Grace notes, march 29, 2012

Enough already! Here it is, close to Palm Sunday, where Jesus is welcomed
into Jerusalem that day with shouts of Hosanna and palm branches beneath
his feet, and I'm whining. Why? On top of being cross, I was crosser
because I didn't know why I was so cross. Does that make sense to you, I
hope? Well, this morning it finally dawned on me: this month alone,
March, I have officiated at four funerals and attended a fifth. I feel a
pall has been cast over me, pun intended. The Lord's Prayer and "Amazing
Grace" echo in my mind, over and over, along with "ashes to ashes, dust to
dust" and, finally, the benediction and sign of the cross.

Yet it is such a privilege to walk with people who are tucking in a loved
one for the last time. It is so intimate. I don't know about you, but I
love the Twenty-Third Psalm, especially the lines, "yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil for Thou
art with me". These are the most comforting words in the world, as far as
I am concerned. Usually I ask people to read this Psalm responsively, so
they hear it; my hope is that its certainty, its promise is balm to the
hearers.

And now we face, dead on, Jesus' final week on this beautiful earth. And
He knows it and faces it anyway. Only once, just once, does He ask His
Father "if this cup can be passed from me?" How human. He knew what the
answer would be, but He asked anyway. Who wouldn't? The incredible truth
is that He steeled Himself and went through the whole torturous week, day
by day, each one worse than the last.

And He asked no more. He stood up, straightened his spine and shoulders,
and took it all. Beyond belief, isn't it? This young man, ostensibly
normal, quite human, and He bore for us that incredible pain and scorn and
mockery and vile behavior. We'll face it all this week too. It's the
least we can do, to look face on at our Saviour's steps, bloody but firm,
straight to the Cross. Imagine! One telling of this story blows you
away; a thousand tellings aren't enough. It takes a while, maybe a
lifetime, to sink in, this ultimate sacrifice. May you get enough rest
on Palm Sunday. Holy Week not only takes your breath away, it takes your
strength away, just to watch it.

Easter blessings to all.

Judy Bergeson, Diaconal Minister
Salem Lutheran

UPCOMING EVENTS AT SALEM:

Services at Salem are at 5 PM Saturday and 8 and 10:30 AM on Sunday, rain
or shine! All are welcome. No kidding.

During Holy Week, services are on Maundy Thursday at 7 PM for footwashing
to remember the Last Supper at which Jesus washed His disciples' feet;
Good Friday services are at 7 PM; this is perhaps the most solemn of all
Holy Week services. We remember Jesus nailed to the Cross, hanging there;
Easter Vigil is at 5 PM Saturday; we wait and remember the mourning of
Jesus' followers;

Easter Sunday services are at 8 and 10:30; the sanctuary is decorated in
glory and thanksgiving. There will be an Easter breakfast in the
Fellowship Hall, one seating being at 9 AM and the next at 9:40. Tickets
are $6 ($4 for little ones); this is a fundraiser for our teens who are
going to New Orleans this summer for the ELCA National Youth Gathering.
Please make reservations ahead of time for the breakfast so we can prepare
for everyone.

Grace Notes 3/8/2012

GraceNotes 3 / 8 / 12

I didn't find my intended destination. I was looking for the cell phone
lot at O'Hare Airport, where I could wait for the call that my son's
family was ready to be picked up. Even with the guidance of a few well
intentioned signs, I missed it. Couldn't find it. He called while I was
driving around the airport the second time, so I never did find it. What I
really needed was someone beside me who had been there before…telling me
just when to turn.

Salem is on the journey of the call process for our next pastor. It may at
times seem unsure and like we could miss a turn. But we can trust that we
will reach the destination God has planned for us. For signs along the way
we have the call process so carefully developed by the ELCA. Steering our
direction is a great call committee committed to seeking God's will. And
we have that someone right in the car beside us who has been there before
and can help us know when to turn…actually several someones: Pastor Rob,
the bishop's staff, and most of all – the Holy Spirit.

We are about halfway through this 2012 Lenten journey. Like other Lents,
it is both familiar and new. We observe many practices the church has
clung to since its very early history. And we find new actions or words or
ideas as well. We might have many destinations for this journey. To gain
deeper appreciation of Christ's loving sacrifice. To grow in faith. To be
more like Jesus, "Living Christ's Love".

Thanks be to God, we have a guide right beside us every step of the way.
The one who has been there before and keeps coming back to shepherd us on
the journey. May Christ be our guide through Lent and always!

Ron Vanatta

There are three more Wednesdays in Lent with soup suppers at 5:30 and
Holden Evening Prayer worship at 7.

Mark all the Holy Week opportunities on your calendar beginning with Palm
Sunday April 1. Maundy Thursday service is at 7 on April 5. Good Friday
service at 7 April 6. Easter Vigil at 5 April 7. Easter Morning
celebrations include worship at 8 and 10:30 with the youth serving
breakfast at 9.

Grace Notes 3-1-12

Ron and I are trying an ELCA Wellness program for Lent called "Slowing
Down". It invites you to daily meditation by use of centering prayer.
All that means is that you choose an image or phrase to concentrate on.
You can have your eyes closed and your hands open while you think and pray
or you can be doing something repetitive like knitting or riding a
stationary bicycle. Some people like to picture a serene lake or
waterfall, something restful, or an animal they love.

I chose the phrase "Be Still and Know that I am God" from Psalm 46. Then
I remembered we have some anthems on that text – I wondered if I could
find one of them on the web. Before I knew it, Ron was helping me figure
out how to download music to my IPhone – something new for me. He
reminded me the phone had come with pretty sophisticated ear phones too.
So in my online search I ran across a lovely CD recorded by the Notre Dame
Folk Choir that has a beautiful tune to that text as well as many others,
including The Lord's Prayer. All of a sudden I was in the 21st century,
feeling like a young thing as I drank in the gorgeous stereo sound while
these pegs stuck out of my ears like the character Shrek!

While the music plays, scenes flash before my closed eyes. I think of
things that are stressing me, people I feel out-of-sorts with, situations
beyond my control, and every time the chorus comes I picture myself giving
them over to God, trusting the Lord's deep wisdom, power, and love to work
in me and in these situations, claiming "Be still and know that I am God".
Then I move the phone to a song called "Blessings" recorded by Laura
Story that I purchased for the choir recently in memory of my mother who
suffered so terribly for 20 years with rheumatoid arthritis. Every time I
hear this song's lyrics I cry. And I am finding these daily tears to be
healing and cleansing for my soul too. The song claims God's healing
through the terrible losses and trials of this life, and I know my
mother's soul grew beautifully through her pain and struggle though it was
so very hard. I end my time of meditation with the Notre Dame Folk
Choir's version of the Lord's Prayer. Again the music and so familiar
text helps me turn things over to the Lord.

I am finding this morning routine very restful and a way to center my day;
giving over my fears and worries right from the start, going forward
reminded of who is in control and whose I am, and humbled by such great
love and grace.

I encourage you to try centering prayer/meditation. Choose an image or
phrase and try it for a few minutes. The video promoting this practice
had a male pastor talk about his image of a fish. The fish both lives in
water and breathes it in and out of its body…water is constantly flowing
in and out of the gills. He compared that to the Holy Spirit's presence
in our lives – in, out, around, buoying us up.

And you know what? The next time I see a teen or young adult walking
around or curled up on a sofa with those Shrek-like earphones, I might not
be so quick to condemn….for God's gift of music piped directly into your
ears in stereo glory can be mighty moving indeed.

Blessed Lent as we grow in God's loving embrace on the cross,
Carla Vanatta,
Associate in Ministry,
Salem Lutheran Church

Salem Reminders:
Midweek Lenten Worship and Soup Suppers Wednesdays: 5:30-6:30 Soup
served; bring breads or desserts to share; 7:00 p.m. Evening Prayer
Weekend Lenten worship includes Communion at the Rail by Intinction, a
more penitential posture during this season of reflection. Dip your
fingers in the baptismal font and remember your baptism.