Thursday, December 4, 2014

Chapel service at Luther Seminary ~ October 21, 2014

I was asked by the Emmaus group to be a guest preacher at Luther Seminary on October 21, 2014 for a celebration of National Coming Out day.  It was a pleasure to share the Word with folks.  Here is the link.  You will need to go to the Youtube play list and click on the October 21 service.  Let me know what you think of the message.  Pr B

Lord, have mercy

After spending part of my morning standing in solidarity with transgender high school youth, I still find myself baffled by how out of reach justice and equality remain.  Or maybe, we are out of touch.  Out of touch with the realities of equality and justice that should be a part of this world in which Jesus lived, died, and lived again.  A world where God is ever present, yet somehow overlooked when what God has to say is counter to what one believes to be true.

Yes, the Minnesota State High School League created space for trans* youth to participate in sports based on their gender identity.  This is good news.  http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/12/04/transgender-athletes-policy-vote

And, and there is also this:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/03/religious-reactions-eric-garner_n_6264266.html?utm_hp_ref=religion 

I do not claim to know all the answers to all the questions related to equality and justice.  But I do know that our systems are broken and in desperate need of repair. 

God help us to stand in solidarity for justice and equality for all your creation ... especially against systems that are stacked against our fellow human beings of all ages, colors, creeds, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, ... ... and the list goes on and on and on, without exception.

Just a few thoughts,
Pr B

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Ashes to New Life

This all started on Ash Wed, 2014.  So, as a not-so-gentle reminder of why we worship this Holy Week and take the time to remember and bring glory to God, I share this:

ASH WEDNESDAY, 2014 by Rev. Brenda L. Froisland

We gather this night to start a new season.
To look from God’s birth ~
to a story of treason.

A story of challenges, secrets, and lies.
A story of truth telling, betrayals and cries.

“Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”
Said by Messiah,
who saves me
who saves you.


But first there are lessons to look at this Lent.
To explore and to ponder.
To learn what he meant. 
To love one another, to serve as I do.
To love one beyond the way I ~ love you.


The Spirit I give you to help you to love.
My Spirit, my story, to give you a shove.
A shove to be truth tellers, prophets, a voice.
To tell of a Savior who loves all,
by choice.


No fighting. No fleeing ~ when officials, they came.
Jesus,

gave up his freedom
to glory God’s name.

To show us how power is not about might.
Not about war, and not about strife.

No,
power is different than what people claim.
Power,
is love.

Stated simple and plain.

To love one another so much as to give up one’s own life, so that others, may live.
Jesus intended to do just that thing.
To go to Jerusalem, and die by our sin.

Yes,
we are the sinners
we commit dia-side.

Killing God’s son, caught up in our pride.

Lucky for us, the story moves on.
From life, into death,
and life ~ with our God.


So we gather - this night to start a new season.
To be humble, to pray, to con-fess our treason.

To be marked by a cross.
To listen. 
To learn.
Remember ~ you are dust.  And to dust, we return.


We are but creatures created by God.
Gathering dust, she breathed life into sod.

God gave us new life we learn of this Lent
So we take our place
humble servants,
repent.


We reflect and we pray.
We take time to ponder.
Sent to go out to share as we wander.

Love God,
love another,
Remember what’s given.
Our Savior,
this love,
makes our life
worth living.


Yes, we are dust, and to dust we return.
Created by breath ... God’s Word which we yearn for
in our humility, we are forgiven.
Our sins wiped clean, our lives become leaven.


So rise up, go forth, feed hungry and poor
Share power in love, invite others indoors for
we are God’s children, the ones who will praise.
The one’s who go out and serve God all our days.


To worship, to love, to praise and to nourish
To share a new power, that evil may perish.
Power is love.  Stated simple and plain.
Let us be that love ... and glory God’s name.