For all the saints

Pentecost 10: Luke 12: 13-21

¹³Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” ¹⁴But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” ¹⁶Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. ¹⁷And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ ¹⁸Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ ²⁰But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ ²¹So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

Translation:  Someone out of the crowd said to him, "Teacher, speak to my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  But he said to him, "Man, who placed me judge or divider over you?"  And he said to them, "See and guard from all greed, for someone's life is not in the abundance of possessions."

But he said a parable to them, saying, "The region of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully.  And he was reasoning in himself, saying, 'What might I do, for I do not have a place where I will store my fruits.'  And he said, 'I will do this:  I will pull down my barns and I will build greater.  And there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I will say to my life, 'Life, you have many goods laid up into many years.  Rest, eat, drink, be merry.' 

But God said to him, 'Fool.  This night your life is demanded from you, and the things you have, whose will they be?'  This (is) the one laying up treasures for himself and not being rich into God.'"

¹³Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” ¹⁴But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” ¹⁶Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. ¹⁷And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ ¹⁸Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ ²⁰But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ ²¹So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

Translation:  Someone out of the crowd said to him, "Teacher, speak to my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  But he said to him, "Man, who placed me judge or divider over you?"  And he said to them, "See and guard from all greed, for someone's life is not in the abundance of possessions."

But he said a parable to them, saying, "The region of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully.  And he was reasoning in himself, saying, 'What might I do, for I do not have a place where I will store my fruits.'  And he said, 'I will do this:  I will pull down my barns and I will build greater.  And there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I will say to my life, 'Life, you have many goods laid up into many years.  Rest, eat, drink, be merry.' 

But God said to him, 'Fool.  This night your life is demanded from you, and the things you have, whose will they be?'  This (is) the one laying up treasures for himself and not being rich into God.'"

Today is the Commemoration Day for Johann Sebastian Bach, Enjoy this wonderful series produced by the BBC

Fifteen homes at Bails Townhome Community dedicated yesterday, Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Fifteen (15) of twenty-four (24) townhomes in the new Bails Townhome Community, a project of Metro Denver Habitat for Humanity, were dedicated yesterday.  Fifteen families, who come from thirteen different countries of origin, will now have a safe and decent place to live.

Thanks goes especially to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans which contributed over $450,000 to the project, and sponsored five of the fifteen homes in partnership with the Holy Hammers Coalition. 

Holy Hammers started in 1995.  Composed primarily of ELCA churches, Holy Hammers has now completed 26 Habitat houses in partnership with Metro Denver Habitat.  Holy Hammers is now headed by our own Joann Beckmann.

It seems only yesterday that I went to one of the early meetings.  It was in a conference room in the Northwestern building at I-25 and Colorado.  We looked out on a barren lot with barely a few signs of a project just getting ready to start.  It was winter.

Yesterday, around 400 people gathered together to celebrate the work of 7000 volunteers who had helped build these 24 homes over the last five months.  Among the celebrants were Joann Beckmann, Gary Hirschboeck, Mary Chambers, David Ziegler, and Yours Truly from All Saints.  Pastor Ron Glusenkamp of Bethany Lutheran gave the blessing.  Joann and Al Horton from Holy Love spoke on behalf of Holy Hammers.

The Bails Townhome Community is the largest single project ever undertaken by Metro Denver Habitat.  It is also Habitat's first "green, transit-oriented development."  The nearest light rail station will be a short way away. 

The project also incorporated a variety of "green building components" over and above Habitat's customary commitment to energy efficiency.  This will help homeowners save hundreds of dollars per year on utility costs.

Sponsors of other homes dedicated Sunday are the Future Faith Network, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, SM Energy, Cisco and Partners, and Comcast.

More to follow.  Here's a story from Channel 9:

Top Ten Reasons Church is Cool

See article by Episcopalian, Norris Chumley:

1. The Eucharist, or Holy Communion. The bread and wine as the body and blood of Jesus Christ, God in human form, is a physical uniting with God inside. After all the prayers, chants and setting aside the self, I feel a tangible connection, a bond made between Heaven and Earth, when partaking of the Eucharist.

2. The Holy Trinity. All I can say is that the three-in-one, separate-yet-whole-at-the-same-time reality explains my continual human feeling of being separate from God, yet connected. I had learned in yoga that "All-Is-One," and that extends to Christianity in the Trinity.

3. God is human in Jesus Christ. This is also the Holy Trinity, incarnated, which means "in the flesh." The Holy Spirit, from God, becomes human in Christ. With the Eucharist or Communion, my humanness unites with God, too. Church gives me that. The experience is indescribably wonderful.

4. Love. Christ's teachings center in love for God and humanity. Despite years of problems, even wars, the central teaching of Jesus Christ is about love. I feel that love in the community of the church. I see the love of God and humanity in the service programs my church provides: homeless shelters, food and assistance for those who are in need, counseling, education, and other projects.

5. God is present in Creation. I see His infinite excellence everywhere the more I pray and attend church. Using the Jesus Prayer helps me connect to God in everything and everyone.

6. Community. After years of solitary meditation on emptiness, I love the fellowship of church. It's so cool and fun to get together with others who also love God. I've made a lot of lasting friendships at church, people who truly care, and we help each other, and we have many great times.

7. Singing hymns and chanting. Music feels like God in the form of sound waves.

8. Religious symbols. The church icons, books, candles, incense, the Cross -- all are tangible reminders to look to God, and to connect with His presence. Others in church are like living icons reminding me of God in Christ.

9. Prayers. To me, prayer is a portable connection to God. In prayer, I feel the presence of God. The Jesus Prayer particularly, used by monks and nuns, and in some churches, is especially powerful.

10. Church suppers. I love to cook, and I love to eat -- community church meals are especially fantastic. There's nothing quite like a church potluck or picnic.

Pentecost 9: Luke 11: 1-13

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” ²He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. ³Give us each day our daily bread. ⁴And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” ⁵And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ ⁷And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ ⁸I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. ⁹“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? ¹²Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? ¹³If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Translation:  And it happened, as he was praying in a certain place, just as he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples."  He said to them, "When you pray, say, 'Father, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come.  Our bread, the super-substantial, give to us each day.  And release our sins, for we ourselves release everyone who is indebted to us.  And bring us not into temptation.'"

And he said to them, "A certain one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and might say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread for my friend has come near to me from a journey and I have nothing which I will set before him.'  And that one within answered (and) might say, 'Do not give me trouble.  Even now, the door has been shut and my children are with me in bed.  I am not able to get up and give to you.'  I say to you, if he will not rise and give to him through being his friend, yet through his shamelessness, he will rise and give as much as he needs. 

And I say to you, 'Ask, and it will be given to you;  seek, and you will find;  knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone asking will receive, the one seeking will find, and to the one knocking, (it) will be opened.  But what father among you, if a children will ask bread, will not give upon him a stone, or if a fish, will he, for a fish, give him a snake?  Or, he will ask an egg, he will not give to him a scorpion?  If you then, being evil, know good gifts to give to your children, how much more the Father, the one out of heaven, will give the Holy Spirit to the ones asking him."

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” ²He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. ³Give us each day our daily bread. ⁴And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” ⁵And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ ⁷And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ ⁸I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. ⁹“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? ¹²Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? ¹³If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Translation:  And it happened, as he was praying in a certain place, just as he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples."  He said to them, "When you pray, say, 'Father, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come.  Our bread, the super-substantial, give to us each day.  And release our sins, for we ourselves release everyone who is indebted to us.  And bring us not into temptation.'"

And he said to them, "A certain one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and might say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread for my friend has come near to me from a journey and I have nothing which I will set before him.'  And that one within answered (and) might say, 'Do not give me trouble.  Even now, the door has been shut and my children are with me in bed.  I am not able to get up and give to you.'  I say to you, if he will not rise and give to him through being his friend, yet through his shamelessness, he will rise and give as much as he needs. 

And I say to you, 'Ask, and it will be given to you;  seek, and you will find;  knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone asking will receive, the one seeking will find, and to the one knocking, (it) will be opened.  But what father among you, if a children will ask bread, will not give upon him a stone, or if a fish, will he, for a fish, give him a snake?  Or, he will ask an egg, he will not give to him a scorpion?  If you then, being evil, know good gifts to give to your children, how much more the Father, the one out of heaven, will give the Holy Spirit to the ones asking him."

Bails Townhome project will be dedicated this Sunday, July 25, at 4:00

 

Kieschnick ousted as LCMS president

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is holding their triennial convention in Houston.  On Wednesday, Matthew Harrison defeated three-term president, Gerald Kieschnick.  Harrison is currently the executive director of the LCMS agency, World Relief and Human Care.

Harrison is a staunch conservative, of course, as is Kieschnick.  As is ever the case, some grumbled that Kieschnick wasn't quite conservative enough.  Plus, while both of them bashed the ELCA, Harrison seemed to do so with particular vigor.

Kieschnick managed 45% of the vote to Harrison's 54%, not a particularly bad showing for Kieschnick, all things considered.  (In the run-up to the convention, Harrison had nearly twice as many nominations.)

In other action, the LCMS re-structured its head office.  The vote was narrow, 52%-48%.  Seven boards will be consolidated down to two, saving $1.4 million, but eliminating 40 jobs.  Many were opposed because they saw the restructuring as taking power from congregations.  Others said it gave too much power to the LCMS president. 

Pentecost 8: Luke 10: 38-42

³⁸Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; ⁴²there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Translation:  And it happened, as they were going, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha gladly received him into the house.  And she had a sister named Miriam, who was sitting down beside the feet of the Lord and was listening to his word.  And Martha was being distracted concerning much service, and she went and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me alone to serve?  Then speak to her that she might help me."  And the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled concerning much, and one thing is a necessity.  For Mary picked out the good part which will not be taken away from her."

 

³⁸Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; ⁴²there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Translation:  And it happened, as they were going, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha gladly received him into the house.  And she had a sister named Miriam, who was sitting down beside the feet of the Lord and was listening to his word.  And Martha was being distracted concerning much service, and she went and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me alone to serve?  Then speak to her that she might help me."  And the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled concerning much, and one thing is a necessity.  For Mary picked out the good part which will not be taken away from her."

 

Gladys Knight sings Mercy's Arms