It was a last-minute decision in the early afternoon to head northwest to watch the eclipse. We live in Mason, so we were at 99.9% totality, but we decided we needed to experience this awe-inspiring event at 100% totality when it was so close. Who knows where we will be in the next 20 years when it happens again in this region?

It was a gorgeous day for a drive. We had the windows down, and music playing, and just kept heading North then West on the least traveled roads we could find. We ended up stopping in a cemetery on a hill. It seems like a great location to look out over the valley.

There were a few other cars, but we headed to a spot with no one else. We were there just a couple of minutes when another car pulled up right across from us. I thought it was odd that they pulled right next to us when there were plenty of other spaces to create your own observing spot. The driver then began to take all kinds of things out of her trunk from wet wipes to flowers to a solar-powered cross on stick. It was then that I realized that she wasn’t there for the eclipse, she was there to visit a grave.

She barely looked at us, but I gave her a quick hello which she acknowledged but kept moving. I wanted to give her privacy, but I was drawn to her as she kneeled and even lay on the ground as she lovingly cleaned the marker and trimmed the grass around the edges. She fussed with the right way to arrange the flowers and put up the cross.

I wondered if she knew the eclipse was happening but didn’t want to disturb her. Did she have glasses if she looked up when the sky began to darken? I had an extra pair. She wasn’t done but began heading back to her car. I took the opportunity to go and offer her the pair of glasses and acknowledge her beautiful work on the gravesite.

She didn’t know that the eclipse was happening. She was there visiting her 16-year-old daughter who had died from cancer many years ago. She told me that she knows she is happy in heaven with Jesus but misses her every day. She said that it is her faith that has held her while Jesus holds her daughter.

She graciously took the glasses and headed back. It was hard for me to hold back my tears as she laid on the grave and looked up at the sky with her glasses on, taking in that moment as close to her daughter as possible.

As we both watched the moon completely cover the sun, there was awe and beauty and sadness. One life basking in the sunshine of an exciting day, while another experiencing profound loss and sadness. In this world with all its immense complexities in creation and in each of our different lives, we are held together by God, our creator, and the power of hope that only Jesus brings. 

Living in hope and the revealing light of Jesus with you,

Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation

An Easter Message from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the ELCA

“So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone for they were afraid.” That's where the Gospel of Mark originally ended. And it just seems so odd to me. It's so abrupt. I mean, the women had seen the angel. He'd announced that Jesus was raised from the dead, and then he tells them all this good news and wants them to go on their way. And they just are not going to say a single word.

There are three words in that passage that really stand out for me, especially in the Greek. One is fear — phobos. We get phobia from that. The other one is amazement — ekstasis. We get ecstasy from that. And the other one has to do with being seized. It actually means “being possessed.” So we take a look at these women, and they've had this miraculous appearance by an angel. They've heard the good news that Jesus has raised from the dead, and they're too afraid to do anything about it, and they just are going to be silent. It seems that nothing changed. They came to take care of Jesus’ dead body because on the Sabbath they could not work. But on the first day of the week, they were there. They have this announcement, and then it's all the same.

Sometimes I think we feel like nothing's changed. Sometimes I think that the events in our country, in our church, around the world are just so terrifying and so overwhelming that it seems like the resurrection really didn't make a difference. But these three words really say something about the women, and I think about us and, most especially, about Easter. When they said that they were filled with amazement — this is this ecstasy, ekstasis — they were really standing. It means literally standing in a different place. So though they were still in the tomb and they hadn't reacted yet, nevertheless, everything had changed. And because of the resurrection, we, all of us, are standing in a different place. The whole of creation is standing in a different place. And the word for fear, phobos, phobia we get from that. But it's really a sense of trembling in the presence of God, of awe that they were actually filled with awe — not paralyzed by fear but filled with awe. And I hope this Eastertide and all year round, we have a sense of the presence of God that fills us with awe.

And it also says that they were seized with fear. Well, the word means “possessed.” And yes, we believe that in baptism because of the resurrection, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit and we now are all Spirit-possessed.

When things seem to be staying the same, when things seem to be happening and coming at us so quickly, I think it's very important to take time to be a little amazed, to be standing in a different place, to have a sense of this awe and trembling before the Lord, and to allow ourselves to be possessed by the Spirit, who will give us power and courage in these times.

My favorite hymn is “Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song.” It's ELW 808 [our red hymnal]. And the last verse goes like this: “I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey; but courage will come with the sound of his steps by my side. And with all of the family Jesus saved by his love, we’ll sing to his dawn at the end of our journey.”

Be well, dear church. Happy Easter.

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

Watch Bishop Eaton’s message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PcfM141gIQ

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

Spring is probably my fourth favorite season. I don’t want to say least favorite or something that designates spring as last, because I truly love spring. Spring, to me, is a new beginning, an opportunity for renewal and growth. We’re coming out of the hibernation of winter where everything hides away from the bitterness of the world. The weather is slowly working its way to being warm. The flowers and trees are budding. It’s so beautiful to see nature wake up! 

While nature is sprucing itself up, we do that in our homes as well. Spring is a time to reflect on our spaces - the way they are and the way we want them to be. Perhaps it’s time to shed the stuff that has accumulated by decluttering or a spring yard sale. Maybe you like to give your home a deep cleaning. Or you might be taking on home projects that were shelved last fall. We recognize that we need to do some work to make our houses sparkle during this transition. 

We have been doing our own spring cleaning here at Lord of Life, too. Easter is coming and we want to look our best. Our property team has been working on things such as painting and upgrading to LED lights. We had some maintenance completed such as having our HVAC system inspected and filters replaced. We revamped some of the signs and boards around the church. We’re making sure we are decluttered and ready to sparkle on Easter!

But it’s more than just needing to work on physical appearance. Lent represents a transition for us spiritually as well. We did devotions, read, prayed, enjoyed fellowship, ate and worshiped together. We talked about some hard things like our sin and the way we damage our relationship with God. We grappled with the need for death in order to have new life, like a seed that must enter the ground and die before a plant can emerge. 

During Holy Week, we remember Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and what happens when fear takes over. Fear led the religious leaders to arrest, torture, and assassinate Jesus. Fear led the disciples to hide and deny Christ. Fear is a powerful emotion that lies to us and changes us such as becoming controlling, selfish, or greedy. However, because we have the Holy Spirit, we are called to embrace courage. We are called to stand up against the lies that fear wants us to believe and the harsh actions it calls us to take. 

We have done all these things to freshen up our minds and hearts and put a shine on so that we are ready for Easter. Through our Lenten Journey, we remember that when we sin, God meets us again and again with grace and forgiveness. When Peter denies knowing Jesus, we can feel conflicted remembering our own times falling short. But Jesus meets Peter in Galilee after the resurrection and charges Peter with tending and feeding his lambs and sheep. Jesus still has work for Peter just as Jesus has work for us. 

Jesus calls us to do the work that glorifies God. Maybe that’s serving at Tikkun Farm or in worship. Maybe it’s something you do alone or with a group such as prayer or Bible study. Maybe you share a laugh or a cry through ministering to friends and strangers. However you are being called, this Easter celebrate the new life that is in you through the resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Laura, Seminary Intern

Growing up Catholic, I loved all the pageantry that pointed toward the divine, miraculous nature of Jesus. Angels, miracles, heaven and hell, transubstantiation (Eucharist turning into the real body and blood of Jesus), virgin birth, tongues of fire at Pentecost … and that is just the New Testament excitement! God smiting my enemies with floods and fire and turning people into pillars of salt? Bonus! Bring on Ezekial with his wheel in the air and Joshua blowing down the walls of Jericho with a trumpet.

Of course, based on the myriad of rules from the Bible and the Church, it seemed like no one would be safe from damnation and eventually, I found myself in a fugue state between what I was being taught and what seemed right - and not just “right” in the sense of Satan’s grand plot for my soul, but also like “hmmm … something doesn’t quite seem right about what the church is saying vs what Jesus said. At the time, I didn’t realize this was the same conundrum Martin Luther had faced 500 years ago, and I wasn’t nearly as committed as he was, so I was just going to walk away and try not to be bothered by it anymore.

Luckily, some brilliant people continue to ponder our theology. As we approach Holy Week and Easter, a time charged with some of the most powerful of Jesus’ miracles - including his death and resurrection, here are some of the ways my view of Jesus has changed in the last 20 years. Many of these thoughts were condensed in a list by theologian Jim Palmer, but are all things I have come to understand during my spiritual journey.

Jesus thought deeply about how people treated each other. He preached about accepting children into worship, talking to women, and loving people who society would usually cast out. In short, he was trying to transform society, in a humanitarian way, for the living. We forget that when we focus on what we need to do to get into heaven. If we think it is right to treat people badly and we are forgiven at the very end, or Jesus died to save us so we get a free pass, then we’ve missed the point.

We should be focusing on spreading Jesus' message of love. That’s what Jesus asked us to do. He didn’t say, “worship my name every Sunday and then go on with your lives.” He was confident in who he was, but I’m pretty sure he was a humble guy who really just wished everyone would play nice. Jesus’ death and resurrection is an excellent reminder of our salvation, but it is also important to see that while Jesus was alive, he was teaching us that there was already no separation between us and God.

If we are waiting for Jesus to return and save us from all the suffering of the world, we aren’t taking any responsibility for making the world better ourselves. We should be using our own power with the example Jesus taught us to effect change rather than hoping that saying Jesus’ name will magically make things happen. There IS power in prayer - but that doesn’t mean we sit back all the time and let God do all the work.

Jesus is a beacon of courage, justice, humanity, beauty, and love. If we focus on his message and the gifts God has given us, we can hear how the Holy Spirit is calling us to be part of the Resurrection promise.

Your sibling in Christ,

John Johns, Music Director

Until this past week, I had not thought much about International Women’s Day. There are many days that we are supposed to celebrate according to the Hallmark calendar, it’s hard to keep up. However, last Friday on International Women’s Day, I had the privilege to watch Cabrini, a movie about the life of Mother Cabrini, the first American Saint.

Her determination to care for the Italian Immigrant community in America that was faced with poverty, disease, and discrimination in the 1800’s was eye-opening. She worked to create orphanages and hospitals. She was a savvy businesswoman during a time when women had no respect. The conditions that she and the other sisters worked in were deplorable but their desire to serve God through caring for this community outweighed any personal conditions they would endure. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t last a week in their circumstances.

Since I watched the movie, I have intentionally tried to think of women who lift their communities through their service, education, and working for justice and inclusion. Think of the Bible without Esther, the Virgin Mary, or Mary Magdalene. Without Esther, the Jewish race would have been killed in a mass genocide. Without Mary, we would not have Jesus Christ, our Savior. Without Mary Magdalene, the disciples may have never known that Christ had risen. I lift them up.

Or what about women and what they have contributed to the modern church? Karen Olsen, founder of Family Promise, saw a need in her community to keep families experiencing homelessness together. She enlisted churches to help and Family Promise grew into a nationwide organization. Rachel Held Evans worked for the inclusion of the LGBTQ community in the church and made it OK to not have all the answers about God and our faith. I lift them up.

Then there are the women who work to serve, educate, and stand up for what is right at great risk to themselves. Malala Yousafzai, the young girl who was shot in the face by the Taliban because she fought for her right to an education. Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus. I lift them up.

These are inspiring examples of living, serving, and taking risks. We are blessed in our community with women who do the same. Maybe not at risk to their own safety but they have the courage to undertake something out of their comfort zone, challenge a discriminatory policy or viewpoint, serve when they're already weary from a full day or welcome all with open arms. I encounter women every day at Lord of Life who live with a passion for including all, sharing God’s love, and serving in Jesus’ name. I lift you up.

Who do you know that inspires you as they shine the light of Jesus? How can you shine that light? I lift them and you up.

I get teary-eyed thinking of the women who shaped my life through their example of kindness, empathy, service, courage, and love. As I doubt myself, and question my abilities or direction in life, their guidance, example, and faith have always centered me, given me peace, taught me, and provided much-needed grace. Please join me in lifting in prayer all these women and the women in your life who have given you this precious gift. God, we are so grateful.

Living and serving in Christ’s love with you,

Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation

Nikki Haley suspended her campaign, this week, sharing the same words that launched her bid for the United States Presidency, last year: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. For God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

The LORD spoke these encouraging words to Joshua as he took over leadership of God’s people following the death of Moses. The people of God had finished their forty years of wilderness wandering and were preparing to step into the Promised Land. Joshua wasn’t sure what lay ahead or how he would lead, so God fortified him with these words that continue to lead us into uncertain futures with confidence and hope.

I imagine that these words have been a tether of grace for Nikki Haley for many years. Declaring them in this season of her life offers hope and promise, once again, on the cusp of whatever journey is next for her. She steps forward with strength and courage, confident that God goes with her. So should we.

What a gift small passages and nuggets of Scripture can be. We absorb them from a variety of sources including worship, Bible reading, devotional material, media, and songs. They nestle into our hearts and minds, planting silent seeds deep within us, which then begin to germinate. Like the spring crocus and daffodils in southwest Ohio, we never know when these words of truth will poke their tips up through the earth and into our lives.

If you didn’t notice, our church campus was blitzed by words of encouragement and strength, this past Sunday. During the 9:30 learning hour, our senior high youth, armed with buckets of sidewalk chalk and Bible verses, covered the front sidewalks, the parking lot, and even the brick pillars in our entryway with words of promise, hope, encouragement, and love, including some listed below:

“Let all you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)
 

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3)

“God’s got you,” “Grace and acceptance,” “See good in all things,” and “Be brave!”

You couldn’t leave Lord of Life without wondering, “What is going on with all the chalk stuff everywhere?” Even after several days of rain, this week, I continue to be greeted by Bible verses, words of encouragement, and colored bricks. What a boost!

I recently had the opportunity to sing some of my favorite lyrics from Harry E. Fosdick’s epic hymn, “God of Grace and God of Glory:” “Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days.” Again, what a boost!

Take a moment and jot down some Bible verses or lyrics that fuel your journey of hope. Stick them on a mirror you use often. Post them on your door where you’ll read them as you come and go. You know where you need to be reminded of who God is and who you are. Laptop? Phone? Vehicle? Desk? Refrigerator?

Wherever you are heading in the coming days, God will be with you. If you are staying put and finding joy in the well-established patterns and rhythms, be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.

If God is calling you to remain where you are, but stir things up and be a change agent, be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. If you are headed into new and uncertain territory, be strong and courageous as you forge a new path. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. The power of the living God and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit go with you wherever you go.

Forward in Hope,

Pastor Lowell