Fourth Sunday of Advent

Fourth Sunday of Advent!

When did that happen?

This season has flown by.

Join us this Sunday for the fourth Sunday of Advent, along with Caring Christmas on De. 23rd, and Christmas Eve worship at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Peace,

Pastor Brett

St. Andrew's Feast Day

Today is the feast day of St. Andrew!

Who was St. Andrew?  Andrew was a fisherman who was minding his business--catching fish--when Jesus called him to follow him.  Andrew, along with his brother Simon Peter, are exemplars of the faith, because they dropped everything they were doing, leaving him and family, to follow Jesus of Nazareth.

The hope and prayer?  May we be like St. Andrew, dropping everything in our hands and go, follow Jesus, casting the net wide in catching people, sharing with them in body, mind, and spirit, the Good News!

Pastor Brett

Curing Warring Madness

In the hymn by Harry Emerson Fosdick, "God of Grace and God of Glory," the third verse has always stood out to me: "Cure thy children's warring madness; bend our pride to thy control; shame oru wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul."

"Thy children's warring madness" came to the fore today in reading and listening to the shooting at Umpqua Community College, 180 miles from where I am writing this in Roseburg, OR. This is the 45th massacre in 2015.  45th. That is 45 too many. 13 dead. 20 year old killer, also dead.

We have a problem in this country.  It is of epidemic proportion. As a Christian community of faith, we stand foursquare against gun violence like this. And not only in this country, but anywhere in the world. Violence begets violence. Period.

"Cure thy children's warring madness" is our prayer.

Pax!

Pastor Brett

Getting back in the saddle again...

Life has been busy with us at St. Andrew's.  We had a full summer, with "Blues Vesper" and "Hear and Now," along with a heck of a picnic and music fest. And we are looking forward to our Youth Group Rummage Sale, Cuban Libre, and Cuban Auction. What these events are allowing us to experience at St. A's is an opportunity to enjoy one another.  Because it is in relationships with one another that we truly experience the Christ.

Coming up soon?  Stewardship Campaign!  And what we are looking forward to is imagining what our future is going to be as a congregation at St. A!  Get ready for opportunities to share your ideas of our collective future!

Ready...set...dream!

Pax! Pastor B 

New day in the United States, revealing what we already know in the Church

Today is a new day in the U.S. Today, LGBTQI and non-LGBTQI people were honored and recognized as equals under the law.  Both due process and equality under the law were met today as a Constitutional standard, and we are celebrating that.  As someone who is open and honest about who he is as a child/son of God, to be denied rights and privileges 98% of this congregation can enjoy all along, is huge. Big.

Yet within the Church (universal), the body of Christ, the household of God, we who are LGBTQI are already "equals" or fully loved, because we are all created in the image of God, and as the poster says "God doesn't make junk."

The PCUSA offices in Louisville, and the elected leadership sent out this "blurb" today in light of the ruling of the Supreme Court of the US:

“It is always good when the church is at the front end of a movement such as this and catches the spirit in the wind of where people are attempting to move society and give voice to those who have long been silenced,” said the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, director of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness. “Our task now is to educate congregations and address how the church is to engage society and our differences. It’s much more than a gay/lesbian issue. We are seeing laws overturned in favor of communities that have not always been represented.”

More here: http://www.pcusa.org/news/2015/6/26/pcusa-celebrates-supreme-court-decision-same-gende/

Pax! Pastor B

Presbytery of the Cascades is HERE at St. Andrew's!

The Presbytery of the Cascades two day meeting, June 19-20, has begun!  They are here!  And the hospitality of St. Andrew's is wonderful.

Y'all are wonderful people at St. A!

Pastor B

Moving Forward in the Summertime!

Exciting times at St. A's this summer! It's summertime!

Presbytery of the Cascades is meeting here this weekend, June 19-20, 2015!

And Session last night approved the following:

* Plastic for Offertory!  We will be accepting credit cards, along with cash, checks, and on-line donations.  This will start July 5, 2015!

* Worship will now include midweek Eucharist on Wednesdays, 6:30-7, starting in September 2015 in the small chapel;

* Cuba is on our minds!  Preparing for welcoming the Rev. Michael Beaton from Cuba to our pulpit and community on June 28!

* And an exciting August 2015 is just around the bend!

Enjoy!

Be safe!

And God Bless!

Pastor Brett

Catching Up with a Congregation on the Move

What's going on at St Andrew's?  My calendar is full from the past few weeks, and is filling in quickly before I take off for India.

* CSA: we are now a drop off point for Pumpkin Patch;
* We now have planted a vegetable garden;
* This fall we will focus on healthy minds, healthy bodies, and healthy faith;
* We celebrated Pentecost and still are speaking in both English and ASL;
* Pastor Brett spent a week finishing a rough draft of PRACTICING PILGRIMAGE at St. Ben's in St. Joseph, MN, the world's largest women's Benedictine women's monastery;
* Pastor Jeremy and family are off on vacation;
* Cuba is happening here.  Auction and next year's trip is under way in terms of planning;
* New office administrator will be coming on baord Aug. 3, while we are sad and sorry to be seeing Donna Haub leave;
* Choir had a most excellent picnic last Wednesday night.
* Pastor Michael Beaton from Cuba will be here for 2 weeks;
* Presbytery of the Cascades will be meeting at St. A's this Friday and Saturday;
* We are learning to pray the Lord's Prayer with ASL;
* New paraments are in the sanctuary;
* Jesus is being preached in thish Church;
* The Holy Spirit is moving in the lives of people;
* The creating God is busy as ever.
* Love reigns
* Carolyn Gazeley and Jeremy wrote a great column in the Crossroads;
* Blessing of the Animals on July 26, 2015;
* We are going to start using plastic for offertory July 5, 2015...

And the list goes on.

Stay tuned!

Pastor Brett

Jesus Ascended for the Spirit to Descend

On Ascension Sunday, I preached on the topic of Jesus' ascension.  In our Men's Study, in reading Eph. 4, I was drawn by the passages that focused on the ascension of Jesus. Yet it is the descent of the Spirit around us that still drives and thrills me to this day.  I'm intrigued with the Spirit being free to move wherever the Spirit chooses.  I'm fascinated by the fact that Jesus' last act on earth was blessing us, and that he still prays for us, day in and day out.  That blows me away!  The Spirit is moving at St. Andrew's, of that there is no doubt.

Pentecost!  Celebration of the Church's birthday!  Happy Pentecost, all!

Pax,

Pastor B

They Tell a Better Story . . . But So Do We.

"Eternal God, we thank you for Jesus. We thank you for his many reminders that we are

to love one another. Nevertheless, we confess that we have great difficulty following

his command to love. We become upset and easily reject others rather than seeking to

understand and still love them. We struggle with the command to love our enemies."

Those are the opening sentences that we will say on Sunday morning during our Time of Confession.  This is our weekly discipline of acknowledging that we are broken people who make mistakes and need help.  It is a time for us to grasp onto humility, to say out loud that we need help as individuals and as the human race.  It is also a time for us to receive a blessing of forgiveness from our God, who promises to not only forgive, but to use us, in spite of our flaws.  

Yesterday, Pastor Brett and I took a research/creativity/Sabbath break and went to see Avengers:Age of Ultron.  I've watched a number of the Marvel/Avengers franchise and consider myself a fan of the genre.  But I was unprepared for the theological reflections on humankind that were displayed 60 feet wide, in high-definition, with surround sound.  Human frailty, pride, sin, anger, violence, redemption, sacrifice, reconciliation, restoration, faith, unity and salvation are all on full display for those who see it.  

The most compelling element of this movie is the emphasis on human frailty.  Without giving away too much of a spoiler, I can tell you that the primary villain in this story comes into being because one of the Avengers attempted to create a super-weapon to protect our Earth.  There is a thread throughout the movie which questions the Avenger team, and us, about the side effects of the violence that we use to stop violence.  The overarching question of the movie is whether there is any hope for the human race.   

Enter Wanda Maximov (pictured above).  As a child, she was a victim of this violence.  Collateral damage.  Her anger and pain is used to turn her against the Avengers.  Her superhero ability, which she uses against them, is perhaps the most effective Time of Confession that you or I have ever seen.  She puts her hands near the temples of her "victims" and red waves of light and energy cause them to fall into a dreamlike state.  They see their deepest flaws and brokenness, mixed in with the side effects of all the violence that they have used, whether their intentions were pure or not.  

In all of my 39 years of attending worship services, I have never seen a better portrayal of our need to confess our brokenness and our need for humility.  Hollywood is full of gifted storytellers.  And in this instance, they raise deep and beautiful questions and gave us images of how we can respond.  

They tell a better story.  

But so do we.  

At various points in the movie, I couldn't resist thinking, "Tony Stark should go to church!"  If only he held onto our practice of Confession, he would do a much better job of using his powers for good rather than evil.  If he recognized the brokenness that was within him, on a regular basis, rather than waiting for his actions to explode into crisis, the Marvel world would be much better off.  He needs our story.  He needs to recognize his flaws and tendencies, he needs to be humbled and welcome the strength that comes with being part of the body of Christ.  Flawed, forgiven, and called to live in faith as people of grace and truth.  (That whole part about loving your enemies might be helpful too, but that's another post.)  

Tony Stark needs to go to church.  And so do we.  

Be a YAV

I just had a wonderful visit with Linda Carter, who is the Mission Engagement Advisor with YAV.  What is YAV? Young Adult Volunteer Program, which is our PCUSA way of doing something similar to Americorp and Peace Corp, funded by federal dollars.  This is a program for young folks between the ages of 19-30 who are antsy to do some volunteer work in the name of Jesus, working with others here or abroad.

The website for this great organization within the church? www.pcusa.org/yav.

Contact me if you'd like to know more!

Pax!  Pastor B

Being a Pilgrim People: Pilgrimage and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Ecclesio.com

To no one's surprise here at St. Andrew's, I approach ministry in particular and life in general as a pilgrimage. Writing on pilgrimage over the years, in 1999 I went on my first pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayo in northern NM, and nothing has been the same ever since.

For this past week, I've been blogging about pilgrimage on Ecclesio.com.

The entries are as follows:

http://www.ecclesio.com/2015/04/being-gods-pilgrim-people-whats-a-pilgrimage-by-brett-webb-mitchell/

http://www.ecclesio.com/2015/04/being-gods-pilgrim-people-companions-and-community-on-pilgrimage-brett-webb-mitchell/

http://www.ecclesio.com/2015/04/being-gods-pilgrim-people-saints-and-memory-on-pilgrimage-brett-webb-mitchell/

http://www.ecclesio.com/2015/04/being-gods-pilgrim-people-hospitality-on-pilgrimage-brett-webb-mitchell/

http://www.ecclesio.com/2015/04/being-gods-pilgrim-people-the-contemplative-life-of-christian-pilgrimage-brett-webb-mitchell/

In re-reading these, I'm surprised (not) at the influence of Chimayo and the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.

One more tomorrow!

Enjoy!

Pax, Pastor B

First Tuesday of Easter

How time flies when we are having fun, right?

This is the first Tuesday of Easter.  I am overwhelmed by the reverberation of worship on Easter Sunday.

The question is always this: what happens after the feelings ebb and the tide is low in the area of faith?

Spiritual writer Henri Nouwen writes: "Trees that grow tall have deep roots.  Great height without great depth is dangerous.  The great leaders of this world, like St. Francis and MLK, Mr., were all people who could live with public notoriety, incluence and power in a humble way because of their deep spiritual rootedness."

Feeling for my roots today.

Blessings!

Pastor B

Maundy Thursday

Where does the word "Maundy" come from, and what does it mean?

Maundy comes from the old French "mande" from Latin "mandatum" as in "mandate." And the mandate was Jesus telling his disciples after washing their feet: "I give you a new commandment (or mandate) that you should love one another" (John 13:34).

Maundy Thursday at St. Andrew's will be commemorated tonight in  Calvin Hall at 6:30-7:30 p.m., with a simple meal of beans and rice that flows into Holy Communion.

Maundy Thursday blessings!

Pastor Brett & Pastor Jeremy

Holy Week Readings

For Passion or Holy Week, here are some readings after Palm or Passion Sunday:

Monday:
Is. 42:1-9
 Ps. 36: 5-11
Heb. 9:11-15
John 12:1-11

Tues:
Is. 49:1-7
Ps. 71:1-14
1 Cor. 1:18-31
John 12:20-36

Wed.:
Is. 50:4-9a
Ps. 70
Heb. 12:1-3
John 13: 21-32

Thursday
Ex. 12:1-4, 11-14
Ps. 116
1 Cor. 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Good Friday
Is. 52:13-53:12
Ps. 22
Hebr. 4:14-16, 5:7-9
John 18:-19:42

Blessings,

B

Palm Sunday

Tomorrow, we begin Holy Week "officially" with the celebration of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem with the loud "Hosanna!"

What is powerful about this week is how quickly we will move as people of God to the passion of Jesus, recognizing this as his last week of life on earth.

This is the week that we recognize Jesus as the "God man," the Pilgrim God, who is both human and divine in one body. What Jesus reveals to us is that we, too, are an amalgam of humanity and divine spark within us as well.

Let us quietly try to wrap our minds around that truth.

Pax!

B

Oscar Romero, A Beloved Saint

Having posted on St. Patrick, an evangelist who we revere in the US on March 17, I also want to "lift up" the person of the late Archbishop Romero of El Salvador.  He became an incredibly important person in El Salvador, speaking out for the rights of the poor and the marginalized, and against the repressive powers of the governmental forces and their death squads.  He himself was assassinated while celebrating Mass.

Here's a link to the life of Archbishop Romero: http://www.un.org/en/events/righttotruthday/romero.shtml

We too are facing some of the same circumstances as did Archbishop Romero.  How are we dealing with forces that are bringing people deeper into poverty? Or repressive forces? What would Jesus call for us to do in this day and age?

Pax!

Pastor B

PCUSA Passes/Ratifies 14F re: Marriage Equality

Well, the denomination--Presbyterian Church USA--of which I have been a part of since I was a teenager, just "affirmed" marriage equality with the passage of 14F.

This is what we ratified yesterday

Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family.Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman, to love and support each other for the rest of their lives. The sacrificial love that unites the couple sustains them as faithful and responsible members of the church and the wider community

 

I was quoted in today's Oregonian: http://www.oregonlive.com/faith/2015/03/largest_presbyterian_denominat.html

 

This is what I said:"We're able to exhale," said Brett Webb-Mitchell, who is the first openly-gay pastor in the Portland-area PCUSA presbytery. "We kept on holding our breath. We were second-class citizen -- we were not equals in the eyes of the church."

 

What a difference a day and vote make!

 

Pax!  B

 

  

Who is St. Patrick?

Tomorrow, March 17, is not only Hazel Torgerson's birthday, but also the Feast Day of St. Patrick (for those with Roman Catholic, Episcopal, or Lutheran roots). 

So a question: who is St. Patrick?  And why is he so well regarded?  It is more than about green bagels, milkshakes, or beer.

From Huffingtonpost.com:

Patrick was a real person, but not much is known of his life. He was born in the late 300s when the Roman Empire extended to England, so he was not “really” Irish — like the vast majority of people who celebrate his day. In his “Confessio,” one of only two surviving documents attributed to him, Patrick wrote that while his father was a Christian deacon, he was not devout. At age 16, Patrick was captured by Irish marauders, carried across the Irish Sea and enslaved. Patrick spent six years alone in the wilderness tending his master’s sheep, praying constantly. “It was among foreigners that it was seen how little I was,” he wrote. He began to have visions and hear voices that told him: “Look, your ship is ready.” So Patrick left his first flock and walked 200 miles to the coast. It’s a pretty safe bet he would have loved a beer, green or otherwise, as he stepped into a boat bound for England.

Aside from being named a saint? Yes. St. Patrick merged Christianity with more traditional parts of Irish culture, including adding bonfires to Easter celebrations and creating the Celtic cross, which incorporates the sun with the cross.

He also is largely responsible for helping convert the Irish to Christianity.

Here's more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/13/who-was-st-patrick_n_6866482.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

Happy St. Patrick's Day, one and all!

Pax!

Pastor B

7.5 Million Americans Lost Their Religion Since 2012...That's A Lot of People

In pastoring a congregation in the US, one of the sources I look at are demographics.  These are postcard statements of where things "are" on any specific day. This caught my attention the other day from the PCUSA.org website: 7.5 million Americans lost their religion since 2012:
A new survey shows in stark relief that what some are calling the Great Decline of religion in America continues: Since 2012, the U.S. has about 7.5 million more Americans who are no longer active in religion.
Last week, the 2014 General Social Survey was released. The GSS is the gold standard for sociological surveys. Funded by the National Science Foundation, this multimillion-dollar study gives us the most accurate data on American society — including religion.
(An important point to remember as you see the data: Each percentage point increase represents a growth of 2.5 million adults. So a 3-point rise in secularity, for example, means that about 7.5 million people left religion since 2012.).

Here's a link to the rest of the article.http://www.pcusa.org/news/2015/3/13/analysis-75-million-americans-lost-their-religion-/

This is why, in large part, the days of growing congregations, especially mainstream/mainline, are largely over.  While many people are attending large evangelical congregations, many of these people are "seekers," new to the faith, inspired by the "newness" of the message.  It may be a novelty for others.

Interesting...

Pax!

Pastor B 

Remembering Tim Newell

Tim, the son of Lee Ann Newell, our custodian, passed away on Sunday.  He was 26 yeras old.

To quote Pastor Jeremy, "Our prayers and thoughts are with Lee Ann and her family in this terrible time of grief and loss."

A memorial service will be held this Saturday., March 14, 2015, at 5 p.m. at the Milwaukie Grange Hall: 2015 SE 22nd St., Milwaukie, OR  97222.

Flowers have been sent on behalf of the Church.  We will be collecting financial donations on their behalf.

Blessings,

Brett

Celebrating a century!

This coming Sunday, we will be celebrating the 100th birthday of Hazel Torgerson.  Hazel is a founding member of St. Andrew's Church, has been deeply devoted to this church family for all of its' existence, and her name is engraved on this plaque that most of us pass by every Sunday.

As you can see, Hazel served as the Clerk of Session when the sanctuary was dedicated, half a lifetime (for her, at least) ago.  

What a legacy for Hazel, and what a fantastic opportunity we have as a church family to celebrate life!

It is our honor to celebrate such an incredible milestone.  And it is mind-blowing for me to consider the significance of 1 century of life.  I don't know if every century feels this way about itself, but I can't imagine that many centuries have seen the transformation that our world has seen during Hazel's lifetime.

Consider some of these facts from the year of Hazel's birth.
- The telephone was invented.
- Automobiles were becoming widely available, with the 1 millionth Ford car rolling off the assembly line in December, and the transcontinental Lincoln Highway completed.
- Sears and Roebuck began selling showers as indoor plumbing became commonplace, at least in urban areas.
- There were just over 100 million people in the United States.  Today there are over 316 million.
- The House of Representatives rejected a bill that would give women the right to vote.

From transportation to communications to indoor plumbing, our world has been transformed, and Hazel has been there to see it all.  What a joy it will be to celebrate her life!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it.

We Presbyterians are proud of our "connectional" roots and system of government. Through thick and thin, good times and challenging times, we are to be there with and for one another.  After all, this is how we "work" and "live" within the body of Christ.

In that spirit and Spirit, churches in the US Northeast are in need of assistance as they have received the brunt of the latest snow fall.  This is how bad it is:

“We could see churches cease to exist because of these storms. It could result in 20 or more church closings, nearly a third of Presbyterian congregations in the area,” says Cindy Kohlmann, resource presbyter for the Presbyteries of Boston and Northern New England. “These are churches that have vibrant congregations but don’t have the resources to deal financially with the issues brought about by the snow and cold temperatures.”

Here's a link that Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has sent out:
http://www.pcusa.org/news/2015/2/27/winter-storms-spell-catastrophe-new-england/

Pax! B

Church Attendance: OR and WA are Low

Interesting statistic: in terms of church, mosque, or synagogue attendance, my former state of residence, NC, ranks rather high (in the 40s) while OR ranks 24% in terms of attendance given the population size. 59% of Utahans attend Church, with a cluster of states in the Southeast being almost "tied" for second place.  But the Pacific NW states? Low!

Here's a link to the article: http://www.pcusa.org/news/2015/2/24/utah-highest-vermont-lowest-newest-church-attendan/

Why is this?  Perhaps it is because so many people in the Pacific NW find a place to be on Sunday morning that isn't a religious community, like the mountains skiing, or the coast, or hiking, or brunch.  And more families are busy throughout the week and are ready to rest and re-charge batteries.

The days of being a member of a church of over 1,000 are over for many. Welcome to the smaller, more nimble, faith community.

Pax!

B

Marriage Equality in PCUSA

The Presbyterian Church (USA)/PCUSA is inching forward towards marriage equality.  Currently, in the Book of Order marriage is defined as between "one man and one woman." The General Assembly passed a modifier, which included these words: "unique commitment between two people”.

Having passed General Assembly, Presbyteries are now voting on this change.  Out of 172 Presbyteries, 60 have voted affirmatively, and 20 + have voted in the negative.

Here's a link to the vote: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2015/02/23/Gay-unions-getting-nod-in-voting-by-Presbyterian-Church-U-S-A/stories/201502230007

What do you think?

Pax!

Pastor B

Reading The Residue Years

How many would be interested in reading and discussing The Residue Years by Mitchell Jackson? It focuses on growing up as a black man in white Portland?

Pax!  B

How to Prevent Poverty in 90 Min.

Brad Van Allen, Carolyn Gazeley and I saw "How to Prevent Poverty in 90 Minutes." We learned about poverty in Multnomah County. Amazing production that ended with a non profit receiving $1,000 at the end of the night.

We all wondered:how can we bring this evocative play to St Andrew's?

Pax! B

Kendalin a Concert for SW Hope

Tonight was rich for the community around St Andrew's: Kendalin, a folks group with solid folk appeal, played at St Andrew's raising fund for SW Hope, a mission of St Andrew's. I was impressed by the variety of folk music that Kendalin sang. And I was also impressed by the turn out of the community in support of the musicians and SWHope. Well done! Thanks, Nina and Ken, for making it happen.

I've talked with Kendalin!  Ready for more, St. Andrews?

Pax!

Between Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

I'm always struck by the creative tension of Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras, followed so quickly by Ash Wednesday.  There are two sets of emotions that share in common a certain intensity of feelings. Shrove Tuesday at St. Andrew's was a rollicking good time (thanks Fellowship Committee), with plenty of pancakes and condiments that ranged from healthy (berries) to enough chocolate to simply make us happy. We acted out "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," laughing with one another, learning about the meaning of Shrove Tuesday.

On Ash Wednesday, there was a quiet solemnity brought to our worship at both 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Maybe it was the candle, the music, the overall atmosphere of the group.  As Jeremy quoted Nadia Bolz-Weber, Ash Wednesday doe not bring forth a grand celebration of special cakes and cookies, clothes accessories, or display window ornamentation. At St. Andrew's, we began our Lent with a sense of purposefulness, using this time to reflect, ponder, and search within ourselves and the world around us the presence and the meaning of following Jesus more closely.

Pastor Brett

A Reflection on Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday Reflection 

February 18 2015 - St. Andrew's Chapel - 6:30 PM

            Ash Wednesday is one of my favorite holy days of the church calendar.  As much fun as Shrove Tuesday was last night, and the joy of Christmas and Easter, I have come to enjoy this day more and more.  One of the reasons is that this has remained our holy day.  It hasn’t been co-opted by the larger culture and turned into something else.  It hasn’t been claimed by our god of consumerism.  As Nadia Bolz-Weber wrote so well, “there are no Door Buster sales at 4 am on the first day of Lent.  There are no big, garish displays in the middle of the mall with mechanical children in sack cloth and ashes.”[i]

            Ash Wednesday isn’t a holiday that can easily be co-opted into a lucrative cash cow for our culture.  I think the same thing is true about both Christmas and Easter, by the way, when we grasp the full story.  Christmas includes quite a bit of suffering and hardship, before the celebration, but we are able to gloss over the poverty of Mary and Joseph, the injustice of Rome, and the dangerous flight to Egypt, in light of the celebration of such glorious life in Jesus.  Easter, as well, is centered around death before the resurrection, though the flowers, the bunny and the colorful eggs seem to push the emphasis forward.

            But Ash Wednesday holds us back and forces us to consider the truth of our mortality, and our brokenness.  Ash Wednesday forces us, thankfully, to stop and consider our need for God. 

            It is especially helpful in times like this week, when we have been confronted by the brutality that exists within us, as 21 young men in Libya had their lives taken by 21 other young men, who had forgotten their shared status as brothers.  It only takes a little bit of honesty to recognize how easily our own relationships are broken, and how the cycles of violence of all types escalate quickly and seemingly beyond repair.  When we are honest, we can see that same story play out in our own lives in different ways.  We can see ourselves in both the victims and the perpetrators.  When we do that, we understand how much humility, forgiveness, sacrificial love, and non-violence are needed to heal what divides us.

            As we heard a moment ago from Isaiah, the worship that the Lord requires of us is a recognition that we forget our own sisterhood and brotherhood with all.  Isaiah says that we oppress, that we quarrel, and that we fight.  We are called to look just at ourselves first, in humility.  The worship that the Lord requires is to loose the bonds of injustice, to let the oppressed go free, share our bread, our housing, and our clothes.  God teaches us that humility is necessary to overcome our brokenness, a humility that requires such great strength that we need God’s help, which is promised at the end of that reading.  “The Lord will guide you continuously, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.” (verse 11).  In times like these, it is helpful, it is necessary, to embrace humility, to let go of ourselves, to empty ourselves, so that God may fill us with love and forgiveness for the sake of ourselves and for the sake of all. 

            So may we do that tonight with this ritual.  May we hear these words of blessing for the dust that we are and to which we will return.   

Blessing the Dust


A Blessing for Ash Wednesday

All those days you felt like dust,
 like dirt,


as if all you had to do was turn your face
 toward the wind


and be scattered
 to the four corners

or swept away
 by the smallest breath 
as insubstantial—

Did you not know
 what the Holy One 
can do with dust?

This is the day
 we freely say 
we are scorched.

This is the hour we are marked 


by what has made it
through the burning.

This is the moment
 we ask for the blessing
 that lives within 
the ancient ashes,


that makes its home inside the soil of 
this sacred earth.

So let us be marked
not for sorrow.


And let us be marked not for shame.


Let us be marked
not for false humility


or for thinking
we are less
 than we are

but for claiming
what God can do within the dust,


within the dirt, within the stuff
of which the world is made,


and the stars that blaze
in our bones,


and the galaxies that spiral
 inside the smudge we bear.

–Jan Richardson

See more at: http://paintedprayerbook.com/2015/02/13/ash-wednesday-the-terrible-marvelous-dust/#sthash.PNrRpe59.dpuf

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[i] Bolz-Weber, Nadia                        www.sarcasticlutheran.com  Feb. 22, 2012

Seeing TRIBES

Members of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church went to see the play, "Tribes".  The plot was around Billy, the deaf young man in a family of cultural vultures and writers, who have to rearrange their busy, self-centered lives around a young man who has usually had to fit into their lives.  What the play exposed us to was the concept of the "second class citizenry" of those who are deaf in our society at large, and church in particular.  But within the play we also learned about the "pecking order" within the deaf culture too, with those who are born deaf and using sign language at the "top" of the order, while those who slowly lose their hearing and becoming deaf are at the "bottom" of the pecking order.

To say the least, the play was powerful.

So a theological question: if people are born deaf, is God deaf too?

Pax!

Brett

Welcome to St. Andrew's Casting Nets Blog

Hi All!

Jeremy and I are starting the new blog for St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, "Casting Nets".

We hope to keep people informed as to what is happening in the life of the Church, thoughts and reflections about all that is going on in our church, neighborhood, area of Portland, OR, country, and world.

Stay tuned!

Pax, which is peace,

Brett