Opportunity to Testify

“This will give you an opportunity to testify.” Luke 21:13

Today as we gathered for worship, I felt as if last week’s All Saint’s worship was months ago instead of just one week. Last Sunday we gathered in the sanctuary, remembering the saints who are dear to us and are no longer physically present. We recalled the promises of the baptismal waters, that through Christ we are joined with the saints of all ages and nothing can separate us from the love of God. And then just two days later, we elected a new Presidential of the United States, the candidate most pollsters predicted would lose. The post-election pulse is one of cautious victory for some and disappoint and anxiety for others.
            What I love about our Lutheran worship and liturgy is the pattern of coming together from whatever we have experienced this week in the world, to hear the word of God proclaimed, to be fed at the table with the very presence of Christ before God sends us back into the world for mission. “The whole people of God are joined by the same gifts of grace, for the sake of the same mission of the gospel, into the life of the one triune God.” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship p. 91)
            My tradition is to follow the Revised Common Lectionary, which means the scriptures we hear in worship have already been selected based on where we are in the church calendar. Today’s gospel reading was Luke 21:5-19, the destruction of the temple foretold. This apocalyptic passage has been used by some to predict the future of the world’s end, of Jesus’ 2^nd and final coming. In our post-election mindset it can be a little unsettling to hear “nation will rise against nation.” In the sermon, I spoke to the experience of this style of writing being a comfort to those that were oppressed and persecuted for their faith. Which would have been the Christians hearing Luke’s gospel 15 years after the destruction of the temple, the most beautiful building they had ever seen and the place where they thought God dwelt.
            Jesus’ words reminds us it is not easy to follow him. We can be comforted by Jesus’ words “do not be terrified” and “not a hair of your head will perish” especially when life appears to be crashing down around us. God calls us individually into community and today I experienced this reality most profoundly while presiding at the communion table. 

            Just prior to beginning our communion liturgy, we share a greeting of peace with one another. This is not a time to socialize with one another but is an act of reconciliation. If you have a disagreement with a brother or sister in Christ, this is the time to reconcile the differences before coming to join together in the great feast we call Eucharist. The very presence of the community gathered and claimed sharing in the saving grace of Jesus’ body and blood is a testifying witness to Jesus Christ’ presence in our midst, in our country and in our world.
            As a pastor, people often share their thoughts and views with me. So as I looked out today at the beloved faces of God, at the flock I have been called to love and serve, I saw children of God, some torn by the election results and others holding back their excitement for change. What I experienced at the communion table was a group of saints and sinners, freed from sin and given God’s promise of everlasting life, being united in One Body. We are sent back into the world with an opportunity to testify to the saving grace of God as given through the crucified and risen Christ. Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God!

Holy Cow!

Written for the Devotional page of the Knoxville Journal Express

Holy cow! The Chicago Cubs are playing in the 2016 World Series! As someone who grew up in Illinois, less than three hours from Chicago, I have many family and friends that are die-hard Chicago Cubs fans. They have been waiting years to cheer on their team in the big granddaddy of them all. I am excited for them and plan to cheer for the Cubs right along with them. Many fans took to Facebook and Twitter to express their joy and overwhelming flood of emotion at finally seeing their team win the National league pennant, a drought that lasted 71 years. Now the question is, can they break the 108-year World Series Champion drought?

            I saw on Facebook that some of my seminary friends are in congregations that began their Sunday’s service with “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and/or “Go Cubs Go.” Who says that Christians don’t know how to have fun? I joked with my congregation that it was time to prepare for Christ’s return. I thought about using the analogy of the Cubs fans’ drought to the Israelites wilderness wandering but realized it only took 40 years for God to deliver the Israelites to the Promised Land. J

            I think many people, including myself, are looking forward to the World Series as not only the grand finale of the baseball season but also as a distraction to the upcoming Presidential Election. It’s a lot easier and definitely more pleasurable to talk about the Chicago Cubs than the two primary candidates on the ballot for the next President of the United States of America. I hear comments like, “I’m moving to Canada if _________ (fill in the blank with the opponent) wins.” Or others will say, “I cannot stand ________ (again, fill in the blank.) I keep wondering how a country filled with such talented and gifted people could end up with two candidates that many state as “less than desirable.”

            Many have observed that our current state of politics is more about tearing down the opponent than it is about showing forth your own skills. And just like having our favorite baseball team, some feel an alliance to a political party with a “take out the other team at all costs” mentality. Although I have not witnessed it in person, I have observed some very nasty behavior on social media regarding political thought and support for specific candidates. As a result of the unrest and anxiety around the upcoming election, our congregation has decided to hold an Election Prayer Service on Monday, November 7^th at 7:00pm.

            Although we hear comments like “I’ve never seen an election like this in my life,” when we read the Bible we get a sense that our current state is not anything new. It appears we have always had divisiveness and differing thought. The Election Prayer Service will be a traditional evening prayer service reminding us that Jesus Christ is the light of the world. The scripture that we hear will be based on God’s sovereignty and on the hope that we have through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It will be a reminder that no matter who is elected as the 45^th President of the United States, God will still be making all things new as it states in 2 Corinthians 15:17.

            I would also like to say the people I interact with on a daily basis are not like the ugliness I read on Facebook. And so my prayer for you is Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians 1:15-18 “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.”

Peace,

Pastor Kristine Dohrmann

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church