Baptisms at Trinity Point

One of Trinity's treasures is our summer worship and camping space at Maple Lake near Mentor, MN. The casual worship environment creates a welcoming space for anyone enjoy a summer Sunday worship experience. We even do baptisms in the lake! All are welcome for church at 10:30 a.m.

Ephesians 2:11-22, Sermon by Rev. Karla Mickelson

Part 1 of Rev. Karla Mickelson's sermon.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_TA0zE88LVCk0BzLXhSl0S4-sWvjdiRQ/view?usp=sharing

Part 2 of Rev. Karla Mickelson 's sermon

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CtJvzC5NbcvcS4E6VR_2hk7xmyoXwJ-9/view?usp=sharing

Rev. Karla Mickelson shares her message on "bridging the gaps" in this world with our Christian faith.

My own sermon at First Presbyterian lifted up three things that we can do to help heal the deep divisions within our society and our churches.

1. Unity among people, especially those in deep conflict, begins at the foot of the cross. It is an act of confession that brings us to a state of our own humility in light of what Christ has done for us. The question we can ask ourselves, "How do I contribute to the disunity that exists?"

2. While Christ has granted us redemption through the cross, we still have to work our own redemption with others in order to make relationships whole. It often means a word of apology, both in word and deed. The goal is to build up the relationship and find resurrection life. Can we laugh again?

3. It is often helpful to build unity by working on something together. Our proclamation and living of peace is made real when, in Paul's words, "we are building together a spiritual dwelling place for God. Find a project that people can work on and share in the making of decisions and the realization of something completed together.

What do you think?

Sermon series on Ephesians

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1bF2JLC6a2Pm6iSXSFSQKPFv-aED4ixz2

Here is the first in a sermon series on Ephesians. More commentary to follow.

Making a Difference in Houston

Wanted to share with you a few interactions I've had with people in Houston as we send out 10,000 servants each day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Service Day has us wearing blaze orange t-shirts as we go out to serve. As you can imagine we are disrupting things from restaurants, public transportation, and hotel life.

Sat next to a woman on the light rail train. She inquired as to 'what's going on with all these young people in Houston?' I gave her a brief overview of the ELCA National Youth Gathering. "God bless you," she said. "I've seen them in my neighborhood. It just gives me chills knowing they're doing it as God's work." She is a school teacher.

I'm playing nurse at the hotel for a couple of kids. Went to McDonald's a block away for lunch. Cashier sees my blaze orange t-shirt, smiles at me and says, "Your kids were in my neighborhood cleaning out the cemetery by my house. Thank you."

Looking for soup at Starbucks and the barista is talking to a co-worker. "These kids are all over. They were picking up trash where I live. I wish I could give free drinks to them all. This is great!"

Nice to hear that in spite of the infusion and interuptions that come with 30,000+ extra people in a metropolitan area, people are seeing the witness of the ELCA through our young people who are doing God's Work with Our Hands. Yeah, God!

Some quotes from speakers at the Gathering

Bryan Stevenson, “It is important that we spend our time NOT talking about the things we did but about the things we are going to do.”

Aaron Fuller, “It is by faith that we walk with people in their time of pain. No one wants us to fix their problems but they want to know that we will walk with them as they figure things out.”

Erin Power, “Like the woman at the well, people need to know there is a place for them. That this church is their home.”

Marlon Hall, “Comfort is the enemy of creativity. You were born to make an indelible mark upon the world. God’s love can rise us through the ashes, like a phoenix. Your job is to reclaim God’s love when people reject you.”

Diversity in a Positively Charged Environment

I am always amazed at the number of exhibits at the Interactive Learning Center during the ELCA National Youth Gathering. 2018 was no different. Youth have so many things to choose from for activities. 

If you enjoy music there was karioke, performance, and music writing areas. Sports people could do high ropes, dodgeball, bumper cars, as well as areas for basketball, soccer, and other sports. Arts and crafts people have numerous opportunities for creativity. Advocacy and issues around justice concerns abound. Lutheran colleges are represented. There are relaxation zones and prayer corners. There is, literally, something for everyone. 

And all the while church groups are trying to attach items to backpacks and items of clothing. Usually they are clothes pins with decorations and the name of the church. Others do key chains, flat Jesus, or pens with church names. Trinity-Crookston kids gave out compimentary sunflower seeds, a donation from our local Synopta plant!

This diversity also plays through in our Mass Gatherings in the evenings. The speakers come from a plethora of cultural and life experiences. One dance number included volunteers and used the entire arena floor in their production. Our emcees are made up of young people with diverse backgrounds. Musicians include a stage band, solo performers, a charismatic DJ, and we ended the Thursday evening gathering with a large brass and percussion band. The youth are loving all these aspects. 

In many ways, the Gathering reflects the world in which our youth live. Issues are complex and often difficult to process. Everyone has something to contribute to the betterment of the whole. But the message remains the same. JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING! Thanks be to God.

Large Group Dynamics

Large Group Dynamics

Traveling together with two hundred people comes with some interesting dynamics that should be predictable but often catches some people unsuspecting. When you consider that every stop requires time. Stopping to eat means loading up 200 people on busses, unloading, filing into a restaurant, being served, waiting for everyone to complete their dinner, then loading up the bus again. Even a simple bathroom break can take a half hour given the number of toilets available and the amount of time individuals require to “do their duty.”

Stress is also a factor when traveling. Being in the Texas heat at Six Flags was physically stressful and our northern bodies are not used to activity in 90+ degree heat and humidity. With larger groups there is a lot of noise. People talking, background music, and ambient noise all contribute to the brain having to process loads of information and that causes stress.

By the time we got to the hotel last night, a lot of people just wanted to get to their room and relax. Bodies pushing against each other, bags getting in the way everywhere, waiting for elevators; all contribute to occasional outbursts, impolite comments, and general anxiety of being in an unfamiliar place both physically and emotionally.

For the most part, we are doing quite well. I believe we have done a good work in developing community as a group and have emphasized the need for patience and understanding given some extraordinary circumstances that might be new to a few people. Our Lutheran theology of grace plays a big role in how we approach not just traveling with many people but also out interaction with life. We often can’t control our surroundings but we can influence the environment in a positive way when we practice those traits of mercy, compassion, kindness, and empathy.

We have more days ahead and we will encounter 30,000 people in one metropolitan region. We will have many more opportunities to practice our faith. But God has indeed blessed us and has taught us the spirit of gratitude in all things. Praise God for these valuable life lessons!