Helen Schneiders’ reflections on being “rooted”
Thank you to Helen for sharing some of her words from our first Wednesday gathering!
Reflection…..being rooted in God’s word……rooted in God’s love! Reading Psalm 1:1-3
"their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. "
I am drawn to the metaphor of a tree planted by streams of water. As I started to think about the roots of trees …….I thought about how roots provide an “anchor”. An anchor for the tree that gives it the support it needs. The stronger the roots become……the stronger the stability and the support to withstand all kinds of weather and earth changes. We have an enormous Oak at home that withstood a fire hundreds of years ago………and still it stands beautiful …….anchored securely, reaching upward.
Roots also provide a way for the tree to take in the nutrients and moisture it needs to grow.
Another definition I noticed for the word “root” was………original or true home…..I thought about that in relationship to God……we live and move and have our being in God as it says in Acts. …..Our original and true home is in God…..with God.
I started to think about a tree beginning to take root by being in one place. I wonder if the same applies to us? Standing still with God long enough for our roots to take hold and grow………taking time to be intentionally before God…….. in prayer, silence, study, worship, …….simply living…….paying attention to all the ways God is present to us and noticing all the ways God meets us daily that we might otherwise miss.
I then began to muse on the myriad ways that tree roots grow, depending on the variety…..Just like we are all uniquely individual…..our roots grow differently, but grow they must as they are fundamental and essential for us to be strong, not only to withstand all that life brings, but also to flourish….for God, for ourselves and for others. I started to think about roots that lace so beautifully together and that spoke to me of the importance of community……..community offers strength when our roots alone are depleted and in need…… the roots of our community around us help hold us together.
I thought about gardens and vines, abiding and flourishing. We often talk about this metaphor as one we like for our congregation …….. a community growing and flourishing together and individually. I have a hand out I thought we could take some time to read and then have a few minutes to share any thoughts, insights or questions.
God is so much more than we can ever fathom and God is always at work.
In this Lenten season, is there an invitation from God to grow your roots deeper into the mystery of Lent and allow God’s living water to grow your roots and flow thru you like a river?
Before we move into our closing Vespers, I would like to close by reading
Ephesians 3:14-20 from The Message.
And as a blessing……. Colossians 2:6-7
As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith just as you taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
God’s abundant blessings to you in this Lenten season.
Amen
Image attribution: pam fray [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Lenten devotions to explore vision for flourishing
As part of our soup suppers – Wednesdays at 6pm – 7:30pm, evening prayer at the end - members of St Luke – including Megan Gillespie, Judy Platts, and Helen Schneiders – will reflect on their experiences and vision for human flourishing, using metaphors of “garden” and “vineyard.”
February 29th, Putting down roots in God’s word rather tha our own plans, our work, our self-understanding – in a culture where many feel rootless. Text for the evening, Psalm 1. “Happy are those” … whose “delight is in the word of the Lord, and on his word they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water … their leaves do not wither.”
March 7th, Life-affirming joy. In a time when many feel anxious or even crushed; we celebrate the gifts of creation and the flourishing of people around us. Text for the evening, Jeremiah 31:10-14. God speaks to a people who have been through war, exile, separation from one another: “They shall come and sing aloud … radiant over the goodness of the LORD … their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again.”
March 14th, Bearing fruit. It’s not just what we do for others; it’s how God makes our whole lives a blessing. Text for the evening, Galatians 5:16-26. Paul encourages the Christians in Galatia to “live by the Spirit,” bearing fruits of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
March 21st, Connected to neighbors. We’re not just here for ourselves or even for the congregation; we’re here for the people in our neighborhood. Text for the evening, Revelation 21:22-22:5. John of Patmos sees a vision of the end of all things: a city with no temple (or church!) – just God. And it’s not a cold, urban world – a river flows right through the center, with a great tree of life providing fruit and leaves for the “healing of the nation.”
March 28th, Abiding in Christ – in his word, his love – for ‘apart for me, you can do nothing.” Text for the evening, John 15: Jesus said “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing … Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love ..”
We hope you’ll join us!
Transformation or Flourishing?
Your life has been enriched. You’re “alive,” joyful. People experience patience, kindness, love in your presence. You are growing in your faith – which doesn’t mean, so much, that your faith itself grows – more that you grow because of who God is to you. “You shall be like a watered garden … whose waters never fail” (from Isaiah 58, heard on Ash Wednesday).
Have you seen people grow this way around St Luke? Has this been your experience? Maybe it’s too cheery an image for followers of Jesus, who said “take up your cross and follow.” (Mark 8) But in God, trial and loss give way to unimaginable life – not just for us, but for others: 
“Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (our ‘theme verse’ for Lent this year)
There are many ways churches can answer the question “what are we here for?” Providing the most excellent worship and music experiences? A warm, nurturing community? Working together to fight poverty in our neighborhood? All of which are important aspects of our mission, but what if NONE of these is the main thing for us? Why do we have the worship, music, community and service? (I’ve raised these questions before … do I sound like a broken record? Or for you young folks – a half downloaded mp3 set on repeat? .. But I believe that a shared sense of why we’re here is going to be key to our future.)
Some of the best writers / leaders on church mission right now will say “the main thing – what it’s all for – is human transformation.” Yes. The word “transformation” is certainly biblical (see Romans 12), and fits well what happens at Baptism: the seed falls; we die to our old self, and rise a new person – alive to God. I am less comfortable with how the word has been used in discussions about sexual orientation. “You can be transformed” can mean “you’re not OK or even really “you” as you are, until you become someone different.” To leave it at that (if I may get theological) is to ignore a central Christian conviction: that God created us as good from the womb (Psalm 139) and even more, redeems us, sets us free from what prevents our flourishing. You are a new person when you step forward from the waters of baptism – but it’s still you, and even more wonderfully you!
One thing I love about St Luke is the diversity of the people who come through our doors – in age, politics, experiences, faith background (of course, we could be even MORE diverse – especially with regard to race …). Do we welcome people so they can be “transformed?” (Into what – good Lutherans?) Of course, dramatic life changes can be good and neceessary! But we also welcome people in celebration of what they are, how the God who “so loved the world” has always already been at work in our lives and our neighbors’.
Back to the word I used above – flourishing. “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10). What if that’s the main thing? I believe that’s what some of your leaders are pointing to when we bring up the metaphors of the garden and vine – already a part of the conversation during soup suppers this Lent. It’s also how Miroslav Volf talks about the main contribution churches can have in the public sphere – “our vision for human flourishing.”
The main thing for us is God, who creates us, redeems us, calls us, makes us flourish and grow into eternal life in defeat of death. We flourish when we are hungry and are fed, when we make connections with people who may not be like us, when we learn to sing, when God’s word becomes a part of our lives, and faith takes hold – each in our own way, depending on who we are, our life circumstances – having in common the grace and love that hold us, always. What more can we say about this flourishing? If it’s God who makes us grow, what part have we, can we play?
Women’s Bible Study schedule for 2012
The Women’s Bible is study is getting ready to start a new 6 week session on the book of Hebrews. There will be an evening of meditation through the practice of lectio divina on tuesday March 6. Our Hebrews study will begin Tuesday the 13th at 7pm or Wednesday the 14th at 10 am. Call or email Lisa Curtis at 310-877-5026 or lfcbeach@aol.com if you would like more information and to join!
You can read more here about the Women’s Bible Studies – which meet Tuesday evenings and Wednesday morning. Studies are generally taken from Augsburg Fortress’ “Book of Faith” series.
3/6/2012 3/7/2012 Devotion – Lecto Divino
3/13/2012 3/14/2012 Who Is Jesus? (Part 1) Hebrews 1: 1-14
3/20/2012 3/21/2012 Who Is Jesus? (Part 2) Hebrews 2:5-18
3/27/2012 3/28/2012 What Did Jesus Do? Hebrews 4: 14-15:10; 9:24-10:1; 10:10-18
4/3/2012 4/4/2012 Easter Break
4/10/2012 4/11/2012 Easter Break
4/17/2012 4/18/2012 What is Faith? Hebrews 11: 1-40
4/24/2012 4/25/2012 How Shall We Live? Hebrews 12:1-17; 13: 1-19
5/1/2012 5/2/2012 What if Faith Fails? Hebrews 4:12-13; 5:11-6:12; 10:19-29
5/8/2012 5/9/2012 Devotion – Lecto Divino
5/15/2012 5/16/2012 Ephesians – Drawn into God
5/22/2012 5/23/2012 Ephesians – Jesus is Our Peace
5/29/2012 5/30/2012 Ephesians – Knowing the Unknowable
6/5/2012 6/6/2012 Ephesians – Imitating the Inimitable
Filed under Bible study
Keepin’ Fire to play next benefit concert for the food pantry
Sunday, February 26th – 4:00pm at St Luke
Keepin’ Fire – find samples of their music on their website, here.
Come enjoy the lively sounds of local artists close up and personal. This is a free concert and open to all at no charge. Kids are welcome. Wine, soft drinks, and snacks are available for a $10.00 donation. Canned and dry food donations are also appreciated.
Filed under Compassion, Concert series
“Murphy’s Flaw” to play food pantry benefit concert
Sunday, January 22nd, 4:30pm in the St Luke fellowship hall
No cost for admission – kids very welcome!
donations for wine, soft drinks and snacks go straight to the West Valley Food Pantry
Join us for a fun evening of live music for a great 
cause!
Filed under Compassion, Concert series
Repent!
The word seems to come with an old-time gospel southern accent, or to conjure up images of bearded street preachers with cardboard signs. Enlightened liberal Christians might be embarrassed by these associations and point out that the original New Testament word, “metanoia” means to “change your mind” or “turn around.” “Hey, you – turn around!” I don’t know. Does this way of putting it convey the same urgency as “repent?” Or the moral sense, that we’ve done wrong? The first chapter of Mark’s Gospel has John “proclaiming a Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin.”
Fountain of the Baptism of Christ, in front of the St-John church in Lyon.
I do like the way the Greek “metanoia” means not just turning away from past sins, but turning towards some new future. The theme seems to fit January. The question is, what kind of future do we expect? We set goals for ourselves and we make plans, we take baby steps to get more organized, in better shape, to finally take that vacation – to better manage our lives and hope for the best (the elections!). It’s all good, but what do we make of Jesus’ message, that the future we want or dread is not to be? “The Kingdom (management!) of God has come near, repent, and believe in his good news!” Turn towards the real future: God alone is making all things new.
I think my discomfort with the word “repent” is about my shy Norwegian let’s be humble background: I don’t want to sound like I’m the “morally superior preacher.” But it’s not me who says it, it’s Jesus. And he doesn’t just say it – in some sense, he does it. John proclaims a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin,” and Jesus himself steps forward to receive it! He identifies with us, he says by what he does: “I’m with you. You will have life from me.” He begins his preaching on repentance by taking his stand with us, on our behalf.
As individuals and families, let’s repent. The readings we’ll hear in worship this month invite us to consider God’s call on our whole lives – and special speakers / bulletin inserts to consider our pattern of giving. As a congregation, we also repent. The council has been discussing the next few years, and how we can stay close to God’s call for us at this time and place. Review the “vision” article – there will be opportunities to raise questions and learn more during special forums.
Filed under pastor
Christmas Gala Concert 2011
O Come all ye Faithful
Emmanuel
1st Noel / Pachelbel’s Canon
Away in a Manger (kids)
Joy to the World
the Lord shall come
the People who walked in darkness
Come now O Prince of Peace
Grace Road – Silent Night
Grace Road – O Come All Ye Faithful
Pavanne for a Silent Night
Christmas Lullaby
Before the Marvel of this Night
A Little child shall lead them
Sing of Mary
Christmas for Cowboys
Christmas Cookies
Two step round the Christmas tree
Angels we have heard on high
Away in a Manger
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Silent Night
Unto us a Child is born
Filed under Audio
December 18th Lessons & Carols
The Lord shall come and not be slow
The people who walked in darkness
Unto us is born a son
Christmas Lullaby
Angels we have heard on high
Filed under Audio
