Monday, December 5, 2011

The Other Side of Charity

Usually around this time of year I have already purchased most everything on my list.  I don't have a long tlist, but it always makes me feel good to find the perfect gift for a few special people. This year is different.  Like "Ole Mother Hubbard," the cupboard is pretty bare.

At Thanksgiving we received a wonderful dinner, directed our way by a couple here at Mt. Carmel.  Our son had no qualms about sharing with everyone about his Thanksgiving miracle.  Me, I had a harder time wrapping my mind around being on the other side of charity. I realized that I wanted to be the one doing the giving, the one in control.

Our society has a way of making you feel that if you are not successful, it is your fault. But with me, it goes deeper than that. I grew up in a faith tradition where earthly success was a sign of God's grace.  We were taught to pray the prayer of Jabez to enlarge our "territory." We were taught a Theology of Health and Wealth. Although I have fought against it, I realized that for a part of me, that theology still held sway.

This last Sunday, it was my husband's turn to light the Advent Weath. As I focused on the lighting of the candles, and prepared my heart for the coming of our blessed Saviour, I was reminded once again that Jesus did not come to earth for health and wealth. Jesus was born to die. He was homeless.  His first bed was a manger, designed to hold food for animals.

As I looked at over at the Organ, when the statutes of the Wise Men are standing, still far from the manger, I remembered that Joseph and Mary graciously accepted their gifts for the Christ Child. I determined right then that I was not going to be embarassed about needing help.  I determined I was going to be like Tiny Tim who hoped that people seeing him would remember Jesus who made the lame to walk and the blind to see.

I love my congregation and am grateful for all their help.  They remind me that God's love, and their love, is not dependent on the size of my bank account. 

Wise men and women still seek Him.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Some Thoughts From Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne was the featured speaker at the Oregon Synod Assembly.  He stood out from most of the participants there because he was young, because he had dreadlocks past his waist, and because he identifies himself as part of an irresistible revolution, a missionary of sorts to the American Church. To put it simply, Shane follows Jesus.

Most of us are not going to imitate the life of Shane, living simply and sharing most things in common.  Shane, however,  can help us unpack what we on Outreach have been doing to reach our neighborhood. One of the words we have chosen to identify Mt. Carmel is "Community." Shane has the following words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer inscribed on his wall:

"The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community."

We at Mt. Carmel understand that the basis of community is love.  We serve love at Transition Projects and Jean's Place.  We serve love around the tables after church.  We serve love around the quilting frame.  We at Mt. Carmel have been given a gift from God, like Shane says "we can look in the eyes of those we don't even like and see the One [Jesus] we love." 

.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Aiming for One Percent

For churches with less than 100 worshipping on a given Sunday, increasing attendance by 1% seems like an achievable goal. But is it? How many of us have greeted visitors with the expectation that they would return the next Sunday but we never saw them again.  Is it our fault?

The Answer is both yes and no.  If we are too occupied with our own problems and concerns, we can make people feel as if they are intruding on our private club.  But, if we descend on them en masse, visitors can  feel that we are intruding on their privacy.  One could argue that we just need to be ourselves.  However, like any organization,  we all know that much of our community culture is unspoken and varies depending upon whom you consult.

Outreach has decided that there are certain things that we can do to level the playing field with visitors.  First, we can all wear name tags.  So, begining next Sunday you will be asked to fill out a stick-on name tag with your name.  Visitors will be asked to fill out the same type of name tag.  For some of you this may seem like a lot to ask.  It may seem like a lot to ask for some visitors.  But, we have got to start someplace to make our sense of community more tangible.

The Church in Chicago has proposed a one percent growth goal.  However, for the Lutherans living in the "None Zone," they have reduced that to goal to 0.5%.  So, if Mt Carmel grows by one new person, we will be ahead of the game.

If you would like to write a blog post, please contact me, Susan Doyle, at faithtrends@aol.com or leave a comment.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Opinion: Where Have All the Children Gone?

According to The Oregonian, "Just 30 percent of households in Oregon have children, the lowest rate among all but seven states..The picture is even starker in Portland, where only one in four homes includes a child 17 or younger."

Many churches believe that the only way to grow is to attract families with children. However, what about the 75% of homes which have no children ?

This note is the opinion of the author and does not purport to represent the opinions of Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Living Without Religion Part 2

It is hard to judge what effect  the Center for Inquiry's billboard advocating living without religion had on our neighborhood, or on the city as a whole.  The billboard came down after a brief month to be replaced by an ad for Stanford's. I assume that some interested people received information from livingwithoutreleigion.com.  I also assume that many people, like me, viewed the site to, as it were, scope out "the enemy."

Sometimes it is good to be reminded that what we believe is questioned by well intentioned people who have trouble with putting their faith in a Being that they cannot see or touch.  We remember how hard it was for Thomas to put side his skepticism at the notion of a Risen Christ. 

Each of us has come to faith in our own way and yet each of us has also come through the hand of God.  Sharing what living life with religion means to us is not as scary when we realize that all we are asked to do is to talk about what God has already done for us.  Sometimes when life is giving us lemons, we need to be reassured by our faith community that God is faithful.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Thought for the Day

“Hope is hearing the melody of the future. Faith is dancing to it." Rubern Alves

Has the Vision for the Church changed?

A study done by the University of Chicago several years ago found that 50% of Americans have fewer than three people that they can confide in.  That same study showed that 25% have no one at all that they can confide in.  We hear alot about how the popularity of Facebook and other social media sites is overtaking face to face contact at events such as reunions. 

It seems that everyone, even churches, have jumped on the Facebook bandwagon.  I am not saying that doing so is a bad idea.  It just seems to me that the unprecedented social isolation, that has come hand in hand with technology, is where the Church can offer more than virtual community.  The poverty and hunger for human contact that we are experiencing knows no class boundaries.

I was in graduate school when the book Megatrends came out.  The simple trends listed by the book seemed so obvious to us budding futurists. However, over the last twenty years, I have come to realize that a simple truth can be be very powerful.  Although the book is now considered out dated, the trend which equates the need for touch in inverse proportion to the use of technology is still valid (High Tech/High Touch).  In fact, with the proliferation of high tech devices, I think that face time has become even more important. 

The Church needs to be on Facebook and other social media sites because that is the new Town Square.  But, the Church also needs to be much more.  Our current task is describe, in a few words, how Mt. Carmel can meet the needs of people who are not currently experiencing God's love in community. This task is not only to identify what we think we have to offer others but also to think about new ways that we can reach out.  If you are wanting to get involved in this process, let someone know. 

Thursday, May 5, 2011

LIVING WITHOUT RELIGION

Portland, Oregon–April 25, 2011–A multimedia ad campaign challenging the myth that the nonreligious lead empty, selfish and self-centered lives will be unveiled this week in Portland, Oregon. “You don’t need God-to hope, to care, to love, to live.”

Living Without Religion billboards will be seen on both the west and east sides of the city, at SW Barbur, 50 feet southwest of Bancroft Street, on the east side of the road facing south; and at Powell and 8th, on the south side of the street facing west.
***

One of the billboards mentioned in the above referenced press release is less than two blocks from my home.  The billboard had recently been used as an advertisment for the Yoga center that is located on SW Bancroft and SW Corbett Avenue.  In addition to the Amrita Yoga Center, my neighborhood is home to two Buddhist congregations, and only one Christian church, a Seventh Day Adventist Church. There are Jehovah's Witnesses on the other side of the freeway.

There has been much talk about how people in Oregon respond negatively to organized Christian religion.  The Conservative Baptist Church that I was raised in dropped the "Baptist" from its name several years ago. We have all seen the advertisements for local non-denominational churches which offer "relationships not religion."

As Lutherans, we have attempted to separate ourselves from the "religious," who we see as judgmental and hypocritical; and, have allied ourselves with the "spiritual," who we see as open and accepting of people no matter where they are on the faith journey.  The Center for Inquiry, who has started their mult-media ad campaign in Portland, however, does not acknowledge a difference and has brought under attack the very concept of faith and God.

There are people in my neighborhood who poke fun at the Seventh Day Adventists because their sign talks often refers to the application of God, Christ, and the Bible to daily life.  Their electronic sign, which changes weekly, is less than two blocks from the new billboard advocating the merits of the non-religious lifestyle.  The battle for the hearts and minds (and yes, souls) of Portlanders is alive and well in my neighborhood, and yours as well.  We must understand that we face a real enemy as we determine how we will "brand ourselves" in a marketplace that is becoming more hostile every day. 


Wednesday, April 20, 2011

For a Reason and a Season

When I was growing up, I hated cantalope. My mother and sister also hated cantalope. Cantalope was not served at our house, although my dad sometimes ate it when he went out to dinner.

When I got married to Kelly, I discovered that he was also a cantalope hater. Once when we had friends over, Kelly remarked that I should have not made a fruit salad because he does not like cantalope. The salad had actualy been brought by our guests. Ooops!

As I was pregnant with Tim, however, I began to crave cantalope. Despite Kelly's dislike of the fruit, I started eating cantalope on a regular basis. When Tim was born, the craving went away, but I still retained a liking for the fruit. There was a reason that I needed cantalope and my need lasted for a defined period of time, a season.

Sometimes our outreach is for a reason and season. People come to us to because they have a need or a craving. They may not be Lutherans, they may have lost faith altogether. God sends them to us for a season to nurture and grow. What we have to offer and how that expression takes form in community is the essence of the coversation that we are having at Mt Carmel.

There are sheets of white paper on the wall in the Sanctuary which contain the results of our initial brainstorming about what we want to see and how we feel about Mt Carmel. Pastor Glen has encouraged us to pray about the words on the paper, as we consider how to "brand" Mt Carmel. If you were unable to participate last Sunday, please add your input. There are blank pages for your thoughts and we welcome you on this journey together.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

BRANDING Palm Sunday Luncheon

The Outreach Committee is inviting everyone who cares about the future of Mt. Carmel Lutheran to a light lunch and discussion after Palm Sunday service. The discussion will center around what words best describe the Mt. Carmel community(see earlier blog post, "Brand Names.") This is not a members only affair. Please feel free to come and share your opinions with us. There are no wrong answers.

Some suggestions that have been made include: "inclusive relationships," and "forward looking values rooted in tradition." Hope to see you there.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

FORGIVENESS

In past years at Mt. Carmel, we have tackled difficult issues during Lent. Many of these issues focused on problems facing the church and our response to them. This year, however, we are turning the examination inward through a study on forgiveness.

Why study forgiveness? We have learned from studies at the Mayo Clinic that the ability to forgive has been shown by studies to:
Lead to Healthier relationships;
Greater spiritual and psychological well-being;
Decrease stress and hostility;
Lower blood pressure;
Decrease symptoms of depression, anxiety and chronic pain; &
Lower risk of alcohol and substance abuse.

We have learned also that forgiveness is a process involving acceptance, change, and wisdom. We need to be accepting of the things that we cannot change. We need to be willing to change the things that we can. And, we need to ask God for the wisdom to know the difference.

The Lenten Soup Supper and Study will be continuing for several more weeks. Join us at 6:30PM on Wednesdays for fellowship around this issue. Vespers are held at 8:00PM.

Monday, March 21, 2011

NEED SOME FACE TIME?

The latest quilt that had been pieced by the Quilting Group graced the bulletin board in the library for a couple of weeks. The cute little dog faces, each different, have universal appeal. Which is why this quilt, once it has been finished, will be raffled off to provide funds to Lutheran World Relief.

Mt. Carmel has a dedicated group of quilters who turn out quality hand stitched items to meet different needs. As a group they help the church celebrate marriages, new babies, and well as appreciation for a job well done or a life well lived. This group of mostly women also serve as a encouragement to each other.

The group, which meets weekly on Tuesday from 10-2, talk as they work and welcome anyone, whether you are handy with a needle or not. The conversation is free-ranging and up-lifting. It is perfectly alright to just show up with a sandwich. If you want to check and make sure that the group is meeting, you can call Barbara Hemphill.

Friday, March 18, 2011

MORE AND MORE STORIES

Mt. Carmel is known for the use of the Celebrate insert, which provides four scriptures for each service. During Lent we have decided to focus on the Gospel reading. We journey with Christ as he gathers his disciples close, moves to Jerusalem, and ultimately his death. For those of you who are missing the other scriptures, try picking up a "Christ in Our Home" devotional from the bookcase in front of the doors to the sanctuary.

This devotional has much to recommend it. It follows the lectionary. It is an easy read. And, it is well-written. Kelly, my husband, and I try to carve out time at the beginning of each day to read the recommended passage and the page long devotion. Sometimes our son Tim joins us.

Some passages are spot on and hit us where were live. Others challenge us to move out of our comfort zone. This week we read about Abram and Sarai. I thought the story about Abram agreeing to move to a new land did not apply to me, because we live in Portland, in the house next to where Kelly grew up. However, Kelly pointed out that Abram was 75 when he agreed to follow God from his home, without knowing what was in store for him. Hmmm. That is something to think about.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Brand Names

Our son Tim is a brand shopper. He never just buys soup, he buys Campbells soup. It doesn't matter if the local store brand is cheaper, he always heads for the brand name. If he hasn't seen it on TV it must not be good.

I thought Tim would change his mind once he started paying for his own groceries. But that is not the case. He has changed a little, but not to the extent that I thought he would. He is willing to buy an off brand flour or sugar, but he will not eat off brand candy. Tim says that with brand name goods, he knows what to expect. He knows that the texture, taste, color, will always be the same. It takes clever branding to get him to change his choices. But if he is convinced that something else will better meet his needs, he will change.

We have been challenged to "brand" Mt. Carmel, so people will know what to expect when they come to worship with us. And, even more than that, so they will be able to choose us from all the other church brands out there because we can better meet their needs. Although we don't like to think about it, churches are in competition with one another . In the past, when church membership was passed down in families from generation to generation, all that mattered was location. If your family was Lutheran, you went to the closest Lutheran church. Now, not so much.

To brand Mt. Carmel, we need to identify those attributes that make Mt. Carmel special. While what makes Mt. Carmel special to one person may differ from what makes Mt. Carmel special to you, there are attributes that we can agree on. Please take time to post your choices. We will create a list of the top 20 and you will be given an opportunity to vote on your favorite.