At Christmas time, we celebrate the divine, the holy, coming into the world. When we want to see what that looks like, we look to Jesus whose whole life and ministry is a revelation of divine love, compassion and forgiveness. We also look for any place in our lives and in the world where light is breaking through. When we see light, especially where we wouldn’t necessarily expect it, we can say, ah, there’s the presence of the divine, the presence of the holy. The following poem, Small Kindnesses, by Danusha Lameris, invites us to see divine light, the holy, breaking in in small acts of kindness. May this poem be a gift to you this Christmas season. May it entice you to see the holy in … [Read more...]
Pastor Adele’s Message – November 30, 2019
I'm writing this note on the morning of Thanksgiving and so it will be no surprise that my thoughts are turning to gratitude. Like many of you, I am grateful for family and friends without whom my life would be greatly impoverished. I'm grateful for the Thanksgiving feast that Larry and I will share at my brother's house in Gilbert this afternoon. And good health. We are fortunate to both be in good health this year. It has not always been so. I expect as you gather around your tables with family or friends or even a few strangers, you will also remember aloud or silently (as we say in church) what you are grateful for this year. Remembering what we have to be grateful for is a hallmark … [Read more...]
Pastor Adele’s Message – October 31, 2019
We have been blessed over the last couple of years to be surrounded by the art installation, An Aramaic Lord’s Prayer as we worship, hold our meetings, eat together, do yoga, and practice singing. This art will return to Bethany Lutheran Church in Scottsdale on Monday, November 18. Words of deep gratitude to artist Jill Lawrence for allowing us to hold this work around us, even as we’ve discovered that it has held us over the last couple of years. It’s hard to imagine our worship space without the vibrant Crab Nebulae behind the altar, or the elegant heron and the dancing trees on our side wall. I have to admit that when I heard that it was time for this art to move on, my first thought … [Read more...]
Pastor Adele’s Message – September 30, 2019
Last week I visited two shelters in Nogales, Mexico, with a group from the Grand Canyon Synod. During New Journey's worship yesterday, I shared my experience.Here’s what I saw: women and children (a few men too) living in cement slab shelters while they wait for their numbers to come up for an asylum interview. In one of the shelters, bunk beds were stacked in each room and children slept of the cement floors. There was electricity only in the kitchen. Clothes were laid out on the roof top to dry. Paintings done by the children were fixed to the wall of the common room. Another shelter did have electricity so there were fans blowing in each room to move the stifling hot air. … [Read more...]
Pastor Adele’s Message – August 31, 2019
As many of you already know, the ELCA voted to be a "sanctuary church body" at the Churchwide Assembly in Wisconsin. You will hear me speak what it means and doesn’t mean in my sermon that follows this note. For a fuller explanation, click on this link: What Does Becoming a Sanctuary Denomination mean for the ELCA? You will likely not be surprised to know that I have heard two different responses to this action. In a nutshell, they go like this: “I am so proud of our ELCA for doing this;” and, “using the word sanctuary was a mistake.” So a couple of words about both responses and then an invitation. I, too, am proud of our denomination for publicly identifying with the plight of immigrants … [Read more...]