 Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul Lutheran Church,
A Charlie Brown Christmas has aired on national prime time television for over fifty years! I believe it is scheduled to air this year on December 19 on PBS. But check your local listings or maybe you can stream it. If you know me well, you'll know that I am a fan of all things nostalgic and all things Christmas. So when the two are combined I am hooked, and the Charlie Brown Christmas special falls squarely into that category. I found this little nugget of information recently, that has changed how I will watch the Charlie Brown Christmas this year, and in years to come. Perhaps you already knew this, but I had not. As you know, never in Charlie Brown's cartoon strips or televised depictions do we see Linus without his blanket. Throughout the story of Peanuts, Lucy, Snoopy, Sally and others all work, to no avail, to separate Linus from his blanket. And even though his security blanket remains a major source of ridicule for the otherwise mature and thoughtful Linus, he simply refuses to give it up. Until one scene, that I had never noticed, in A Charlie Brown's Christmas. As Linus is reciting his infamous version of the biblical account of Jesus' birth in Luke's gospel, it happens. Right in the middle of sharing "what Christmas is all about", Linus drops his blanket. It's subtle, and I believe, intentional. Because, most telling is the specific moment that he drops it: when he utters the words, "fear not." Watch closely for it, and you'll see. Subtle. Intentional. [Watch the clip of Linus' speech - drops blanket at :39 seconds in] Intentional I think, because to me, it is pretty clear what Charles Schultz was saying - that the birth of Jesus separates us from our fears; that the birth of Jesus frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves; and that the birth of Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to trust and cling to Him instead. Such a powerful message of Christmas. This world is an uncertain and scary place, and most of us find ourselves grasping to something temporal for security, whatever that thing may be. As much as we try to, ours is a world in which it is very difficult for us to "fear not." Even in the midst of ongoing congregational change, our tendency is to grasp onto what was (there's a sense of security in that) instead of letting go and moving into the future. Trust in the gift that is Advent. For in the midst of fear, uncertainty, and insecurity, this simple cartoon clip from 1965 continues to live on as an inspiration for us to seek true peace and true security in the one place it has always been and can always still be found - in Emmanuel, God with us. Side Note: if you continue watching, you'll notice that when Linus finishes speaking, he picks the blanket back up! Why would Linus pick that old security blanket back up after so boldly proclaiming an end to fear? That is a lesson for another day, but one that we each can also, understand. We all carry that same blanket, don't we? And it is not easy to let go. Let go of it. Leave it behind. And trust in the Child who is to come. See you in Church! (and bring a friend!) Pastor Dale
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 Dear Friends,
"Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." -Isaiah 43:18-19 The attached image is a compilation of some recent Mpls StarTribune newspaper headlines. They are not good. They are big, bold reminders that we shouldn't let our guard down yet in regard to COVID-19. And yet, for many, they have. While for many others (including myself) it's tempting to do so. I see no need to continue sharing numbers of positive cases, hospitalizations, ICU beds (lack thereof), etc. These alarming numbers are difficult to escape if one watches or reads the daily news. Our state is currently one where such numbers are real, and not good. What I do want to continue sharing, however, is the need for all of us to continue to be flexible, forgiving, and understanding in how we live our lives in the midst of this ongoing pandemic. Specifically, how we worship and be a community of faith at St. Paul Lutheran. In addition to the recent StarTribune headlines depicted in that image, there was another big, bold headline in last Sunday's edition. It read: COVID-19 has changed the way we worship, faith leaders say Faith leaders say they won't go back to the way things were before COVID Here is a link to that article. I encourage you to read it. It is a reminder to us all of how difficult it is to be a community of faith, as we have known and remember, pre-COVID. As much as we long for "the way things used to be" we still are inundated with such alarming headlines that continue to demand us to be church differently. As flexible and understanding as our community of faith has been, we are not all on the same page. Last Sunday, for example, we communed for the first time in a year and a half with open, pre-filled communion cups of wine and juice, while being handed (with gloves) a wafer. One worshipper expressed their deep, emotional relief and joy to me for finally receiving Holy Communion in such a "normal" way again. Another worshipper at that same service refrained from partaking in the Sacrament altogether, indicating to me after worship, that it was felt unsafe to do so. Such varied responses to our COVID Safe policies/practices/procedures are not uncommon. So it is important to reiterate that our COVID Response Team remains committed and faithful to our community of faith (as a whole) and to their responsibility for keeping us all as safe as possible while helping us live into who God is calling and creating us to be. I continue to be grateful for them. I remind you, too, that who we are now and who we are continuing to become, is good, and that God is indeed, doing a new thing in our midst. Thank you for embracing this new thing with me. See you in Church! (and bring a friend!) Pastor Dale Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul Lutheran Church,
My wife, Carrie, and I volunteer twice a week in an online writing class that teaches English as a second language through the International Institute of Minnesota in St. Paul. The students are currently practicing writing "For and Against" essays. This has been interesting as they first have to choose a topic and then create an outline presenting three reasons why people are for it and three reasons why others might be against it. As you might imagine, there is no shortage of topics (many controversial) for them to choose from. It has made for some interesting conversation as the students have strong opinions on both sides - for and/or against. I was reminded as I write about this, of an illustration I've used in sermons before. A conversation between a father and son, Joe and Murray. Both of them grew up Jewish, but now the son, Murray, is a Christian. This strained his relationship with his father for many years. So when Joe was dying and his son, Murray, had come home to visit, they shared a touching bedside conversation about faith. Joe: You know Murray, sometimes I lie in bed at night and wonder, "What if you're right?" Murray: And dad, sometimes I lie in bed at night and wonder, "What if I'm wrong?" You and I both find ourselves at odds with our own close family members, friends, co-workers, and even church friends. Like those ESL students have recently learned, we too have been reminded everyday that there is no shortage of contentious subjects that we find ourselves having strong opinions either for or against. This contentiousness has fractured many of our relationships. I am disappointed how (among many things) the pandemic and our varying responses to it, and how our political leanings or affiliations have gotten in the way of valued and dear relationships. It doesn't need to be this way. I continue to encourage you - at home, at work, at school - to let love win, rule, and dictate your actions in your life. We can rise above the contentiousness and love one another as the greatest commandment calls us to do. We can "come to each other's defense, speak well of one another, and interpret everything one another does in the best possible light" as Martin Luther calls us to do in his interpretation of the eighth commandment. We can arrive at a place of grace like Joe and Murray eventually did. We can follow the apostle Paul's advice in his letter to the Romans, "As much as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." To live in this way - in all aspects of our life - will bring about the peace and healing that we all long for. And that is something I think we are all strongly for. Am I right? See you in Church! (and bring a friend!) Pastor Dale Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul Lutheran Church, It's important that we address the elephant in the room. The pandemic has changed us - as individuals, as families, as congregations. We have all been affected and are recovering from a common, shared trauma - the pandemic. The events we've walked through over the past eighteen months have caused many to question their livelihoods, their safety, their relationships, and what is or isn't important in their lives anymore. Those are deep, thought-provoking questions that I said in my sermon last week, are the kind of questions all should feel safe to ask at church. Some of you have brought such questions to me and we try to find answers together. I'm grateful for these opportunities. Because if the church isn't offering some kind of answers to our deep pandemic-related questions of faith and life we really need to begin doing so. An article I recently read refers to what we are all experiencing as "spiritual trauma" as a result of the pandemic. It challenges churches to become spiritual trauma centers. I understand this. It's important that you can come to me and to your church to find healing for the wounds the pandemic has opened in your life. I've decided to speak more often about this "elephant in the room" and acknowledge the affects it's had on our lives and on the life of our congregation, and I encourage you to do the same. I've decided this because all too often you and I become overwhelmed with the current ways of the world when instead we need to focus on the overwhelming love, grace, and power of God and our need to just breathe. Below are two YouTube videos. I encourage you take about eight minutes of your time to watch and listen to as a way of focusing on God and breathing in his Holy Spirit. Let's start here. Please reach out to me if you would like to talk about how the pandemic has impacted your life, the life of your family, or the life of our church. See you in Church! Pastor Dale Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul Lutheran Church,
I read a Facebook post on a Chisago County Community page recently about a person looking for a new church home. The post simply said, "We are looking for a progressive, modern church in this area! What are the best ones to check out?" Of course, there were over a hundred comments on the post - all inviting this seeker to their church of choice. As they should! Well done, to them all! However, the problem with the initial post were the words, "modern" and "progressive." These words mean different things to a lot of people. So of course, several commenters asked the person to clarify or define what they mean by "modern and progressive." After reaching out to the person it was discovered they are looking for a church that believes in, and practices, equal love, treatment, and acceptance of all people regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, and race. They also would like a church that is committed to keeping their neighbors safe by encouraging vaccination and safe Covid practices. Well, as much I commend all the commenters for promoting their individual churches on this Facebook thread, the reality is not all of their churches match this person's definition of "modern and progressive." But we, I'm grateful to say, at St. Paul Lutheran, do. At St. Paul Lutheran Church, and as a member of the ELCA, we do believe in, and practice, a joyful welcome, love, and acceptance to all of God's children - with no exceptions. In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, we continue to display love and concern towards neighbor by masking and distancing when indoors, and by worshipping outdoors every other week. I posted a link to our church's Facebook page on this seeker's Facebook thread, and I hope they come and visit. And if they do, I know you'll warmly welcome them as the Child of God and brother/sister in Christ that they are - without exception. Thank you for being a church of grace. See you in Church! Pastor Dale Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul Lutheran Church,
[Mary said,] "He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty." - Luke 1:52-53 As I write this, news is breaking of a large explosion causing many casualties, outside of the Hamid Karzai International Airport In Kabul, Afghanistan. My heart aches, once again. After spending the past week moving our daughter, Annica, into her dorm at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, and spending much time in Washington DC for the first time, I came to realize the immense power that exists in that city, on behalf of our entire country and world. As we visited and reflected at each of the sites of well known monuments including, JFK's grave, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington Cemetery, MLK's memorial, Lincoln's memorial, WWI and WWII memorials, Korean War memorial, Vietnam Mar memorial, Washington's Monument, Jefferson's Memorial, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and even Ford's Theater, I stood in awe and wonder, with so many historical images, both during and before my lifetime, passing through my mind. I felt so powerful standing in those places where people of such power stood, or lived, or led, or died at another time. So much power. And yet, as wars and injustices and hatred and discrimination and violence continue to exist in our local, national, and global communities still today, I wonder how far we've really come and powerful we really are. We, as a nation, I was reminded this past week, have endured and thrived again, and again, following some pretty horrific events in our nation's and our world's history. We will always endure and thrive again, but when will the pains and injustices that cause our hearts to ache so much, cease to happen at all? Is that a naïve question? I don't think so. Citizens of every country and followers of Jesus and most religions of the world, have been asking that question for generations - Why doesn't God fix things? In his book, "Just Wondering, Jesus", Tom Ehrich addresses such a question, suggesting that one answer to it has to do with freedom. "God has left us free to choose life or death, blessing or curse. We can get along or we can get a gun. The only lasting peace occurs when we rise above hubris, find better ways to express fear, master our bloodlust, and give up our triumphal claims. But the question remains: what is God doing to help us make better choices? Our venue for discerning peace of war, fulfillment or abandonment, hope or despair apparently isn't the large stage where affairs of state are determined. That is the realm of power, greed, and control - sometimes exercised with grace, more often not. There power corrupts, and the outcome tends to warfare. God, it seems works a different venue, closer to home, closer to life as we actually live it. It was no accident that messiah (Jesus) and herald (John the Baptist) came to common folk, not to the grand. God's working for peace happens far from the throne of worldly power (Washington DC). God's peace isn't the absence of war headlines from Baghdad (Kabul). God's peace is one soul laying down sword and shield." -Thomas L. Ehrich, Just Wondering, Jesus: 100 Questions People Want to Ask (Harrisburg, Pa.: Morehouse Publ., 2005), 102. Ehrich's wisdom is causing me to reflect again today - not on the steps of a grand, carved, marble monument known to all the world, but in the quiet confines of my humble office, in our humble church, in our humble city. The power lives within me. Will I continue to want peace, but make war? Will I continue to yearn for love, but sow hatred? What is it that I want? What is it that I will make happen? These are really important questions for all of us to reflect on today. I invite you to do so. And please, pray for all who are suffering in Afghanistan and in countries and communities around the world. I look forward to being with you all in worship this Sunday, as we again, come together in love, to be equipped to go out in love, to share Christ's love - with joy! See you in Church! Pastor Dale  Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul Lutheran Church, It was a beautiful Saturday - May 22 - when your Church Council and I gathered at the home of Chris and Kim Clark from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. for our annual planning retreat. The theme of this year's retreat was "Everyday Spirituality: Discovering A Life of Hope, Peace, and Meaning" based on the book written by ELCA Bishop of the New England Synod, James Hazelwood. Our congregation will be diving into this book this fall as it will also be the theme of our annual stewardship appeal. This will be fun and meaningful for our congregation! Feel free to purchase the book now and get a head start on reading it. More to come on that. For the sake of our planning purposes at the retreat, and given our recent years of conflict and uncertainty, we re-phrased the subtitle of the book to "Re-Discovering A Life of Hope, Peace, and Meaning - at St. Paul Lutheran!" This was helpful as our main goal of the retreat was to set both short and long-term goals for us as a congregation, using a two to five year timeline. I'm excited to share with you that we came up with an exciting list of goals that will certainly help us, as a congregation, re-discover a communal life together that offers the hope, peace, and meaning that we all long for and hope to find at our church. Some of these goals will be relatively simple to achieve without much commitment from you, while other will be more challenging and will ask more from you. This is how goal-setting works. Goals should be designed to stretch and challenge us in ways that may not always be easy or comfortable (like losing weight or breaking bad habits), but are so rewarding and beneficial upon completion. Now that I've teased you with that introduction, I need to say we are not ready to share our list of goals with you yet. They first need to be shared with Pr. Justin Grimm, Bishop's Assistant at the St. Paul Area Synod, as part of our congregation re-development plan that he is assisting us with. They will be sent to him today! As soon as they are approved, they will be shared with you and we can immediately begin efforts to make them reality! I think you'll be excited as the Church Council and I are. Until then, I want to remind you of two banners that hang in the narthex of our church. You've likely seen them before. If not, I've provided images of them here for you to see. One (above) reminds us that "We Are the Church" (an image of a cross surrounded with people), and the other (below) is calling us to "Look To Our Future" upon a background of a limitless star-filled nighttime sky. As ongoing reminders, these two banners will remain hung, as we move forward in faith as the Church, looking to our vast and limitless future together. You're invited to gaze into that future with us! See you in Church - outside at the Amphitheater - this Sunday! Pastor Dale  Dear Friends,
Our Church Council is meeting for their Annual Church Council retreat at the home of Chris and Kim Clark on Saturday, May 22. In addition to talking about our theme of "Everyday Spirituality: Discovering a Life of Hope, Peace, and Meaning" a significant portion of our time together will be spent on compiling a list of short (immediate - 2 years) and long (2-5 years) term goals for our congregation. This is an important part of the process for obtaining congregational re-development funds from the Saint Paul Area Synod and ELCA, which was introduced to our Council and Call Committee as an important and necessary key to calling me as a full-time, experienced pastor. As the Church Council prepares to make decisions about congregational goals, your input is important and would be appreciated. Please, if interested, take a few minutes to answer the following questions and share them with the Church Council. Click here to email to entire Church Council and Pastor
I'll never forget the wooden decoupage wall hanging that hung next to the sink in my grandma's bathroom. The centered text amidst the flowers and beneath a rainbow simply read, "We don't know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future." All these years later, that image, and those words still resonate with me, and I hope with you now also, as we look forward in faith - together - as a congregation united - trusting in the one who knows our future. The Council and I look forward to hearing your responses. Thank you! We'll see you in church! Pastor Dale Dear Friends,
What's on my mind lately? Baptisms and Funerals! My two favorite parts of being a pastor. In a period of four weeks I will have officiated at three baptisms and three funerals. The baptisms will be for Brooks Allan Buccanero, Elizabeth Mae Brainard, and James Greyson Scheuerell. The funerals will be for Marilyn Louise Buck, Steven Charles Graves, and Janet Mae Brainard. Though each has been given a beautiful earthly name, each are also named and claimed at baptism as a Child of God, and ultimately each is received as a Child of God into that eternal home that the Lord has gone ahead to prepare for them. (John 14) I love reminding families of these promises. We are so blessed to have the gifts of, and assurance of, forgiveness and resurrection as we journey through this often difficult and treacherous wilderness of faith. There is always hope and love within the united Body of Christ. I will say, also, that I am continually honored when invited to participate in these sacred and holy times of family's lives. It will never cease to amaze me. It is such a privilege. Please join me in your own personal prayer time, in lifting the families of these saints - these Children of God, up in prayer. God's good work is being done all around us, all we need to do is stop for a moment, be reminded, take notice, and live life as the Child of God we are. We'll see you in church! Pastor Dale  Dear Friends, It seems we're turning the corner. This is how I feel every year at this time as Winter turns to Spring. There is new pep in our step as we begin to transition with the season. This year, however, it seems we are turning the corner in multiple, and more significant, ways. First, and most notably, when on Tuesday this week, former Mpls police officer, Derek Chauvin, was found guilty on all three charges brought against him for the death of George Floyd. There was a communal and palpable feeling of relief and burden lifted that I could feel as I wept alone in my office upon hearing the verdict read. I could not ignore or discount this feeling, nor did I wish to. The words to a favorite Irish hymn of mine, Canticle of the Turning (ELW 723), immediately popped into my mind as they became real to me like never before. I encourage you to click here to listen to the hymn and the lyrics closely. The words to the chorus say, "My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn. Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn." God's burning justice, peace, and mercy, at the moment at least, feel within reach. Today, and every day, is a new dawn as the world continues to turn. Hold on to that hope as our own tears, and the tears of our communities, state, nation, and world are wiped away, and all begin to heal. On another significant level, COVID-19 is still very present in our local and global communities. However, with the vaccination rollout increasing, it seems that with the pandemic too, a new dawn draws near. We continue to do our part, be smart, care for one another, and hold onto hope for a semblance of life as we knew it pre-Covid. We'll get there, together. On a smaller, but no less significant, scale, it feels we are turning a corner at Saint Paul Lutheran, as well. A new dawn has come and our congregation has begun to turn the page into a new chapter. Plans by our Church Council and Covid Response Team have been made for the re-opening of our church building and sanctuary. You can read all about them here. Weekly worship continues to be exciting and inspiring with many reasons to rejoice, give thanks, and celebrate, seemingly on a weekly basis. Recent weeks have included Easter Sunday, a Hymnsing, and the Church Council's and my official installation. Looking ahead to this Sunday and beyond we have two baptisms, the Rite of Confirmation, Janet Brainard's Celebration of Life, Graduate Recognition, Volunteer Recognition, New Member reception, and the kick-off of an eight-week intergenerational preaching, teaching, and service oriented series, entitled, "Journey Together" beginning on Sunday, July 11. So you can see why this year, especially, there is new pep in our step. You can see why the words to this favorite hymn of mine have struck a new chord within me. A chord, which on many levels, hasn't been struck in awhile. For that, I am grateful. I pray a similar chord has been struck within you, and within our congregation, as well. We'll see you in church! Pastor Dale |
Pastor Dale StilesA Weekly Check-In Archives
December 2021
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