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Trinity

Ambassadors Visit Trinity, Norristown

trintynorristownTrinity Lutheran Church, Norristown

Three Ambassadors set out today for our 75th visit to a member church in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod  (SEPA) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Today we chose Trinity, Norristown. The address puzzles us. We traveled through Norristown, Norriton and Jeffersonville and a bit into the country, but still the address is Norristown. We have already visited Grace, which really is in Norristown and there is another church listed as in Norristown also, but they seem to have let their internet url run out!

Our first step in visiting churches is to study their website. Trinity’s website is well-designed, but like most church websites, it is all about them, missing out on the power of the web to evangelize.

We arrived early and waited in the parking lot for about 20 minutes. We planned to attend the 11 am service. There had been an early service with education and fellowship sandwiched in between, so the parking lot was well-populated. We passed through doors flanked by American flags. This made one of our ambassadors very happy.

Trinity, Norristown, supports three pastors. The husband and wife team of  Rev. Kim Guiser and the Rev. Dr. Asha M. George-Guiser, and newly called associate pastor, Rev. Althea Tysk.

We were greeted upon entry by Rev. Kim Guiser who explained that we would be attending a contemporary service. We entered a surprisingly small sanctuary for the size of the property. The church is set far back from the road. They have plenty of land to build and in fact are planning a capital campaign toward that end.

The TREND REPORT for his parish has not been updated in four years and for several years before that, so it is difficult to decipher trends. Their average attendance is listed as 252 but in this second service there were about 70.

The only thing contemporary about the service was the music, which was elaborately staged with a ten-member choir, piano, percussion, violin and two guitars. The production seemed to be enjoyed by most, but it was rather a shock to our sense of worship. Redeemer is every bit as contemporary but more contemplative with silence built in. There was no quiet in this service! Singing was uninviting since the band and choir were amplified beyond the ability of an individual’s voice to be heard. But the musicians worked very hard throughout the service and were well-rehearsed, seamlessly bridging every divide in the service.

The bulletin was sparse with reliance on projection for the order of the day. This is not uncommon. We used projection a bit in our church but mostly to showcase religious art and poetry before the service. There is something strange about looking up and to the left or right during prayers. The focal point of worship definitely changes. But you don’t spend a fortune on paper!

The finest moment in the service was an enthusiastic announcement made by a  boy who was pumped to speak about an upcoming bell choir concert. Ryan was so comfortable in his message that when the pastor tried to explain what the boy had already ably explained, the boy took the microphone from the pastor and finished his message himself. Get ready, folks! This is the church of the future!

Outside of music, the service was as old-fashioned as can be and high church. The language used was Roman—Mass, Homily, Eucharist as opposed to Service, Sermon and Communion. The distribution of elements in communion was done the old Catholic way—not allowing recipients to touch the host. The historic reason for this is that the people were not trusted to touch the host.

The gestures of Catholicism were also prevalent—crossing, bowing and a tight decorum among the altar servers.

They did not follow the lectionary that both the Catholic and Lutherans follow. The lesson for this week was Jesus and the Ten Lepers. They read Luke 4, traditionally read the First Sunday in Lent. It is the story of the Temptation and the story of Philip and the Eunuch. Our pastor, who was with us, thought the verses chosen to be odd. He was following in his Bible. They used no Old Testament Lesson or Psalm.

Pastor Asha George-Guiser spoke about the “blasting of barriers.” She referenced her own marriage as an Indian Christian married to a white, Chester County farmboy from a non-religious family and the difficulty she experienced marrying outside her family’s customs. She encouraged the “blasting” of barriers of prejudice.

Once again, we see the disconnect in the thinking of clergy. The clergy of SEPA Synod, in which the Guisers are quite active, have condoned the creation of barriers in our neighborhood. These barriers were built on impermeable foundations of prejudice fueled by greed. They locked the Christians of East Falls out of their property and made our ministry and lives very difficult and painful. The actions were self-serving, hateful, and hurtful. Four years of pretending otherwise have not lessened this. But SEPA clergy preach about justice and doing right—while remaining hopelessly mired in injustice.

To Pastor Kim Guiser’s credit, we were introduced at the end of the service and he did not stumble over our name, something Bishop Burkat and several other pastors we have encountered have been unable to do! We were from Redeemer-East Falls. See, it’s not so hard. We do exist!

After worship a former Redeemer member approached one of our Ambassadors. He is the son of former church leaders and son-in-law of one of the matriarchs of our church. He was totally unaware of what was going on in his hometown. Our Ambassador pointed him to our website. I couldn’t help but remember how his mother-in-law, Betty Little, was always able to negotiate peace when there were disagreements within the church. SEPA could use her skills!

Trinity has a thriving preschool (as Redeemer would like to have and is fully prepared to open, if SEPA ever rightfully returns our property and restores our ministry).

Trinity is intentionally trying to develop the skills and volunteer service of members. They are having a service sign-up event in a week or so. They seem to be concentrating on a book, Outlive Your Life, which was referenced several times in worship. This may be the reason for the departure from the lectionary.

We wonder, is there is an opening for a muralist, two retired pastors, an architect, a finance expert, a hospitality expert and a communications expert with credentials in education leadership, and a blog coordinator? (Redeemer’s Ambassadors—all locked out of the ELCA).

13 Oct 2013

Adult Object Lesson: Trinity Sunday

tricycleIt’s A Wonderful Gift! (What Is It?)

If ever there was a Sunday that cried for an object lesson it is Trinity Sunday. On this day we concentrate on a key teaching of Christianity — and one that puzzles even great theological thinkers.

But what objects work?

St. Patrick  plucked a shamrock from the lush meadows of Ireland and talked about the single plant with three leaves. Artists intertwine circles or draw equilateral triangles. 

I always like the image of the tricycle. The three wheels give us balance. The front wheel (representing the Spirit) drives all three and makes an inert, well-balanced vehicle get somewhere.

But here’s a new image for you.

The gift you don’t quite know what to do with.

Think of your own example. It might be something unusual in appearance or difficult to  put together. A puzzle, perhaps.

I think of one Christmas when I opened a small package. It contained a small jar of liquid and a few sticks of wood. I thanked the giver graciously, went home and pondered. I sat it on the kitchen table and looked at it for a while. At last, I called someone at the party whose discretion I trusted and said, “I am sure this is a wonderful gift but I have to confess. I haven’t the slightest idea what it is. Can you tell me? I want to write a thank you note and I don’t know what to say!”

She was so patient with me. The jar contained a scented liquid. You opened the jar and placed a stick in the jar. The stick would draw the scent from the jar to freshen a room.

Ahh! I see!

Now I understood and knew what I was supposed to do with the gift. The “Spirit” had spoken.

These few verses from John are like a gift we don’t quite know what to do with.

Only in this case the giver knows He is presenting us with a puzzle!

Jesus warns his listeners. “You are not ready for this.” There is a puzzling transfer of ownership taking place. It starts with the Holy Spirit’s guidance and voice. Jesus tries to explain. “All that the Father has is mine. He will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

  • The Father has everything.
  • The Father  shares everything with the Son.
  • Through the voice of the Holy Spirit, everything is declared to us.

Do you get it? Don’t worry if you don’t. No one really does.

We are still not ready! All we can do is listen to the voice of the Spirit and do our best.

And don’t forget to thank the Giver.

photo credit: Yelnoc via photopin cc

23 May 2013

Ambassadors Visit Trinity, Havertown — Again

Today two Ambassadors revisited Trinity, Havertown. One of the Ambassadors had missed the last visit and had a special interest in visiting. In 1949, he had completed his seminary internship training in this parish. He didn’t expect to find anyone who remembered him from 64 years ago, although they have one congregational pillar who is about 101 who might recall him.

We found little had changed since our first visit. They still have a great choir which was about one third of the congregation, which numbered about 45. We were impressed with their dedication to their youth during our last visit. Today they were having a fund-raising spaghetti dinner to fund a mission trip for their youth to South Dakota.

So that’s why there is a picture of buffalo on their website!

Their web site has been upgraded in the last year and they are venturing into social media. Since December they posted about five blog entries. They seem to be posting them on their neighborhood patch.com, which we recommended to congregations some time ago.

We know social media ministry is work because we have done it. Web sites become effective evangelism tools when you post as close to daily as possible. (2×2 now has about 150 readers each day with 2000 new visitors per month. We’ve been posting daily for about 18 months now.)

The Book of Nehemiah Tells Our Story

The Rev. Dr. Dolores Littleton is Trinity’s pastor. For her sermon, she retold the story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. She did a faithful retelling, but we noted that she left out the intrigue, which is what makes the book of Nehemiah so interesting to us at Redeemer.

The people of Redeemer were (are) intent on rebuilding the church in our community after decades of neglect. You might think our denomination might support the work of its members but over the years our only meetings with SEPA were intent on wearing down the people of Redeemer, while SEPA carefully calculated how our failure might benefit them.

There is a chapter in Nehemiah where those in opposition to restoring the temple try to trick Nehemiah. Understand that 140 years had passed with no one lifting a finger to restore the temple. They hadn’t cared a fig that the temple lay in ruins.

Nehemiah shows up and sets out to do the impossible. He enlists the support of people who are willing to sacrifice to see ministry restored. Many of them have no Jewish roots! Only now do we find people, including religious leaders, interested in cleaning up after 140 years of neglect. They intend to take advantage once and for all. Failing that, they want to stop Nehemiah at any cost.

Frustrated that their early attempts to discredit the temple rebuilders are unsuccessful, they at last try to arrange meetings to “talk.” Nehemiah sees through the ruse and refuses to meet with them.

This is precisely SEPA’s strategy in trying to destroy the ministry in East Falls.

The story of Nehemiah is the story of Redeemer.

After years of neglect from SEPA leadership, Redeemer found our leaders standing on the sidewalk in front of Redeemer with Bishop Burkat as she implored us to just meet with her and all would be fine. Meanwhile, she had a lawyer and a locksmith waiting out of sight ready to pounce. The people of Redeemer, like Nehemiah, didn’t fall for the trick, which only enraged the bishop.

The ensuing five years has been little more than attempt of Bishop Burkat to save face and punish the people of Redeemer for making her attempts to take our property and cash assets more difficult than she projected.

The people who supported Redeemer’s rebuilding have been taken advantage of — just like Nehemiah’s workforce. Nehemiah put a stop to this, demanding that the people toiling and sacrificing for the temple be treated fairly. Sadly, there has been no such voice in SEPA Synod.

It is OK with the Lutherans of SEPA Synod if the people of Redeemer are left homeless (a real possibility, folks!) as SEPA claims all the congregation’s assets and pursues them in punitive court cases, which they undertake as they plead immunity from the law for themselves.

Like the Book of Nehemiah, the opposition has no real plan for Redeemer’s property now unused for worship or any other good purpose for nearly four years. They simply don’t want someone else to succeed where they never bothered to try.

We only hope that the story of Redeemer ends with ministry restored and the people revalidated— just as the book of Nehemiah ends.

The hard-hearted SEPA Synod shows no sign of returning to the word of God. There is no passion and voice to defend the workers.

Here’s the difference between Nehemiah and SEPA leadership. Much of the Book of Nehemiah is a list of names that would otherwise be forgotten today. This difference is probably the reason most people don’t read this book very thoroughly.

Nehemiah valued the people. He carefully recorded the names of the workers who risked their lives to complete the restoration of the temple. Their ancestry and affiliations are recorded for all time. Nehemiah cared about the people and their relationship with God. They were worth his attention, his work, and if necessary, the sacrifice of his life. He did all he could to protect them as they served the Lord.

The value of Nehemiah is in its detail. A lowly servant in the court of a foreign king had the wherewithal to restore Jerusalem.

The Book of Nehemiah — all of it — it should be required reading for Lutherans!

27 Jan 2013

Ambassadors Visit Trinity, Lansdale

A Sad Day for Redeemer

trintiylansdale

The Ambassadors were out in unusual force yesterday visiting Trinity, Lansdale, one of the largest congregations in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod (SEPA) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). It was our 54th visit to a SEPA congregation.

It’s been a rough few days for Redeemer. Yesterday, Saturday, January 5, was particularly difficult.

At least a quarter of the people gathered in the large sanctuary on this cold Saturday afternoon claim Lutheran roots firmly planted in Redeemer, East Falls.

Tragically, the infant we gathered to remember and lay to rest was one of our family. Families at Redeemer have always been intricately interconnected. Remarkably, this has remained true even as we grow to become more diverse. One Redeemer member cannot itch without another scratching.

Indeed, we have a goodly heritage.

Part of the beautiful service was thanksgiving for baptism.

Our Jude was baptized as he was coming into the world. His chances for survival were known to be slim. When his parents learned early on that he was not likely to survive birth, they named him. His name breathed life into him. Jude Michael Boeh belonged.

I am privileged to know the family of both sides of one set of Jude’s grandparents. Many of the names bandied about in the narthex as the family gathered came alive again. Remember Clarence and George, Vicki, Tom, Emma and Jacob?

I wasn’t born into Redeemer, but I remember them well. It was good to hear their names again and to pass their stories on to the younger members of the family. Some belonged to Redeemer and some to the Presbyterian church across the street. But that was a formality. Redeemer members worshiped at Redeemer in the morning and attended services with their Presbyterian neighbors afterwards. Dual citizenship.

Jude’s mother, born Elizabeth Leach, gave a moving tribute to his short life and its powerful force.

Jude was named for the patron saint of lost causes. His life was a tribute to the value of any life-affirming cause, even one that appears to be facing hopeless odds.

We are so proud of his family, especially his mother whom we watched grow up at many Redeemer services and events.

Redeemer, East Falls, and Trinity, Lansdale, are worlds apart. Trinity’s narthex is about the size of Redeemer’s sanctuary. But it doesn’t matter how large a sanctuary is. A lot of good can come out of both large and small churches. As the history we read on the walls of Trinity attest, churches start small. Some grow in size. Some grow in spirit. All have worth.

As I participated in the memorial service for my step great-grandson, I thought of my late husband.

Jude’s great-grandfather, Andrew Leach, was the first baby baptized in Redeemer in 1909. Jude’s grandfather and many of his aunts and uncles of varying generations were also baptized at Redeemer.

He would have been proud of the courage his grandchildren displayed in their compassionate, faithful, heart-wrenching choices. Their willingness to share their heartbreak is a gift.

Jude’s great-grandfather was the heart and soul of Redeemer, devout in practical ways. He managed the church finances and was responsible for protecting and growing the endowment that tempted SEPA from the day of his death. He was universally respected in the church and community and set the tone of what could be called Redeemer’s personality.

He not only managed the church as a business but he had a superb voice, a legacy passed on to many family members. He was never so proud that he wouldn’t clean the sidewalks and scrub floors. His interest in the community made Redeemer the common meeting place for many community groups. When it came to Redeemer, there was no nonsense.

His great granddaughter, Hazel, (Jude’s older sister) was born shortly after Andy’s death. Hazel, at 14, shared with poise a heartfelt testimony of how her journey with her sister, mom, stepdad and baby Jude had awakened her faith. She reminded me of her great-grandmother.

Gertrude Trommer Leach was a member of the Sunday School class I taught at Redeemer. She worked hard with the ladies group, sang in the choir and played the piano. She was a deeply spiritual child of God, a true matriarchal cornerstone. Easy-going and loving, when she occasionally stood her ground, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Andrew’s youngest son, Nathaniel, is still a member of Redeemer. He was seated next to me in the sanctuary, singing with his father’s voice as we remembered Jude. I was reminded of his biblical namesake. Nathaniel in the Bible asks rather flippantly upon learning of Jesus of Nazareth, “Can any good come out of Nazareth?”

Is there any good to be found in trying circumstances, in facing difficult odds?

People of faith must answer yes.

Sometimes you have to dig through a lot of grime. Sometimes you have to wipe away the tears. Sometimes you have to struggle to get up in the morning. Often we have to withstand hurtful gossip and defend against questionable, self-serving advice. But there is value wherever there is life.

Jesus loves us. The Bible tells us so.

The service was beautiful, but as Sunday quickly rolled around, it would have been a comfort to many of the mourners to sit in the pews so familiar to our family, to kneel at the altar where our families knelt together for generations, to pass the font where five generations have been baptized, to shed a tear in our own sacred space—now desecrated with fighting that should have been resolved with love within the Christian family long ago, and to embrace other members of Redeemer who live in fear beyond their control. It would be a comfort to have some sense that in the community of God we have worth beyond the value of our assets.

Redeemer members continue to meet, worship and serve—and grow.

Faith gives us no choice. Affirming life is a part of our legacy.

Jude. The patron saint of lost causes.

Is there really such a thing for people of faith? Sometimes we just don’t know what the real cause is!

The name Jude, by the way, means PRAISE! That’s how I will remember Jude. With praise.

God bless our Jude. God bless Jude’s family. God bless the Christian legacy that brought us all together in the sanctuary in Trinity, Lansdale, on January 5, 2013.

May it continue to grow and affirm life.

And God bless Redeemer!

06 Jan 2013