In my last semester, this is officially now the twilight of my seminary career. And so, in the midst of too many classes already, not to mention time with friends and the occasional chess tournament or frisbee game, I decided to fit in my own version of a capstone: Preaching and Pop Culture. The idea is to take pop culture topics that seem un-preachable and make them a focus of the text; i.e. read the text through their respective lenses. The goal isn't to preach an anti-pop culture message but to actually engage the framework out of which these symbols arise and ask the Luther-esque question, "What does this mean?"
It's a fascinating time for me to think about this. I'm reading and hearing about ministry in a media culture in one class and, in a very different way, applying it to ministry in another. I have to admit I don't know what to do with Twilight--the pun on which this blog post is premised. It is my first subject and challenge. I'm reading this book and thinking, "What is preachable here?" How do I, as a 24-year-old male, find what it is that draws in so many girls--women--and then direct it to Christ?
I can't tell you how many people have come up to me recently, with a book on my lap or lying next to me, and said something along the lines of, "You're not reading that, are you?" Yes. Yes, I am.
And I'm learning. I'm not sure what exactly. There are themes in this book that worry me, that make me downright scared for young people to read it. And yet, there's something behind it. I don't think girls' self-worth should be wrapped up in attractive guys (or vampires), but I do think there is a longing for something tangible, something that lasts--an eternal love that reaches through our fears. Is that what Twilight is about? Not on the surface. Not in the author's mind. Not in the minds of its readers. And yet, is that what Twilight is about? Perhaps.
In a crazy way, my seminary twilight isn't so different. I haven't been bitten by any vampires (that I'm aware of), but as a pastor I am going to be a singularity, an outsider in many ways, but the subject of unwanted attention in others. I'm going to be mostly goodhearted but with the possibility of doing great damage. I'm going to be sparkly--ok, not exactly, but the pastoral bling is pretty sweet, no? And most of all, I am going to be powerful beyond measure; not by my own abilities but through Christ who lives in me.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Assignment and place
For those of us who have taken part in the Candidacy process for ordained ministry in the ELCA we have heard time and again about call. We've been told to articulate our sense of call before committees, to process our call in various communities, and we have been asked to ascribe to certain conditions that put our sense of call under the microscope. Then we are told that we need to be open to be called to any location, any place. For those who have other vocations--families, jobs and school--they are told that if they want a call they have to get up and leave. Herein lies a problem.
This might be the best process of many potentially bad ones, but it is also very flawed and I think we have to acknowledge that reality. I realize--as I think we all do--that there simply aren't churches in certain areas (many areas) where we might want to go. Yet, there is a fundamental problem with being called out. When God does it, then we are Jonah. But when a committee, or a bishop, or even a church does it we are suspicious about God's activity therein.
We are assured that the process is prayerful, that the spirit is active in its midst, and honestly I don't doubt it. Yet, I have a single question that seems to be under-addressed: How is it that we can speak about call without honoring the role of place embedded within it?
For my friends who have been assigned to places unfamiliar and unexpected there is a very rational fear at work. They are disconnected, but here's what I want to claim: we are all disconnected and this assignment only points out to a few of us how broken off from place we are.
Pastoral assignees have this moment to reflect on the power of a location. At this moment we are blowing in the wind and we can only hope that the wind really is the spirit and not just a hurricane. When we talk about settling, we talk about roots, family trees, etc. Our roots are shallow, and I don't know what to do about it. This is no sermon with gospel as the closing word. I think it's there, just beyond the edge of my thoughts at the moment, but honestly I don't want explanations right now. I am happy with my assignment, as much as a person can be, but I'm more concerned with standing with those whose roots have been torn out.
For now, that's all I want. Not to celebrate, but to stand alongside. Maybe after all this process isn't about a personal call, but a communal calling to one another. Maybe this is about more than spreading the gospel to the world; maybe it's about hugging one another. And maybe that's just the start we need.
This might be the best process of many potentially bad ones, but it is also very flawed and I think we have to acknowledge that reality. I realize--as I think we all do--that there simply aren't churches in certain areas (many areas) where we might want to go. Yet, there is a fundamental problem with being called out. When God does it, then we are Jonah. But when a committee, or a bishop, or even a church does it we are suspicious about God's activity therein.
We are assured that the process is prayerful, that the spirit is active in its midst, and honestly I don't doubt it. Yet, I have a single question that seems to be under-addressed: How is it that we can speak about call without honoring the role of place embedded within it?
For my friends who have been assigned to places unfamiliar and unexpected there is a very rational fear at work. They are disconnected, but here's what I want to claim: we are all disconnected and this assignment only points out to a few of us how broken off from place we are.
Pastoral assignees have this moment to reflect on the power of a location. At this moment we are blowing in the wind and we can only hope that the wind really is the spirit and not just a hurricane. When we talk about settling, we talk about roots, family trees, etc. Our roots are shallow, and I don't know what to do about it. This is no sermon with gospel as the closing word. I think it's there, just beyond the edge of my thoughts at the moment, but honestly I don't want explanations right now. I am happy with my assignment, as much as a person can be, but I'm more concerned with standing with those whose roots have been torn out.
For now, that's all I want. Not to celebrate, but to stand alongside. Maybe after all this process isn't about a personal call, but a communal calling to one another. Maybe this is about more than spreading the gospel to the world; maybe it's about hugging one another. And maybe that's just the start we need.
Hymn Bracket--Sweet 16 rankings
With 16 hymns remaining I thought I'd take a moment to rank the remaining hymns by how likely I think they are to win. These 16 are obviously many of peoples' favorites, so any really could win, but some have only squeaked by to this point and some have dominated. As always, this is all for fun... and fantastically intriguing (at least to me)
The Bracket
16. Great is Thy Faithfulness
15. Lift High the Cross
14. Were You There
13. What Wondrous Love is This
12. Amazing Grace
11. Silent Night, Holy Night
10. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
9. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
8. Thine is the Glory
7. A Mighty Fortress is Our God
6. Be Thou My Vision
5. Jesus Christ is Risen Toda
4. Here I Am, Lord
3. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
2. Beautiful Savior
1. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Thoughts?
The Bracket
16. Great is Thy Faithfulness
15. Lift High the Cross
14. Were You There
13. What Wondrous Love is This
12. Amazing Grace
11. Silent Night, Holy Night
10. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
9. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
8. Thine is the Glory
7. A Mighty Fortress is Our God
6. Be Thou My Vision
5. Jesus Christ is Risen Toda
4. Here I Am, Lord
3. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
2. Beautiful Savior
1. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Thoughts?
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Chess as art
In between rounds at the Minnesota Open I was reading Madeleine L'Engle's Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art. And suddenly it struck me for the first time that chess--just perhaps--is actually an art. I have heard that said before, but I kind of thought it was just an excuse to be more eclectic and important than chess players really are (I say this as a definite member of the group). Yet, today, something changed.
L'Engle writes, "We are hurt; we are lonely; and we turn to music or words, and as compensation beyond all price we are given glimpses of the world on the other side of time and space."
There is something beautiful in that, something reminding me that, like music or poetry, chess can be art. It's a game first, yes, but the more time you spend around chess players the more you realize (I know I do) that there is a lot of hurt and loneliness and this expression isn't perhaps cultural in the United States, yet it remains a real outlet. And that, I think, is a glimpse of grace.
118th Minnesota Open
L'Engle writes, "We are hurt; we are lonely; and we turn to music or words, and as compensation beyond all price we are given glimpses of the world on the other side of time and space."
There is something beautiful in that, something reminding me that, like music or poetry, chess can be art. It's a game first, yes, but the more time you spend around chess players the more you realize (I know I do) that there is a lot of hurt and loneliness and this expression isn't perhaps cultural in the United States, yet it remains a real outlet. And that, I think, is a glimpse of grace.
118th Minnesota Open
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Glimpses of Grace
So, as part of my Ministry in Media Culture class I'm supposed to blog on glimpses of grace. When I first thought about it, I thought this will really mess with the continuity of the blog. Then I remembered that A) there is continuity in my blog, and B) no, it won't because grace permeates. Yesterday I was talking with a friend (actually I overheard her talking and jumped in) who mentioned visiting Kenya and speaking with some women who were peeling and cutting carrots. They asked what it was like in America and my friend said that in America we can buy carrots already chopped. The Kenyan women laughed, saying that Americans are so lazy.
Lazy, perhaps. But that's not what bothers me. What bothers me is that we are actually rather busy in different ways, but each of these ways disconnects us from creation. We are tied up in computers, television (multimedia of all sorts). Hey, we even have classes on Ministry in a Media Culture. Hello! Here's the problem as I see it: when we become disconnected from our food and from laboring in creation we become less and less connected with God. Now this is not some neo-pagan, pantheistic argument. No. Yet, God is intimately present in actual labor, and I'm afraid we just don't do that anymore.
Wendell Berry is probably the foremost purveyor of an agrarian philosophy/theology and his work is wonderful. Check out him here.
Lazy, perhaps. But that's not what bothers me. What bothers me is that we are actually rather busy in different ways, but each of these ways disconnects us from creation. We are tied up in computers, television (multimedia of all sorts). Hey, we even have classes on Ministry in a Media Culture. Hello! Here's the problem as I see it: when we become disconnected from our food and from laboring in creation we become less and less connected with God. Now this is not some neo-pagan, pantheistic argument. No. Yet, God is intimately present in actual labor, and I'm afraid we just don't do that anymore.
Wendell Berry is probably the foremost purveyor of an agrarian philosophy/theology and his work is wonderful. Check out him here.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Hymns that didn't make the cut
First, here are the hymns that just missed making the top 64. All of these appeared on four peoples' nominations, but they missed out on the tiebreaker (where they were nominated on the list, 1-10):
With 284 hymns nominated, many did not make it into the bracket. In fact, it took being on four peoples' nomination forms to even have a chance to make the 64-hymn field. With that, here is a complete list of every hymn nominated that didn't make it in in alphabetical order:
| Joy to the World |
| In the Bleak Midwinter |
| Go to Dark Gethsemane |
| One Bread, One Body |
| You Are Mine |
| Lord of All Hopefulness |
| Come, All You People |
| Lift Every Voice and Sing |
| O God Beyond All Praisin |
With 284 hymns nominated, many did not make it into the bracket. In fact, it took being on four peoples' nomination forms to even have a chance to make the 64-hymn field. With that, here is a complete list of every hymn nominated that didn't make it in in alphabetical order:
| Alas and did my savior bleed |
| Aleluia! Jesus is Risen |
| All Are Welcome |
| All Creatures Worship God Most High |
| All Glory Laud and Honor |
| All Hail the Power of Jesus Name |
| All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night |
| Allelujah, Sing to Jesus |
| Although I Speak with Angle Tongue |
| Amazing Grace/Jesus Loves Me/Allulujah |
| Angels from the Realms of Glory |
| Angels We Have Heard on High |
| Arise Your Light Has Come |
| As the Grains of Wheat |
| At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing |
| Awake, Awake and Greet the New Morn |
| Away in a Manger |
| Baptized and Set Free |
| Blest Are They |
| Blest Be the Tie that Binds |
| Bread of life from heaven |
| Break now the Bread |
| Breathe by Marie Barnett |
| Built on a Rock |
| By Gracious Powers |
| Change my Heart O God |
| Chief of Sinners Thou I Be |
| Christ be our light |
| Christ Is Arisen, Alleluia |
| Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Hands |
| Christ the Lord is Risen Today; Alleluia! |
| Come Beloved of the Maker |
| Come Join the Dance of Trinity |
| Come Let us worship, God |
| Come Now O Prince of Peace |
| Come to me all pilgrims thirsty |
| Come to the Table |
| Come Ye, Disconsolate |
| Come, All You People |
| Come, Let Us Eat |
| Come, Thou Almighty King |
| Comfort, Comfort Now My People |
| Coventry Carol |
| Crown Him Lord of All |
| Do Not Despair, O Little Flock |
| Dona nobis pacem |
| Down to the River to Pray |
| Doxology |
| Draw us in the Spirit's Tether |
| Drawn to the Light |
| Each Winter as the Year Grows Older |
| Eat This Bread |
| Eternal Father, Strong to Save |
| Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ |
| For the Fruit of All Creation |
| Friendly Beasts |
| Go Down Moses |
| Go to Dark Gethsemane |
| God Be With You Till We Meet Again |
| God is Here |
| God of our Fathers |
| God of Wonders |
| God with us |
| Good Christian Friends Rejoice |
| Gospel Acclamation |
| Gracious Spirit, Heed our pleading |
| Great God your Love has called us here |
| Guide my Feet |
| Hail Thee Festive Day |
| Halle, Halle, Hallelujah |
| Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises |
| Hark the Herald Angels Sing |
| He Came Down |
| Healer of Our Every Ill |
| Heavenly Father Hear Our Prayer |
| Holden Evening Prayer |
| Holy God, Holy and Glorious |
| How Deep the Father's Love for Us by Stuart Townend |
| Hymn to Concordia |
| I am so Glad |
| I am the Bread of Life |
| I Bind Myself unto the Name |
| I Have a Friend Who Loveth Me |
| I Know that My Redeemer Lives |
| I Want Jesus to Walk With Me |
| I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light |
| If You But Trust in God to Guide You |
| I'll Fly Away |
| Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise |
| In Christ Alone |
| In the Bleak Midwinter |
| In Thee is Gladness |
| Isaiah, in a Vision Did of Old |
| It Only Takes a Spark |
| Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land |
| Jesus Loves Me This I Know |
| Jesus, Remember Me |
| Joy to the World |
| Joyous Light of Heavenly Glory |
| Just a Closer Walk with Thee |
| Just a Closer Walk With Thee |
| Kyrie Dakota Road |
| Lamb of God |
| Lead Me, Guide Me |
| Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent |
| Let All things now living |
| Let My Prayer Rise Up |
| Let Streams of Living Justice |
| Let us Tongues and Talents Employ |
| Lift Every Voice and Sing |
| Listen, God is Calling |
| Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming |
| Lord I Lift Your Name on High |
| Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song |
| Lord Let My Heart Be Good Soil |
| Lord of All Hopefulness |
| Lord, Listen to Your Children |
| Lord, Prepare Me to be a Sanctuary |
| Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart |
| Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory |
| Morning Has Broken |
| Mortus Portus Fractis Fortiss |
| Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth |
| My God, How Wonderful Thou Art |
| My Heart is Longing to Praise My Savior |
| My Lord what a Morning |
| My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness |
| My Soul will Rest |
| Nearer my God to Thee |
| Now All the Woods are Sleeping |
| Now it is Evening |
| Now Rest Beneath Night's Shadow |
| Now the Day is Over |
| Now the Green Blade Rises |
| Now to the Holy Spirit Let us Pray |
| Now We Join the Celebration |
| O For a Thousand Tongues |
| O God Beyond All Praising |
| O Holy Night |
| O Little Town of Bethlehem |
| O Morning Star How Fair and Bright |
| O Praise the Gracious Power |
| O Sing to the Lord |
| O That the Lord would Guide my Ways |
| O the Wonderful Cross |
| O Wonderful Words of the Gospel |
| O Zion, Haste |
| Old Rugged Cross |
| On Eagle's Wings |
| On Our Way Rejoicing |
| Once to every man and nation |
| One Bread, One Body |
| Out of the Depths I Cry to You |
| Praise and Thanksgiving |
| Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness |
| Praise to the Lord All of You |
| Rise O Church Like Christ Arisen |
| Rise, My Soul to Watch and Pray |
| Rise, Shine, You People! |
| Santo, Santo, Santo |
| Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us |
| Seek Ye First |
| Send me Jesus |
| Servant Song |
| Shall We Gather At the River |
| Shepherd Me, O God |
| Shine, Jesus Shine |
| Shout to the Lord |
| Sing My Tongue, the Glorious Battle |
| Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling |
| Soli Deo Gloria |
| Son of God, Eternal Savior |
| Soon and Very Soon |
| Spirit of Gentleness |
| Spirit of God, Descend upon my heart |
| Stand up, Stand up for Jesus |
| Standing in the Need of Prayer |
| Stay With Us |
| Sunshine and Rain |
| Take My Life that I May Be |
| Take My Life that I may be |
| Take O Take me as I am |
| Take, Oh, Take Me As I Am |
| Taste and See |
| The Church of Christ in Every Age |
| The First Noel |
| The Lord now Sends us Forth |
| The Magnificat |
| The Strife is O'er |
| Thee We Adore, O Hidden Savior |
| There In God's Garden |
| There is a Balm in Gilead |
| There's a Wideness in God's Mercy |
| Thine the Amen |
| This is My Song |
| This is the Day |
| This Little Light of Mine |
| Through The Night of Doubt and Sorrow |
| Tis a Gift to Be Simple |
| To God ours Thanks we Give |
| Ubi Caritas et Amor |
| Unexpected and Mysterious |
| Veni Sancte Spiritus |
| Victory in Jesus |
| Wade in the Water |
| Wait for the Lord |
| We Are All One in Mission |
| we are called |
| We Come to the Hungry Feast |
| We Know that Christ is Raised |
| What a Fellowship |
| What Feast of Love |
| When in our music God is Glorified |
| When Morning Gilds the Skies |
| When we are Living |
| Will You Let Me Be Your Servant |
| Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones |
| You Are Mine |
| Your Will be Done |
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Brackets!
 |
| Soprano Bracket |
 |
| Tenor Bracket |
 |
| Bass Bracket |
 |
| Alto Bracket |
You saw them here first! :-)
Alphabetical List of Hymns that made it:
A Mighty Fortress
Abide With Me
Ah, Holy Jesus
Amazing Grace
Be thou My Vision
Beautiful Savior
Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Blessed Assurance
Borning Cry
Canticle of Turning
Children of the Heavenly Father
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Day by Day
Earth and All Stars
For All the Saints
For the Beauty of the Earth
Gather us in
Give Me Jesus
Go, My Children, With my Blessing
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Here I Am, Lord
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
How Great Thou Art
I Love to Tell the Story
Jesus Christ is Risen Today
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
Just As I Am, Without One Plea
Let Us Break Bread Together
Lift High the Cross
Lord Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word
Lord Whose Love in Humble Service
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
My Life Flows on in Endless Song
My Song is Love Unknown
Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Come O Come Emmanuel
O Day Full of Grace
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Of the Father's Love Begotten
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Precious Lord, Take my Hand
Rock of Ages
Silent Night, Holy Night
The Church's One Foundation
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Thine is the Glory
This is My Father's World
Thy Holy Wings
Monday, February 7, 2011
Hymn Bracket notes
A group of several Luther Seminary students put together a "mock" hymn bracket in the last week. I wasn't involved, but I did obtain a copy of the initial seeding. There are certain hymns that I think are just about in the right position, others that I think are under or over seeded, but that's kind of the fun in it. There has been some buzz around this and the semester hasn't started yet, which is rather exciting. I talked to one professor who wants to put together a hymn sing, there was a facebook group created aimed against A Mighty Fortress winning Hymn Bracket, and ELCA's Outdoor Ministries has been advertising it. Pretty fantastic stuff. Throw in Lost and Found nominating their favorite hymns, as well as pastors and church musicians and I am stoked. Nominations are still possible through Friday at Hymn Bracket Nominations
As of right now we have 58 people nominating. That number should go up some this week as the paper nominations start in the OCC. I'm quite content with the level of interest. Less than a week until the bracket is revealed!
As of right now we have 58 people nominating. That number should go up some this week as the paper nominations start in the OCC. I'm quite content with the level of interest. Less than a week until the bracket is revealed!
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