Mensch Mill Retreat

"As often as possible Jesus would withdraw to out of the way places for prayer."
--Luke 5:16, "The Message"

It is interesting to note that this passage from Luke (above) comes almost immediately after the story of Jesus leading Simon Peter to the "deeper waters," resulting in the Galilean fisherman and his colleagues
beginning their journeys of discipleship. This is Luke's way of saying that "time away" for prayer and discernment will always be an essential part of our lives as followers of Jesus.

Our retreat at Mensch Mill was an important time "away"for us prior to Pentecost Sunday. We:
-- were deeply blessed by the opportunity to be together
-- dedicated particular time to reflection and prayer and journaling as we approach Confirmation
-- continued to raise thoughtful questions and to share perspectives from our experiences "on the Way"
-- appreciated what is truly special about each of you
-- listened anew for the voice of the Lord speaking to us (Tim Wampler's example on Sunday was a powerful one!), opening ourselves to the movement of God's Spirit (this is discernment)
-- looked back at the way that we have come and anticipated God's leading for the future
-- had fun, ate bountiful meals, rolled down hills;
-- were in a wonderful place where many generations of disciples have gathered on retreat.

Immersion in the story of Jesus' baptism had us considering once again our own identities as (1) a child of God (2) deeply loved by God (3) God's pleasure (in the fulfillment of our life).

Some of the wisdom gleaned from what you shared:
-The best teachers are those who are continually learning (particularly when "fishing for people"). As followers of Jesus, we continue to grow throughout all of our lives.
-The best things can come when we don't expect them. God calls us, and acts in our lives, when we're not anticipating it. God surprises us!
-Faith is "not giving up." Amen!
-God's gracious love is always given, in all circumstances (forgiveness)
-Jesus enables us to see everything from a "whole new level," a different point of view. Disciples learn to see the world, others, and even themselves, with the "eyes of Jesus."
-the gospel is made real in our life with others. We don't just talk about the "good news;" it's what we do!
-It is our mission to be the change we want to see in the world.
-Every day will include acts of kindness and faithfulness.
-Our covenant with God is a relationship with God, initiated by God. God claims us first!
--We said that when we affirm our relationship with God, we are: cherishing that bond; declaring its importance in our lives; responding to God's promises with our own.

Why did Jesus have to die? That was among the questions that members of our class wanted to give more consideration to. Our discussion deserves a post of its own. But consider this: Jesus has made God's love real, in human form. We believe that such love (agape) is the greatest power of all , the saving power. "God is love," the evangelist John has testified. Thus, Jesus shared this love, he was this love, in all circumstances, even unto death. He even loved the people who put him on the cross. Those who took his life wanted to silence his self-giving love, they wanted to stop this movement of God that was including everybody and committed to setting everyone free from every kind of bondage. But nothing--not even violence and death-- could separate us from the love of God made real in Christ Jesus our Lord! And in the resurrection, the love of God triumphed over that violence.
We who share the life of Jesus believe that agape love is indeed stronger than death, and we live in a way that expresses that belief to the fullest. We will work for God's justice and peace even when it is difficult, trusting the Spirit to inspire us and help us.

It was a great blessing to be able to include Mrs. Corl in the retreat. She has always been deeply committed to the young people of our church, and helped me to lead nine Confirmation Retreats in the past. It meant a lot. Thanks to everyone who helped her to feel at home and to navigate all the steps at the Mensch House.

I enjoyed the whole retreat. What was most important for you?

The Community of the Spirit

"All who believed were together and had all things in common . . ." --Acts 2:44

Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-35 describe a community of faith born of, and living in, the power of God's Spirit. We read the text together, then shared the qualities we perceive in the Community of the Spirit:

--worship together
--devoted to prayer
--devoted to learning
--eat together
--distribute possessions as any have need
(no "absolute" private property)
--whole community taken care of
--thankful ( a community that practices gratitude)
--growing
--committed to spreading the good news of God's love everywhere

These were characteristics of "The Way," which was what the early church was called. The Spirit of the Lord inspires and nourishes the community, making growth possible. An apostolic community witnesses to the resurrection power of our God!!

We were then challenged to identify ways in which St. Andrew's Church might be such a community. After a significant period of silence, these were offered:
--we worship together
--we pray and sing
--we share food (The Shared Table was specifically mentioned)
--we express thanksgiving
--we dedicate offerings
--we share joys and concerns
--we share the good news through preaching
--we bring friends (at least, we can!)
--we help others
--we grow in number and expand our ministry

It will be good for us to continue to add to this list, to offer imaginative suggestions, and share where we perceive--and feel--the Spirit of God moving in our community. And where does Christian Education, and lifelong growth in the Spirit, fit in?

On Wednesday evening, we went on to explore and discuss "gifts of the Spirit." We'll continue that exploration Sunday.
At the suggestion of a class member, we sang together the hymn, "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love." An awesome way to conclude our session!

(above: Woodcut, Fellowship of Believers, Artist unknown)

"If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I'll ask the Father, and he'll give you another Advocate (Helper), who'll be with you forever: the Spirit of Truth. The world can't accept the Spirit, because it doesn't perceive the Spirit or know the Spirit. You know the Spirit, because the Spirit is always with you--and the Spirit's going to be in you."
--John 14:15-17

On the last Wednesday in April, we talked about our understandings--and more importantly, our experiences, of the Holy Spirit.
We remembered that the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus "like a dove" at the time of his baptism. It was the Spirit that filled him and led him, first in the wilderness, and then deep into the full-fillment of his identity and ministry.
We also recalled the Easter story, when (on Easter evening) the risen Jesus enters the locked room where the disciples are still hiding in fear. He draws close to them, offers them the his Peace, then breathes on them saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:22)."
The Spirit is the breath of God. The creation imagery from Genesis 2:7 has God breathe the breath of life into the human being; it is God's breath that makes the person alive.
Jesus also refers to the Spirit as being like the wind. It blows where God chooses, and though you can't see it with your eyes, you can see the things (and people!) that it moves.
When we are filled with God's Spirit we are inspired, a word that means "breathe into."
The Spirit reveals the image of God in us: it is the Spirit of Imagination!
When Jesus is preparing to physically leave the disciples, he promises that the Spirit will be with them.

In discussing our understandings of the Spirit and how we realize its presence, we said that the Spirit:
--Inspires us to make right choices
--Stokes our imaginations.
--Helps us to be creative.
--Guides us.
--Broadens our view.
--Gives us hope.
--Frees us.
--Bridges distances between us.
--Joins us in Community.
--Comforts us.
--Surrounds us.
--Fills our emptiness.
--Gives us new energy.
--Offers us happiness and satisfaction.

The Spirit is:
--The Spirit of Teaching.
--The Spirit of Learning.
--The Spirit of Forgiveness.
--The Spirit of Generosity.
--The Helper.
--The Comforter.

This is a great start! Let's have each of us share more examples of the ways that the Spirit has done these things in our lives, and what we look forward to.

Resurrection Life

Jesus said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" --John 21:17

Last Wednesday evening we read the story from John 21 where the disciples encounter the risen Jesus on the lakeshore. After a fruitless night of fishing on their own, they make a great catch of fish following Jesus' direction. As they do so, they recognize their Master. No one is more excited than Peter, who still suffers inwardly from having denied Jesus three times after Jesus' arrest.
Jesus prepares breakfast for his beloved followers on
a charcoal fire. We might remember that when Peter denied Jesus three times in the high priest's courtyard, it was as he was warming himself by a charcoal fire. And the large catch of fish also reminds us of Luke Chapter 5, the calling of the first disciples, when Peter and his fishing partners gained a great catch of fish after entering the deep water with Jesus. John is suggesting that memory heralds possibility.
Rather than trying to forget his failure (which Peter can't do even when he tries), Jesus will join Peter in working through the painful history so that he (and they) can begin anew. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. Peter responds yes three times--and he surely is telling the truth! Yet love didn't keep him from failing before. Jesus reminds Peter that love is something we DO (not just feel). He wants Peter to love Jesus' other "lambs" the way Jesus has loved Peter, to tend to their care, to nourish them spiritually. Loving Jesus means loving God's people!!! Imagine all that Peter will be able to teach others about love!! Peter will have learned from his own experience. Learning (especially from failure) is a big part of discipleship. God's love never fails, so even the painful lessons from our own lives become part of a larger story of fulfillment, community, and the victory of love over death!

The Fulfillment of God's Creative Vision

At the 7:30 am service on Easter morning, we read from the book of the prophet Isaiah, specifically Chapter 65, verses 17-25. We heard divine poetry communicating God's intention for all human life and the world that God so loves; from the very beginning. God promises that, even out of the devastation of human sin and disobedience, God is acting right now to complete the beauty that God began in creation long ago. I am moving among you to create a new earth ( a different, life-giving experience of the world), and it is almost here.
In the "kingdom of God," the "new Jerusalem," that is being revealed:
--Everyone will have a good home
--All will have healthy, nourishing food
--The health of every person will be tended to
--Child mortality will be eliminated
--There will be no more poverty
--Seniors will live to the completion of their days without having to worry about their care
--God's provision will be shared by everyone, as God has always intended
--Work will be enjoyable, and everyone's labor will be valuable to the common good.
--There will be no slave labor, enforced servitude, or working one's fingers to the bone for the endless profits of a master.
--All people will live in dignity, with respect.
--No harm will be done to one another.

When we pray in the Lord's Prayer, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," we are praying that God will inspire us to be part of shaping a world like the one described above. What might our contribution(s) be, with God's help, to making God's vision a reality on earth? How will we live, together, towards God's vision? Share some of your thoughts. Be as specific as you can!
On Wednesday night we discussed efforts like Habitat for Humanity, where common people work together so that even those without substantial money and resources can have a good home. We identified unclean water as the greatest source of child mortality in the world, and how, for far less money than is spent on weaponry, people throughout the world can be guaranteed access to clean water. The way is already available. The question is: Will the faith be present to see it through? We talked about the struggle this year over health care planning in the United States. We recognized that, regardless of whether a plan was "Democratic" or "Republican," "conservative" or "liberal," any plan guided by God's vision must include provision for everyone! Take a look again at the principles listed above. What can we do together?
Our Lord Jesus came proclaiming that the kingdom of God is near. His life was a human translation of God's will, a living, breathing, ever-giving expression of God's saving love. From the very beginning of his ministry, he announced good news to the poor, release to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and the forgiveness of everyone's debts. You heard the story. The forces of power and influence in this world, those who profited from the ways things are, lined up to stop Jesus, to fend off God's loving plan. They used the cross to try to stop him.
But the proclamation of Easter is that no amount of betrayal will kill God's promise. No amount of death will overcome the life of God. No amount of hate will stay God's gracious love. The "former things" will not be allowed to carry God's day. This is the future--by God--and you and I are made to be a part of it!

Resurrection

Resurrection, by Paul Granlund

Father, Forgive Them

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." --Luke 23:34

Even as he is dying on the cross, Jesus cries out a prayer of mercy to God the Father: "Father, forgive them . . ." For whom is he praying? Is it for the soldiers, who are "following orders?" Is it for Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who gave the order so that he might satisfy the angry crowds and at the same time make sure that no other "king" would challenge Caesar? Is Jesus praying for the religious leaders who wanted him dead so that his message of a gracious God who loves everyone might be silenced? Or is Jesus praying for the ordinary people who first flocked to him but then became upset when he offered love instead of might, community instead of victory?? Or perhaps Jesus is asking mercy for so many of his own disciples who had abandoned or denied him. What do you think?
"They know not what they do." That's what Jesus says. But surely the religious leaders knew what they were doing when they tried to get rid of him! Pilate knew he was sentencing an innocent man, but was willing to do so for political gain. The crowds knew that Jesus was the Lord of love, but they were angry when they didn't get what they wanted from him, and sought to punish him for it. The soldiers knew they were nailing a defenseless man. And the disciples surely knew they were leaving Jesus alone, even if they were scared.
Sometimes we mistake "forgiving" for "excusing." We think that when someone is forgiven, its like letting them off the hook for something wrong. But that's not it! In the Christian Scriptures, forgiveness means (1) removing barriers (2) loosening bonds (3) laying down burdens (4) setting people free (5) giving gifts regardless of merit. When Jesus prays, "Father, forgive them," he prays that God's love will transform them even after they have done terrible things. He doesn't want even the worst sin to be a barrier from God's loving presence and inspiration. He wants people set free from their fear and their hatred, because hating and being afraid are like being in jail, and they lead to us hurting other people. He wants people to learn that even when they're angry they don't need to hurt or punish other people. He wants those who have made mistakes, even really bad mistakes, to get a new start with God. He doesn't want his disciples forever stuck in the shame of failing Jesus. He wants the soldiers, who can tell right from wrong, orders or not, to have God become their ultimate authority. When Jesus says "they don't know what they're doing," he means that they don't really know why they are doing what they are doing! And they haven't yet learned another way.
But Jesus, in his intimate prayer to the Father, shows everyone that this is how God is; this is who God is! And since we are all made in God's image, Jesus wants us to live in God's image. My friend Jim McGinnis (who started TAP) used to say: In the face of escalating violence, escalate love! That's what Jesus does, and in doing so he exposes what is wrong and takes away every excuse for it ( Responding to wrong with wrong will never make a right). At the same time he shows us clearly what is right and true. And he offers hope for a very different future, because God is committed to a future of love and peace, no matter how much forgiveness it takes. And he's going to include us in that future.
The artwork above is entitled, "Father, Forgive Us," by James B. Janknegt. It speaks to our lives, and God's for-giving love in them.