Monday, November 30, 2020

 He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;

They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

Micah 4:3 

In a garden of the United Nations, New York, stands a bronze sculpture, titled, “Let Us Beat our Swords into Ploughshares.” It depicts a man, hammer raised, bending a sword into a plowshare, and “symbolizing man’s desire to put an end to war and convert the means of destruction into creative tools for the benefit of all mankind.”

For those engaged in the work of ELCA Advocacy and ELCA World Hunger, this vision of Micah’s has special meaning as we strive for justice.

Micah pronounces judgment on Israel in a time of grinding inequality. The people and their leaders were failing to care for, even oppressing, those whom Jesus would call “the least of these.” Micah warns, Zion will be destroyed. 

Yet in the midst of this judgment, there is hope that God offers ultimate reconciliation. Micah speaks of a time when all peoples will stream to the place where God is found. “They will go there because they want to know justice and peace, to walk in the ways of the Lord,” Micah writes. 

The pandemic has revealed deep inequalities tied to race and wealth. Even with inspiring examples of generosity, our ministries cannot meet the overwhelming need. The strife tearing us apart may not look like ancient warring nations, and the weapons are different, but this does not look like peace that allows us to plant seeds for a hopeful future.

The prophets did not prescribe one divine solution to the injustice of their day, and neither do we. However, as Americans, we have considerably more power than the average ancient Israelite to create change. 

As Christians, we believe that we have been given what the Israelites were longing for – Immanuel – God with us. In our baptism into the life, death and resurrection of this longed-for child, God’s spirit has been poured upon us. 

Immanuel, This Advent, show us how we can begin to turn weapons of division into creative tools for healing. Amen. 

Tracey DePasquale is Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pa 

Sunday, November 29, 2020

 O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence… Isaiah 64:1

O that you would come down, Lord! Tear open the heavens and create herd immunity to wipe out COVID-19 in every community of the earth. Come down and whip up a vaccine that is effective, safe, and inexpensive. Come down and end racial strife. Tear open the heavens and bring more jobs.

Israel saw God’s awesome power in earthquake and fire, in thunder and lightning. Such an appearance is called a theophany (theo meaning God, and phany meaning to show). Theophanies continue to this day. God certainly acts in milestones marked by Hallmark cards. Yet God is more often seen in everyday happenings around dinner tables, on walks, and in the pages of a book. What are some of the theophanies in your life? Our congregation has a whiteboard out for people to jot down theophanies from their week. These are popularly called God-sightings. You might want to keep a list of your own through this Advent-Christmas cycle.

 May we also remember theophanies experienced more broadly in our communities, nation, and world. How God is coming down to scientists working on vaccines and studying the inner workings of this virus. How God is tearing open the heavens to bring racial and economic justice. How God is working through community leaders.

The simple yet powerful cry of Advent is “Come, Lord Jesus.” Come he does. Once as a helpless babe in the manger. Today through theophanies both personal and communal. Then one day, coming down again in end times. Always and forever in love and mercy.

 God of might, tear open the heavens and come down. Bring your healing and understanding to our hearts, bodies, neighborhoods, and planet. Amen. 

Laura Csellak is Pastor, Christ’s United Lutheran Church, Ashland, PA.

Christmas Day, December 25, 2019

Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity
and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good
deeds.
Titus 2:14

On this day when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ, reading this
verse from Paul’s letter to Titus gave me pause. “He who gave himself
for us…” stopped me in my tracks! As we awaken on Christmas morning
today, are we really thinking about the way Christ’s death is the true
promise of his birth? Of course, the season of Christmas seems to bring
out in people the “eagerness to do what is good.” But to me, the most
powerful part of that verse is, “to purify for himself a people that are his
very own.” Now we belong to him! Christ prizes us more than anyone
prizes a valuable treasure because he paid for us with his blood.
As a bereavement counselor, I am always aware of how very sad
Christmas can be for those who have lost their loved ones. It is a time
when even the most devout believers begin to feel alone and helpless. It
is during such times when I see people eager to do what is good who
come to the side of their grieving family members and friends. They don’t
need to preach to these grieving souls that God has not forgotten them.
For their presence and loving, active listening is the real sermon!
I love all the sacred and beautiful music of Christmas. But I feel that the
hymn, “Lift High the Cross,” expresses the essence of the message in Titus:

Lift high the cross
the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name.
O Lord once lifted on the glorious tree
as thou hast promised, draw us all to thee!

Living God, On this beautiful Christmas day, compel us to reach out to those
who are grieving and give the a gift of your presence. Amen.

Sylvia S. Havlish is Coordinator of Bereavement Ministries for Lutheran
Congregational Services, a Liberty life service.

Christmas Eve, December 24, 2019

But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19

Christmas can be an especially difficult time for many people for different
reasons. Those participating in Journeys through Grief understand the
complex mix of emotions people experiencing loss feel during the Advent
and Christmas seasons. Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus is a message
of hope for us all.

As the shepherds did their work under the cover of darkness, they
were startled by a burst of angelic light. I can’t imagine how afraid and
disoriented they must have been. In the midst of darkness, fear and
confusion, an angel gave them a message of unimaginable joy and peace,
“Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all
the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the
Messiah, the Lord.”

We are told they “made haste to see this thing that had taken place,”
proclaiming to Mary and Joseph what would be the beginning of the
greatest love story ever told—God’s love for all people poured out in this
savior Jesus. God with and for us forever…this is good news, indeed!
Like Mary, may we ponder these sacred words of comfort, joy and peace
in our hearts. Arise, shine, for the light has come!

Gracious God, may the light of your love shine in our hearts and lives today
and always. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

The Rev. Jennifer Heavner is the pastor of Star of Bethlehem
Lutheran Church, Bethlehem , PA, and serves on the Advisory Committee
of Lutheran Congregational Services.

Monday, December 23, 2019

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices
in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his
servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.’”
Luke 1:46-48

It was in the spirit of Mary’s prayer that the volunteers at Camp Noah
this summer served. Camp Noah took place in North Philadelphia at New
Creation Lutheran Church. The camp was designed to serve children who
moved to Philadelphia following Hurricane Maria. Nearly 6,000 families
have come to Pennsylvania since 2017 as a result of the storm. Many of the
children had moved more than four times in the last year, as their parents
sought safe places to live as they made decisions about their families’
future. Other local families were impacted by the storm as they took in
family members, or gathered supplies and funds for loved ones in Puerto
Rico and the US Virgin Islands whose homes were destroyed.

The site coordinator at Camp Noah, Margarita Santiago, wrote this
following camp, “I am looking forward to working with you all again; it
doesn’t matter where because when the Lord has a plan he will make
it work anywhere just like he did last week, and from some of the stories
we’ve heard we were a big impact on some of those kids just like they
were an impact on us. ‘Only fear the LORD, and serve him faithfully with
all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you
(1 Samuel 12:24).’”

Loving God, you give us strength to carry on. Help us bring love to all
of creation. Amen.

Margarita Santiago served as Site Coordinator for Camp Noah, and is the
mother of three Camp Noah campers! Margarita attends Bridge of Hope
Ministries, located in North Philadelphia.

Saturday and Sunday, December 21 and 22, 2019

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the
young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name
him Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14

This promise is made to King Ahaz after he refuses God’s command to
ask for a sign – “I will not put the Lord to the test.” Ahaz does not refuse
out of piety or belief but rather out of fear, fear of the war raging around
him and fear of the rulers of the other nations wanting him to join their
cause. Ahaz was offered the opportunity to be given any sign he wanted
from God (think of Moses and the plagues on Egypt). But he refused, too
afraid. God was rejected by those in power. So God did what God always
does – God shows up, this time in the midst of the lowest. A pregnant girl
of no name. Immanuel – God with Us.

As we wait for Immanuel in this season of Advent, how have we denied
God? And how has God shown up anyway? God is in places big and small,
miracles surround us daily. We simply need to open our eyes to see and
our ears to hear.

Living God, open our eyes and ears to your unwavering presence.

The Rev. Karynjean Dickhoff is Chaplain at Liberty Hospice, a Liberty
life service.

Friday, December 20, 2019

So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also
an heir, through God.
Galatians 4:7

Growing up I was one of five children. We lived modestly in a small
house in rural North Carolina. Mom and Dad made sure we had
everything we needed, but there was never extra for vacations or
extravagant purchases.

I would sometimes daydream back then about some rich relative,
unknown to us, who would leave us their fortune. While the rich relative
never materialized, what I inherited is more valuable than any treasure
I could have dreamed up back then--my faith and trust in God.

In God Has a Dream, Desmond Tutu begins his book with “Dear Child of
God,” a phrase he uses throughout as a reminder of our identity. With that
identity, he reminds us of how deeply God loves us and believes in us.
The son of God lived on earth in stark contrast to how we would expect
a king and their heirs to live. So what might our inheritance look like?
I think that being a child of God means inheriting the character of
Jesus – his peace, wholeness, justice, compassion, kindness, joy, hope
and above all, love.

There is immense freedom in the knowledge that God loves us and
believes in us. No one can take that away from you and me, though at
times the bondage of hate and evil and despair may try.

Dear Child of God, you are no longer a slave. Live freely in God’s love.
Loving God, it is with much humility and gratitude that we come before you
as your children, heirs to your kingdom. Remind us daily of the freedom you
provide to be fully who you created us to be. Help us embrace our inheritance
by adopting the character of Jesus, the Son of God.

Patty Cline serves as Director of Advancement at Liberty Lutheran.