Grace Notes, September 29, 2010

"Comfort, O Comfort My People…" (Isaiah 40:1)

A friend of mine has been flat on his back with back pain for the last
several weeks. It's making him crazy, of course, as he's accustomed to
being up and about. It's part of his very identity to be productive. And
that's hard to do when you can't do much more than make your way to the
kitchen in the morning and then back to bed to sleep again.

We all have ways in which we measure who we are. When we are young we
boast about our age or our place in school. We may speak of our
relationships, our occupations, the degrees after our names, or the number
of grandchildren who claim a place in our hearts. All of these offer a
measure of who we are, to be sure. But what becomes of that when a
relationship is taken away, a job is lost or hours are reduced, or when we
move into a new phase of life, which feels more like loss than gain?
Indeed, what becomes of that when our bodies fail us and we find ourselves
flat on our backs and unable to be who we thought we were meant to be?

Over the last few weeks I've been teaching an overview of the Old
Testament. This week we're moving into that period when the people of
Israel were in exile…. A time when they lost all that they had known and
were, many of them, living in a place far from home, cut off from family,
deprived of the ability to practice their faith as they had before. All
that was familiar was gone and they found themselves 'enslaved' in a way
they had never been.

It's worth noting that the Bible tells us over and over that the exile of
the people was a result of their having turned away from God. We read
this as a kind of punishment for having done so. Even so, I find myself
wondering if maybe they weren't in exile already. For as they turned away
from God they turned away from the only true source of life and hope and
meaning. Only now that their home had been overtaken by war and they were
deported, their experience of exile was so very real they couldn't ignore
it anymore.

I don't believe my friend finds himself flat on his back as a kind of
punishment. At the same time, illness, for all of us, can be a kind of
wake up call to put first what belongs first. What I do believe is that
at all times, you and I are called to tend to the things that matter ---
remembering that our most primary identity is not in what we do, where we
live, how much we own, or even who we love… Rather our primary identity is
in the understanding that we are loved by the one true God. We belong to
God throughout our days and everything else we say and do is merely a
reflection of that. And in those times when we find ourselves in a place
we haven't been before, even a place we don't especially want to be, we
can turn to that, rely on that, depend on that, and seek to find meaning
in that. When we are in 'exile' we are still God's own. For the prophet
Isaiah speaks saying,

"Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God…the glory of the Lord shall
be revealed, and all people shall see it together. He will feed his flock
like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in
his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep." (Isaiah 40:1, 5, 11)

Isaiah's words spoke centuries ago to God's people cut off from all they
had known. May they still speak today, helping us to experience God's
tender care, even when we are far from home.

Peace to you and oh so many blessings.

Pastor Janet

Coming up this week at Salem:

On Sunday at 9:15 a.m. all of Salem is invited to gather in Fellowship
Hall as we kick off our Annual Stewardship Conversation with kids of all
ages. Together we will watch an episode of "Davey and Goliath" and spend
some time together learning about sharing. Be sure to join us!

Salem has kicked off a backpack program with Sycamore Middle School. We
are filling backpacks full of food for especially needy kids to take home
on the week-end. We have plenty of backpacks for now, but are especially
in need of peanut butter and jelly (plastic jars only please), pancake mix
and syrup, pasta and spaghetti sauce and breakfast cereal. If you can
help, please drop your donations off at Salem's food pantry just outside
the main office.

Salem's confirmation class is putting together healthy snack bags for
Jefferson Middle School. Do you want to be a part of it? Drop off your
teddy grahams, raisins, goldfish crackers or pretzels and small zip lock
bags in the box in Salem's Welcome Center!

It's not too late to sign up to study the entire Old Testament in 7 weeks.
The class kicks off on Monday, October 4th at 7 p.m. For a copy of the
book or to sign up, check out the sign up sheet in the Welcome Center.

Grace Notes, September 22, 2010

Isn't it amazing how life can change in an instant? Suddenly something
happens and your priorities switch. That happened to me Monday afternoon.
What I thought was a loose crown on a tooth became an indicator a root
canal was needed. So, that's what I'm doing today – having a root canal –
completely out of the blue.

Now this is a minor thing. Many times that sudden change of priorities
comes from an accident, an incident, or a conviction. Our attention is
diverted to more pressing matters, or we suddenly wake up to the fact that
we are not in control.

How does that feel to you, when you are not in control? For most of us,
it creates anxiety. There is uncertainty when you feel out of control.
Some people prefer to drive rather than ride so they are in control.
Others would rather relax and let someone else take that responsibility.
The question is, are we really in control anyway?

We sure like to think that we are. Isn't loss or lack of control a base
for anger? Studies have shown that often those who were mistreated or
beaten down for a long period in their lives will suddenly lash out and
retaliate, claiming "now I'm going to show the world I'm in control."
Often this is the basis for shootings, bombs, or murder.

In another way, we take the reigns of our life comfortably until something
goes wrong.
We're happy to be in control, calling the shots, so to speak, until we
come up against a barricade. We don't know what to do when illness
strikes, we lose a precious relationship, or our finances fail. We might
try different routes, but it is often those barricades in life that bring
us to our knees.

I try to approach life as an optimist, and that bears a lot of weight in
my faith life too.
While I thought I had only damaged a crown by eating something too chewy
(no more tootsie rolls!), the symptoms I was having were pointing to a
deeper problem. It took an expert, the dentist, to recognize the signs
and tell me what I really needed.

When we are wandering around, feeling out of control and trying different
paths to regain it, there is an expert who sees the signs and knows what
we really need. The prescription might include a change of heart, a
change in direction, a change of attitude. And most likely, it would be
in our best interest to hand over the keys and let God drive. There is no
better GPS or navigator. Set your plans aside and listen and watch where
you are being led. The route may take you through uncomfortable places,
but you'll have the best chauffer you could ever imagine and a journey you
will never forget.

Blessings on your day,

Carla Vanatta, Associate in Ministry
Salem Lutheran Church

Salem reminders:

3-yr. olds and 3rd Graders receive Bibles this Sunday, Sept. 16th, at
10:30 a.m. worship led by Salem Praise Team.

Brittany Sheldon and Emilee Thumm, two of our college and high-school
youth, will share their experiences of leadership at LOMC this summer at
the 9:15 a.m. hospitality hour.

All Creative Arts groups are forming for the season; new participants are
welcome at any time. Is God calling you to share your gifts in choir,
puppets, or bells?

Thanks be to God for the 10 Salem 9th graders who affirmed their faith
last Sunday. Please keep them in your prayers as they adjust to high
school and explore the world.

Grace notes September 14, 2010

Grace Notes September 14, 2010

"Look, here is water!" That's what the Ethiopian eunuch said to Philip as
they rode along the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. The story is found in
Acts 8: 26 – 40, if you care to read it again. I am often reminded of the
eunuch's statement as we travel. When we come to a river or lake, I'll
tell Carla, or she'll tell me, "Look, here is water!" Of course it seems
like a great understatement to be identifying something so obvious as a
river or lake, but it does serve to remind us also of baptism. The eunuch
was excited to come upon that water for precisely that reason…"What is to
prevent me from being baptized?"

How often do you encounter water in a day? Water for drinking. Water for
bathing. Water for washing things. Water for growing plants. Perhaps water
as rain or dew. Maybe water in a stream or pond you pass by. Have you ever
consciously thought or said, "Look, here is water?" Or remembered Luther's
encouragement to daily be renewed in your baptism?

A new brother in Christ was baptized Sunday at Salem. Little Tommy was
probably not that aware of the things happening in that service. He might
have noticed the water, though, as it was poured over his head. I
especially noticed the welcome that comes at the end of the baptism, when
we invited our new brother to join us in our shared mission: "giving
thanks and praise to God and bearing God's creative and redeeming word to
all the world." Even though we have said that welcome many times, this
time I was struck with the simplicity of our calling as children of God.
Not that the day by day situations of life will always be simple. But the
guiding purpose that holds us together is plain and simple: Give God the
glory, and share the good news of his redeeming word. That word is Jesus.
Salem's mission statement says it another way: "Living Christ's Love."

For several Sundays this fall, a theme in Salem's worship will be
"Journey." The sending hymn will be "I'm Going On a Journey." (ELW 446)
"I'm going on a journey, and I'm starting today. My head is wet, and I'm
on my way. Christ's mark is on me; it's on you, too; it says he loves me,
and he loves you, too!" Our life is a journey with God, as individuals and
as the Salem community. Every baptism celebrated, and the watery reminders
of each day, can keep us on the right path. By the way, the tune of that
hymn is called "Wet Saints." Look, here is water!

May God bless us all on our journey of faith.
Ron Vanatta

This week at Salem:
Affirmation of Baptism will be celebrated at the 10:30 service Sunday,
Sept 19. Confirmands will take this next step along their faith journey.
Confirmation classes and choirs begin this Wednesday, while handbells and
puppets start Thursday. Complete schedules are on the calendar at Salem's
website: www.salemsycamore.org

ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson will hold an online town hall forum
Sunday, Sept 19, from 4:00 to 5:00. The live webcast will be presented on
the new audio/video system in Salem's fellowship hall. All are invited to
share in this event. Questions can be submitted online during the forum.
See http://www.elca.org/townhall for additional information.

Grace Notes, September 1, 2010

GRACE NOTES September 1, 2010

So many times in our lives, starting when we are about three, we assert
our independence. You know, like this: "I'll do it MYSELF!". Can't you
just see a little one stomping her foot or sticking out her jaw as she
states her wish? It seems to me that in The United States, we continue
that mindset even though we may never again say it out loud with that
defiance. Maybe it's in our DNA, as a country. After all, in 1776 we won
our independence and have rejoiced and celebrated that hard fought victory
on July 4th ever since. Historically, we are certainly grateful and
blessed to be living in a country with such important freedoms, and our
celebrations remind us of that and remind us not to take these freedoms
for granted.

However, there is a "but". . . the fuller story is that we won our
independence from England. But we won it together. Let me repeat: we
won it together. Sometimes I think we forget about the "together" word.
In this country it seems to me that individual independence has been and
continues to be highly valued. But nobody, nowhere, no how is ever truly
independent. It's a myth, a joke, a farce, to believe any differently.
From our very birth we need others, Mommy and Daddy, a doctor, nurses, in
order to give that first glorious cry of life and then to thrive in their
loving care. As we enter school, we need teachers of all kinds in order
to learn and mature. Once we finish school, we learn to work under the
tutelage of our bosses. We learn to write checks and handle money, all
with the help along the way of our parents and friends. We learn to have
friends by the give and take that friendships require. We quarrel and
make up, talk and listen, laugh and cry together. As we choose a spouse
and wed, we learn how to be married by working things out with our
beloved. All the things we learned by having friends we apply in our own
household. We have a baby and then another, all along the way talking
with other women about this whole new pregnancy experience and then having
one's very own baby and sharing the awe of having been God's instrument in
creating this tiny miracle. And we raise this child and sometimes more
than one with help and advice from others. How else would we be able to
do all these things? And one day, with our children grown and gone,
making their own lives with their own spouse and children, we have time to
think about what we did and how we did it and thank God for all our
blessings and pray even more intentionally for our children's wellbeing.
(Who taught us to pray?) Always always there are others very important to
us, deeply significant in our lives, whether for good or ill or both. We
are NOT independent beings; we are interdependent, needing others as they
need us. God made us that way. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Judy Bergeson, Diaconal Minister
Salem Lutheran Church

UPCOMING EVENTS AT SALEM
Labor Day weekend services involve a Blessing of the Hands AND of the
tools, symbols of our work. Everyone is invited to bring one of those
tools or symbols from work and lay it on the table in the front of the
sanctuary for a blessing. A new year is beginning!

The following Sunday between services, we will celebrate Rally Day!
Please come join in the fun. This celebration is taking a new and very
fun form. Don't miss it!

Pastor Janet Hunt is planning to teach a class for five weeks at Salem on
the Old Testament. It will be Monday eves beginning at 7 PM. What an
opportunity to learn more!

Scott Graves will lead another week-long Mission Trip in October to Ocean
Springs, MS. Call the church office for more information.

And in November, we will join in loading bags of food for starving
children. The
goal is one million bags packed. Together we can do this. Stay tuned for
when and where.