Tuesday, February 24: At-Tuwani, Hebron and The Tent!

At-Tuwani

At the village of At-Tuwani, where we were welcomed by Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) volunteers Janet (Scotland), Josh (Portland) and a young man from Memphis whose name escapes me. Much of the tour we were given was led by Hafez, a villager who has been subject to a good deal of harassment by the IDF (Tuwani is in area C so under both the military and civil control of Israel; as such, the State can choose whether or not to deliver civil and security services; for the most part, they choose not to do so). Hafez is the coordinator of an effort among the residents of Tuwani and surrounding villages to pursue a non-violent resistance to the settlers, who continue to harass the villagers on a regular basis.

A master plan is now in place but the areas of the village included are quite limited. They were able to build a new mosque (to replace the tent-mosque that they were using when I was there in 2006) but it was immediately slapped with a demolition order. The fate of the village school, its pride and joy, is uncertain.

While in Tuwani, we were welcomed by a large extended family full of young children who are, of course, beautiful, each and every one. While enjoying their hospitality, one of the settlers took a stroll through the nearby woods and onto the top of the hillside. That is one means by which they simply remind the villagers that they are not alone. They are being watched and are subject to whatever techniques of psychological and physical intimidation and harassment the settlers choose to mete out.

From tea at the top of the hill, we walked down to the Women’s Cooperative to enjoy an abudant lunch and to learn more about the life and work of the CPT volunteers. Though the story of the women’s cooperative is still told, the shop is now referred to as a “museum” as that term makes the men feel more comfortable with the women’s enterprise. After a little shopping to support the “museum,” we were off to Hebron: City of Hamas!

Hebron
We met Marcus and Shari, two EAPPI (Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel) volunteers working in Hebron. Marcus, who had hoped to be assigned to Jerusalem, referred to the city as “this godforsaken place,” clearly unhappy with the assignment and eager for any respite from his work! However, he continues to do the work that he has been called to do, accompanying children to school and doing his best to see that they come and go safely with as little harassment as possible from soldiers and settlers. When I mentioned Abu Hani, who had been our tour guide at the mosque in 2006, Shari made a quick call. In no time, his son (Hani, of course) appeared. Apparently, his father died shortly after our visit. Hani sells Arabic coffee on the street, which people drink from thin little plastic cups (though I don’t know quite how they tolerate the heat!). Hani seemed to appreciate making a connection with people who held fond memories of his father.

In contrast to my last visit, we did not witness any settler violence firsthand. In fact, while the old souk is still pretty well closed down, the newer parts of the city seem to be experiencing new life. People were out and about. Vendors were hawking their wares (including some beautiful strawberries that could compete with California’s best). We visited the Hebron Rehabilitation Center which has done much to restore the treasured edifices of this ancient city.

We did tour the mosque, which now has three checkpoints instead of one. The women donned the obligatory “Hogwarts” or “Ewok” brown hooded cloaks. We heard the story of Baruch Goldstein’s massacre of 29 people at prayer in 1994 and viewed the bullet marks left on the stone pillars. On the other side of Abraham’s tomb stands a synagogue. For ten days each year, the Jews vacate the synagogue and the Muslims are allowed to go on both sides in order to visit the tomb of Jacob. One month during the year, the Muslims vacate the premises and the Jewish congregation is allowed to visit Isaac’s tomb. I did not remember hearing previously that, in mosques, women are on the left side facing the front and men on the right because that is the configuration in which Abraham and Sarah are buried.

While we were in a bit of a hurry to be on our way, we stopped in the souk, to do some brief shopping at a stored operated by two women. I had hoped to find an embroidered vest or jacket but it was a bit of a goldilocks experience: they were either too big or too small. Instead, I chose a strikingly beautifully embroidered black shawl.

As we were making our way out of the souk, six IDF soldiers came through “on maneuvers,” swinging their automatic weapons around corners like a scene out of Law & Order. Before we had left the souk, the soldiers had about a half dozen young Palestinian men up against a wall, searching them. IF I can recover the photos that were inadvertently deleted from my camera disk, I should have some interesting shots of these actions. It was pretty un-nerving, particularly since most of the soldiers kept their fingers resting on their weapons’ triggers.
Before leaving for Bethlehem, we had time for a quick visit to the Hebron glass factory, where I found a few treasures and a larger chalice to replace the loaves and fishes one that is cracked. (That’s for you, Mary O!) I hope I can get it all home in one piece!

Dinner and The Tent
After dinner back at the ICB, we went out to The Tent, a popular local hangout. It’s called The Tent because it is, well, a tent. After the building was destroyed repeatedly, the owner decided to replace it with a tent. It’s a big, warm and friendly place with a bit of a Mexican flair - at least in the furniture and upholstery. At The Tent, we met several of the other YAGMs (Young Adults in Global Mission) along with Martin and Suzanne Schoffner, the country coordinators for the program. It was great to hear about the work that a couple of the young women are doing at the school at Beit Sahour as well as learning more about life as a Young Adult (Woman) in Global Mission based in Jerusalem.

One challenge faced by those who are working at the schools is that some of the older teachers are still not entirely on board with discipline that employs time outs and the like. Occasionally, they break up fights with a good whack (not exactly the most effective way to teach nonviolent reconciliation skills!). Those placed in schools also indicated that they have picked up more illnesses from their students than they’ve had in recent years. We agreed that they are are cute little petri dishes with legs!

PS

Monday, February 23: Ramallah and Beyond

The Dome of the Rock

We got an early start in order to visit the Dome of the Rock, which is open for only very limited hours. Security, of course, was tight throughout; one enters the Haraam/Temple Mount via a series or ramps from which one can see excavations in process as well as riot shields stacked up and ready at a moment’s notice. I’d long heard that it is a very peaceful place; that is indeed the case. It’s heart-rending to realize – to see – how a place so holy to so many has become such a center of conflict.

Ramallah
After leaving the Old City, we went to Ramallah to visit the Lutheran School and Church of Hope. There, we chatted with David Tannous and his son, Ashraf, who is on internship from seminary in Beirut. Church of Hope’s Pastor Ansara and his family are in Norway on sabbatical; while there, Mrs. Ansara gave birth to preemie twins. Word is that they are doing well. In their absence, Ashraf and others are filling the pulpit and tending to the details of ministry.

David is delightful, holds dual citizenship in Palestine and the US and obtained his college education in Florida (his mother’s brother had lived in the US since 1900). He served 6 years in the US Army before meeting and marrying his wife. The couple then returned to Palestine where they have since lived and raised their family. Currently, David's son, Ashraf, is filling in with preaching and other duties, including teaching religion class in the school and tutoring an Islamic man who wishes to convert to Christianity. After enjoying lunch with the Tannouses, we went on to visit the tomb of Yasser Arafat.

Arafat’s Tomb

I found the setting remarkably peaceful and dignified and the soldiers on duty to be most polite and helpful. (They very gently instructed us to leave all but our cameras in the bus.) Legend has it that Yasser Arafat’s body is not on site but rather somewhere in Europe, awaiting transfer to Jerusalem once a Palestinian state has been established with Jerusalem as its capitol. From the setting of the tomb, we could see the Palestinian Authority Headquarters with Abu Mazen’s photo above the main entrance. I thought of Bishop Schreiber’s story of being picked up by PLA personnel and entering the compound to meet with Palestinian President Abbas’ chief of staff in preparation for the Bishops’ Academy…

The ELCJHL’s Environmental Education Center

From Ramallah, we traveled to the ELCJHL’s Environmental Education Center located at Talitha Kumi School. We learned from Chelsea’s roommate, Kendra (a Berkeley grad) about the center’s programs, including an innovative water use and preservation project, bird banding endeavor, current educational programs and hopes for the future. The Center also hosts the only museum of natural history in the area which features specimens from the early 20th century and beyond. (This Chicago-area native took quick notice of two “pickled babies” on display.)
From where we stood overlooking the valley below, we could see the Wall winding its way through the countryside and, on a hilltop to one side, the massive settlement of Gilo; what was once a hillside covered with trees is now covered with uniformly constructed settlement homes.

Exploring Bethlehem and Beit Jala

After enjoying a little down time and some scarf and kaffiyeh shopping (Chelsea has her own “scarf guy” who, conveniently, has a brother with a shop around the corner!), we went over to the Church of the Reformation, Abraham’s Herberge and the Lutheran Boys’ Home in Beit Jala. There, we had a very informative visit with Pastor Jadallah and his right hand man, “our ‘Lutheran Muslim,’” Mohammed, who grew up in the boys home and now serves as secretary to Pastor Jadallah.

Of course, we were offered tea, coffee and cookies, which we enjoyed while learning about the history and programs of the community, including the Movement of the Children of Abraham (an interfaith peace effort), Abraham’s Tent (an after school program for children in Deheisheh Refugee camp) and the music and arts programs (including an ironworking and stained glass making shop that does beautiful work) of the Boys Home.

Currently, there are 35 boys in the home but they have offered the authorities in Gaza placement for as many as 60 boys who have been orphaned by the war. Pr. Jadallah estimates that it would cost $1,000 per year of outside funding to sponsor each boy. There is truly some exciting ministry taking place in this community and we felt privileged to learn about and to participate in it.

Skype Worship

Check out the article about our Skype Worship in the Ann Arbor News!

Transfiguration Sunday, February 22

In the morning, we packed up and, using our cab drivers from the previous night, headed to the King Hussein Bridge. Within 2 km of the bridge, we had to change taxis to the terminal, where we went through arrival and departure procedures, security, paid our exit tax and then took the JETT bus across the bridge. They took our luggage to send it through security and sent us through. Then, things became interesting.

We approached border control as a group. When asked for its leader, I presented myself to the officer, who cross examined me but good – a story only to be told in person. Then, we had to go through another passport check before we were able to collect our luggage and seek Chelsea and our transportation. Though we seemed to be running late, Chelsea arrived about 5 minutes after we had emerged from the terminal. It was so good to see her!

An interesting point: Chelsea noted that, upon entering Israel, luggage (and the people matching them) is tagged with a number from 1-6 indicating their perceived “security threat.” (Consider it a numeric version of the Homeland Security color chart.) #1 would be assigned to an Israeli, indicating no threat to security, while #6 is the highest threat. We were tagged as #4s.

Al Quds University
Al Quds (the Arabic name for Jerusalem) University is located in Abu Dis, in East Jerusalem. Most students are Muslim and a few Christian. We began by visiting Abu-Jihad Center for Political Prisoners' Affairs, a museum that provides a remarkable historic panorama of Palestinians (mostly men) who have been imprisoned through the years. We learned how Palestinian intellectuals managed to set up universities within prisons, holding courses and writing volumes on topics ranging from biology to art and novels. With little bits and pieces gathered from their surroundings, prisoners have created some amazing artwork.

We then sat down with four Al Quds students, who shared with us the challenges they face merely in order to get to the university, to study, to become educated and to prepare to work to build up their society. We learned that, in Jerusalem, a degree from Al Quds is considered invalid; as a result, many Al Quds alumni go abroad for graduate study in order to obtain advanced degrees that “legitimate” their education and open doors to more vocational opportunities.

We will all remember the story told by a young woman of how soldiers surrounded her home and sent her family outside so they could search the house. Her mother, concerned that her 3 year old grandson, who was napping upstairs, would awaken to find soldiers carrying automatic weapons standing over his bed, pleaded with the soldiers not to disturb him. Dismissing her, the soldiers pushed her back so that she fell onto the pavement, suffering a fatal head injury. This took place in front of the young woman and her father and happened just last September. Her pain is still so very raw. And yet, she joined the other students in saying, “We keep going on; we keep having hope. We have no choice.”

There is in Arabic a word, “samood,” which means steadfastness. We see evidence of this all around us, in every person we meet.

Skype Worship

We arrived at the International Center in Bethlehem just in the nick of time to set up for our Skype liturgy with the congregation in Ann Arbor. Chelsea and the ICB’s media specialist made haste to set up our electronic arrangements as well as to provide local bread and wine for the Eucharist. It was a wonderful experience to be one congregation in two locations. We were left with a new understanding of what it means to be one body in Christ.

PS

Amman

CAVEAT
Due to the size of the keyboard and time available to blog, these entries are going to be brief. So, it may make it easier for those of you who are interested in certain topics to get to them.

Friday/Saturday, February 20-21

We took off on time, made the requisite stop in Montreal to pick up some French Canadian tourists and were off to Amman. Our arrival went quite smoothly, with money exchanges, luggage pick up, security and immigration. The only loss? One of my T Barry luggage tags; what can I say? He is adorable!

With a little luck and a little assertion on the part of Pastor Matthew Bode (our all-important male escort in this situation), we found the airport bus to downtown, then took two cabs to the Jerusalem International Hotel. After a nice dinner, during which a few of us indulged in their “special wine,” which turned out to be Mateus (70s flashback!), we retired for the night.

I found Inside Edition, David Letterman and later, Inside the Actor’s Studio featuring Elton John – all with Arabic subtitles.

PS

Lutheran Campus Ministry to Host “Skype” Worship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: The Rev. Susan F. Sprowls
Office 734.668.7622; Cell 734.255.7903
pastorsprowls@comcast.net

Contact: Dr. Perry C. Francis
Office 734.487.7120
pfrancis@emich.edu

February 17, 2009


Lutheran Campus Ministry to Host “Skype” Worship
Simultaneous Liturgy to Take Place in Ann Arbor and Bethlehem


ANN ARBOR, MI –Lord of Light Lutheran Church and Lutheran Campus at the University of Michigan (LOL/LCM) will host its first “Skype” worship service this Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 11AM.

Now that webcams and wireless internet access are widely available, distance is no longer an impediment to the gathering of one faith community in two locations. Using the technology available through “Skype,” members of the LOL/LCM community assembled in Ann Arbor will worship as one congregation with others who will be in the Bethlehem, in the West Bank.

“A few weeks ago, I told Dr. Perry Francis, a member of the Lutheran Campus Ministry Board, that I had a crazy idea,” said Campus Pastor Sue Sprowls.

“What would you think of my delivering a “Skype” sermon from Bethlehem?” I asked.

“I think it’s a great idea,” he replied. “Let’s do it”!

“After further discussion, we realized there was no reason not to share the whole liturgy in both locations,” said Pastor Sprowls. “So, we divided up various parts of the liturgy, much as we would on a typical Sunday morning. The sanctuary in Ann Arbor will be set up with a computer, projector, screen and speakers while in Bethlehem our little group will gather around a laptop with an integrated webcam.”

Lessons will be read, hymns sung, prayers offered and the Eucharist shared in both locations. The sermon for the day, which Lutherans celebrate as the Transfiguration of Our Lord, will be offered in the form of reflections by members of the group in Bethlehem.

In Ann Arbor, worship will take place at LOL/LCM, located at 801 S. Forest Ave. Those in Bethlehem will worship at Dar Annadwa, the International Center adjacent to Christmas Lutheran Church.

LOL/LCM is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Southeast Michigan Synod (SEMI Synod), which has a companion synod relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). Numerous delegations from the SEMI Synod have traveled to the Holy Land in recent years with a number of congregations establishing partnerships with parishes of the ELCJHL.

The eight-member delegation from LOL/LCM will be traveling to Jordan, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories from February 20 – March 2, 2009. They will visit five of the six congregations of the ELCJHL as well as several of its educational and health ministries, including Augusta Victoria Hospital, located on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. In addition, the group will meet with several ecumenical and interfaith organizations that are working for peace in the Holy Land.

A highlight of the trip will be a visit with ELCJHL Bishop Munib Younan, who will be presented with a check to support the Mount of Olives Housing Project. The gift is in memory of SEMI Synod Bishop John Schreiber, who was passionate about the Synod’s partnership with the ELCJHL.

Chelsea Mathis (UM ’08), who is serving a year with the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission Program, has made most of the arrangements for this trip and will serve as its primary guide.

Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Michigan began in 1917 as an outreach of f Zion Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor and later supported by Trinity Lutheran Church. Student gatherings were held at local congregations until, in 1951, the campus center at 801 S. Forest Ave. was dedicated. In 1972, young alumni formed Lord of Light Lutheran Church. Known for challenging young people to use scripture, tradition and reason as tools for moral deliberation, LOL/LCM serves the spiritual needs of the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Wayne State University communities. This year marks Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Michigan’s 92nd continuous year of “expanding minds, deepening faith, inspiring service.”

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To be with...

Friday, February 13, 2009
4:21AM

I was a junior in college twenty-five years ago – long before college students carried cell phones – and even before most had their own phones in their rooms. The dorms at Oxy had central lines which were proctored from morning until midnight. When a call came in, the proctor would buzz the person’s room and she’d go off running down the hall, hoping that the nearest phone would be available. If it was occupied, the trek continued upstairs, downstairs or around to the next wing. Or perhaps the next.

These were the days before voice mail. Proctors – a few paid, mostly volunteers putting in their required hours - scribbled phone messages on little pieces of paper and stuck them in the little boxes assigned to every room. Twenty-five years ago, on a February day at the end of mid-terms, I returned to the dorm at mid-day to find two messages: “Your mom called.” And “Your brother Steve called.” Highly unusual but I thought little of it. When I returned later that afternoon, there was yet another message. “Your brother will be here at 6:00.” Again, I thought it odd but gave it little more thought. Late that afternoon, I was on duty at the proctor’s desk when my mom called.

“What’s up?” I asked. “Why are Steve and Donna coming to see me?”

“They’re not coming to see you. They’re coming to be with you,” she replied. “Your father died this morning.”

“They’re not coming to see you. They’re coming to be with you.”

I’ve become so immersed in the details of planning our spring break trip to the Holy Land that it has been easy to lose sight of our true purpose in going. Not merely to see people but to be with them.

• To be with the people of our companion Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).
  
• To be with our sisters and brothers whose lives are made impossibly difficult as they continue to live under the oppression of occupation. Day after day. Week after week. Month after month. Year after endless year.
  
• To be with them so that they know that our love for them is not mere sappy sentiment but the kind of love that causes us to go to great lengths to be with them.
  
• To be with our kindred, to experience a bit of their lives, to learn their stories so that we, then, can return to the U.S. to share their stories with others.
  

So often, people doubt the harsh realities of the occupation. After all, it is much easier to swallow the diluted pabulum served day after day by the American media than to go and see for ourselves, to put our feet on the soil of the holy land and walk where so many contemporary angels fear to tread.

It is much simpler to hold fast to one extremist position or another than it is to face the far more complicated, nuanced and painful realities extant on the ground. The truth is that the occupation erodes the hope of the Palestinian people to the point that some no longer feel their lives worth living. In a much more subtle but no less insidious way, the occupation eats away at the souls of the Israelis. Occupation is a losing proposition for all involved.

More than a decade of ordained ministry - and three decades of living before that - have helped me to realize the importance of what we call "the ministry of presence," which is - quite simply - to be with those who are suffering. There are illnesses we cannot cure. Hurts we cannot heal. Systems we cannot single-handedly change. But even when we feel utterly impotent in our ability to care for those who suffer, we can offer them ourselves by being with them.

In these troubled times, it is easy to become so inwardly focused - so anxious about the difficulties of our own lives - that we forget how well off, in fact, most of us are. And how very many others are not as fortunate as we. We are even less inclined to set aside an hour, day or week of our time to step out of our own lives to be with those who feel they've been forgotten. And have lived with that sense for many decades.

So, we will go to be with the people of the land called "holy." To be with them as they face the challenges of daily life. To be with them as they share their lives with us. To be with them so that they will know that they are heard, that their names are known and their stories will be shared with those who cannot (or will not) visit them in person but nonetheless need to find ways to be with them, too.

Mid-Year Graduate Recognition Sunday

On Sunday, December 7th, we honored three mid-year graduates:

Rebecca Coulborn

M.P.H. Epidemiology, International Health with a Global Health Concentration. Thesis topic: Human Papillomavirus and burden of co-infection with other sexually transmitted infections in the U.S. female population. Rebecca plans to continue working as a Clinical Research Coordinator with the UM Department of Epidemiology. She will also be seeking new opportunities for international health research in developing country settings, preferably within Africa.

Brian Hickner

B.S., Chemical Engineering. He will also be commissioned as a second lieutenant into the United States Air Force as a pilot select. Before entering active service on June 1st, Brian will undertake an internship with Dow Chemical in San Francisco, CA as an improvement engineer within their chloropyridine production plan. On June 6th, he will begin his journey toward becoming a pilot in the world's greatest Air Force. Hua!

Leslie Stierman

J.D. During her time at the U of M, Leslie served as a Peer Minister at Lord of Light and was a co-chair for the UMLS's Food Stamp Advocacy Project which advocates for the rights of those living on food stamps. After graduation, Leslie will be studying for the Massachusetts bar and traveling the world. Come September, she will be working in Boston at Wilmer, Culter, Pickering, Hale and Dorr as an associate in their Environmental Regulation Department.

Leslie graciously agreed to preach the sermon on Graduate Recognition Sunday (2 Advent B). The Gospel was Mark 1:1-8. As you will discover by reading her homily (text below), Leslie did not disappoint! Once again, we are reminded that we are indeed blessed by the creme de la creme of the "leaders and best"!

I had an extremely tough professor for a class I had in undergrad entitled “The Essay”. To get into the class, which was a master workshop, everyone had to submit their writing samples and basically beg or bribe someone to get in because the professor was so legendary, so wonderful, so in demand, that everyone wanted to take the class. But, after our second class, during our first editing workshop, I began to wonder, as he was screaming at us about what good writing was, why I had ever wanted to take this class to begin with.

However, despite the emotional distressed I suffered under this professor’s hand, I did learn quite a few things about writing, and one of them that stuck with me, was the importance of an introduction. He told us that how you start a story is just as important as how you end it. Nothing in life, of course, has a clear cut beginning. Things are always in motion before we witness them, and so the question of where to begin the story can always be difficult.
This Sunday’s gospel begins at the beginning, which, as they say, is a very good place to start. The gospel reading from Mark, is a beginning for us in a lot of ways. It is both the beginning of the new church year, and the beginning of Mark’s gospel. And, since we are switching over to a new gospel, for us, it is the beginning of our examination of Mark’s version of the gospel.

The gospel writers, just like any writers, have their own tone, their own attitude, and their own focus for the telling of Jesus’ life. The wonderful part about having four gospels is we get to see the miracle of Jesus from four different views. And, just as if you took any major event and asked four of us in this room to recount it, each of the gospels are distinct and unique, noting certain aspects and completely ignoring others. So, to look at the very first words Matthew, Mark, Luke and John write down, the way they chose to “start” the story, is revealing of how the view the good news of Jesus and what was important in Jesus’ life.

Matthew, appearing not to want to leave any minute detail out, starts with the genealogy of Mary and Joseph. Matthew goes back to Abraham, which he claims is 42 full generations, which he lists out in their entirety, just to make sure he got them all, and then starts his accounting of Jesus’ life with Mary and Joseph. A practical as ever way to begin a story, Matthew logically starts with the history of Jesus’ earthly parents.

Luke, on the other hand, starts with a personal explanation of why he’s writing down the gospel. He explains that since other people were writing about Jesus’s story, and because he saw everything too, he should also write about the gospel. Then, after his little aside about why he’s writing, tells the story of Zacharia and Elizabeth, who although barren received a child, and then were later told by the angel Gabriel, that along with their miracle, the Son of God would also be coming. So Luke decides to start his story at the first time anyone had heard from an Angel that Jesus was coming.

John pulls back a little bit further with his story and talks about God, and the beginning of the world, and takes a much more abstract start to his beginning of the story. Perhaps to make sure everyone understood the significance of Jesus’s coming. His famous words begin with “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.” Very poetic, John.

And then there’s Mark. Where John is poetic, Luke is explanatory, and Matthew is precise and detailed, Mark is none of those things. Mark, in today’s story, starts immediately, right out of the gates, BOOM: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” No warm up, no genealogy, no explanation of why he’s writing, no bigger picture of God, just straight into Jesus’ story. No nonsense. It is as if Mark is just downright impatient to get on with the good news of Jesus’ story.

So, for a gospel writer who is so no nonsense and seems to have no frills, the time he spends, in today’s gospel on John the Baptist, while although short, is still significant. For if Mark was itching so badly to get to Jesus’ story, why would he spend time on John?

And the answer of course seems to be that it’s because John’s presence in Jesus’ life is so important and is meaningful for us!

John has always fascinated me as a character of the bible because I have always wondered what it would have been like for John, preaching that the Son of God would be coming, even before Jesus got there. As Jesus progressed through life, those that were skeptical or had less faith could have easily seen the miracles Jesus performed, listened to his wise parables, seen his following, or even been told that he was the Son of God by a real live angel. But when John began telling the news, none of those things had happened yet. John was simply out in the middle of the wilderness, not even in a town, but out in the wild, living in harsh conditions, baptizing people and telling them that the Son of God was on his way.

…. Now truthfully, I’m not sure, if I saw a man wearing a camel hair vest, eating locusts and honey, if I would necessarily believe him on first glance. And yet, it says that “the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem went out to him, confessing their sins and were baptized by him.”

If what John was doing seems hard, that’s because it probably was. If you ask any older child, they will probably tell you that being the first is no picnic. Your parents overreact, they don’t trust you right away, and everything just seems harder than when your younger sibling comes along. I, as a younger child, absolutely benefited from this set up, and I dearly thank my big brother for doing everything first so by the time it was my turn, it was almost an afterthought to let me bike to the candy store, go to the mall, and go to homecoming dances. And while, as we know, Jesus’ life was not all simple, having someone come before Him, someone who the people of Judeah and Jerusalem trusted come and baptize Him, it made Jesus’ path that much easier.

The story of John also appeals to me, not only because of how amazing it was for him to go first, but because John’s humility is so relatable. While speaking of Jesus, John says “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.” And while Jesus is truly wonderful and someone who we should all aspire to be like, sometimes, in trying, I can’t help but think “But He’s the Son of God!!!! OF COURSE HE’S PERFECT!!!!”

At times when I’m dealing with a coworker who’s on my last nerve who I know I should be nice to, or with an acquaintance I don’t particularly like who doesn’t have plans for the holidays and I know I should invite home, or with a professor who’s given me a work load I think is unreasonable, but I know I should give a good course review for; I try to stop and think of the classic phrase “What would Jesus Do”, but a lot of the times, I also stop and think “I know I’m supposed to aspire to what Jesus does, but I’m a regular, plain old human!!” I would not be fit to until Jesus’ sandals, how am I supposed to be like him?

So to see and hear about characters in the bible, like John, it takes away that excuse. John is just a regular man, and yet he can inspire a whole countryside to be baptized and prepare the way for Christ. John is just like us, and so it is entirely reasonable and within our power to ask ourselves if we can act a little more like John on those days when we think acting like Jesus is just impossibly out of reach.

So during this holiday season, what does acting more like John mean? It doesn’t mean that you have to move to the desert and live on a diet of locusts and wild honey, (although, I suspect it would be a lot warmer, and who knows, next year it could be the next big fad diet anyways). But being like John simply means preparing for Christ’s birth, for that’s what the advent season is all about. It’s about making space in our hearts every year for Jesus as we remember His birth and what He’s done for us.

To live like John means to do those things he did, to include everyone, to spread the Good News of Jesus’ birth, and to make the world ready for Christ’s coming. This holiday season seems to be a particularly great time to be a little bit more like John. As I said, the wonderful thing about being more like John, is it’s entirely within our power to do. We can invite everyone this year to our Christmas party, even the person who doesn’t seem to have a lot of friends. We can certainly spread the good news of Christ’s birth as easy as inviting a friend to lessons and carols next week, or to Christmas eve service, or even by sending a religious Christmas card this year instead of one with a Santa, or just by telling our children the story of Jesus’ birth. And we can make the world ready for Christ’s coming during the Christmas season and throughout the year.

Getting ready for Christ should be like getting ready for a party. You clean your house, you make sure there’s enough food and drinks and music, and then you tell EVERYBODY you’re having a party. And the same is true for Christ, we can clean up the planet, make sure everyone has enough food and drink, and then remember to TELL EVERYBODY!!! For the salvation that Jesus offers will truly be an amazing celebration that everyone should be at.

And the best news, this Christmas season, is the knowledge that we don’t have to be perfect to do this task, in fact we can’t be. Because Jesus can’t prepare the way for Jesus, or he would have done it. It’s up to us. Instead, we can be, no we actually have to be, human. Flawed. Imperfect, but willing.

So, as each of us prepares our hearts, and prepares the rest of the world for Jesus this Christmas season, remember when you burn the Christmas turkey, when you wrap all your presents and then realize you forgot to put gift labels on each of them, when you’re at the mall at 11 at night and still aren’t half way through your shopping list, we are all human, just like John. And we will all make some missteps. But God has given us the ability to do one of the most important tasks of all: to prepare for Christ’s coming. So throughout your holiday preparations, remember to include some preparations not just for your in-laws, but also for Christ. And this Christmas season ask yourself, your flawed, human, mis-stepping self, not what would Jesus do, but what would John the Baptist do?

On the Current Financial Crisis: From the Conference of Bishops

Almighty God, ...teach us how to govern the ways of business

to the harm of none and for the sake of the common good;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 78 )

Grace and peace to you.

As bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we are deeply concerned about the current financial crisis, which is affecting not only our nation but the entire global economy. This crisis is causing fear and loss in our country as thousands of families face unemployment, foreclosure, and uncertainty about savings and pensions. Meanwhile, they struggle to put food on the table and gas into their cars. The future is uncertain for all of us, but it is especially frightening for those who are already vulnerable and struggling to survive. We offer our prayers for those whose lives are being affected and for our national leaders as they seek to address this complex matter.

We call on all people in our own communities of faith and those from every segment of our society who seek the health of our nation to join in conversation and prayer about our collective economic life, our financial behaviors, and the interconnectedness of all life and creation that cries out to be reclaimed.

This church has addressed the issues surrounding economic life in its social statement, “Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All", and we encourage the use of this statement as a way to understand more fully how the following theological and biblical principles are central as we respond to this situation.

Concern for People in Poverty
The constitution of the ELCA calls this church to serve by “standing with the poor and powerless and committing itself to their needs.” (ELCA 4.02.c.). We are grateful for the pastors and leaders in our congregations who already have stepped forward to care for those who are suffering, and we encourage them to continue this response and to provide leadership in the task of turning our attention to the causes and effects of this crisis. We are called to work toward an economic system that truly serves the common good and especially the needs of the poor. We look for partnership with all those who seek to address this financial crisis in a way that also recognizes the humanitarian issues involved.

Personal and Corporate Responsibility
The ELCA social statement on economic life calls for individuals to live responsibly and within their means and to beware of the dangers of over-consumption and unnecessary accumulation, which draw us beyond authentic need into excess and destructive indebtedness. We call on businesses and corporations of all sizes to consider the social implications of company policies and to practice good stewardship of creation (Genesis 1:26).

The Need for Good Government
We hold and teach that government has an instrumental and constructive role to play in our shared life. This role includes “limiting or countering narrow economic interests and promoting the common good” (“Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All,” p. 11). We call on government to hold corporations and other powerful economic actors accountable for the effects of their practices on workers, communities, and the environment.

The Benefits and Limits of Free Markets
For many people, the current market-based economy has proven to be effective as a system to meet material need, generate wealth, and create opportunity. However, we hold and teach that any economic system should be measured by the degree to which it serves God’s purposes for humankind and creation. Those who have been blessed by the fruits of our economy are called to be generous in giving to those who have lost much and to advocate for accountability and appropriate regulation in this system.

As people of the God who calls us out of fear into hope and community, we welcome all people into widespread and respectful discussion about this current crisis. In this way we can create partnerships that will help those whose lives are being shattered and encourage responsibility and integrity in our national economic life.

As people of faith we pray:

Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ dignified our labor by sharing our toil. Guide us with your justice in the workplace, so that we may never value things above people, or surrender honor to love of gain or lust for power. Prosper all efforts to put an end to work that brings no joy, and teach us how to govern the ways of business to the harm of none and for the sake of the common good; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Conference of Bishops
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
October 7, 2008

Obsession with Extremism

An organization called The Clarion Fund, which describes itself as "an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization devoted to educating the public about national security issues" is currently distributing 28 million copies of the one-hour version of a film entitled, "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West." Copies of this DVD are being direct-mailed to individuals and distributed as advertising supplements to newspapers in 13 states including Michigan. (The DVD has been included in the Detroit Free-Press, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press and Lansing State Journal.)

We received two copies of the film here at LOL. Deeply concerned about matters of interfaith understanding - especially the portrayal of minority communities - I sat down to view this film. While words fail me, my colleague, Pastor Martin Zimmann - who had previously received the DVD - articulated my feelings in a letter to the editor of the Toledo Blade, which was published on September 19, 2008. I share the the bulk of Marty's letter with his permission:

After viewing the "Obsession" video that came with this morning's Blade, I feel a deep sadness. This film offers up plenty of reasons for people to fear and be hostile to Arabs without offering any practical solutions to our foreign policy dilemmas. If we want to dismantle the message of religious extremism (in all the Abrahamic faiths), it cannot be done by simply showing stylized clips of angry Muslims burning American flags. Certainly, the film pretends to acknowledge peace-loving Muslims, but only gives their voices one-tenth of the air time it spends displaying graphic images of bloody victims and the rants of a radical minority. The solution to our seeming impasse with the Islamic extremists must come through educating ourselves about the complexities of US and British foreign policies that have fomented this tension in the Middle East since the end of the Ottoman Empire after WWI. The solution is not through creating more fear, but offering opportunities for dialogue and understanding across cultures...

The Gallup organization - well known for its facility in political polling - has established the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, " a nonpartisan research center dedicated to providing data-driven analysis, advice, and education on the views of Muslim populations around the world." In March, the Center published Who Speaks for Islam? in which it presented the findings of a multi-year study that included interviews with tens of thousands of Muslims in 35 countries that are Muslim or have significant Muslim populations. Their findings shatter the stereotypes perpetuated by movies like "Obsession." The Center's research reveals what many (but sadly, not enough) of us know from personal experience:

• Muslims criticize or condone nations based on politics rather than religion or culture.
• Muslims around the world are as likely as Americans in general to believe that attacks on civilians are morally unjustified.
• Extremists who condone or carry out acts of terrorism are generally no more religious than the majority that rejects such extremism.
• When asked what they most admire about the West, Muslims elsewhere in the world offer the same answers as Americans: technology and democracy. (See Counterintuitive Discoveries in Who Speaks for Islam?)

Ambassador Carlos Pascual, Director of Foreign Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution, puts it this way: "Yes, there are extremists and there are extremists who use religion in the name of their extremist cause but it doesn't mean that religion is the driving factor behind their extremism."

Ambassador Pascual's observation was directed at extremists who use Islam "in the name of their extremist cause" but he could have easily been referring to other faith traditions. We seem not to have questioned that Jim Jones, David Koresh and others distorted - perverted - Christianity for their own extremist purposes: domination and control of others. Why, then, is it more difficult for us to recognize the same dynamic at work among extremists who claim to be acting in the name of Islam?

The question, of course, is rhetorical. If we are to understand that "Islamic terrorism" is an oxymoron, we must learn about Islam which values compassion, tolerance and mutual respect. When we act out of fear and anxiety fostered by third-parties rather than first-hand knowledge, we are more likely than not to obliterate the 8th Commandment. Those of us who count ourselves among the disciples of Jesus Christ are called not to bear false witness against our neighbors but to reach out across perceived divisions and to build bridges of understanding that will span the chasms of xenophobia.

We are a church "reformed and always reforming." Let us once again commit ourselves to re-forming the manner in which we understand those whose faith differs from our own. For Christ's sake.

Pastor Sue

Memories of our Bishop

Bishop John Schreiber & Me, Reformation 2007

It is not often that I use this forum as a means of sharing the kind of candid thoughts and feelings that are expressed herein. (Nor do I often write such a lengthy entry!) And yet, I feel it important to share with others a bit of our Bishop's character and a sense of why we are grieving his loss so deeply. Were it not for the promise of the Gospel, we would be utterly lost.

I was honored to be invited to join Bishop Schreiber on his first visit to our companion synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. John had been installed in January, 2006 and the trip took place at the end of May/beginning of June. It was, I knew, a special opportunity to get to know our Bishop as well as a number of my colleagues in parish and social ministry. It was a priceless opportunity.

Perhaps it's the photographer in me that recalls much of the trip as a slide show of memories...

Bishop Schreiber & Marty Zimmann in Frankfurt

The travel...and how uncomfortable John must have been traveling in clerical garb to Frankfurt and then on to Tel Aviv...(I'm convinced that whoever invented easy-to-wash plastic neckband collars never lived in the desert or had to sleep in one...)

We all felt the jet-lag as we gathered in the dining room of the 7 Arches but John was the one I caught on camera dropping off as Bishop Younan's words of welcome went on a little long...

On Monday morning, John arrived at breakfast after a very long day accompanying Bishop Younan hither and yon. He was exhausted but eager to tell us about their adventures! He relished good stories and told them with enthusiasm!

I can still see John walking along a dusty path in the village of Jayyous and helping our injured Rose through the Souk dressed in a long-sleeve clerical shirt (I could never figure out why he'd chosen long sleeve shirts for the desert!) - and his Detroit Tigers hat!

As we left a first grade classroom (our first such visit) at the ELCJHL school at Beit Sahour, John stopped and shook hands with every child in the room. I remember thinking, "If he does this in every classroom, we'll be here all week"!

Bishop Schreiber at Dar Al Kalima School

At Dar Al Kalima School, John delighted in photographing the kids at recess - and showing them the digital images.

After our visit to Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, John related his conversation with Colleen who asked if the same tour guide were still there. Yes! Abu Hani was still there, he said, still telling bad jokes and saying, "Hubba, Hubba" and "Shake a leg."

On the evening we went to the Swedish Theological Institute, John was among those who rode in the van and I among those who walked the route - long and mostly up hill - the sun still beating down. As I came through the door, exhausted and perspiring, John - looking cool and relaxed in the hallway - smiled and said in his most pastoral voice, "I'll be happy to pay for a cab on the way back."

Bishop Schreiber was all over this photo op with students
in the woodshop at the LWF Vocational Training Center!

In the dusty village of At-Tuwani, John discovered that one of the Christian Peacemaking Team volunteers had grown up in Colleen's first parish. He was excited to tell Colleen about this "small world" experience and, I suspect, a little disappointed that Heidi's mother had already emailed Colleen with the details!

After touring Augusta Victoria Hospital - where our tour concluded in the dialysis clinic as the children began to arrive for the afternoon session - we stood overlooking the hillside which will be home to the Mount of Olives Housing Project and I was overcome by all that we had seen and heard. John pointed out that it was rather fitting for us to be standing where the disciples had stood at the Ascension, looking to the heavens and wondering, "Where are you, Lord? What do we do now?" Our pastor gathered us in the quiet beauty of the chapel and led us all in prayer.

At Jericho, several of us took a ride on Sammy the camel. John responded by rewriting an old song, "Bishop rode a camel in Jericho, Jericho, Jericho...Bishop rode a camel in Jericho and the beast came a tumblin' down..." (Not really; Sammy was sure-footed as could be!)

I remember how delighted John was to find an icon of St. Colleen...even if he felt a tiny bit guilty about the price he paid for it...

Su'ad Younan, Hani Odeh & Bishop Schreiber

at the International Center in Bethlehem

Most nights that we spent at the Lutheran Guest House in the Old City, we sat out on the roof, talking, reflecting on our experiences and relishing the fact that we were sitting at a remarkable intersection...simultaneously able to hear the call to prayer from two mosques, see the tower of Redeemer Lutheran, and watch the Hasidim head toward the Western Wall...

"Up on the roof" I learned that John could quote lines from Saturday Night Live (especially the early years), West Wing and countless films as adeptly as anyone I knew...During the call to prayer on the eve of Pentecost, John dialed Colleen who was working on her sermon, held out the phone so she could hear and then asked, "Doesn't that inspire you?" (Apparently, it was one of those "you had to be there" moments...)

I will always cherish the memories of that trip...as I will so many others...

John's visit to LOL/LCM (he had me in the palm of his hand when his sermon began with an image from West Wing)...his delight in preaching and presiding at the Jazz Mass for the Vigil of Pentecost 2007...watching him dance at the Medema concert last fall...

John relished the opportunity to chair the Presiding Bishop's ready bench on the Middle East - and he was in his element on Capitol Hill - whether he was talking to Senator Debbie Stabenow or encountering Howie Mandel!

Over the past 2 1/2 years, I've benefited from John's wisdom, been blessed by his pastoral care, been inspired by his faith, vision and heart for mission. Just a few weeks ago, I was able to spend the better part of a day with him, sharing plans for campus ministry, hearing all about his son Paul's plans to pursue veterinary medicine and together making a pastoral call on a colleague recovering from surgery. As we parted company that day, he told me a little bit about the challenges we'd be discussing at Synod Council - and was off to make another pastoral call.

We were gathered for that Synod Council meeting when we received the news that John had been taken to the hospital and then - just moments later - the word that he had died. We cried. We shared the Eucharist. We cried some more. We went home, trying to make sense of what made no sense.

The following Tuesday and Wednesday, people came from all around to visitation at the Synod House. On Thursday, nearly 1,000 people gathered to share our grief and to give thanks for John's remarkable life and ministry.

I'm not sure whether or how we'll manage to put into action all of the plans that we made but I know that John will urge us on...pushing us to fulfill the mission to which we have been called.

By God's grace, we'll do just that.

Pastor Sue

Our Beloved Bishop

It is with a sense of profound loss that we learned yesterday of the sudden death of our beloved Bishop, John Schreiber (pictured above at the Ken Medema concert last Reformation Sunday).

John was elected after the resignation of Bob Rimbo and has served with grace, passion and great good humor. He was among our greatest cheerleaders and our dearest friends. We are diminished by his absence.

Rest eternal grant him, O God, and may light perpetual shine upon him.

'08 Grad Lands in Cape Verde with Peace Corps

ANN ARBOR, MI –Lutheran Campus at the University of Michigan is pleased to announce that 2008 graduate Andrew Bracken will spend the next 27 months working in Community Development and Environmental Education as a Peace Corps Volunteer stationed in Cape Verde, off the coast of West Africa.

A native of East Lansing, Michigan, Andrew earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a minor in the Program in the Environment from the University of Michigan. While in college, he joined Lord of Light Lutheran Church where he was active in Lutheran Campus Ministry, served as manager of the men's track team and Co-Chaired Outreach and Education for Michigan Students Advocating Recycling (MSTAR).

The desire to serve comes naturally to Andrew. “My parents encouraged volunteer work,” he says, “practicing what they preached by giving their time and talent to East Lansing Public Schools and to my home congregation, University Lutheran Church. When I got to Michigan I did some volunteer work and in 2006 I spent an incredible month in Ghana with the University of Michigan’s Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates (GIEU).

“Our group of 12 students developed and implemented plastics recycling programs in Accra and Senya-Beraku. I consider it the best four weeks of my life, and the main reason I chose Peace Corps over the other options.”
When people ask why he’s chosen to go abroad when there is so much need in the U.S., Andrew responds, “Going to Ghana opened my eyes to the new realities. Seeing crippling poverty in person - not on TV or in pictures - hammers it home. I remember walking down an alley along a canal. Within 100 meters we saw people drinking the water, washing clothes in it, and defecating in it.

“I do not want to marginalize the problems faced by millions in the US, or exaggerate living conditions in the developing world, but I believe I can do the greatest good with my education overseas. In Power Politics Arundhati Roy put it aptly: "Once you've seen it, you can't unsee it."The following summer, Bracken served as an intern with Nike, which he describes as “an incredible place to work.” And yet, found the corporate world unfulfilling; that experience further convinced him that, “If I did not feel happy there, no traditional job could satisfy me.”

You can keep up with Andrew's work in Cape Verde by logging onto his blog: Sunburned in Cape Verde (http://abrack6.blogspot.com/)

'08 Graduate Headed for Jerusalem

ANN ARBOR, MI –Lutheran Campus at the University of Michigan is pleased to announce that 2008 graduate Chelsea Mathis will be serving in Jerusalem with ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission from August, 2008 through July, 2009.

A native of Monroe, Michigan, Chelsea grew up at St. John Lutheran Church, Dundee and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in General Biology with a Music Minor from the University of Michigan. While in college, she was active in Lutheran Campus Ministry, serving for two years as a Peer Minister and regularly sharing her musical gifts in Sunday worship and at various liturgies of the Southeast Michigan Synod.

“I first felt God’s call in my life while on mission trips to Washington D.C. and Toronto with my high school youth group,” says Chelsea. “In 2005, I traveled to the Holy Land with the first youth delegation from the Southeast Michigan Synod. Walking in my Palestinian friends' shoes through checkpoints and amidst guns, tanks, and barriers, I was touched by their enduring commitment to hope and peace.

“Upon returning to the States, my life was changed from one of egocentrism and naiveté to one of activism that has driven me to lead workshops about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, enroll in classes, deliver sermons and attend and facilitate lectures, movie screenings and discussions. I attended the 2007 Churches for Middle East Peace Advocacy Days where I spoke with my representatives and their aides about this church’s commitment to peace and a shared two-state solution. I look forward to serving my brothers and sisters in Christ while living their daily challenges and celebrations.”

While at Michigan, Chelsea was active throughout the community, volunteering at Safehouse Center, a shelter for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, playing bassoon in the Ypsilanti Community Band and working at the University of Michigan Medical Center’s Cancer Genetics Clinic. In her free time, she enjoys playing the bassoon, traveling, and cooking.

Through an intensive application and rigorous interview process, Young Adults in Global Mission screens applicants and assigns them to service locations that match their gifts and passions with local needs. For the first time in its ten year history, volunteers with Young Adults in Global Mission will be serving in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Chelsea and five other young adults will be working with the churches, schools, and programs of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) under the guidance of Bishop Munib Younan, Country Coordinator Martin Shoffner and the directors of ELCJHL programs in Palestine.

Chelsea's adventures in Israel-Palestine can be followed through her blog: Life in Jerusalem: A Young Adult in Global Mission (http://sites.google.com/site/chelseamathis/).

A New Roof for LOL!

We have a new roof!

Loading the supplies was quite a proposition! At one point, I was sitting in the administrative office when an 800 pound load was dropped not-quite-as-gently-as-planned on the roof. I just about gave myself whiplash at the thud!

It's been quite a learning process. 'In the 50s, catch basins for drains like the ones featured above, were sealed with lead - which cracked, allowing leaks. The drain in the rear has been repaired but the one in the foreground needs some work in order to prevent any additional leaking into the apartment bathroom and the ground floor janitor's closet beneath it. Once that's done, we should have an airtight roof for another 20 years or more!

Thanks be to God!

The Night the Ceiling Fell

From time to time, non-profit organizations are confronted by the dual challenges of encouraging regular giving among their constituents and requesting assistance in responding to emergency needs. This is one such time for Lutheran Campus Ministry.

For many months, we have been addressing the challenges of a leaky roof. Members of our Facilities Team – especially our “resident engineer,” Mark Mau - have spent an inordinate amount of time sealing leaks and doing their level best to keep our aging roof going well beyond its anticipated life expectancy. We had hoped to be able to maintain the current roof until we are in a position to undergo major renovation of the entire campus ministry center. Alas, that was not meant to be.

As if to reflect nature’s sense of humor, on Tuesday, April 1st, a portion of the ceiling in the bedroom of the caretaker’s apartment came a tumblin’ down. Thanks be to God, no one was physically injured (just a tad emotionally traumatized). A local roofing company was called in and the roof evaluated. The result? We can no longer wait to replace the roof.

Mark Mau did yeoman’s work, obtaining and evaluating estimates from several local roofing companies. Recognizing the urgency of the matter, the Board voted to transfer $30,000 from the endowment to cover the cost of the new roof. In addition, the Board directed that alumni and friends be asked to contribute to the cost of the new roof with funds raised to replenish those transferred from the endowment. Thus, with this newsletter we bring you not only news of Lutheran Campus Ministry and our regular request for support of the ministry’s programs but an additional request for financial support in order to off-set the cost of the purchase and installation of a new roof that could not be delayed.

We thank you for your ongoing commitment to ensuring that the ministry that has served the University community well for 91 years will continue to offer students a unique setting in which to integrate their Christian faith with their studies and vocational plans. We remain committed to being careful stewards of your financial gifts.

Yours in Gratitude,

Sue Sprowls
Campus Pastor

Spring Break: The Final Entry!

Days 6 and 7: The Track, the Kids, the Trip Home

Our last full day in Louisville began with a full morning as we learned from Chaplain Ken Boehm about the Racetrack Chaplaincy at Churchill Downs (above is the recently built Christ Chapel), home of the Kentucky Derby. We saw for ourselves the “backside” of track life and heard from Chaplain Boehm about the many challenges facing those work behind-the-scenes doing the myriad of unglamorous tasks that make thoroughbred horse racing possible. Racktrack ministry is a truly holistic form of ministry that requires chaplains to be well-versed not only in the basics of most forms of pastoral ministry but also in social work, mental health, immigration law and the nuances of the racing world. Due to the comprehensive nature of the community being served, the chaplain must be flexible - pastorally, liturgically, sacramentally - willing to set aside his/her own inclinations in order to serve the needs of a community that serves Christians across the spectrum. The theological diversity of the ministry is astounding; more than most, this form of ministry requires diplomacy and the ability to articulate theological perspectives and to clarify misunderstandings in order that the ministry may witness to the unity of the Gospel.

During the racing season, Chaplain Boehm’s day begins with three hours of walking the barns, visiting with the grooms, “hot walkers,” trainers and others whose paths he may cross. (As we made our way around the grounds, it was clear that everyone knew Chaplain Boehm.) He then prays with the jockeys - not that they may win but that they and their horses might remain safe - before returning to the chapel and engaging in other tasks (visiting the hospitalized, providing pastoral care, attending to people’s needs for food and clothing, assisting with immigration processes and more). In addition, he offers a “Minute with God” each day, broadcasting over the P.A. system heard around the racetrack (and beyond!); it includes a scripture reading, story and prayer. Folks in the neighborhood around the track who can hear the broadcast have come to include it as an important element as they start their days.

We saw the dormitories (Chaplain Boehm is pictured in a dorm room, above) segregated by gender, where the workers stay as well as the tack rooms (where equine equipment is stored) and rooms above the barns that are sometimes home to workers. We heard about the educational and health care programs provided by the track in partnership with other organizations. We stood on the famous track and Churchill Downs and posed in the starting gates that send forth champions. After spending the morning with us, Chaplain Boehm graciously offered to arrange for us to tour the Kentucky Derby Museum, which was wonderful. I’ll always grow teary at the sound of “My Old Kentucky Home.”

After our morning at Churchill Downs, we went to the largest of the Salvation Army’s Boys and Girls Club after school programs, where we helped supervise homework, recreation, basketball and the computer lab. Ask us about “stranger danger,” pool sharks and monitoring surfing to MySpace. It was an adventure!

But that wasn’t all! We stopped for dinner at Lynn’s Paradise Cafe, which describes itself as “a quirky independent restaurant with a national reputation.” Since a couple of people had recommended that we stop at Lynn’s, we were eager to see its “ugly lamp” collection and sample its food and ambiance. It was an enjoyable last meal in Louisville.

Just when we thought our adventures had come to an end, we returned to the Salvation Army to discover that a water main across the street had broken and we were without water for our last night in Louisville! The water company provided us with 3 gallons per person and we managed to do just fine. It was a good reminder of how fortunate we are to be able to access clean water nearly all of the time.

On Friday morning, we were up and packed when Jim Garrett (pictured above) came in and asked for help with one last chore: boxing and bagging up paper for the shredding company. One more task and we were on our way - via a quick stop at Transylvania University (would I kid you?)!

Despite the calls warning us of snowy weather and slippery roads, we made it home in good stead, with traffic posing the most significant challenges along the way. It was awfully nice to be home to enjoy a good bed and a hot shower.

As always, there’s more to tell! Do join us on Sunday, March 9th when brunch will offer “A Taste of Joel Ray’s” and more pictures and stories of our adventures in Kentucky!

Y’all Come!

Sue

Days 4 and 5: Tuesday in the Warehouse, Wednesday Moving Stuff

Tuesday and Wednesday have been relatively light work days for us. On Tuesday, we went to the warehouse that serves as the storage facility and staging area for the regional Angel Tree Project. (N.B.: The copyright for the term “Angel Tree” is held jointly by the Salvation Army and Prison Fellowship Ministries; use by any other entity is a violation of copyright. Enforcing that is part of Jim Garrett’s job!) In 2007, the local Angel Tree Project provided at least three toys, an outfit of clothing and a Christmas stocking to each of nearly 15,000 children. Distribution takes place at the made pace of 50 families per 15 minute interval. Following the Christmas rush, there are toys and clothes leftover, people bring in items late or take advantage of after-Christmas sales to purchase gifts for the following year. As a result, it takes until approximately March 1st to sort through and to package up the gifts and clothing that will be held for the following Christmas.

In addition to warehousing materials for the Angel Tree program, the warehouse behind the thrift store also serves as the clearinghouse for regional Salvation Army disaster response. In order to facilitate the latter, it’s important that as much space as possible be made available in anticipation of a regional (or, as in the case of Hurricane Katrina, national) disaster.

Through the early afternoon on Tuesday, the gang of four sorted toys while I sorted clothing. Perry had the fun of driving the forklift while Brian merely hauled pallets from one area to another. Barry enjoyed being in the thick of things but he was mostly in the thick of the very dirty warehouse floor. He was so dirty that I bit the bullet and arranged for him to visit the grooming salon at the local PetsMart for a bath and brush. He was much improved afterward!

Once we’d run out of things to do at the warehouse, the students were eager to get moving, so we came back to the SA headquarters (SAHQ?) to clean up, catch our collective breath and get a bite to eat. (Meanwhile, I took Barry to the spa and explored the nearby mall.) Later, we went to the movies (“Atonement”) and visited Heine’s coffee (two of our group made a return visit to Graeter’s) before returning to catch up on the news (“The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report,” of course!).

Today, we helped with the office move, hauling stuff from one part of the old building to another and then helping to unload the trucks at the new building. We were hosted at lunch by members of the local chapter of the University of Michigan Alumni Association, which was a lot of fun! We completed our work at the new building by 3, after which the guys went to the Frazier International Museum while the women went to the Muhammed Ali Center. As I write, we’ve finished dinner and are contemplating our evening plans. (I for one need to get some WORK done!)

Peace, Shalom, Salaam,
Pastor Sue

Days 2 and 3: Louisville Sluggers, Lexington Lute-Episcs, Thrift Shop Joys

Sunday, Sunday, continued...

Our game plan did indeed involve baseball in the form of a tour of the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum. It was really neat to see how they select and harvest the trees and make the bats. I had no idea of the differences between the bats made for amateurs and those made for the pros. The latter can choose from about a thousand different designs for their bats, not counting the cupping, finishing and labeling of the bats. Since 2006, MLB players have used pink bats at games played on Mother’s Day with the profits from sales of the bats going to breast cancer research. There is talk about (probably blue) bats to raise monies for prostate cancer research but MLB and the Louisville Slugger folks have yet to come to a consensus about that. It occurs to me that a little well-placed pressure from the public might encourage them to put that into practice. Each of us received a mini Louisville Slugger at the end of the tour.

Following our visit to the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum, we got a bite to eat and then hit the road for Lexington, where we worshiped, ate and visited with the good people at the Lutheran Episcopal Ministry Center (LEMC). Barry Neese, the pastor, and I became acquainted while mucking out houses and uprooting dead trees at the regional campus ministry gathering in New Orleans in 2006. As it turns out, Barry was serving in ministry in Logan, Utah, when Perry was in Price. Small world, eh? We enjoyed Holden Evening Prayer and dinner with the students. With so many engineering majors, we felt very much at home! Each week, a congregation in the community (Lutheran or Episcopal) provides food for the community meal. It’s very cool to emerge from worship and find the food ready to go! We very much appreciated the hospitality offered by Pastor Barry and the students at LEMC. Finally, we began a new photographic tradition: Taking pictures of T. Barry with the human Barrys we meet. Barry Neese is the first. (We’ll have to pick up pix with our local Barrys when we return home.)

Back at the SA headquarters, we were joined for the night by a group of 45 from John Carroll University who are participating in a program called, “Students Today, Leaders Forever.” Begun a few years back at the University of Minnesota, JCU has just joined the program. They travel by bus from city to city, doing team building within their group and community service in each community they visit. Naturally, Barry made the rounds visiting all of the young people in the group and welcoming them to their home for the night!

Day Three: The Thrift Store and More

We spent the majority of our time today helping out at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. SA, as many know, pioneered non-profit thrift stores. The one in Louisville serves as a clearing house for a wide geographic area. Jessie, Laura and I were assigned the task of tidying up the clothing racks: sorting clothing by item and color, hanging them in a tidy manner and removing empty hangers. Brian and Perry replaced damaged ceiling tiles, a process that required Brian to climb up on a high ladder; we suggested that spending time in the air would be good training for our young, aspiring pilot!

This evening, we attended worship on the “backside” of Churchill Downs, which is the only race track chaplaincy erved by a Lutheran pastor. Two worship services take place simultaneously: one in English and one in Spanish. Following worship, the two groups commingle over dinner, which is provided by one of 46 area congregation. It’s a very interesting and intensive ministry. We’re hoping to visit him at Churchill Downs and to learn more about the people he serves.

Before heading back to the SA, we stopped at Graeters, the local premium ice cream shop. I may pay for the indulgence but it sure was yummy! This morning (Tuesday), we're off to sort toys!

Peace, Shalom, Salaam,

Sue

Light from Louisville!

Spring Break 2008: Day 1: The Adventure Begins!

We picked up the mini-van on Friday and Perry carefully loaded his car-top carrier. On Saturday morning, Perry, Casey and Jessie arrived bright and early and ready to go. One problem: The folks at Enterprise had failed to tell us that the van locks itself - even when its running - and that’s exactly what it did. While we put a call in to AAA, Perry went in to A2 to pick up Brian and Laura. Naturally, it took the guy 30 minutes to arrive and 2.5 seconds to unlock the van. The rest of the group soon arrived, the luggage was loaded and we were off!

The GPS dubbed, “Simone,” we made our way south through Ohio and into Kentucky. Jim Garrett caught up with us by phone and directed us (with Simone’s capable assistance) to the Salvation Army’s outgoing headquarters in Louisville. A word about that.

SA is currently in the process of moving from one facility to another. And when I say “in process,” I mean we’ve been told to be careful to label stuff or it’s likely to get shipped out with the next load! The items that do remain are labeled and awaiting removal to the new location, an old high school just a few short blocks away. The move will put the administrative offices in close proximity to its shelters as well as provide a larger and more updated space. Over the past 90 years, the current facility has served as a home for pregnant teens, a birthing hospital, a rehabilitation center and, currently, the Salvation Army headquarters. For most of the week, we’ll be the only volunteers in residence, though this evening we’ll be joined by 45 students who are passing through. After settling into our new digs, we headed south to Hodgenville where we met the Garretts for dinner and the show at the Lincoln Jamboree.

Elvis and Friends

“Those people up north don’t know what they’re missing.” So said the gentleman sitting in front of me at the Lincoln Jamboree! And he’s right! We had a rousing good time enjoying the sounds of the Jamboree Gang and the entertainers for the week. We were particularly impressed with the teenagers who performed and agreed that no one should be surprised to hear more from Blake Whitlock in the years to come. If you enjoy country, bluegrass and gospel music, you’ll want to put the Lincoln Jamboree on your itinerary! (You’ll want to be sure to leave time to take a close look at the country music memorabilia on display.) We received a very warm welcome from Joel Ray and all the good people in Hodgenville who truly epitomize “southern hospitality.”

A Visit with Joel Ray

Pump it up: The Jamboree is an event, so, it was about 1AM by the time we returned to our “home away from home” at the Salvation Army. Perry and Brian settled into a little VIP apartment on site, with Perry taking the bed and Brian the couch. With the transition to new quarters underway, beds had already been moved and Jim couldn’t get his hands on mattresses for the night. He graciously provided us with air mattresses from home. Well, pumping up those air mattresses was an adventure but we stepped up to the task. Jessie and Laura in particular did a bang up job of establishing the right connections and getting the air flowing. Before 2, we were all tucked in and Barry was learning a new concept, “slumber party.”

Day 2: Sunday, Sunday!

Since we’ll be worshiping with the Lutheran-Episcopal Campus Ministry at UK in Lexington this evening, we all enjoyed sleeping in this morning. (What a luxury!) Perry went off to the urgent care to have a weepy eye checked (it turned out to be allergies rather than pink eye) and we’re establishing our game plan for the day. (It's likely to include the Louisville Slugger Factory!)

Pastor Sue