, and connecting alternatives/options for our congregational worship.

 

May 19, 2008
Report to the Council

Confirmation Ministry and Other Classes

I met with the confirmation students several times.  We decided mutually that last Wednesday will be the final class during this school year and we will pick things up again in fall.

      I began a new adult education class… a three-session introduction to source and form criticism in the beginning of Genesis.  The class examines differences in two biblical creation stories (Genesis 2-3 and Genesis 1), gaining a sense of the life-settings from which each emerges, and applying such insight to the Noah story to observe how two cogent Noah stories of two biblical sources (J & P) were mingled together into a “single” story (with resultant inconsistencies).  This basic approach to scripture has been central in theological training for more than 100 years.  It challenges literal approaches to biblical writings.

“Systems” Teaching – Two Approaches Beginning in June

Decided on Sunday, my wife, Joan, will begin weekly workshops after worship (until about 11 AM) to teach systems theory (as contained in Healthy Congregations Workshops) as a means to structure conversations about recent congregational issues about renovation work.  Since neither of us will be available this coming Sunday, I will arrange for a showing of a video after Sunday’s service.  It is entitled The Anxious Congregation.

      Endorsed by the Stewardship Committee, I’ll begin teaching systems (in more theoretical approaches than those Joan will use on Sundays) using Healthy Congregations Workshop materials on Tuesday mornings for two hours (9:00 to 11:00 AM).  I hope that members of the council will make every effort to be part of either or both weekly classes.  I’d be willing to offer a third “Systems” class in an afternoon if some people express an interest.

A Reminder – TedJohanson.org

I remind you that I will place everything I write onto my new website.  The posts will include reports, my From the Desk… articles, sermons, teaching items, and more.  It will also include areas for people to discuss and offer comments.  Feel free to check out the site on a regular basis.

Vacation

I remind the council that I’ll likely reserve some unused Vacation and Continuing Education time as I near the conclusion time of the interim contract.  I’ll regularly report this to the council so that unused time can be factored into timing decisions.  I will be gone next week for a trip out east planned for some time before coming to St. John’s.  I have another planned trip in September (5-16) and another Sunday… August 17 (son’s wedding).

Stewardship Month – October

I’m pleased that the Stewardship Committee is planning a month-long emphasis for October, concluding on Reformation Sunday as a Consecration Sunday in which commitment cards will be distributed and people will be invited to make responses of commitment for 2009.

 

May 25, 2008 – Newsletter

Stewardship – A Beginning Perspective

As I’ve begun to engage into the life of St. John’s Lutheran Church two very different things relative to stewardship issues become obvious to me.

      First, St. John’s is a congregation with  tremendous resources and blessings that have accumulated from present and past generations of members who have shared of themselves to support the congregation’s ministry.  The worship space, number of available rooms (including a gym), and various “things” reveal the wonderful heritage we enjoy in 2008.  Our tasks of stewardship include how to best care for and use the plenteous blessings that we enjoy in ways that live out a faithful witness to the community.  We also need to provide support to ongoing congregational faith and life.  This describes a perspective of “abundance” that is grateful and gracious, hopeful and joyful, eager to make good use of resources in celebration.

      Second, St. John’s is a congregation with a spending plan (budget) that is very close to or slightly more than its current level of regular offering support or general giving.  Varying giving levels from month to month can quickly alter the sense of balance and anxiety levels.  For instance, the council heard a financial update this week basically stating that bills are paid to date and offerings seem to have dropped off at the end of April.  This week, we are 75% of the way through May and St. John’s has received 45% of what is needed to support regular budgeted expenses.  At this rate, cash reserves will be gone by mid-June.  I simply provide here some information stated to the council… but the information can move us quickly from feeling comfortable and good about having managed expenses to anxiety and panic about whether enough will come in and what will happen then!!  And, what does this all mean?!!  This is a perspective of “scarcity” that can quickly trigger panic and fear, raise levels of intensity and anxiety, increase tendency to blame and confront.

      As I think about our current culture and societal conditions, I can’t help but wonder if most of the panic and fear I observe concerning our country’s economic “woes” are basically artificial, produced more by intensively reactive emotional forces than by actual scarcity.  These forces are quickly carried to us by various forms of media.  When this happens we too quickly abandon a perspective of “abundance” for that of “scarcity” and get stuck in the rapidly changing emotional whims of each moment.  Christian stewardship is much less about “giving” as it is about managing resources… and our first and primary resource to manage is… (are you ready?)… SELF.

      We have a capacity to put into perspective and balance the challenges of the moment with the strengths, resources and options we are blessed with.  These kinds of things are rarely limited but panicky and intense emotional processes can make “abundance” seem like “scarcity”.  Good stewardship is about managing self emotionally and being connected with community in growing maturity… it is about managing self and relationships.  When we can recognize and celebrate the plenteousness of our lives we can increase our capacities to effectively manage our challenges.

Worship Plans for Summer

Sunday morning worship times will continue as they presently exist (9:00 A.M.).  The Worship Committee has spoken affirmatively about continuing the schedule into the next school year.  I am appreciative of the congregation’s worship style and appreciate Pastor Joel’s leadership at St. John’s in this regard.  Traditional, liturgical worship here is a strong heritage and it fits the congregation well.  It’s like a well-fitted suit that is comfortable and becoming to the wearer.

      I’ve heard many interesting comments about the Pentecost worship service, in which some musical and experiential options were used as means to reflect themes of the day.  One person stated to me, when asking whether another similar kind of service might happen, that the Pentecost worship service increased her sense of “being alive.”  Wow… I thought that was a powerful comment.  I’ll talk more about this with the Worship Committee as we plan worship services for summer.

      The new hymnals (ELW) are being ordered soon, likely in sufficient quantity for the congregation to use when they arrive.  This new worship resource brings many good musical and liturgical options to the worship life of the church.  I hope the ELW is a welcomed new resource for St. John’s.

Healthy Congregations (“Systems”) Classes and Building Renovation

I’ve been teaching “systems” theory to the staff since I began at St. John’s and will begin offering this to the congregation in weekly classes.  The “systems” theory will be presented under the name Healthy Congregations Workshops and the classes will also include focus on issues relative to the renovation work being planned (yet undecided) at St. John’s.  Beginning in June I’ll teach a weekly class on Tuesday mornings from 9-11 A.M.  My wife, Joan, will be doing this in a different fashion on Sunday mornings after worship.  (If another time would be better than these mentioned, talk to me about it.  I’d be glad to another session.)  Join us whenever possible!  Learn something new and be a part of the conversations which will help to shape renovation decisions.

Get to Know the “Jahwist” Writer of the Old Testament

I provided a three-week class on Wednesday evenings during May.  I’ll continue the introduction to what is called source/and form criticism by offering a class that will offer an overview of the writer known in biblical scholarship as the “Jahwist” or “J” and what some call the “Hidden Book of the Bible”.   The weekly class will be Wednesday evenings beginning at 6:30 P.M.  Join us and enjoy reading this “novel” in the Bible that is likely unknown to most people in the congregation.  Feel free to ask me for more information about what I’m talking about… or just join us!