I have always blamed Hallmark for the mixed emotions of Valentine’s Day. Their messaging told me that I needed to create or receive that perfect outing, gift, or card. I had to have that dream love affair to feel valued. Valentine’s Day can be exciting when it’s new love or it can also be painful or bring a sense of loss and loneliness, especially for those that are newly single.

Turns out that Valentine’s has much darker roots than gooshy Hallmark love. Its origins are muddled but the ancient Romans had a part in it. I won’t go into the ugly details of several stories but one included Emperor Claudius II executing two men, both named Valentine, on February 14th in different years in the third century. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic church with the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day. https://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133693152/the-dark-origins-of-valentines-day

No wonder my emotions are mixed. A huge example of marketing and propaganda in history. What if Valentine’s Day and every day, we share God’s overwhelming, comforting, “agape” love? Agape love is a sacrificial love that unites and heals. It is a love of choice, not attraction or obligation. Or as John Johns, our Music Director, put it “bring love out of the merk”. It is a real chance to live out loving as God first loved us (1 John 4:19).

Before you think I am a Valentine’s Day scrooge, I am not. One of my favorite memories is when my friend and I sent our husbands on an elaborate Valentine’s scavenger hunt to find us. In contrast, this year, I found peace that it was a cost-free selfie of me and our dog with a “We love you!” sign that I sent to my family because they were scattered in various places. Love doesn’t have to be big and extravagant.

Who can we send a message that simply says, “you are loved” not on one day but always? How can we rest in the peace of not having the “perfect” way to show our love? Can we find comfort in God’s unconditional love for us if that is what we need now or pass that love on to all who need healing and care? The Holy Spirit will guide us as we make our way in all forms of love.

Learning, growing, and loving with you always,

Angie Seiller
Director of Faith Formation

Winter is coming. I know, I know, the physical season of winter is technically here, although it seems we’ve had as many days above 50 degrees since December 21 (the technical start of winter) as we’ve had below 30 degrees. But I’m talking about a more metaphorical winter; the one we’ll begin on Ash Wednesday as we enter the season of Lent and explore the path Jesus’ ministry took that led to his death and resurrection.

What do you think of when you picture Lent? Over the centuries, several traditions developed among Christian denominations might make us get a particular image in our mind. Maybe fasting, or giving up a particular vice. Not eating meat on Fridays, an ashen cross on our foreheads, purple and black decorations around the church. The idea is that each of these actions might help us - what? Share in some aspect of the pain that Jesus felt during his last days? Remind us of our sin and why Jesus came to help us? I think the traditions we associate with Lent started with good intentions, but without some extra community guidance, the opportunity to wrestle with the deeper meaning of Lent is lost.

During this Season of Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday, February 22, we will begin a series in which we dive into some of the difficult questions Christians have faced since Biblical times. From our resource material:

Like the characters in our Lenten scriptures, we are also seeking many things: clarity, connection, wonder, justice, balance. We are seeking our calling, the sacred, and how to live as a disciple. Throughout the turbulence of the past few years, many of us are asking big questions about our lives and our faith. If you are returning to church, you are probably returning with more questions and a critical lens. We hope this series will help us unpack some of those big questions in ways that are honest and faithful. Throughout this season, we hope you will continually ask yourself: what am I seeking? What is God seeking?

We will explore these questions in different ways each Sunday and Wednesday (see below for a schedule.) By coming together as a community to work through these questions together, we not only dig into a deeper meaning to Lent, but we also remind ourselves that Jesus never meant for us to walk the path of Lent or any other journey alone. We live and celebrate together so we can wrestle with the big and difficult questions and then share the Easter message with the world.

Yours in Christ,

John Johns

Winter, cabins, 2” mattresses, bunk beds, walking outside to get to restrooms and showers, two nights of their weekend, camp food, and investing in our Jr. High youth…” sure, sign me up!” The chaperones who went on the Confirmation retreat at Camp HopeWood Pines (Lutheran Memorial Camp outside of Columbus) would probably self-describe as no longer being “spring chickens,” yet, they were willing to go outside of their comfort zone to hang out with 13- and 14-year-olds for the weekend. Quite the example of our weekend theme of “Love to Serve” and looking for the gifts we have been given by God’s love and how we use those gifts to love God and our neighbor.

I think all of us would say that we were blessed by the weekend even considering the conditions. Finding comradery with each other, other youth groups, camp staff, and most importantly interacting with our hope for the future, these teens. They also put themselves out there by meeting new people, trying different things, public speaking and acting, singing, and the list goes on. They put their faith in action. Trusting that they were in a safe space with people that only wanted the best for them.

Throughout our lives, we tend to compare ourselves to others. We measure as we think someone is more social, a better musician, or athlete, or reader, or more organized. I wish the comparison game could end because we all have our unique gifts and we can be stronger together. Sometimes it takes a while to find them and can certainly be a process. That’s the beauty of our community, as we learn together and support each other. Sometimes, our neighbor can see the gifts that we haven’t come to realize.

As I write this on the snow day for many schools, it reminds me of growing up and our snow days. From the upstairs window of our house, we could see the top floor of the elementary school. On days there was snow, we would all rush to that window when we got up to see if the lights were on. If there were no lights, it was at the very least a delay and cause for celebration. What sign are you looking for to say, “Yes”? Yes, to explore your gifts and talents to serve our neighbors, community, and beyond. Yes, to discover your special way to serve or to take a brave step.

At the retreat, we discussed the story of Jesus Feeding the 5000 (actually, thousands more because they only counted the men). John 6:9 says, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they among so many people?” How can something so small have that kind of ripple effect? God has shown us countless examples of how one seemingly insignificant gift can affect many. There are some that do have big talents and gifts to share but the small ones can matter just as much.

As we discover our talents and ways to serve, we trust that God will continue to equip and guide us and give us joy in the serving. Let’s continue to say, “yes” together.

God’s peace always,

Angie Seiller

Did you know I can juggle? It isn’t smooth or rehearsed, but I can throw some things in the air, catch them, and make it happen again for a few rounds. For part of a semester in high school, I took a gym class that included juggling. We started by learning the rhythm of toss and catch with balls, followed by settling into a steady pattern and working on flow, and then adding other items including various-sized balls, bowling pins, and even tossing with partners! There was so much to think about.

I haven’t used these physical skills throughout my life, but the image of juggling is a constant one for me – and I would guess it is for you, too. All day, every day, we are juggling. Juggling duties, relationships, priorities, emotions, and more. At any one moment, we have several things in motion, trying to keep each of them from crashing to the ground. 

My sweetie Tera and I saw KÀ by Cirque du Soleil, last summer. If you haven’t ever seen a Cirque du Soleil show, it is an eclectic collision of circus, acrobatics, concert, and theater. I remember one scene where one of the characters was juggling various things, while their attention was really on something else that was happening. It was as if the ball tossing was an afterthought to the primary task before them. 

Isn’t that how we feel sometimes? We’re juggling all kinds of things, which can’t even be our focus because there’s a whole other part of our story that needs our attention. We multi-task within our multi-tasking.

We juggle our sorrow from the death of a friend while trying to concentrate on work. We manage staff or write lesson plans while celebrating the birth of a child or grandchild. We make dinner, get an oil change, schedule a follow-up appointment with the dentist, plan a vacation, carve out time for lunch with a friend, all while trying to meet a deadline for work, finish the book for book club, and pull together a snack for the party. And that’s just one afternoon! Sometimes, we wonder how do we keep it all going?

Jesus was a master juggler. He always had multiple ministry balls in the air but was still willing and able to take time for personal connections. Even while religious leaders were breathing hate and trying to figure out ways to shut him down, Jesus stopped by to share a meal with an opponent of the faith community. While he was on his way to heal people, he paused to heal people. Preaching, teaching, curing, or praying, he was focused on loving God with his whole being and loving his neighbor. 

Even in the final moments of his life, when he was on the cross, Jesus was thinking of and caring for others. Pastor Bill Yonker says that as Jesus was suffering and dying, he took time to perform an adoption ceremony. In a moment of immense compassion and love, he webbed his mother Mary and his disciple John into a new family to help combat their grief and loss (John 19:25b-27). Still, there were times throughout his life when he paused and set things aside for rest and renewal.

As we launch into the new year, are there balls in the air that you need to set down? Do you need a break from all the juggling? Do you need to hand some tasks over to a partner or colleague, maybe delegating them to someone else altogether?

Did you know that God invites you to pass off worry and concern into God’s embrace? Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). Are you weary? Is your burden too great? Do you hope that the juggling will stop or at least pause so you can rest and catch your breath? Consider taking Jesus up on his offer. You don’t have to do it all by yourself.

Wishing you peace and joy,

Pastor Lowell

We’ve celebrated a Blue Christmas service here each year since I’ve been at Lord of Life, and it is one of my favorite worship moments of the liturgical year. Even though it has become a mainstay on our calendar, it is worth diving into why we celebrate this holy night.

Outwardly, Christmas is a joyous time full of carols and lights and bright decorations. Often loud families get together to eat, share stories, play games, and celebrate their time together. Friends have “Friendmas” parties. Colleagues have work holiday parties. There is a rush at the mall and online as everyone stresses to get their gifts purchased by the time they are celebrating Christmas with whatever group they are going to see next. 

For some people, it is all too much. 

The longer nights take their toll on some people’s mental health, and others struggle with depression year round. Some people find holidays difficult because it reminds them of family members or friends who aren’t there to celebrate with them anymore. Some people just need a moment in this chaotic season to breathe.

Blue Christmas is a quiet moment during a season that can otherwise be noisy. It is a chance to celebrate Christmas on your own terms, without the drummer boy banging in your ear or having to smile through worship with 200 of your closest friends. It is a moment to sit with all the heavy feelings that come up around Christmas when everyone expects you to feel light.

Sometimes that moment of quiet is the breath we need to get through the rest of the season.

If you could use a break, join us this Sunday, December 18, at 6:30 pm for Blue Christmas.

Yours in the quiet,

John

How many women can you name that are mentioned in the Bible? I am sure that many of us can list the most obvious ones such as Eve, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Ruth. When I Googled the question of how many distinct women are named in the Bible, one reference noted that there are 133 named women in the Old Testament and 33 named women in the New Testament. Of course, there are the unnamed women that appear throughout the Bible. For example, in the Old Testament (2 Kings 4:1-36) there are two women with no names that were helped by the prophet Elisha – the widow and the Shunammite woman. In the New Testament, we hear of the Canaanite woman asking for help (Matthew 15), the women in Jesus’s parables (the woman and the lost coin, Luke 15), and at the crucifixion one of the witnesses was the mother of Zebedee’s sons (unnamed). In the genealogy of Jesus, Matthew identified four specific women as mothers within the lineage – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba.

In the Bible, we see women in many roles from the dutiful daughter, the neglected wife, the dedicated mother, as well as a queen, a prophetess, an apostle, and a leader in the early church. Each brings a unique story to the relationship they had with God. Their stories are important to us - they can help us to understand ourselves and how we travel through life with God’s help.

Here at Lord of Life, we have women that allow our church community to grow and prosper by taking on the many roles needed. We are not just daughters, mothers, wives, and grandmothers, the roles which some of us embrace, but we are also the teachers, the musicians, the leaders. We organize to serve those in need (e.g. Family Promise and Stepping Forward), shepherd youth from birth through senior high, serve on council and committees, bake bread, and serve in various ways during worship to name just a few.

This year, the Women at the Well Bible study group is looking at twelve women of the Bible (named and unnamed), their story and their relationship with God and Jesus, and how we can relate to their stories as women in today’s world. The author indicates that by learning about the triumphs and failures of these women, we can learn things such as how to apply biblical lessons to our struggles, how to find contentment in every situation, and how to overcome rejection and insecurity (Twelve Women of the Bible Study Guide by Sherry Harney, 2010). So far, we have studied Eve, Rebekah (wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob), and Leah (the first wife of Jacob). With Eve, we discussed how we can find lasting contentment in the truth. With Rebekah, we learned how to break free of feminine stereotypes. This month, with Leah we talked about overcoming rejection and insecurity. There are nine more women to study; not all are familiar or named.

I would like to encourage the women in our community of believers to join us in studying these biblical women, learning how their relationship with God and Jesus can relate to our lives, sharing stories, laughter, and tears with a beautiful fellowship of women.

Yours in Christ,

Denise Krallman