Pastor Jim’s Blog | Trinity Lutheran Church

What Do You Know About Mary?

Dec 22, 2021 | Pastor Jim's Blog

Today’s Word from Karl Olsen…

“Let us learn from the Virgin Mary how to be bolder in obeying the word of God.”
Pope Francis

“In trial or difficulty, I have recourse to Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear.”
Saint Therese of Lisieux

“When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.”
John Lennon

“I just met you, and this is crazy, but I’m an angel, and you’re having God’s baby!”
Internet meme

Merry Christmas… almost!

I’m one of those who likes Advent, so I pretty much stay there for the whole season! Well, except for caroling, and Christmas parties, and singing for Christmas gatherings and shopping… well, I said “pretty much!”

The fourth Sunday in Advent is focused on Mary—last Sunday, when pastor Chris Breuninger preached, we sang The Canticle of the Turning, a version of Mary’s Magnificat. So I thought this week we’d take a look at a contemporary Mary song—Mary, Did You Know.

The song, released in 1991, is by Mark Lowry (lyrics) and Buddy Greene (music). It has become a Christmas classic. It has been covered (recorded) by such famous people as Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Wynonna Judd and Mary J. Blige. And we have a recording today from one of our famous TLC musicians, Jana Szabo, with a video assembled by Deacon Amy. So, it’s a big deal! But, first, a couple other Mary thoughts.

Mary is not known and respected just in Christian tradition. It turns out that Mary is the only woman named in the Quran. More than 15 times! Quranic editors differ on Mary’s status, some listing her among the prophets, some saying she was “an exceptionally pious woman with the highest spiritual rank among women.” The Quran notes Mary experiencing a version of the angelic annunciation, and the virgin birth of Jesus, with Mary responding “My Lord, how shall I have a child while no human has touched me?” Clearly, the Quranic mentions of Mary differ in many ways from Christian tradition, but always refer to Mary in a respectful tone.

In the Roman Catholic tradition, Mary is prayed to, not as we pray to God, and not to worship her, but as the mother of Jesus. As Jesus honored his mother, so Mary is honored, as the mother of God, and one who points us to Jesus. And, in the tradition, when you pray to Mary, you are asking her to intercede for you, to pray for you, while she’s spending eternity with God. The website “Dynamic Catholic” says “Nobody sees the life of a child the way a mother does, not even the father. This is Mary’s perspective on Jesus.”

So, Mark Lowry, while he was singing and working with the Gaither family, worked up lyrics for the song that evolved from a series of questions that Lowry scripted for a Christmas program at his church: “I just tried to put into words the unfathomable. I started thinking of the questions I would have for her if I were to sit down & have coffee with Mary. You know, ‘What was it like raising God?’ ‘What did you know?’ ‘What didn’t you know?’”

While writing lyrics, Lowry said he imagined himself as an overly enthusiastic angel who showed up at the manger during the Christmas story and was filled with questions. He used the phrase, “Did you know” to express that enthusiasm—as if the angel was bubbling over with joy for what the birth of Jesus meant. He wondered “did she ever walk into his room and say, ‘clean this mess up?’” Only the questions that rhymed made it into the song!

Lowry gave the lyrics to instrumentalist and composer Buddy Greene while on tour with the Gaithers. After listening to some Christmas tunes in minor keys, like What Child is This, he came back with the now-famous tune and harmony. The haunting melody was a hit.

The text of the song has received a fair share of theological and other criticism, saying that Mary obviously knew what was up, since she talked about it in the Magnificat in the gospel of Luke. Baptist theologian Michael Frost said “it treats her like a clueless child….” asking if the author would have asked Abraham if he knew he’d be the father of a great nation.

Some have made memes of the song title and posted variations on the question, such as “Mary did you know … that there’s a boy on his way to gift your newborn with a drum solo,” tweeted author and pastor Courtney Ellis. “Mary did you know we’ve been trying to reach you about your extended warranty,” tweeted Texas attorney Robert Callahan II.

Attempts at humor aside, in 2017, Toronto-based theologian Jennifer Henry wrote new lyrics that address the criticisms and echo Mary’s words from the biblical Magnificat. They are easily found online.

None of the questions are answered in the song. Instead, the lyrics poetically invite the listener to contemplate the relationship between Mary and her new son. Most of all, Lowry hopes the song will point people to the story of the baby Jesus and what his arrival would mean. “I hope the song makes people think about the baby Jesus,” he said. “I hope it sends them running to Luke 1 to find out what Mary knew.”

So, today, as Christmas approaches, listen to Jana’s wonderful rendition of this “new” Christmas classic. And maybe read a bit in Luke 1:26-55. And, Merry Christmas, pretty soon!

Karl

Christmas Anticipation

Dec 16, 2021 | Pastor Jim's Blog

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom…

You know that part of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” where we sing “… He sees you when you’re sleepin…” It is a faint childhood memory but I think it was the old cowboy Gene Autry who sang it. Well, that always struck me as a little peculiar. I was okay with Jesus seeing me when I was sleeping, but I was never really okay with a big guy in a red suit peeking at me through the curtain. It just felt diﬀerent… a little icky?

Oh, I get the point, “He knows when you’ve been good or bad so be good, for goodness’ sake,” it was all about avoiding the dreaded coal in the stocking thing. No one wants Christmas coal in the stocking. Bad, very bad. As best as I can recall, my childhood was not stained by coal in the stocking so either Santa didn’t see everything or there was some grace thrown my way when it came to Christmas.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit there are yet moments when coal would still be a fitting reward for my inattentiveness to the sensitivity needs of those around me (Brenda is the gatekeeper of said moments). Okay, you’ve known me for more than 20 minutes so that is not a shocking epiphany.

There’s a commercial (credit card?) where the actor Samuel Jackson is conversing with Santa in a FaceTime conversation. Jackson asks if he is oﬀ the naughty list to which Santa asks if he has stopped using those naughty words. Jackson’s response cracks me up. While responding with a faint “Yessss” he is shaking his head “No.”

Try it, try saying “Yesss” while shaking your head, “Noooo.” You have to think about it. It doesn’t come naturally. I find it challenging, it’s not instinctive. I actually have a theory about how this pertains to our life of faith. While our ancient confessions read, “I confess that I am by nature sinful and unclean,” God’s gift of grace birthed in Jesus has been reshaping our lives. God’s gift of faith has opened our lives to a diﬀerent set of values. A diﬀerent lifestyle where we are not immediately disposed to our baser instincts (read, coal in the stocking).

God’s gift of grace birthed in Jesus… God’s gift of faith that opens our lives to a new life in Jesus. It all begins with God gifting us. We are days away from celebrating God putting on flesh in the infant Jesus in order to change the course of human history. It all begins with God making a gift. The consequence is the diﬀerent lives we live. We live for others, we find joy and meaning in sharing and blessing others, we are not bound by our sin or the memory of our sin. God’s gift in Christmas has reshaped our lives… for eternity.

There is an interesting Proverb (11:1) that speaks to God abhorring dishonest scales yet finding delight in accurate weights. It’s about not cheating the poor. Christmas inspires me to consider this as a picture somewhat in reverse. That is, God puts his finger on the scales of history, intentionally tipping it towards grace. We don’t get what we deserve. No coal for us, nope. We get Jesus. The scales have been tipped toward us.

Hope your plans for the season have gone well, the shopping and all. If not, give yourself some grace. The important gift has already been prepared for us. We’re good.

Christmas peace and love to you. Continue to be gracious to those you encounter, especially to yourself.

Pastor Tom

Room for a Little One

Dec 15, 2021 | Pastor Jim's Blog

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy…

I had the joyful experience of visiting the preschoolers in their outdoor classroom today. They excitedly lined up on their little stump seats to wait for my Bible story. Today, though, I didn’t bring my Bible. Instead, I brought one of my favorite Christmas books, “Room for a Little One,” by Martin Waddell. This beautiful book combines three of my favorite things: children’s books, farm animals, and faith.

This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of a cold night when Kind Ox was settled in the stable, cozy and warm. Soon, Old Dog wandered by, shivering in the cold. Kind Ox invited him in, assuring him that there was “always room for a little one.” When Stray Cat peered in, she was scared of the dog. He promised her that she would be safe, and Kind Ox told her that there was “always room for a little one.” They were eventually joined by Small Mouse, who found that there was “always room for a little one.”

The animals were warmly snuggled in the hay when Tired Donkey arrived, led by Joseph, and carrying Mary. When the couple could not find a room, Kind Ox invited Tired Donkey into the stable, telling him that “there is always room for a little one.”

The tiny stable, beside the inn, turned out to be the coziest place for Mary and Joseph to welcome the arrival of baby Jesus. The final page reads, “That cold winter’s night, beneath the star’s light… a Little One came for the world.”

And that little one turned out to be so very important. Jesus came into this world in such a simple way. A tiny baby, born to a lowly couple, in a stable behind the inn. It is beautiful to be reminded each year that our Lord, our King, chose to present himself in such a small and insignificant way.

I love the simple story line in this beautiful book, reminding us that there is always room for a little one. The animals all recognized that each had a need, and they (following the lead of Kind Ox), offered to share what little that they had. They each moved over to make room for the next little one.

It’s beautiful imagery; making room for each other. Perhaps this story can help us all to remember to make room for others. Make room for the car that cuts you off in traffic, make room for the customer who’s having a bad day, make room for your family members who are feeling stressed. Maybe we all need to be aware, and help to make room for others.

Perhaps it can also remind us that God has already made room for each and every one of us. Like the Small Mouse, we have nothing to fear, because there is room for us. There is a safe, cozy place for each and every one of us. Every little one of us.

There is always room for a little one.

Deacon Amy

Venti, Venti…

Dec 8, 2021 | Pastor Jim's Blog

Today’s Word from Sheila Weidendorf…

O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

O come, o Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily,
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.

O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o/er the grave.

O come O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death’s abode.

O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.

O Come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

Today I want to share one of my all-time favorite Advent hymns with you: O Come, O Come Emmanuel. The text hails from an 8th-century poem and the tune (Veni Emmanuel) was part of a 15th-century French Fransiscan Processional mass. Our translation was by J.M. Neale (1818-1866), a prolific translator, editor, and writer. He was ordained in the Church of England but poor health kept him from parish ministry. He made significant contributions to hymnody with his translations from Latin and Greek and other languages.

This hymn is, first, rich in metaphor. See the many names of Christ here, linking Jesus to his physical ancestry, his spiritual lineage, and his role in the human world as part of God’s creation:
Immanuel (God With Us)

Son of God
Wisdom (The Divine Shekinah)
Lord of Might
Branch of Jesse
Key of David
Bright & Morning Star
King of Nations
King of Peace

That’s quite the impressive resume, and rather encompasses the entirety of Jesus’ curriculum vitae, as it were (I only question the “Lord of Might,” as Jesus COULD be impassioned in his actions, i.e. clearing the temple, but did NOT claim any sort of earthly “right of might” kingdom!). Within these few verses Jesus is hailed as deliverer from both exile and death, teacher, GuRu (one who dispels darkness and leads us to the Light), comforter and, finally, the great unifier of all peoples on an earth with no more division. Whew! Just a few things to do in your coming 32 years on Earth little-baby-Jesus-about-to-be-born… but hey, no pressure!

As much as I appreciate this text, I am perhaps more enchanted by the hollow, simple, perhaps mournful but definitely soulful tune. I admit—I am a sucker for a good Medieval or Renaissance tune in a minor key. There’s something so penetrating in its simplicity that speaks directly to the soul, that doesn’t circumvent or bypass the human condition which includes sorrow and pain and grief and all the rest. Of course, there is a time for everything under the sun—joy and sorrow, celebration and lamination, anguish and ecstasy.

And then there’s the time for waiting. The time for patience and for not knowing and preparing anyway and allowing—kind of like birth itself. Babies are born, after all, when they’re darned well ready to emerge from the warmth and safety of the womb out into the human scene. Of my five children, three arrived basically according to predicted time, while two of them (Babies # 3 & 4) took their own sweet time. And I still remember every minute of the waiting, the preparing, the not knowing, and then… the births.

Advent is about birth, after all—about something new entering the world. Something fresh and at once familiar and yet totally strange. In his time and place, Jesus brought a motion and energy and a consciousness not before evidenced—not even conceivable actually! God joining humanity in humble station, at once oﬀering a taste of what could be true for all people—we can all be evidence of God on Earth, for the Kingdom of God is at hand. It is not in the clouds somewhere. No—God resides in us, among us, between us, in our preparations and our lamentations and in our joys and in our birthing pains.

We are Children of God making holy what we can. Our oﬀerings to this world can all be meditations, be prayers, be healing forces and glimpses of Light. For as we wait for the Christ Child to be born to Mary, we can open ourselves to the Christ Light being born in us. Let us welcome that Light together! Veni, Veni….

Here is a link to my rendition of O Come, O Come Emmanuel on my YouTube Channel.

Sheila Weidendorf

Christmas Memories

Dec 2, 2021 | Pastor Jim's Blog

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom…

Their ages were age one, two and a half, and almost four. Our one and only time as a family in Hawaii. It was right after Christmas. There were so many things I appreciated about that time in our family life. For one thing, it was genuinely a fun period in our story; my kids were constantly leaving me convulsing in laughter. Another quality, as evidenced by the photo, was their reflexive need to reach for one another. Brenda taught them well. I was often not available to travel with the family but that would not deter Brenda. Brenda’s hands would be full of carry bags but the kids would hang onto one another walking through airports, refusing to let go, always following their mother’s instructions. Holding on was reflexive behavior.

They grew up. It doesn’t happen anymore. Sigh.

Oh well, it’s nice to have memories though. Actually, memories are critically important. The good ones as well as the diﬃcult ones that we have asked God to forgive and bless. My hope, especially at Christmas, is that regardless of how jaundiced or jaded we have become we all might have memories of a time of innocence and blessing. No matter how broken our past or present, I would like to believe there are yet moments that exist somewhere in our story of honest gratitude and generosity. A moment like when children would sit in rapt awe over a Christmas tree or a wrapped present.

I watched my three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter lose her mind when the Disney float went by in the Macy’s parade on television. I mean lose her mind with glee and joy. Sometimes we experience joy vicariously. I do, a lot. I feel a lot vicariously through the experience of others. You know, like when your grandchild’s joy fills you with joy?

Even if she has a death grip on your hair while riding on your shoulders.

So, here’s my Advent/Christmas wish for you. Find a moment of holiday joy, from any time in your life, and breathe it in anew. There is so much in our world that is unglued, so much that is wrong. Odds are it will be just as messed up tomorrow, regardless if you decide to not obsess over it for just one night. Instead, hold onto that joy-filled memory like my children held onto each other with an intentionality that was life giving.

That’s how Jesus holds onto us; with a forgiving, gracious gift of God’s love, intended to empower us for freed-up living. Jesus will not let us go. That’s our Christmas gift. God gifted us with the Savior. Find a Christmas memory that puts a smile on your face and cling to it, if only for a few hours.

Okay, now to the important stuﬀ… your Christmas shopping. I want to make sure you have my sizes? Hey, hey! Just kidding! Remember? Smile and give thanks?

Let’s keep holding to one another in love, like our life depends on it.

I love you,
Pastor Tom

Spreading Smiles

Dec 1, 2021 | Pastor Jim's Blog

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy…

I’ve mentioned before that both of my daughters raise and show goats in 4H. My youngest, Lia, spends the whole year training her pack goat, Norman, by taking him on almost daily walks. Together, they stroll up and down the roads around our home.

We’ve actually done this for years, walking various goats on trails, sidewalks, and roads. It’s great for the goats, it’s good exercise for us, and it makes a lot of people smile. We’ve had cars drive by, stop, and back up to take a second look. We’ve had several people ask (jokingly, I hope) what type of dogs they were. We even had one person ask if our goat was a deer or a llama. It seems that most people’s minds are just not ready to grasp the concept of walking goats on leashes.

The one thing that is true in every scenario, though, is that people leave with a smile. Perhaps it is the novelty of seeing farm animals off of the farm, or perhaps it’s a reaction to seeing something new or different. Whatever it is, we’re happy to be able to spread some smiles around as we travel.

What a gift, to be able to bring a smile to someone’s face. Truly, it makes us feel good to be able to bring joy to a neighbor, or a stranger. In a simple way, we’ve brightened their day. We’ve shared something unique with them, and they walk away smiling.

How are you spreading smiles? It often doesn’t take much; just a friendly wave to a neighbor driving by, or holding a door open as someone exits the post office with arms full of packages. A phone call, a note or card, a quick visit can brighten someone’s day.

At this time of year when we all seem to be a little too busy, and a little over-stressed, I encourage you to take any opportunity you can find to share a smile. There’s really no down side. Spread some joy this season!

Deacon Amy