Random ramblings...

I have been traveling the country for the last week and it has been incredibly exhausting. I first flew out to Portland, OR for the funeral of my dear friend Jerry. It was wonderful to be with his family and just to remember the life and love that he was and the place he continues to hold in our lives. While out there I also was able to spend some time with folks from my internship congregation - it was a hyper-speed time - traveling across time zones and back in two days - but well worth the time and the exhaustion.

Ad I type this I am sitting in my friend Kate's place in Columbus, OH back at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. There was the annual Trinity Days conference here with Ted Peter's speaking. Wonderful speaker and quite engaging and open. I enjoy his writings - although his writings on religion and science always scared me - for I am not quite the scientific mind. But after hearing him speak on this I am curious to read a few more of his works in this area. I'll start small, but move on...

I have been doing the 'catch up' while eating or drinking bit while on the road...and I can say honestly I am eager to get back home to STOP eating and move around a bit more. I love catching up with folks...there are some really great friends and/or mentors that I have been able to touch base with while here, so I wouldn't change a thing, but gosh and I stuffed! :-)

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Added two new pieces to the blog. One is an RSS feed from Google World News...quick access to news stories globally - and the bonus is that they come from different media outlets, so I think a greater likelihood (although not guaranteed) that a varied and balanced perspective might be gained.

Also added a new link box that will contain - periodically - links to blogs or websites that I bump into and am intrigued for challenged by. I don't necessarily agree with all that is on these site, but something about them grabs me for a few moment, so I share them with you. I do make a commitment that if there is something on one of these blogs that is offensive or I feel crosses a line morally, I will not post it. But if you find something that is troubling, please let me know.

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Ordination announcements/invites when out on Friday. This means it is in INK now! :-) Much of my planning for the service is complete...now trying to get hotels set for folks coming in, and other plans. I am so excited and woohoo, it is going to be here in just a few weeks.

I begin my first day on Monday. I am excited about this and eager to get my feet on the ground there (as well as unpack all of my boxes of books!). My apartment move-in date was changed to later, so it won't be until after ordination, but I am still quite excited to get into my own space again.

Rambled enough? I think so...peace all!

A smile and a wink

Today is a sad day. I found out very late last night that a dear friend died. He had been struggling for a while now, and was truly growing tired. So we, family and friends, will gather together to give thanks for his life and the promise that we are given in Christ. As I travel out to Portland, I will think of his usual, "Hey kiddo!" greeting, his smile, and his wink. Jerry I miss you my friend, and I will continue to remember your love and simple reminders of who we are, God's children called to love each other simply.

Official now...

Okay gang, here's the gig - details about my ordination service are below.

Service of Holy Communion, with Rite of Ordination
October 20, 2007 @ 7pm
Bethel Lutheran Church
8712 Plantation Lane
Manassas, VA 20110
Dessert reception to follow.
Clergy are invited to vest. Color of the day is RED.

I have been called to Epiphany Lutheran Church in Dale City, VA.

I begin on October 1st, and just today signed a lease for an apartment. I am quite eager to get started...but so many things to do in the meantime.

Make My Life...

Well, with the upcoming call, I have begun to put into place pieces for my ordination. Tentatively (very tentatively) the ordination will be October 20th @ 7pm. I will post official details once confirmed - so many calendars and schedules to check.

But in my planning I am smiling because the choir of my home congregation may sing, and I have asked if they could sing one of my favorite anthems. I first heard this a year or two ago, but then had the incredible gift to be able to sing this for commencement at Trinity in June.

It speaks so much to me...and I just rest in the words and the tones. Ah...so I share this with you now. The anthem is "Make My Life an Alleluia" by Ruth Elaine Schram

Are you sitting down?!

Well, most of you have been following me on my journey to become a pastor (some from day 1, and others more recently) so I wanted to be sure to update you on the progress so far. This morning following worship, the congregation that I have been speaking with for some time voted unanimously to offer me a call to serve as their pastor and I accepted it! Woohoo! I am excited. There are still a few things that need to be worked out - start date, ordination, etc...but those will be in the relative near future. Once I learn of those, I will send out another email and its off from there. Thank you, thank you for your continued prayers and care!

Living boldly in Christ,

Kim

PS (And I forgot this on my emails) - the congregation's name is Epiphany Lutheran located in Dale City, VA.

Notice of the upcoming vote...

I just received this in email - the notice sent out to the congregation regarding the upcoming vote on Sunday.
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Epiphany Lutheran Church Update
September 11, 2007

This is an exciting week in the life of Epiphany. Please look over the calendar and note the special guest we have as officiating pastor this Sunday. We look forward to seeing you all in attendance Sunday morning for worship and the congregational meeting. An update will be sent out after the meeting for our members and friends unable to attend....

9:30am Worship Service
Our worship service will be officiated by Bishop-Elect Richard Graham. Our call candidate Ms. Kim...will present the Children's Time and the Sermon during the service.

10:30am Christian Education
This is our first week of Sunday School. Our call candidate Ms. Kim... will lead the adult discussion forum in the Sanctuary.

12:00pm Light Lunch and Special Congregational Meeting
Join us for sub sandwiches, chips, dessert and drinks before the Special Congregational Meeting. The Special Congregational Meeting will be led by Bishop-Elect Richard Graham. A discussion of the candidacy of Kim... as Epiphany Lutheran Church pastor will begin our meeting and we will then move on to a vote to extend a call to Kim... to be our pastor. If the vote to extend a call is passed, we will vote on a compensation package. These are the only two issues being presented to the congregation during this meeting, and no other motions will be in order. All worshiping members are invited to participate in the discussion, however votes may only be cast by confirmed members of Epiphany who are in attendance.

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Biographies

Bishop-Elect Richard Graham
The Rev. Richard H. Graham, Hope Lutheran Church, College Park, Maryland, was elected June 8 to a six-year term as bishop of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod of the ELCA.

Graham received his M. Div. From Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1977 and an M.A. in Church History from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. in 1989.

Graham served as Assistant Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hagerstown, Maryland; and Associate Pastor at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Annapolis, Maryland. He also served the synod as secretary. He has also been a member of the synod’s Candidacy Committee and a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Lutheran Home for the Aged, Rockville, Maryland

Graham is married to Nancy Ann and has two adult daughters. He will be installed October 14th.

Ms. Kim...
Kim... is a recent graduate of Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. She holds both a Bachelors in Education and a Masters of Education with an emphasis on Reading from Clarion University in Pennsylvania. She has experience teaching and working with youth through counselor positions at various Lutheran camps, teaching middle school Language Arts in Manassas, and as an Associate Instructor at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. She has been an active volunteer in her congregation and community in such varying outreach activities as: director of a children's choir, volunteer chaplain for a Lutheran Social Services women's homeless shelter, coordinator/participant in the 30-Hour Famine, literacy tutor, and coordinator/participant in multiple American Cancer Society Relay 4Life events.


The Call Committee recommends Kim through the following statement:

'Kim... is passionate about being called and serving God; she is energetic, enthusiastic, and eager to face challenges with deep faith. She has deep conviction to understanding and preaching the word of God and administering the Holy Sacraments. She expresses a heartfelt desire to work with the local community of faith. Her leadership style is one of modeling and working with others to find the best solution. As a second career pastor, she brings the experience she gained from her education career and a fresh perspective coming from seminary. Kim's interests in education, worship, small group ministry, and discipleship fit wholly with the current climate of Epiphany. We feel that through all this and more she will serve our congregation well as the pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church.'

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This is really happening! Wow...please keep me and this community in your prayers as we seek to further discern where and how God is calling us to live out our lives of faith.

From another blog....Free Online Learning Resources

Thanks to Mary Hess for this post on her blog, Tensegrities.

Looks like some good, free, and self-paced resources/courses for learning about faith, the Bible, and the Christian community.

Modern Day Shepherds

I have been contemplating and pondering the lectionary texts for the upcoming Sunday and have been doing a lot of thinking about sheep and shepherds, so this story from CNN.com/Europe caught my eye.
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An African woman helps guide a flock of sheep through the streets of Madrid on Sunday.



MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Shepherds from across the world joined their Spanish colleagues to lead flocks of sheep through the streets of downtown Madrid on Sunday in defense of ancient grazing routes threatened by urban sprawl and manmade frontiers.

While every year Spanish herdsmen protest their rights by herding hundreds of sheep along the capital's exclusive, tree-lined boulevards and luxury store-filled avenues, this year they were joined by colorfully attired shepherds from 32 countries who had been taking part in a world gathering of nomad and transhumance shepherds.

Transhumance is the practice of seasonal livestock movement. In Spain, it involves a million animals -- sheep, cattle and others.

The Spanish protest, now in its 15th year, seeks to highlight a tradition that has for centuries allowed herdsmen the right to use 78,000 miles of Spanish paths in seasonal livestock migrations from cool highland pastures in summer to warmer low-lying spaces in winter. Some paths have been used annually for more than 800 years.

Modern-day Madrid lies squarely in the way of two venerable north-south routes, one dating back to 1372.

A relatively modern city by European standards, Madrid inherited its status as capital of Spain's empire only when King Philip II fixed his court here in 1561.

As a result, the Puerta del Sol -- a thronging plaza that is the Madrid equivalent of New York's Times Square or London's Piccadilly Circus, now lies in the way of one of these routes.

While the routes are protected by Spanish law, modern life including housing developments, highways and railways have eroded time-honored paths.

Around the world, grazing rights are increasingly endangered by modern development, officials said.

"It's a contradiction to think that in a world that is increasingly globalized nomad shepherds can't wander freely with their flocks due to political difficulties stemming from frontier crossings," said Benigno Varillas, spokesman for the world shepherd gathering.

September 9th - Meet-N-Greet

Yesterday I worshipped with the community I have been in conversation with regarding a call as their pastor. It was a good day all around. The worship service was wonderful, the people were very welcoming, and the brunch following the service (it was Rally Day) was a great time to talk with many folks informally.

The kids and the youth really made me smile and get excited. They were the ones who were asking me questions. First there was a young boy named "Chris" who came up to me following the service and said, "Would you help me with my God and Me project for Cub Scounts?" I said, "Absolutely, that would be fun!" He smiled, looked up to me and said, "You're hired." And then he wandered off into the crowd of people gathering for the brunch.

Then I sat down at a table with two young girls (5th and 6th grade.) When I sat down the youngest asked, "So how old are you?" I chuckled, because these are the questions the adults CAN'T ask, and we did a bit of a guessing game. Then the other girl asked, "So, are you settled down, are you married?" Again, not a question that is really asked by the adults. I smiled and said, "Well, I will be moving soon and I will settle down a bit, and no, I'm not married." We talked for another 10 minutes or so. I asked them to tell me a bit about the church and they didn't hesitate. They first said, "This is our big family really, we know everyone and we are really sisters and brothers." (This is a theme that came up continuously in the conversations with the adults.) And then they proceeded to tell me about the mailbox system and how easy it is to stay in touch with everyone at the church. I asked them, "What do you think the hardest thing is for a pastor here?" They looked stumped but then said, "Well, I guess it would be the first day and learning all the names." Wise beyond their years, let me tell you.

After a few other tables I landed at a table with the youth director (who I knew through my previous work in youth ministry in the synod) and three youth. We chatted a bit and then I asked them what it was that the adults of the church weren't telling me about. They laughed and said they thought I probably knew most of what they knew. The young woman said that the church was really a family (theme, theme) and that they knew how to have fun. Then one of the boys said, "Have they told you about the pathway up to the 7-11 next door?" Everyone laughed and we continued on talking about schools and the like.

Several of the adults said, "We should've just voted today." Or that they are so happy that finally someone was paying attention to the fact that they needed a pastor.

All-in-all the day was a wonderful, joyous, and relaxing time together. The sense of community in this place is contagious. The desire to live into what God is calling them too is evident. The feeling that they need a leader to help guide them is present.

I look forward to next week when I preach, teach and adult forum, and then they vote on whether to offer me a letter of call. I remain in prayer and discernment about what God has planned for me, for this community, and for the whole church. Please continue to pray along with me. Living boldy in Christ! - Kim

A New Look

I have fiddled with this page a bit, added some new color, two additional side bars, and a new counter (unfortunately I don't know how to get the map counter back, so I have reverted to the standard number counter on the bottom of the page.) Let me know what you think!

UPDATE - I have found the clustermaps HTML I used before to see who in the world is checking out this blog. As of last count (prior to the 'remodel') there had been 1,800 or so hits, and all but one continent. I had to restart this map again, so it will be fun to see who's checking in.

Buying In or Being Real?

I have not always been one who needed to have the newest, latest, and greatest thing going. I mean, don't get me wrong, there are times - like in my younger years when I fell head-over-whatever for the New Kids on the Block (I didn't intend for this to be a confessional piece) or even when I jumped into the blogging world because, well, "everybody's doing it." But even with that, I have rarely gone hog-wild for anything new, just because it was new. And as I reflect on the church, and some recent and not-so-recent experiences in the church, I must confess that sometimes I don't know if we know who we are...we, as the church, get caught up in the "new and improved" or "latest, greatest" fads. These newest and best are surrounding and bombarding the church...they come across every church office/pastor's desk or email daily. Our society is embedded with these state-of-the-art things that are "guaranteed" to make it all work, to make it all easier, to make it all good, and this has not missed the church.

Further to the point, I have done some recent study into the largest missing demographic within the mainline denominations - young adults, and others are doing the same. Many national and regional church bodies have just begun to take note of this missing group and have begun to try to bring them back to, or simply into the flock. And here's where the question - "buying in or being real?" comes to life.

In an attempt to "attract" this population churches and church bodies are spending time and money acquiring the latest and greatest of technology, licences for so-called contemporary worship lyrics, renting space in coffee houses, creating ENTIRE worship services geared toward the seeker and or 20 something crowd, and anything else that is 'guaranteed' to interest this group. But sadly, in this process many (NOT ALL) are leaving behind their identity to fit into something that they think these missing folks are looking for.

And yeah, while it may indeed work for a time, the underlying element for many (if not most) young adults is authenticity and truth. They have left (or never entered) our mainline worshipping communities because these churches have appeared to them to just be "going through the motions" and that's, well, a waste of time. Yet when these same young adults come to the new "GenX" or "Electronic" or "Contemporary" whatever services/gatherings, they soon come to learn that these are just masks or faces that are being put up to mass market to this group to draw them in, and the authenticity has been a fraud.

So why do I ponder this? Well, I recently have been in conversations with a close friend who's congregation has a 'contemporary' service once a month because the pastor says, "We need something to attract the young audience." Yet behind this there is no other change that is real, and the change doesn't reflect the community from which is has come. As a result, many of the 'older' members are turned off by this worship service and that they seek to not be present those Sundays each month, plus there has not been a single new person appear since this all began.

My point? Be real. We need to be who we have been created, and not put on a show or the latest glitter and sparks. We are disciples of Christ called to be authentic, and being authentic is about honoring and growing from our past, seeking to live faithfully in the present, and looking forward to the future. This means holding on to liturgy (for those of us who use liturgy) and incorporating our communities within that today. This doesn't mean organ all the time, or no 'contemporary' lyrics (whatever that means), etc...but it means that we are called to live and worship in our fullness in Christ. Our fullness grows out of and celebrates our past, is honest and open about our now, and seeks to follow Christ in all we do into tomorrow.

Some have heard me say "authentic worship is worship that is both traditional and contemporary" and that's being real. We don't need to pretend to be something we are not. We are called disciples of Christ, gathered together to nurture and equip each other, to go out and live and share Christ's living, breathing word of life in all that we do. That means in our worship too. So let's get rid of labels, let's get rid of 'demographic pointing,' and let's be who we are called to be - disciples of Christ who live in the already/not yet reality of Christ in the world.