Please, don't pet your wife in public

My church is starting a "contemporary" service this spring (They are looking for a name to call it, if you have any suggestions). The new worship leader was there today. During the annoncements he and his wife stood up and while he was talking about how great she was he kept playing with her hair and rubbing her shoulder. Not the first impression I was looking for. He played the guitar fine, so his thumbs must work, so maybe he can button up his shirt next time and I won't have to see the tee shirt underneath.

Rubber, meet Road

What do you think of this as a "protest" idea:

We get some couples together. We stand, blindfolded, XXX feet away from the abortion clinic (I don't know what the law says as far as how far away we need to be). We hold signs that say "I will adopt your baby and my insurance will pay your medical bills". And we have a box of resumes in front of us with contact info, income, etc...basically the "Dear Birth-mother" package that you'd create for a domestic adoption. The blindfolds are to help with any shame/guilt the mother might be feeling. The idea is to give them another option, peacefully, silently, right there.

Here's the catch: If one of them calls you'd better adopt that kid.

Thoughts?

Exhortation

I'm going to take some potential liberties with copyright law...this is the "Writing" from the Treasury of Daily Prayer for today:

[Luther] taught that good works do not save a person, but only faith, without good works....He did not say that, to be saved, a person must have faith and, in addition to that, good works, or love; but he did teach that those who would be saved must have a faith that produces love spontaneously and is fruitful in good works. That does not mean that faith saves on account of love which springs from it, but that the faith which the Holy Spirit creates and which cannot but do good works justifies because it clings to the gracious promises of Christ and because it lays hold of Christ. It is active in good works because it is genuine faith. The believer need not at all be exhorted to do good works; his faith does them automatically. The believer engages in good works, not from a sense of duty, in return for the forgiveness of his sins, but chiefly because he cannot help doing them. It is altogether impossible that genuine faith should not break forth from the believer's heart in works of love.

I especially want to draw attention to the last portion of that, about how the believer is compelled to do good works. He can't help it! Walther is clear in what he's saying there...there's no ambiguity. And it's something I've thought for quite awhile as well.

So...the question is, what place for exhortation in the congregation? Should the pastor get up there on Sunday and prod the congregation to do good works? Walther seems to say "no". Walther says that Luther would say "no". I favor "no", because if the good works are not happening, then we don't have a crisis of works, we have a crisis of faith! And stewardship Sunday does not create saving faith. Neither do sermons on the great commission, as the Ablaze movement is so fond of. Sermons about the Christ and his Good Work do. A liturgy centered on Word and Sacrament does. If we believed that saving faith leads to works, we would be worried about creating saving faith.

There is another possibility, though. It's completely possible that there is no crisis of faith at all, for now. It could be that good works are taking place, but a certain organization wants them to take a particular form. The good works you do on the highway for your fellow drivers, or at work for your coworkers, or at home for your family or neighbors...they're not recognized as good works. So the exhortation comes to do particular good works. The more sturdy of us see what's going on, and continue living as we should. The weaker brothers see which works "count" as good in the eyes of the movement, and worry that they don't have saving faith because their "critical event" counter is a bit short.

So...either way we seem to have a problem. Either we believe that saving faith doesn't automatically produce good works, or we believe that only particular good works "count". Neither conclusion is particularly appealing.

Does every church have one?

There's an usher at church who is one of those "well-meaning people" and he just made me laugh this past Sunday.

The Bible study to which I attend usually takes place in the gym. This past Sunday, there were some displays in there, so we all visited those and then started our group approximately 15 min later than normal in the sanctuary. Said usher, was already preparing for his Sunday duties when we entered. I'm not exactly sure on the timing, I believe the organist had shown up at this point, but still VERY early for the service. A parishioner came in, saw that there was a group there and politely exited. Mr. Usher came over to me and said "there's a lady that sits in that pew every week and she's here, so you're gonna need to move".

Seriously?

Deaconess said to him "'Parishioner' saw we are in here, it's ok"

Crotchety old usher didn't reply but acted kind of gruff. I did move, our Bible study finished and church began.

Did I mention this guy has a cane? Sometimes when I go up for communion, I'm slightly worried that he's going to attack me with it, if I don't move fast enough (he seems to care more about speed than reverence). I don't know that I've seen him smile.

I had noticed that Pastor had seemed to drain the communion wine out of the vessel and of course, before my turn to drink from the common cup (I've not been skipped anymore) crotchety usher said in an anxious tone, "Pastor, do you need more?". I was amazed at the calmness of the Pastor when he smoothly replied, "No, it's ok".

Yikes... At least I can find it amusing; I've heard it's bad to hit the elderly in church.

And PS he has a wife... I don't know her, so it makes me wonder if she is a) a saint or b) just as socially inept?

Really?!?

I suppose you all have read the news about the ELCA synod this past week.

As one of their members now, I must say that I am currently feeling a bit frustrated/confused. Do I attend church in the morning? I attend church for the word and sacrament. I struggle with things that the LCMS wants to do and knew that when I joined the ELCA that it wouldn't be perfect (or did I dream that maybe it would take care of my LCMS issues?) and also thought that the church that I attend here is where I need to be (there's not a ton of options...). But really, would moving solve the problem or cause more confusion altogether?

In other news.... I was on a date with someone tonight (a second date, in fact). In more confusion, I'm not sure how I feel about it all. It's just so weird to meet someone, with the intention of dating (although it's nice for the clarity- we know that I get confused). And he seems like a nice guy but I am questioning if he is the nice guy for me? I don't want to lead him on, but would like to see how it goes... Oh My...

Time to go back to scrubbing my bathroom floor...It's what I do at 2am....

Skipped

Two weeks ago, I got skipped at the communion rail.

Last week I was away for the weekend and went to a different church (did not get skipped).

Today, again, I was given the bread, which I consumed and then the Pastor with the common cup just kept on walking. They do it differently at times, but lately they have done communion where they first have the Diaconal minister with the bread, the Pastor with the common cup and then they have an elder with a bowl with wine for intinction and no individual cups. The first time that this happened I kind of waved and the Pastor saw me and came and gave it to me and this second time I didn't get his attention. I know that the presence is in both the bread and wine, but it does feel* kind of awkward to just receive one when both are offered. And I don't mean to be a common cup snob, it's just what I do and it's not like I've changed behavior but maybe am not indicating properly.

*My father would probably criticize me for using the word "feel" in that sentence, so you can, too.*

Any suggestions? I am comfortable talking to him, so may just say something or may just start flailing my arms about.

The Gospel

I need to hear it.

I've begun to lead a Bible Study. Really, I'm just hosting a group of people to go through a book (it's a workbook going through the New Testament). Tonight was our second week and I was pleased at how it went. If nothing else, it gets me into the Word which I need to hear (selfish, I know). I sometimes struggle with the person who I am on Saturday night vs the person I am on Sunday morning and this weekends was one of those where I felt ugly going to church. I thought about not going, but knew that I needed to hear what was said. I still was in a bit of a funk this week and I wasn't sure about how tonight would go, but through God, there was some good people that showed up and I think that they enjoyed it and learned something from it. I'm thankful that He was able to use me to speak to others (and will try to stop questioning His judgment).