tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069200.post110019024968983351..comments2023-08-09T04:28:05.392-04:00Comments on A Pastor in the Parish: Sunday's texts, worship issues and preachingGeekChurchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13734017463840940541noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069200.post-1100580753214530832004-11-15T23:52:00.000-05:002004-11-15T23:52:00.000-05:00...and I can't forget my favorite part to "the end......and I can't forget my favorite part to "the end":<br /><br />God reaches the end of his patience with sin and human injustice.<br /><br />That's a great end!<br /><br />PharaohPhilliphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07362084518837697326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069200.post-1100472911669972852004-11-14T17:55:00.000-05:002004-11-14T17:55:00.000-05:00Phillip,
I can't help but think of (apocryphal?)...Phillip, <br /><br />I can't help but think of (apocryphal?)quote from Luther in response to the question of what would he do if he knew the world would end tomorrow... his answer, "Plant a tree."<br /><br />I think you are right regarding the continued witness of the church in the midst of things going to hell. Our hope is in God's promises.<br /><br />-BrianGeekChurchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13734017463840940541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069200.post-1100409375822701612004-11-14T00:16:00.000-05:002004-11-14T00:16:00.000-05:00After church tomorrow our parish is dedicating a H...After church tomorrow our parish is dedicating a Hinoki Cypress, planted recently on our grounds in memory of a beloved member who passed away this year. We will form a procession after the dismissal and huddle around the smallish evergreen along the sidewalk for a psalm and a prayer and the chance to give thanks for Lou's life. Grow, little tree, grow! In a Spirit-inspired twist of irony, the photograph that appears on our pre-ordered Augsburg Fortress bulletin for this Sunday (Proper 28) includes two huge evergreen trees that have been toppled down and uprooted, most likely a snapshot from a tornado's aftermath. The words "All will be thrown down," taken from Luke 21, appear above the ruined trees. While the contrast of these images--trees shattered by natural destruction and our delicate new cypress--may seem to cast a cynical light on our dedication ceremony, I find that holding them in close tension actually proclaims the good news quite well. As Jesus reminds us, the time of strife, struggle, and the impending destruction of the "things that are" is not a time to fear, and it is certainly not a time to give up and become apathetic. Rather, we witness with even bolder confidence to the love of God and the power of Christ. These are times to work and build, even if "all will be thrown down." If the world sees the church still planting trees in the midst of struggle and strife--in a crime-ridden neighborhood with a declining population and little hope on the horizon--the world will see a faithful people that knows God stands by his promise to bring all creation to the fullness of His love, that "not a hair of our head will perish." We, in fact, will be pointing to the hope on the horizon, the hope we have now.Philliphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07362084518837697326noreply@blogger.com