Category: Religion

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Seasons

Filming a b-roll segment for Easter worship

Six months ago, I had my feet firmly planted in the written word. I was writing every day and attending writing workshops. I even formed a critique group with some local writers to boost my writing game. My daily routine consisted of journaling, editing manuscripts, outlining story concepts, reading books on writing, researching material for my own work, and a healthy dose of recreational reading. I had set some ambitious goals for 2020 where my writing was concerned and up until about March, I was tracking well with them.

We all know what happened in March: A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. Who could have seen that coming? At first, it wasn’t anything I needed to worry about. I was a full-time writer after all. My daily routine was one of solitude, so all it really meant was that my husband and I would get more take out as opposed to dining out.

After about a week of lockdown, I had trouble falling asleep one night and my mind did what it usually does: it occupied itself with a ridiculous number of things that would continue to keep me awake rather than help me fall asleep. At this point, it was becoming clear we would be in this lockdown status for at least a few weeks and my mind wandered over to my church community. I had been planning a worship service for our youth for Easter Sunday, so worship had been on my mind. Then I began to think about how my church might worship if we couldn’t meet in person.

What if there was something I could do while we waited for a safe return to church? It quickly dawned on me what I needed to do. I threw off the covers and went to my computer and sent an email to my pastor. I don’t know why the Holy Spirit insisted I do that instead of waiting until morning but I’ve long since learned to just go with Him.

Many years ago, I fancied myself a filmmaker. I was good at it but making movies didn’t pay the bills and my circle of filmmaking friends began to disburse, myself included. I kept a camera and some other gear, but it had been years since I’d used any of it for regular work. I figured the pandemic would be a great opportunity to dust it all off and make a few videos for my church while we were in this temporary status…

Temporary, such a deceptive word.

Here we are in July; not weeks but months later with many more months on the horizon. I’m still writing every day though only in my journal. I’m not outlining stories or editing manuscripts; I’m editing videos and mixing music. My days of solitude have been traded in for production shoots and recording sessions. My church sanctuary has been turned into a sound stage where I film segments for online worship. I’m learning the ins and outs of audio engineering so I can record our worship band. I’ve had to relearn aspects of video production as tools and technology have come a long way since my days of making movies.

At first, I struggled. I felt guilty for working so hard on my writing only to abandon it so quickly to answer the call for video ministry. But my pastor sister reminded me that we all have seasons in our lives. More than a decade ago, I was in a filmmaking season which prepared me for the work I am doing today. My writing isn’t going anywhere. In fact, I’ve been writing since about the sixth grade and throughout all the many seasons in my life, I have returned to it numerous times as I’m sure I will again.

I hate wearing face masks, I’m saddened that museums and libraries remain closed, I’m frustrated that I can’t play boardgames with my friends. This pandemic has thrown a wrench in everyone’s plans, so I am no different.

And yet..

I have rediscovered my love of video production. I have been reminded how simple, little elements of picture and sound can be combined to create beautiful and meaningful works of art. I have seen the transformative power worship can bring to a faith community in forced isolation. It occurred to me I was prepared for this time, this season in my life. God made sure I would know what to do when this time came, and I am grateful to have a purpose when so many are lost. I am looking forward to the day when I can return to my writing solitude but until then, I am choosing to find the joy in this most unusual of seasons.

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Devotions

As part of serving on my church council, I periodically have to give a devotion prior to starting one of our monthly meetings. My turn came up this week and I did what any resourceful Christian would do; I asked my sister, who is a Lutheran Pastor, for some help.

I’m currently in the middle of a bible study on Thessalonians so I had a good place to start. I also follow a remarkable Anglican priest on Twitter who posts little gems and nuggets of awesomeness almost daily. Add some spice from my sister and I came up with the following:

First Thessalonians is believed to be one of the Apostle Paul’s earliest letters. It was co-written by Silas and Timothy while they were in Corinth during his first missionary journey.

1 Thessalonians 2:5-8 As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

Daniel Brereton is an Anglican priest from Ontario and recently posted this on Twitter: When people say they are too hurt or angry to believe in God or that they simply don’t believe, I just accept that. I don’t try and “slip God in another way” with theological argument or spiritual platitude as if God was some kind of drug I’m determined to slip into their drink. What I DO offer them is the one thing that they are open to at that moment – myself. I try to listen in order to understand, not simply to reply. I apologize where I think it’s needed and wanted. I show concern for their present state, not for their future in church or in heaven. They may no longer believe in a loving God – but I do – so I offer what I believe God has sent to them: me; my time; my empathy; a human presence to say “I see you. I hear you. I care about you. I’m here with you.” I believe it’s what Jesus meant when he said “follow me”.

Jesus was all about relationships. In every encounter he had with people, he offered himself, and in so doing, he gave them God’s love.

A piece of Christ resides in all of us for those times when church may be too big for a fragile moment. We were created in His image so that when those moments arise, we can be examples and imitators of the one who made us. It’s an incredibly vulnerable thing to do, but when people come to us, broken or otherwise, we can show them God’s love simply by being our true self. We don’t need a scripture passage, a committee, or an elegant facility to be what God calls us to be in the moment.

As followers of Christ’s example, sharing ourselves, our stories, our experiences of God at work in our lives is the most important thing we can give to one another. I believe that is how we follow Jesus.

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Sawubona

Joe Davis and David Scherer at Holden Village 2019

I see you. I hear you. You matter.

My trip to Holden Village had been on the books for nearly a year but I didn’t give much thought as to what I would do when I got there. I brought along my hiking gear knowing that would always be an option. I brought an e-reader loaded with books in case I had down time but I didn’t think I would (and I really didn’t). I knew there would be time for bible study and session work but I wasn’t sure if any of it would interest me when the time came.

Every summer season, Holden Village brings in speakers from around the world to lecture or workshop on a variety of topics. Each season is different giving guests a unique experience every time they sojourn to the village. I didn’t look at who would be presenting while I was there and figured I’d go wherever the spirit called me.

Joe Davis and David Scherer led a series of workshops exploring race and faith in our church and in our world. Most of their workshops conflicted with the village choir practice so I didn’t get to attend all of their presentations. It was Wednesday before I had a break from choir and could sit in on what they came to talk about.

They started with Sawubona, a Zulu greeting which translates to “I see you”, a far more meaningful greeting than a simple “hello”. Sawubona says “I see who you are personally, your humanity, dignity, and respect”. I’d never heard of it before but I quickly recognized the power of understanding behind it.

Whenever anyone finished speaking at one of their workshops, those in attendance would collectively respond, “We see you. We hear you. You matter.” It was a way of acknowledging the individual’s contribution to the discussion even if what they said was uncomfortable or caused dissention.

It’s easy to do something like this in a faith setting in a remote village in the mountains. Places like Holden draw a certain type of person; one generally open to new ideas and ways of connecting to “other” people.

I began to wonder what it would be like if Sawubona was used in government. What if after every member in the house or senate spoke, the group collectively responded with “we see you, we hear, you, you matter”? What if when every candidate finished speaking at a debate, the other candidates responded with “We see you, we hear you, you matter”? Think of what kind of example that would set to those watching. Would they stop and listen? Would they consider the words of their advisories? Or would Sawubona morph into a platitude spoken with no intention of understanding?

While I don’t serve in government (nor do I have any desire to do so), I can apply Sawubona in my own life. There are times when I make remarks on social media that others don’t agree with. I have often been attacked personally for my views and opinions and yes even facts I’ve presented. Since my trek to Holden Village, I have been trying even harder to temper my responses and consider Sawubona. This person attacking me matters, the sum of their life experiences has led them to a place of disagreement with me but that doesn’t negate either one of us. I matter, they matter, we all matter.

But what happens when Sawubona isn’t reciprocated? I’m not gonna lie, that’s the part I struggle with. It’s frustrating to no end when I extend understanding but don’t receive it in return. I can’t control what someone else says, does, or even believes. Yet if I want something better, something more, I have to be the example. I have to model the change I want to see in others.

I encourage all of you reading this to consider Sawubona as you go about your daily lives. Perhaps finding common ground in these adversarial times starts with a simple acknowledgement of the other: I see you. I hear you. You matter!

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Holden Village Retreat

This summer I had planned on spending an abundance of time on my myriad of writing projects but I had forgotten how distracting summer sunshine can be. Between camping trips, kayaking, family parties, and church events, my summer writing time has just slipped away. While I may not have spent as much time as I would have liked inside on my computer working, I can’t say my time was wasted.

One of the primary activities I had scheduled for this summer was a week long trip to Holden Village with several members of my church family. I knew this trip would be one of renewal and inspiration even though I’d never been to Holden before.

Holden Village was once a small copper mining town located deep in the North Cascade Mountains. Long after the mine closed, the village was turned over to a Lutheran school and has since been used as a spiritual retreat center. To say it is remote is an understatement. Getting to Holden requires a drive up the shores of Lake Chelan, a two hour boat ride to Lucerne, then a ten mile bus ride up a mountain and deep into the wilderness.

Holden is off the grid literally. They draw and treat their water from Copper Creek and operate their own hydroelectric plant. There is zero cell reception, no television, minimal internet (barely enough to check your email on a computer located in the village library), and almost no way for guests to reach the outside world during their stay.

Guest accommodations are simple rustic lodge rooms complete with a sink and mice if you don’t seal up your food. Bathrooms are communal and located on each floor. Meals are served cafeteria style in the dining hall and the menu is largely vegetarian. Several days a week the village operates a snack bar where guests can buy ice cream provided you schedule your activities when the bar is open.

Lodge 4 at Holden Village

Every evening at Holden Village, a vespers service is held where the entire community gathers for a short time. Announcements are made and blessings are given to new arrivals and those about to depart.

My first few days at Holden I carried my phone around with me out of habit. I took pictures with it but I don’t generally take a lot of photos with my phone. After a few days I noticed I began to leave my phone behind. I did not miss it.

I spent my time attending sessions with speakers from around the world who gave insight and twists on bible stories I’d heard since I was a kid. I ate meals with my extended church family. I went hiking and explored the natural area around the village. I played board games and sang songs.

With each passing day, I felt renewed and refreshed. I was eager for the next day, not because it put me one step closer to eventually going home, but because I had no idea what the next day would teach me about myself, my family, and our place in the larger world.

I saw an abundance of deer and ground squirrels. I saw what wildfire can do to a forest. I saw bears. I saw the efforts of a major mining company in their cleanup of Railroad Creek which had been contaminated by the old copper mine. I saw new life. I saw the stars.

While I was eager to return home for some much needed protein I really didn’t want to return to the greater world. I didn’t want to return to news of shootings, injustice, corruption and pollution. I found such peace and tranquility in those mountains and sometimes the real world sucks.

Reentry was an adjustment but I was only gone a week so it wasn’t long before my phone was back in my pocket at all times and I was in the grove of my normal routine. Yet a piece of Holden has stayed with me. I don’t know how long I can keep that spark inside lit but I hope to share with you a few of the things I picked up on my pilgrimage. Stay tuned for more about my trip to Holden in the coming weeks.

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The Next Generation

Tonight I will have the privilege of working with some junior high and high school students as they prepare to lead worship on Easter morning. A few weeks ago several of them gathered to learn a song they would play on hand chimes. About half of them had a strong grasp of music theory while others had very little experience. When I asked who could read music, the front row was quite to respond in the affirmative while the back row hesitated. Without hesitation, every player in the front row turned around to help and guide someone in the back row. I didn’t ask them to do this; they saw their peers struggling and immediately offered to help. I wish I could have captured that moment on camera because it gave me such hope for the future.

Many young people today have taken to the streets demanding change and accountability. Too many of these kids have faced scorn and ridicule from their elders. It’s been suggested these kids have no idea what goes on in the “real world”. While I agree these kids don’t have the benefit of a lifetime of experience, I think they have seen and experienced enough of the “real world” to date and their demands for change should be heard. These kids have to face lock-down drills and potential shooters in their next class. These kids have to plan an exit strategy should the worst happen during a chemistry test or a band rehearsal.

They could be better people, crack down on bullying and be more inclusive; at least that’s what they’ve been told by adults who do no such thing. For their sake and my own I hope they don’t give up. I hope they realize the most powerful weapon they could ever have is their voice and I hope they continue to use their voice for positive change in a world jaded and corrupted by power and greed.

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Give and Take in Lent

For those who may not be aware, we are currently in the season of Lent. Lent is a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins with Ash Wednesday and lasts about six weeks. Lent concludes with the celebration of Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Church services during Lent tend to be dreary with depressing music about death and sacrifice as it is a build up to what Christ endured on Good Friday (the crucifixion). Many Christians give up something for Lent, make their own sacrifice in honor of the great sacrifice God made for us through Christ.

I’ve never been one to practice this tradition as it’s not any kind of requirement in the Lutheran faith. I have given it some thought over the years and I can’t seem to come up with something worthy of sacrifice. My salvation has already come through the cross, I am saved by grace so what’s the point of giving something up? Still, there’s something about a daily reminder though sacrifice during the season of Lent that intrigues me.

About a week into Lent it occurred to me that I had abstained from drinking soda. I wasn’t planning on cutting soda out of my diet completely just scaling back my intake of it. Perhaps I could give up soda for Lent as my sacrifice. As I considered this, I felt it wasn’t actually much of a sacrifice on my part. While soda sure tastes good, it certainly isn’t good for me. It has no nutritional value whatsoever so what kind of sacrifice is it to give up something I shouldn’t really have in the first place?

Something new I’ve heard this year as an alternative to giving something up is to take something up. That something could be community service, outreach, giving money to causes, or some other positive change. This to me is far more inspiring than a simple sacrifice. This concept also provides an opportunity to look at my soda deprivation not as a sacrifice but as taking up healthier options during the season of Lent. Taking better care of myself is a way I can honor God.

Jesus not only gave up his human life on Earth, he took up the cross for all sin. The least I can do during the season of Lent is make a daily acknowledgment of that. I look forward to celebrating Easter…with a Coke!

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The Bible Tells Me So…or does it?

I’ve recently talked about my faith and it’s no secret I was raised in an ELCA Lutheran church. I admit however that my knowledge of the Bible is atrocious. There are key things I was taught growing up and I’ve used those keys as a measure against anything that tests my faith. While this works well for me, I realize others need a more specific foundation and often turn to the Bible for answers. Note: My ‘keys’ are also in the Bible, see Matthew 22:36-40

My home church is in the process of becoming a Reconciled in Christ congregation. Basically that means we will openly welcome those among the LGBTQ community. Gloria Dei is already a welcoming community but becoming an R.I.C. congregation puts us on a list and makes it known that we accept anyone regardless of sexual identity or orientation. Part of this process involves studying the Bible and understanding what it says and doesn’t say about homosexuality.

Being the good scholarly type that I am, I attended Sunday School on the day all of this was unpacked for us. We talked at length about various Bible passages, what they mean in context to when they were written and how some things don’t culturally apply today. A few days ago I went back over the material and pulled out my own study Bible to see what it had to say. It turns out that not all Bibles are created equal.

One of the verses presented in Sunday School had slightly different verbiage than my own Bible. After a quick BibleHub.com search I discovered most translations had this verse translated one of two ways. The verse in question is Genesis 19:5. Chapter 19 of Genesis is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, a story often used to support the notion that homosexuality is a sin. This particular verse is the instance when the men of Sodom come to Lot’s house and demand he turn over his guests so that they may “know them” in one translation or “have sex with them” in another. The first instance doesn’t necessarily imply sexual intent and the second implies rape not consensual sex between men. I have read and reread that story and found no basis for the notion that homosexual behavior was the reason for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. In fact, Genesis 19 never even mentions sexual immorality of any kind. My study bible had notations about this verse (Gen 19:5) which directed me to other passages in the Bible. Upon reading those verses and looking at the notations for them, the publisher draws what I believe to be a false conclusion and redirects the reader back to Genesis 19:5 as evidence, specifically that homosexuality is a sin.

I used a lifeline and phoned a pastor about my discovery and she laughed at me and told me to get a less conservative study Bible. Up until that point I had never really considered publisher bias in “the Good Book”. I know bias exists everywhere which includes the authors of the various books of the Bible. I had foolishly assumed that since this was a study bible, the notations were written from a scholarly perspective which would include arguments for both sides of an interpretation. In the case of the Zondervan NIV Study Bible copy written in 1984, this is simply not how the information is presented.

I might have been able to dismiss this one instance but I continued with the R.I.C. material and moved on to other verses used as bludgeons against the LGBTQ community. I again found another notation where a conclusion is drawn based on the translated scripture passage without taking into consideration the entirety of the passage, only a single verse! (Romans 1:27)

Ultimately the point I’m trying to make is not that you can’t trust the word of the Lord but that you have to look at more than one translation and more than one publisher’s conclusion about what those words mean. This is by no means an easy task and I am anxiously awaiting the delivery of two additional study Bibles so that I may continue to draw my own conclusions.

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Community

I don’t talk about my faith much outside of church and those that don’t know me in a sacred setting might find my faith surprising. As a fan of science and science fiction alike, I am known for rational thinking and evidence based conclusions. Religion often doesn’t provide much of a foundation with either category. So how do I reconcile faith and reason? I’m not sure I can answer that in one blog post but I’ll start with the faith community I was raised in.

Recently I have been working on a documentary style video for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. The celebration was held on Sunday, December 10th and the video was a huge success. In just over fifteen minutes, I managed to squeeze in the history of the church as well as highlight some of the ministries most important to the Gloria Dei community.

I’ve been using the word community a lot lately as I’ve come to realize how important it is to have , especially a faith based one. I was baptized at Gloria Dei and the people there are more than just fellow Christians, they’re family. I’ve always known that should anything happen to my own family, I have a community at Gloria Dei who would be there to support me in every way possible. It wasn’t until I started working on this video that I realized how truly special and unique Gloria Dei is.

I had a great circle of friends in high school but I rarely see any of them as an adult. I had amazing relationships with the men and women I served with while in the Navy yet now I only see them on social media. I connected with the film community while studying at Shoreline Community College. It’s been several years since my last collaborative film project and I haven’t worked with any of those people since. All of these communities were a part of my everyday life for the years I was among them. While I suspect many from those groups would attend my funeral should the unthinkable happen next week, few are likely to show up at my door and hang out on a random Friday night.

Yet throughout my entire life, my community at Gloria Dei has always been there because my faith has always been with me. The strength and depth of my faith in God was nurtured in me by a community of believers in Alderwood Manor, Washington. While many have come and gone over the years (even I have gone away and come back a few times) the sense of family has remained.

So how do people without a church community connect in deep meaningful ways to people outside their family? What does community look like when it’s purely secular? For me, it’s transitory, limited, fun but lacking depth. Like I mentioned before, I had a sense of community in high school, in the navy, and at college but those communities were limited to specific places and times in my life. At graduation, at end of service, at the project’s completion, those communities faded away. There was nothing to link my connection to those people for the duration of my life. I have good relationships with many of those people but they don’t play an active part in my everyday life today. In fact reconnecting with some of them is sometimes awkward because our lives have gone in very different directions since our last meeting.

That’s not to say the people of Gloria Dei are perfect. Like every family, it struggles with difference of opinion, personality conflicts, and balancing tradition with innovation. But our faith connects us in a unique and special way. Each of us comes to the table with the desire to serve the Lord and serve each other in a positive way. When we run into trouble, our faith demands that we listen to each other and find where God wants us to go. Sometimes the struggles are too much for some and they walk away for a little while, sometimes for good. But always, that community is there, waiting should anyone feel called to return home.

I believe there is a place for everyone at Gloria Dei, sinners and saints alike. Whether you come from a Lutheran background, or no church background at all, the community, the family of Gloria Dei stands ready to welcome you should you brave the threshold of its doors.

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The Last Time…

On Sunday, All Saints Day as it were, a person I have known my whole life lost her battle with cancer. Since her passing I have been thinking about the last time I saw her and at the time I didn’t know it would be the last time. It was probably a Wednesday evening; it was probably a bell rehearsal. I imagine that was the last time many in my church community saw her. None of us, not even she knew it would be for the last time.

Many things we do in life for the last time we don’t always realize it will be the last time to do it. None of us think about the last time we wore a diaper or drank from a bottle as child. Those “last times” are probably more significant to our parents but even those last times are important as they mark an end of one phase of growing and the beginning of another.

For all of us there will be a last time to drive a car, play in a park, and see a movie. On the day my friend passed, she was preceded by a church full of people in Texas who woke up that morning for the last time. None of them realized they were going to church for the last time, saying prayers and praising God for the last time. Had they known that any of those things would be their “last time” would they have done something different? Eaten something different for breakfast, driven a little slower, maybe slept in a little longer?

The next time you hold a door for a stranger could be the last time they enter that building. The next time you wave to your neighbor could be the last time they see you. The next time you smile at a homeless man, yours could be the last face they ever see. What have any of us to lose by making our everyday actions count for something? And what do we gain by making an effort to be better people?

The truth is most of us never get to know when our last time for anything will be. We shouldn’t wait for a mass shooting or the death of a friend to help a stranger, to stop and smell the roses, or slow down in our chaotic lives and appreciate all that we have. When our last breath comes, when our heart beats for the last time, it’s too late to make a legacy, too late to say all that went unsaid, too late to make right any wrong we leave behind. We all need to live as if our last time to do anything is now because the “next time” is never guaranteed.

Rest in peace my friend.

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A Lego Reformation

This year marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Reformation. This is kind of a big deal for Lutherans, the followers of Martin Luther’s teachings. To celebrate the anniversary my church held a Reformation fair during Sunday school. I was asked to create a Lego mosaic of the Luther rose that could be assembled during the event. I jumped at the opportunity. Of course I’d jump at just about any opportunity to work with Lego!

I wasn’t the first to attempt such a feat. A quick internet search came up with this design which is amazing…and a bit expensive. I’m all about go big or go home but when the church is footing the bill, I must take a more practical approach. Instead of the 5×5 32 stud base plates I scaled the design down to 3×3. Keep in mind these baseplates alone cost $7.99 apiece.

I searched online for a good picture of the Luther Rose that I could use to create my pattern and found one easily. In the past I used a program called Legoaizer to create patterns for mosaics. I simply import the image and the program does all the work. This time, however, I wanted to limit the number of colors and edit the design. I couldn’t do that with my program so I was stuck…for all of a minute. I also dabble in cross stich and last year I downloaded a program called PC Stitch that does the exact same thing for stitching as Legoaizer does for Lego mosaics. I imported my image and set the parameters and there was my rose! PC Stitch let me edit individual stitches or in this case Lego studs to the colors and configurations I wanted. Here is the final pattern!

The biggest challenge to a project like this is coming up with the actual brick. It’s difficult to calculate how much of any one size and color pieces needed unless I broke down the pattern as such. I knew the kids who would be assembling this wouldn’t want to be slowed down by having to following a pattern so closely. I had to guess. I spent several days sorting bricks in my private collection and when I came up short, I went to BrickLink for the rest. I guessed I’d be short on some things but I didn’t want to over order parts, again to keep costs low.

I did all the work in black. By having the outline done, the kids could grab the right color plate of any size and get to work without much instruction, and they needed no instructions! Needless to say the project was a huge success. I ended up being short on the white pieces at the fair but thankfully I had enough spare parts at home to finish the rose.

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