If you enjoy organ and choral music there are three programs on the radio that you may enjoy listening to. “Pipedreams,” hosted by Michael Barone (a friend of Dan Schwandt's!), is produced by Minnesota Public Radio and is on the air in Chicago on WFMT 98.7 FM Sunday evenings from 5:30 to 7 PM. A wide variety of organs and organ music are heard each week. On Sunday mornings, also on WFMT, a program of sacred organ and choral music “With Heart and Voice” hosted by Richard Gladwell is heard at 6:00 am. A similar program, “Sing for Joy,” features sacred music based upon the lectionary readings of that week. Hosted by St. Olaf College campus Pastor Bruce Benson (friend of Pastor Gorder and Dan Schwandt!), it is heard in Chicago on WCEV 1450 AM on Sundays at 10:35 am, and 6:35 PM, and again on Mondays at 9:05 PM, and Tuesdays at 6:35 PM. Another program, the radio ministry of the ELCA, is a devotional program (not music) called “Grace Matters” — formerly “Lutheran Vespers” — and is hosted by Peter Marty (son of Martin Marty). It is heard in Chicago on Sunday mornings at 6:30 am on WYLL 1160 AM.
“Who do you say that I am?” is the question Jesus poses to the disciples at a turning point in ministry. They have trekked as far from Jerusalem as Jesus will go and now it is time to turn back to ultimate things. The work of Christ is, of course, to establish the Kingdom of God among us. The “vision” of God's people is extended into eternity. It's an awesome undertaking!
Three points come to mind as I reflect on this. Point one has to do with the beginning of life. One of the first prayers most of us remember is recorded in a New England Primer from 1777.
“Now I lay me down to take my sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep; If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”
The prayer teaches us to think and believe “outside the box.” Even in death, we are God's children.
Point two has to do with the end of life. On July 31st my 98-year-old bachelor uncle, Oty, died. He left school in grade seven to help my grandparents care for seven children. Uncle Oty remembered scores of rhymes until his death. Embedded in rhymes and memorized Bible verses came the knowledge of Christ, came confidence and trust in a Kingdom of God larger than what we know. That awareness brought him a sense of peace.
Point three has to do with legacy. For the first time in my life, I've been named an “executor” of a last will and testament. Uncle Oty put me up to this! Recently his lawyer called for the reading of the will. The process is clearly mandated. Two small personal articles are specifically allocated, which reflected his material assets. There's no property, no furnishings, no cars. There are investments. These are equally divided among heirs. And in the clause is a gift to the church.
It is good to take time to prepare a LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. In doing so, priorities are defined, ambiguity and misappropriation are reduced.
I think including the church in one's will is also a good thing. Long after we're gone, long after our heirs have spent the “windfall” (as the lawyer defined the checks that will be written), the church will continue God's work.
Doing a LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT carries us to the edge. None of us wants to go there! I recall contemplating and completing a WILL when I was twenty-four years old! The church required it before we began our first international ministry! Uncle Oty's careful instructions remind me that having a WILL is good stewardship. They also help us realize the conditional “if I should die” is in reality “when I die.” It makes sense for self and for others to leave a clear legacy.
At the recent Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA, the final stage of the “Renewing Worship” project was affirmed. Now, the entire proposed content for a new book of worship will undergo the ELCA's liturgical review process. The new dark red colored book, entitled Evangelical Lutheran Worship is intended to be available for purchase by the Autumn of 2006 and will be the new official book of worship for the ELCA, replacing the green Lutheran Book of Worship, and the supplement With One Voice (and, of course, the trial-use supplement: Renewing Worship Songbook). The entire content, including liturgical texts, church calendar, prayers, psalmody, hymn texts and tunes (including proposed revisions), and all other supporting material is available for perusal at www.renewingworship.org. Input is still being collected.
This will be a large book and will be the most culturally diverse in the modern hymnal landscape. The table of contents include: Propers for the Church Year, Thanksgivings and Intercessions, Holy Communion: assembly text version, Holy Communion: versions with music (ten settings total), Service of the Word, Holy Baptism, Welcome to Baptism, Affirmation of Baptism, Corporate Confession and Forgiveness, Individual Confession and Forgiveness, rites for: Ash Wednesday, Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Vigil of Easter, Rites for: Healing, Funeral, Marriage, Morning Prayer (Matins), Evening Prayer (Vespers), Night Prayer (Compline), Responsive Prayer, all 150 Psalms (in a gender-neutral reworking of the psalter) and the Psalm Prayers (for daily prayer), Service Music and Canticles, 614 Hymns, Appendixes and Indexes, A Daily Lectionary, Luther's Small Catechism, and copyright acknowledgments.
The sources of the hymns are: 53% from LBW, 20% from WOV, 21% from the Renewing Worship Songbook (RWS), and 6% from other sources. It will be sad for many to give up two beloved and well used hymnals in the next few years, but it is also an exciting time for the ELCA as we continue to deepen our worship life.
Carolyn Ulrich reports that Chicagoland Gardening magazine, which she edits, celebrated its 10th year anniversary with a garden walk on the hottest day of the year, July 24. There were 10 gardens for 10 years, all of them gardens that had been featured in the magazine except for Carolyn's. Surprisingly, people came out, with one very well-known garden in Hinsdale even drawing 700 visitors. Carolyn had to keep the hose handy all day for plants that would suddenly go splat in the heat, but after a little spritz they would right themselves and soldier on. When it was all over, Carolyn says that she grabbed the cats, retreated to the room with the air conditioner, and watched an evening of mindless TV.
Morris and Corrine Niedenthal celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 13. Congratulations!
Cherilyn Lacy-Wolff and Mark Wolff visited Augustana in July. They both are still enjoying teaching at a small college in New York state. Cherilyn has tenure and Mark is on the tenure track. During the time that they were active members of the parish choir, Cherilyn often played the flute and Mark the trumpet to enrich our Sunday worship.
The Chicago Chronicle dated August 18, 2005, had the following item about Deborah Burnet.
“Deborah Burnet, Associate Professor in Medicine and Pediatrics, was quoted in a Thursday, August 4 Chicago Tribune article that reported on the obstacles urban neighborhood residents face when attempting to drop pounds and fight off obesity. Unsafe streets in neighborhoods with high crime rates make walking for exercise too dangerous, and too many fast food restaurants, as well as too few grocery stores that stock ample or fresh produce, abound in these neighborhoods.
“All of these factors make it more difficult for people living in these areas to follow a healthy lifestyle. Burnet, who has studied obesity on the South Side of Chicago, said: ‘This isn't just a matter of individual will power. There are a lot of other influences out there.’”
On July 22, Augustana received several pieces of office furniture from Carol and Mark Nielsen purchased from Northwestern Memorial Hospital in a sale connected to the transfer of Carol's office suite to another location. Don Rem and Ray Branson did the transporting.
October 2: Commemoration of Francis of Assisi (pet blessing at 10:45)
October 9: October-Fest picnic at noon
October 16: Possible afternoon installation of the campus pastor
October 30: Even Song joint-worship St. Paul and the Redeemer Episcopal Church at Augustana in observance of the Reformation
LSTC Guild Fall Meeting. Check for the date in Sunday bulletins.
Alleluia. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Alleluia. (Phil. 4:4)
Life in community is a precious thing, but it easily breaks down if rumors and idle talk are given free rein. In today's gospel, Jesus prescribes a manner for dealing with conflict in community life, a procedure reflected in many congregations' constitutions. The intent of such a form of church discipline is to restore people to community life.
May all who come to hear and to taste the presence of Christ in word and sacrament today also find communities that seek to understand one another in truth and in love.
Albert Schweitzer (died 1965) is commemorated today. A pastor, author of The Quest for the Historical Jesus, and Bach scholar, he set aside his academic career to serve as a medical missionary in French Equatorial Africa.
Alleluia. Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. Alleluia. (Rom. 15:4)
In today's gospel reading, Jesus invites us to forgive one another. His invitation, however, is not an optional activity for Christians. It is the heart of the gospel and the distinctive character of Christian life. Out of love for us in our weakness and sin, God forgives us, heals us, and strengthens us to be a forgiving people. The sign of the cross invites us to the ministry of reconciliation in word and sacrament. The cross, marked on our foreheads at baptism and traced over our bodies at the funeral liturgy, assures us of Christ's victory over death and the promise of eternal life.
Alleluia. Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; strive side by side for the faith of the Gospel. Alleluia. (Phil. 1:27)
People like to keep score. If our team wins by a point, we rejoice and claim victory. But our relationships begin to dissolve when we count up little mistakes, losing trust and patience.
We learn today that God is not interested in playing counting games. In the reign of God, mercy is freely given to those who come late, as well as to those who have labored for many hours or years. Any claim to partiality, any impulse to keep score, is undercut by the grace of God received in word and sacrament. In the presence of God's mercy, wrote Luther, we are all beggars.
Dag Hammarskjöld, commemorated today, embodied many of these qualities. A Swedish diplomat, he served as Secretary General of the United Nations, and at his death in 1961 left behind a journal, Markings, that revealed how his actions were shaped by his Christian faith.
Alleluia. At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Alleluia. (Phil. 2:10-11)
As we gather today around the table of the word, we become more than a collection of individuals. We have been united to each other in the waters of baptism and welcomed by Christ to his holy supper. While some may be strangers to us, we are invited to recognize the deep communion we share in Christ Jesus. The liturgy does not protect us from others; it teaches us to be a people of hospitality, generous in faith, hope, and love.
Sergius of Radonezh, remembered today, is among the most beloved of Russian saints. He led a renewal of Russian monastic life in the fourteenth century; his monastery in Moscow became a center for pilgrimage.
Dan Friedrich, President
Nate Wuerffel, Vice President
Matthew Christian, Treasurer
Laura Wilhelm, Secretary
Clara Nelson, Financial Secretary
Terms Expiring January 2006Kathy Anderson Terms Expiring January 2007Shelley Barnard |
Terms Expiring January 2008Deb Burnet Members of Council ex officioJohn Gorder, Pastor |
Administration and Personnel — Dick Johnson
Building — Dick Johnson
Campus Ministry — Kristin Wuerffel
Christian Education — Douglas Larson and Elaine Worcester
Churchyard — Don Rem
Core Team — Kathy Anderson and Deb Burnet
Evangelism — Richard Krull
Finance and Stewardship — Sandra Henley
Parish Life — Alma Massie
Property — Dan Friedrich
Social Ministry — vacant
Worship and Music — Gary Worcester
Women of Augustana — Melinda Burger
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Polly Fehlman |
Corrine Niedenthal |