This week's news

Hi all,

I have finally - almost - caught up on my work. The end of Lent and Holy Week and Easter always put me far behind where I want to be in terms of getting things done. The ecumenical Easter Sunrise service was a great experience. I met a lot of good people and I think our parish made a good impression on the community. A number of people told me it was the best sunrise service Parrottsville has had in a long time. A link to my sermon for that service is at the left side of this page as "Pastor's Sermons".

Don't forget that Youth Day is coming fast on May 17 as well as the Conference Youth Day at St. James and the Night of Italian Splendor at Salem, both on May 9!

I have begun attending a Conference pericope group at Our Savior in Johnson City on Wednesdays. This means I will not have office hours on Wednesdays and so my schedule is changing. I will be in the office Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 10 a.m. to noon. Next week is an exception to that rule, since I will be attending the ELCMA annual assembly in Morristown for continuing education. Also by way on continuing ed this week I'm reading a book by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, "On Life After Death." This is a short one a shouldn't take this slow reader long to finish. Also, I plan to attend the annual Yost Lectures at Southern Seminary on May 14 for even more continuing ed.

Keep your calendars up to date!

Every Monday: Pastor's Day Off.

Every Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.: Choir Practice at Salem.

April 25, Saturday, 6 p.m.: Cub Scouts Blue and Gold ceremony at Salem.

April 26, Sunday, 7 p.m.: Opening the Book of Faith at Salem (#5 in a 7-part series.)

April 27-29, Monday-Wednesday: ELCMA Annual Assembly at Good Shepherd in Morristown

May 2, Saturday 9 a.m.-noon: Holston Heritage Conference Spirng Assembly at Faith Lutheran in Bristol.

May 3, Sunday: Rachel's Day.

May 3, Sunday, 7 p.m.: Opening the Book of Faith at Salem (#6 in a 7-part series.)

May 9, Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: Conference Youth Day at St. James; our Youth Group is providing outdoor activities!

May 9, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.-?: Night of Italian Splendor at Salem! Youth begins cooking at 4:30. Seatings at 5:45, 6:30, and 7:15.

May 10, Sunday 7 p.m.: Opening the Book of Faith at Salem (#7 in a 7-part series.)

May 12, Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.: Conference Ministerium at Holy Trinity in Kingsport.

May 14, Thursday, Yost Lectures and Alumni Day at Southern Seminary.

May 17, Sunday: Youth Day at both our churches! The Youth Group leads the service and Brittany Coggins preaches.

May 18-24, Monday-Sunday: Pastor's Spring Vacation!

May 21, Thursday: Pastor's anniversary (20 years).

May 23, Saturday: Work Day at Luther Memorial.

May 23, Saturday, 6:30 p.m.: Natalie Neas' shower at Salem.

May 24, Sunday: Pr. Delmer Chilton preaches at both our congregations.

May 26, Tuesday, 11 a.m.: WELCA lunch at the Chocolate Cafe.



Peace be with you,

Pr. J

New sermon posted

Hi all,

I just posted my Passion Sunday sermon. Look for it at the Pastor's Sermons link on the left side of this page.

Peace,

Pr. J

New links!

Hi all,

I just posted a few new links for Bible study resources. Look for these links on the left side of this page; each is identified with the words "Bible Study -..." Two are links to resources for basic introductory level Bible studies of the Old and New Testaments. One is a link to resources for more advanced, academic level Bible study. Hopefully you may find these resources helpful in your own personal Bible study in your own time. These are links to good websites recommended by the Southeastern Synod. A word of caution though - not everything you might want to find will be available at any one internet resource. However, these web resources will probably meet the needs of the average parishioner. So explore, have fun, learn, and grow!

Peace to all,

Pr. J

New sermon posted

Hi all,

I just posted tomorrow's sermon over on the semron blog. Use the link for Pastor's Sermons on the left side of this page to get there.

Pr. J

Update on the state of the blog

Hi all,

Thought I should let you know that I found some links on the left side of the page that were not working correctly and they should be fixed now. If you find a link that is not working let me know. I also added more links for our seminaries, should anyone be thinking about church vocations.

In addition I went back to a couple of older posts in the sermon blog and cleaned up a few typos and added a little more content to my remarks about Yahweh. If you were following those posts you might want to go back to them.

And finally, I want to thank the Salem WELCA for their card to my step-mother Hideko. I know it will be appreciated by her and my father.

Peace be with you,

Pr. J

Considering a church vocation??

Hi!

Thinking about what you can do for your church? There are just all kinds of vocations out there that need good people to fill them. And one doesn't have to be ordained to have a church vocation, either. There's lots of opportunities and lots of need for lay ministers as well as pastors.

If you are interested in what you might do for your church one of the things you can do is ask me about it. Here in the Southeastern Synod the SALLT program is going to get started again in the fall. A couple of people have expressed interest in exploring what they might do above and beyond what they have already done in the church. SALLT is one way to help you find out.

Another thing you might do is try looking at this link at the ELCA website:
http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Vocation.aspx.

And remember: no matter what it is you do in life, farmer, truck driver, teacher, rocket scientist, ... you, as a disciple, are answering a call to fill a vocation that is unique to you.

Peace be with you,

Pr. J

Some updates and Lenten trivia

Hi all,

First of all, an announcement about our upcoming Seder Service:

If you have not heard, we are asking that people sign up for the Maundy Thursday Seder Service so that we know how many to prepare for. The deadline is Palm Sunday. This is especially important since the Seder involves certain specific types of food used in the ritual, and we need to know how much to provide. Otherwise, bring your own dish to share. The actual Passover meal can be as simple as the soup and sandwich Lenten dinners we're having on Wednesday nights. And be prepared to go through the bulk of the Seder service BEFORE we eat, and to finish the Seder service AFTER we eat. Once the Seder is concluded we will go upstairs for the formal stripping of the altar.

Our Seder service will be a little abridged and adapted for use by a Christian gathering. The traditional Seder can last quite a long time, with guidelines for its length and actual enactment set forth in Jewish Law, the Halakha. We don't want to spend all night at the Seder, so we are abridging it somewhat.

We may serve wine or grape juice, either is appropriate for the three ritual cups that we will drink during the service; we may even serve both.

Next, an announcement about the Cub Scouts:

Our Church Council decided to let the Scouts use our facility through the end of this year at least. So we are happy to announce that the Cub Scouts will start meeting at Salem today, and will meet every Thursday night 6:00 - 7:30 pm, pending changes in Salem's schedule. (Maundy Thursday is a possible exception to this schedule.) Let's welcome the Scouts as our new partners in mission in Parrottsville!

And finally, here's some Lenten trivia for you about the 4th Sunday in Lent:

The fourth and middle Sunday in Lent is traditionally known as Laetare Sunday. For those who feel the pronunciation is important, that's Laetare as in "LIE - tar - ay." That's "lie" as in telling one, "tar" which goes with feathers, and "ay" as in day (or as in "good day, ay! if you're Canadian). I'm sure my Classical Latin bias is showing here; I can tell you all about Latin diphthongs and the antepenultimate rule if you really have to know more about the pronunciation and the accent on the first syllable. In some circles the name is pronounced a little differently, either because people are using "Church Latin" (which all of us with a Classical bias detest!) or they are using one or another "English" pronunciation of the word. I'll stick to "LIE-tar-ay."

Laetare means "to rejoice" in Latin. The name comes from the first words of the introit (entrance psalm) for this Sunday in the old Latin mass, "Laetare Ierusalem," "Rejoice, O Jerusalem..." Its earliest documented use is the year 714.

Traditionally, Laetare Sunday has had other names, such as the Sunday of the Five Loaves, and Rose Sunday. This was becuase of the traditional Gospel reading for the day, in which Jesus took five loaves of bread and fed a multitude, and because this Sunday was the day on which the Pope would bless golden roses sent to European monarchs.

In the Anglican tradition Laetare Sunday also came to be called Mothering Sunday since it was the Sunday on which people sent their offerings to the local Cathedral, or "Mother Church." More recently it became known as Refreshment Sunday, indicating a break from one's Lenten fast is appropriate on this day.

We Lutherans no longer use the traditional lectionary - we use the Common Lectionary, nor do we bless golden roses to send to world leaders, nor do we send offerings to a "Mother Church," nor do we seem to have any awareness that we can take a break from our Lenten fast (and we aren't even sure we should have a Lenten fast), so all the names and uses for this Sunday have pretty much been forgotten by Lutherans - except at my old intern church where they hang on to everything liturgical.

So, even though Laetare is still a major part of the Roman Catholic and Anglican worship tradition, for most Lutherans the use of the word has fallen by the way side. Even so, it helps us to remember our roots in the greater church, and to be in touch with our tradition and history which has shaped us and made us what we are today.

One may find out more about Laetare at these websites or just enter the word Laetare into your search engine:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08737c.htm
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-LaetareSunday.html
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,757379,00.html
http://www.fisheaters.com/customslent7.html
http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/f/Laetare_Sunday.htm


Peace be with you always,

Pr. J

New sermon notes posted

Hi all,

I posted some new sermon notes for last Sunday's sermon. You can find them here: http://prjsermons.blogspot.com/, or use the link at the left side of the page for Pastor's sermons.

Remember, these are just notes, and not meant to to be a sermon. Be warned! It was necessary to dive into ancient Hebrew to make a few comments on Yahweh. Maybe you'll find it interesting.

Oh, and if you should think the notes just sort of end abruptly, well, that's just your cue to keep on thinking on your own.

Peace be with you.

Pr. J

P.S.: No, the actor Gene Wilder is not a relative. That's just his stage name. However, he does seem to portray the nutsy mannerisms of my family rather well.

Mid-week Lenten worship

As long as we are not crowded I think I'll just keep the Mid-week worship at Salem downstairs in the fellowship hall after the meal if that's alright with everyone. That helps keep things simple. Otherwise, if there are too many of us, we will have to move upstairs.

Peace be with you,

Pr. J

New sermon blog up and running

Hi all,

I just created a new sermons-only blog and copied the old sermon posts to it. I also put a link to it on the main Salem Church blog. Look for it on the side bar as Pastor's Sermons. This is the link: http://prjsermons.blogspot.com/.

I will probably create a Youth blog also in the near future.

In addition, I can add up to 100 authors to the blog. Not that I'm looking for that many! But we would have no problem adding as many authors as we need to run a pretty good blog for the church.

Peace be with you,

Pr. J

Lenten Mid-week Services

Hi all,

In the movie "Ladyhawke" (one of my all-time favorites) we first meet the ragged outcast priest Imperius (Leo McKern) when he shouts down at Philippe "the Mouse" Gaston (Matthew Broderick) from the wall of a ruined castle: "Oh, God! Is it Lent again!?"

The answer is: yes! It is that time of year again. Lent has come. We are doing mid-week lenten soup and sandwich dinners at Salem, followed by informal Lenten worship. All are invited. Soup and sandwiches are at 6 pm. Worship at 6:30 pm. Holy Communion will be offered. I will also offer a healing service on March 18 during mid-week worship.

Our Mid-week Lenten worship is simple, informal, and spoken. The hymnal is needed only for the hymn. There will be a brief Lenten meditation. Please leave this copy of the bulletin here so that we may use it again next week.

So on Wednesday nights for the next few weeks join us. Take a moment. Breathe. Relax. Be at ease. Let go of your daily burdens, sins, pain, and shame before the altar. We come onto holy ground here and into the presence of Christ who has compassion for us. We are the world that God so loved. We are the crowd that Jesus saw and had compassion for. We receive the sacrament of his body and blood. And we are sent forth with the reassurance of his forgiveness and salvation in the knowledge that we are indeed children of God.

Peace be with you,

Pr. J

Book of Faith Initiative coming this spring!

Hi all,

Plan ahead for the spring now! This spring I will lead a seven-session course called "Opening the Book of Faith." This course is the first step for those using the "Book of Faith" program in local congregations. "Opening the Book of Faith" is a invitation to experience the Bible as a book of faith. This course provides an introduction to the Bible and Lutheran perspectives that guide one's understanding of scripture. The user book explores four methods of Bible study, then applies each method to four scripture texts. Important communication tools, study principles, and discussion methods are unpacked for participants in a flexible, conversational format that encourages discussion, conversation, and sharing — setting a healthy foundation for a powerful Book of Faith experience.

We ask that participants contribute toward the cost of their user books. A $6.00 donation, or whatever you can afford, would go a long way toward covering the cost. Seven user books are on order now. Please let the Church Office know asap if you plan to participate so we can order enough books - call 623-8086 or email salemchurch@wildblue.net.

A course kit is on order and will arrive in early March. We will announce a date for starting sessions once course materials arrive. Evening is the most likely time for sessions.

Plan ahead and join us for opening the book of faith!

Peace be with you,

Pr. J

ELCA Human Sexuality Issue

Hi all.

As you probably know by now, or will know soon, the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality has just this week released a proposed social statement and a document entitled "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies" with recommendations for implementing resolutions at the ELCA Church-wide Assembly.

From what I'm seeing so far at internet news sites the reaction to this from those who post comments on those news articles is not good. In fact, I'd say it is insulting. ELCA is trying to deal with a highly sensitive, and I would even say, emotionally explosive issue. And it is to some extent tangental to the issue of same gender marriage and rights that is being dealt with in the political arena. Up north I have seen tempers get very hot pretty fast on both sides of the issue, with all the accompanying dehumanization and vilification of one's opponent that one could want in any conflict coming from people on both sides of the problem. What ever happened to civility?

I am not going to address that issue tonight. (If you want to know what I'm up to that prevents me from speaking on the issue right now I'm in my church office playing mp3's - Frank Sinatra, The Carpenters, Abba, Vangelis, my daughter calls it all "old dead people music" - finishing my sermon, and trying to get things posted on this blog.)

I have downloaded both statements issued by the Task Force. They are in pdf format and they are available at this link if anyone wants to read them first hand: http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality.aspx. The proposed social statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust", is over 1200 lines long, and the "Report and Recommendations on Ministry Policies" is over 800 lines long, and I haven't had time to read them through and analyze them. I will do that, but remember - I am a slow reader. (Its called dyslexia and ordination does not make it go away.)

So - BE PATIENT.

Meanwhile, all I will say is that I am maintaining my position of strict NEUTRALITY on the issue. I have kept this position for years, since I was in my last parish in New York. Do not forget that I am called to be a pastor to people on both sides of the issue.

I am willing to hear from the people of the parish about the issue if they have any thoughts on the matter. I know some do.

I may consider creating another blog for those members of the parish who wish to post their thoughts.

Meanwhile, hang in there while the church attempts to discern where the Holy Spirit is leading us.

Peace be with you,

Pr. J

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Our Lenten schedule at the Salem-Luther Memorial Parish is as follows:

February 24, Shrove Tuesday:
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at Salem Lutheran, 6-8 pm.

February 25, Ash Wednesday:
Service of Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes, 6:30 pm at Luther Memorial.

March 4, 11, 16, 25, April 1:
Lenten soup and sandwich supper at Salem Lutheran, 6:00 pm; Mid-week Lenten Service of Holy Communion at Salem Lutheran, 6:30 pm.

The mid-week lenten services will be like those we had during Advent: informal and brief, featuring a brief meditation instead of a sermon. Unlike the Advent services we will meet upstairs in the sanctuary at Salem for our mid-week lenten services.

All are invited! Come and join us as we begin our Lenten journey!

Pr. J.

Welcome Jonathan!

We want to welcome Jonathan and Laura Weant to the Salem faith community. Jonathan is in his second year of seminary study and is currently doing his "Lutheran year" at Southern Seminary in order to complete his seminary education. (ELCA seminarians who attend non-Lutheran seminaries have to spend a year at one of our 8 seminaries in order to certify for ordination .) Jonathan and Laura spent their first year at Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC. Laura is also attending seminary with the intention of seeking ordination.

Salem is sponsoring Jonathan through the LTSS Seminarian Partnership Program. I just got an email from Jonathan and with his permission I will post it on our blog. We hope to hear more from Jonathan and Laura and to have some opportunity to visit with them and get to know them better. The sharing of experiences and support can be a really good experience for both our congregation and the seminarians.

pax,

Pr. J

The state of the blog...

G'day all,

I'm adding 4 new authors to the blog - welcome on board Whitney, Britney, Bill and Suzanne - so we can better cover the goings on at Salem. I'm also thinking about branching out and adding a couple of more related blogs, like one that deals with things Lutherans believe - like the faq page at the ELCA website, a dedicated youth blog, a sermons and/or Bible study blog, etc., I heard at our conference meeting on Tuesday that our new mission church in Jonesboro already beat me to it and did exactly that kind of thing - 1 website and 3 blogs! That's the way to go, Pr. Ed!

I expect to post something on the upcoming sermon by the weekend.

peace be with you,

Pr. J

Hello all!!!

Hello everyone. My name is Whitney LaFollette and I am a youth member of Salem Lutheran Church. I am one of the two new authors representing the youth group at my church. I am the Conference 1 Representative and hope to not only bring you news from our own youth group but also news from SESLYO (South Eastern Synod Lutheran Youth Organization). I am very excited about joining this blog and hope that I can answer any questions that anyone has about our youth group. :D --Whitney LaFollette