Thoughts on Saint Valentine

I've done a bit of research K.I.C.K. and I thought I would share.

What he know is this: There probably was a Saint Valentine. (In fact, there were several saints of the early church by that name.) He likely died for his faith.

St. Valentine was traditionally remembered on February 14th (in the West, at least), possibly the day of his death. (Since there was more than one saint named "Valentine", there may have been other St. Valentine's days!) Typically, we remember saints and martyrs on the days of their deaths, not their births, because that is the date of their "birth to eternal life".

Saint Valentine himself was not originally associated with romantic love. That is a more recent invention. There are many lovely stories that support this idea (for example, the story that he sent his jailer's daughter a note signed "Valentine" or that he performed marriages for young Christians), but they are probably based more on imagination than on history. That doesn't mean they're not worth telling--I think it's helpful for us as Christians to have positive ways of talking about romantic love. But that's not really our primary motivation. Regardless of what else he did, the original Saint Valentine was considered a saint of the early church--and that probably means that he was concerned, above all, with God's love.

So, on Valentine's Day, you have several options. You could stress about whether you are showing enough love (i.e. buying enough presents) for your significant other. You could stress about how you don't have a significant other. Or you could start by remembering that the real source of St. Valentine's life and strength was not romantic love, but God's. And that love is not shown with cards and chocolates (not that I'm opposed to either), but by the life and death of Jesus Christ.

~Pastor Sarah

Prayers: K.I.C.K.

For today's prayer request, I would like to lift up our parish after-school program, K.I.C.K. (It stands for "Kids in Christ's Kamp". We are not teaching spelling, okay?) Since we started up in the late fall, we have had a great group of kids each Wednesday after school. We play games and have a snack, play more games and break into groups for learning time and music. Every week, we end with a group prayer, and we pray for the kids who are there as well as for whatever concerns they have on their minds--so this week, please pray with us!

~Pastor Sarah

Parking lot reflections

So, the parking lot is a sheet of ice, slush, and rain, but for the first time since December, I can see the lines. So instead of randomly aiming, I can actually be sure that I am parked properly (or not, depending on how badly I parked).

This reminds me of a recent discussion from Confirmation. We talked about the Lutheran emphasis on "Word Alone" (and also Faith Alone and Grace Alone, but it'll take us a few weeks to cover all three). For some things, it is easy to see what this means. As Lutherans, for instance, we only recognize two sacraments, because those were the two Luther found to be supported by Scripture. (Of course, we have other things that are a lot like sacraments, but that's another discussion.) So this is sort of like parking in a lot when the yellow lines are clearly visible--everyone can agree on whether I parked badly or not.

But a lot of things are not so easy. (For example, the Bible does not actually say anything about cell phones or computers or the Internet, because they hadn't been invented yet.) Then, it's a bit more like parking on a snow-covered lot. It's harder to tell where the lines are. If you are familiar with the lot, though, you can do a pretty good job, and you can tell if you are getting it really wrong. A stranger, though, would be at a loss.

That's kind of how we are in the church. We spend time with the Scriptures, reading God's Word and being shaped by it. We spend time in Christian community, as well, and in worship, and prayer, and these things shape us into the kind of people who can discern that, well, maybe it would be a good idea to turn off your cell phone during Sunday worship (or maybe, under certain circumstances, it might not be). And when we're not sure what the answer is, maybe that's a good time to continue to be shaped and formed, by reading the Bible (not just the parts we agree with), spending time in Christian community (again, not just the parts we agree with), and worshiping God.

~Pastor Sarah

This is more like it

Today is cold and wet and dreary, which is pretty much the definition of winter back in Ohio. So I actually feel right at home. (It's slightly depressing, of course, but that's how it's supposed to feel.)

I would post the text of my mini-sermon from the service on the lake yesterday, but it was partly based on a previous post, so there it is already (almost). For all that I protest about the sheer insanity of standing on a frozen lake when the temperature isn't even freezing, it was tremendously fun. (I made up a few theories about the effect of large cracks on the way out. I can't help it. I just wonder about things like that.) I even got to stand on an area of clear ice and hear it cracking (after which I stopped doing that). I have concluded that ice fishers are either brave or crazy, but in a good way.

The ice had me pretty well distracted at first, but the service was delightful. We had a small, dedicated little group, and the weather was magnificent. Once again, I was happy to be part of this community.

~Pastor Sarah

By this time tomorrow...

...we will already have had our worship service on the lake. Anyone who is in the area is welcome to join us--we're meeting by the Water's Edge at 3:00. I'll be the one who still seems skeptical of this whole "walking on the lake" thing.

Actually, I'm really, really looking forward to it. I know it seems just like a matter-of-fact sort of thing to most Minnesotans, but to me it feels like a first view of the ocean or a first ride on an airplane, or the first time a kid from the South sees real snow. And my family in Ohio will be tremendously impressed.

~Pastor Sarah

Tuesday update

Weather: Still cold.

This year, the Souper Bowl of Caring raised $2,754,289, all of which goes to local organizations. We chose not to participate this year, so we can stay focused on the 30 Hour Famine. Still, it's an exciting project, and a cause for giving thanks! And if you stop by their website, you will notice that the countdown is already on for next year!

Yes, I saw the Super Bowl (well, most of it--okay, okay, some of most of it). I even saw the much-vaunted all-3D commercial break, which didn't mean much to me because I didn't have 3D glasses. Even if I did have 3D glasses, it probably still wouldn't mean much to me--my eyes just don't cooperate. I can't even do those "Magic Eye" things. You know those optical illusions where you're supposed to state at something for 30 seconds and then look away? And...uhm...something is supposed to happen? I can never get those to work, either. (Although most of these are pretty good.) There is probably some biblical application here somewhere. Maybe it's how you can go about your life without seeing God anywhere...but if you look with your eyes wide open, you will inevitably see God's presence all around you.

From there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)

Incidentally, Psalm 147 is actually the assigned Psalm for this week, except that the lectionary only includes verses 1-11 and 20c (which is basically the ending "Alleluia"/"Praise the Lord"). Sometimes verses are omitted because they are confusing out of context or because of length, but in this case, since it was the winter weather verses that were left out, I have to wonder. Did someone, somewhere (possibly someone living in a warmer climate), think they were doing us Northerners a favor by leaving the snow and frost references out?

~Pastor Sarah

Happy February!

We had a bit of a heat wave over the weekend, which actually succeeded in melting some of the snow. It looks to be cold for the next few days, maybe a little warmer towards next weekend--just so long as the ice is solid for next Sunday's "Frozen Chosen" worship service out on the lake! (Coming from a climate where lakes that big do not freeze over very much, I am wary enough as it is.)

In my research, then, I have found a few biblical passages describing winter weather. See, for instance, Job 37:1-13--not a book we often quote, but the imagery is striking:

By the breath of God ice is given,
and the broad waters are frozen fast. (Job 37:10)

And then there is Psalm 147:

He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.
He hurls down hail like crumbs— who can stand before his cold?
He sends out his word, and melts them;
   he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
(Psalm 147:16-18)

~Pastor Sarah