Has anyone ever told you to “turn your problems over to God”? What exactly do they mean by that? I think when most people offer up that piece of advice, they are encouraging you to not worry or be anxious about something. I don’t know about you, but “turning it over to God,” doesn’t immediately bring me peace and calm when the storms of anxiousness are stirring. I’ve prayed for thousands of things in my lifetime that it seems like God did not answer, so why would I turn over more problems to God that I could just try to solve myself? 

You might be thinking to yourself, “wow, this is a pretty cynical blog post coming from our intern pastor, what is going on”? This past week I submitted the final batch of paperwork needed to be eligible for the ELCA Assignment Process in February. What is the assignment process? Well, it is very much like the NFL draft. Some people, in high places, don’t like that analogy, but it is the best analogy that can be made, so I am going to roll with it. All of the graduating Lutheran seminarians across the United States fill out a slew of paperwork that is sent to all of the bishops of the 65 synods across the US. Those bishops get together over a couple of days in February and are given a “selection order” based on the needs of their synods and regions, the more pastors they need, the more selections they receive. Bishops begin selecting graduating seniors for their region of the country and then the applicant receives a phone call, letting them know what area of the country they will be serving. The whole process is done in conjunction with a lot of prayer, discernment, and the power of the Holy Spirit, which makes it a little different than the NFL draft. 

So, by mid-February I will know the region of the country in which I will receive my first pastoral call and then in early March I should find out in which of the 65 synods I will be serving. At that point, I can begin the call process with congregations in that synod that are looking for a first call pastor. If I’m lucky, I will be able to be ordained and installed in a congregation in early summer. Some graduates, like our previous intern, Lucas, found the process can take a lot longer than that. 

So why do I mention all of this? Because, I am a planner by nature, and all of this uncertainty is causing a lot of anxiety in my life and the life of my family. I could try to “work the system,” by wheeling and dealing with synodical bishops to get things to go my way, but the risk involved with that kind of politic-ing would only add more stress. In this instance, and maybe for the first time in my life, I found peace in the phrase “turn it over to God,” which is derived from Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

By releasing the stress of the unknown in my life, I have been able to enjoy this process more and have more free time to enjoy my last five months with you all at Lord of Life. There are days where I still wonder where my first call will be, but I trust that God will provide in due time. What are the things that you are tired of trying to control? What is bringing you stress and anxiety in this Advent season? Are you willing to try to “give it over to God?”

One of my campus pastors will be buried this Saturday. Pastor Larry Houff, who served as campus pastor at Wittenberg University 1981-1997, died the Saturday before Thanksgiving following a long illness.

Campus ministry has to be one of the most grueling forms of ministry. Students can easily become distracted by the scholastic and social aspects of campus life, campus pastors must also be fundraisers, since college students aren’t big donors, not to mention that the entire “congregation” turns over every 4 years!

Even more than other ministries, work with college students has to be focused and direct. There is only limited time to intersect and interact with one another, so campus pastors strive to make every moment count. They are always inviting students to worship and activities, praying for students and their families, and seeking ways to support and encourage adolescents as they explore who they are becoming.

I can’t begin to name all the ways that Larry loved me deeper into Christian faith, but as I process my grief, here are a couple of instances that rise to the top:

• Larry welcomed me with open arms when I arrived on campus and immediately invited me into ministry leadership through choirs and percussion for a variety of worship moments.
• Larry and his wife Gundula regularly welcomed students into their home for meals, study groups, Epiphany celebrations, and more, helping to create a place of retreat and a home away from home.
• Larry led a trip to Israel, Egypt, and Jordan my junior year which opened the pages of Scripture and global faith to me. (See the photo of him preaching at sunrise on Mt. Sinai.) He provided pastoral care the night that I learned of my grandfather’s death while we were in Tiberius. His consolation and hope, there on the shores of Galilee, will forever shape the way I hope to be present in moments of death and dying.
• Larry welcomed and discipled my wife Tera into the Christian faith and was part of the splashing waters at her baptism service our senior year.
• Larry played the organ for and participated in our wedding celebration at Weaver Chapel.
• Larry baptized our now 18-year-old daughter Eden while we were in Ohio for her first Christmas.

Larry continued to invite me into holy moments, pray for me, my family, and my ministry endeavors, and encourage me long after I left the acreage in Springfield.

Make no mistake. Larry’s love and care for me, as well as other students, faculty, staff, prospective students, and former students, wasn’t grounded in his mood or because it was his job. Larry’s life had been altered by the love and forgiveness of Jesus and he couldn’t help but reach out to both friend and stranger with words of invitation, prayer, challenge, and encouragement.

1 Thessalonians says, “Encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing… Rejoice always, pray without ceasing” (5:11, 16-17).

As we wait for Jesus to come to us on Christmas, we are surrounded by friends and strangers. Who needs to hear about God’s story of love and redemption this season? Who needs a word of encouragement or hope? Who can you hold in prayer through the joys and sorrows of these days? Invite someone into the gift of Jesus, our peace. God is using you to change lives.

Living, sharing, and celebrating with you,

Pastor Lowell

It’s that season…

A season of thanksgiving

A season of Advent

A season of waiting and anticipation

A season of giving

A season of buying

A season of decorating

A season of parties

A season of family and friends

A season of Christmas

A season of over-spending

A season of cold and snow

A season of busyness 

So. Many. Seasons.

Which of these seasons are you wrapped up in right now? Are there more that didn’t even make the list? Which ones do you wish you could give up this year?

This is the season where I put on my alter-ego of #DJFrosteeFreeze and spend my evenings spinning upbeat Christmas songs at Kings Island’s Winterfest. During my five-hour evening shift, I stand in one spot and I see so many of these seasons playing out right before my eyes. I see how the stresses of life build to a point where people can’t enjoy the magical experiences all around them. 

In three nights of work so far, I have seen the following:

•  Parents yelling at seventeen-year-old employees because kids are cheating in the “everyone wins” games.
•  Parents yelling at each other because one parent wants to let the kids keep hula-hooping and the other parent doesn’t want the kids to miss the upcoming show. 
•  Adults pounding on the doors of the restaurant because they aren’t open within the first five minutes of the park opening. 
•  Adults beating someone else’s small children in a relay race so that they could get a tiny plush polar bear for themselves. 

That is just the start. I am sure I will see so much more!

This season of “joy” can quickly overpower us with stress and turn it into something dark and mean. Remember that each person you come across this season, especially retail workers, are beloved children of God and might just be at the end of their rope as well. Take a deep breath, relax, flash some a smile, pay someone a compliment, and pray that God’s love can be shown to all people through our words and actions this season. 

Pastor Corey

P.S. Come visit me at the Coca-Cola Party Zone.

I grew up in the 1970s on sixty acres in rural Minnesota. Growing up on a farm had its perks: riding horses, swimming in ponds, fresh produce from our garden, and fresh eggs every day. It was also inconvenient. All of those things take a great deal of work on a constant basis. It was a major effort to go away for the weekend or for a family vacation. Who would be willing to tend the garden and the array of animals we had? Not too many people were stepping up for those tasks.

If you Googled my hometown today, you would see a sprawling suburban area with a large school district much like West Chester, Mason, and Liberty Township. I enjoy a very good life today. Everything is right here for me: retail, entertainment, hospitals, and more. I have it all at the tip of my fingers. I live a life of convenience.

Yet on the inside, I am a farm girl at heart. I love to nurture plants and plan new beds for our lot instead of growing grass. I have a rain garden to help the water sink into the earth instead of running into the sewer. I try to use earth-friendly solutions to pests. I compost and try not to waste anything. I like to know where my food is grown. Reduce, reuse, recycle has become my motto. It is not convenient. Here are a few things that I have learned recently:

•  Did you know that our church recycling service does NOT recycle everything that can be recycled? The communion cups we use are recyclable, but not with the major recycling services in our area. Solo cups are recyclable somewhere, but not here. Many carry out dishes and food containers are not recyclable. Usually, only number 1 and 2 recyclables can actually be recycled.
•  Light plastics like shopping bags and plastic wrapped around a case of drinks cannot be placed in the general recycling cans. These can be taken to some grocery stores and recycled there.
•  The lids on some beverage bottles can be recycled, but most count as “trash” if placed in a recycling bin.

Because it is inconvenient, recycling is not a top priority for most of us. So what can we do to protect our environment? How do we remain aware of what we are buying and throwing away? How do we reduce our waste? Here are a few suggestions for you:

•  Pay attention to what you are purchasing. Are you buying products that are in containers that can be recycled or are made with recycled materials?
•  Place only recyclable materials into recycling bins. If there is too much “garbage” in with the recycling, the whole bin is tossed into the garbage. Liquids left in beverage containers are also considered garbage.
•  Remember to wash or wipe out all food from tinfoil containers, bottles, cans, and jars before placing them in the recycling bin.
•  Use a washable drink container for water and other beverages instead of using bottled beverages.

What can you do at Lord of Life to reduce, reuse, and recycle?

•  Instead of paper cups, please use a real mug and place in the kitchenette sink when you are finished.
•  When possible, use real plates, bowls, glasses, and silverware at your next meeting at church. We now have a conventional dishwasher in the kitchen as well as in the kitchenette.
•  Coffee and tea grounds and their filters are compostable and are collected weekly at church. Look for the bins.
•  Use the recycling bins provided throughout the building and follow the guidelines for what can be included.
•  If you use a paper cup, please pour out liquids in a sink and place the cups in a recycling container. Please note that the lids to the cups are not recyclable.

The saying “Waste not, want not.” Is ringing in my head from my childhood. There are many ways that we can reduce our carbon footprint. What suggestions do you have for our church community to make a difference?

Caring for the Earth,

Ava Fiebig

Some congregations have a lot of singers and they form a choir. Some have several folks who play guitar and they form a praise band. Some even have enough instrumentalists to make an orchestra. Here at Lord of Life, we have a lot of drummers. They’re everywhere. We have drummers who are kids of all ages and drummers who are adults. I played in the percussion pit for marching band in high school, and Pastor Lowell would rather use his vacation time to go drum with his band, Echelon, than go sit on the beach somewhere. After a few years of working with all these talented drum beaters, we finally decided to get some of them in the same room to drum together.

For the past few weeks, we’ve been rehearsing a new Percussion Ensemble to lead worship once in a while. So far, we have six drummers and instruments ranging from small hand drums to vibraphones and big steel drum pans. As we’ve expanded into the world of percussion, several folks have talked about the therapeutic power of drumming and suggested that we host a healing drum circle.

I’ve always seen percussion as a means to an end – someone has to keep the beat, help build the energy, and be the animal filling in all the crazy grooves. While I’ve known several people who have been active members of drum circles, I’ve never experienced them closely enough to see their usefulness.

Until a couple weeks ago …

During a Percussion Ensemble rehearsal, we were grooving on a communion tune – “Come Let Us Eat for Now the Feast is Spread.” It repeats over and over again until we decide to finish it. As we continued to embellish it, I found the “thinking” part of my brain turn off and suddenly I was in this other place, feeling the rhythm instead of trying to get it right. It was like this narrow tunnel of the notes on the page opened up to a giant cavern of expression and feeling.

Bingo. That’s what a drum circle is for. The rhythm helps us meditate and pray, and it lifts us to another mental state. Research has shown a correlation between therapeutic rhythm and drumming with increased physical, mental, and spiritual health. World religions have used drumming for thousands of years as an integral part of their worship. It can reduce tension, anxiety, and stress. It releases endorphins to help control chronic pain. It uses the entire brain and produces deeper self-awareness.

This Sunday, our new Percussion Ensemble will lead worship at 9:30 and 11 am. You’ll know several of the tunes, and there will be a couple new ones, too.

Then at 6:30 pm, everyone is invited to bring a drum or borrow one of ours to experience what I’ll loosely call a Lutheran-style drum circle. Think of it as a healing vespers service with drumming instead of singing. For about an hour, we’ll drum together, pray together, hear words from scripture, and hopefully find our center as we begin our new week.

I hope to see you there!

Rhythmically yours,

John Johns

I probably say “Yes!” more than I should. Without even thinking, the tiny word rolls right out of my mouth with no regard to cost or consequence. I say it without considering what it may require of me or my family. In my “yes,” I commit energy, resources, dollars, and time to the known and unknown invitation before me. Only after I say, “Oh yeah, no problem,” do I begin to weigh the impact of the new demands.

Most of the time, it works out. Other times, it becomes a giant train wreck of a moment when I’ve double-booked, overcommitted, and hyperextended an already full calendar and life.

At the same time, I don’t want to say a blanket “No” to everyone and everything. I’m not looking to shut down every invitation and opportunity in the interest of self-preservation.

I’m also not interested in extended deliberation before agreeing to have lunch or share in a volunteer opportunity. I don’t want to live in the land of “maybe.”

I was delighted when I walked into Kohl’s a few years ago and was enveloped in their new slogan, “In a word, Yes.” The customer service counter, relocated from the back corner of the store to the front, right next to the entrance, was unavoidable. Even if their “Yes” couldn’t always be a full-throated consent, they chose to pivot from a posture of possibility.

I’m glad that God’s “Yes!” to humanity and all creation throughout time is an intentional and pervasive one. God doesn’t agree to care for us out of guilt or pity, but out of all-encompassing parental love.

A prayer from Walter Brueggemann:

You are the God who is simple, direct, clear with us and for us.
You have committed yourself to us.
You have said yes to us in creation,
                        yes, to us in our birth,
                        yes to us in our baptism,
                        yes to us in our awakening this day.

But we are of another kind,
            more accustomed to “perhaps, maybe, we´ll see,”
            left in wonderment and ambiguity.

We live our lives not back to your yes,
                   but out of our endless “perhaps.”

So we pray for your mercy this day that we may live yes back to you,
                    yes with our time,
                    yes with our money,
                    yes with our sexuality,
                    yes with our strength and with our weakness,
                    yes to our neighbor,
                    yes and no longer “perhaps.”

In the name of your enfleshed yes to us,
          even Jesus who is our yes into your future. Amen.

From Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann ©2002

Thank you for your “yes.”