A wonderful example of Christians actually living out their Christian calling!!

This sunday started off just like any other Sunday in Seminary, I woke up with just enough time to make it to my teaching parish site in Berkeley (Lutheran Church of the Cross) however it didn't stay that way for long. This week the lectionary text was on Matthew 6:24-34 and was all about Jesus teaching that we need not worry about tomorrow. This is always a powerful message for a student who might be worrying about how they are going to get that paper done thats due at the end of the week, or if the financial aid check is going to arrive on time and cover all of their expenses. It was a really powerful message and I would suggest everyone take a look at that passage.

This was followed by a trip into San Francisco for a service of reconciliation and reinstitution at St. Francis Lutheran Church but Ill talk more about that in just a second. All of this was happening on a wonderfully sunny and relatively warm day and I had some extra time so I took the subway over to the city early and walked to the water front and enjoyed a great lunch before heading to the church.

When I first walked into the church I was amazed at the beauty of this church which is over 100 years old. I then was quickly engulfed by the energy of happiness and excitement that filled the space. St. Francis had been for a lack of a better word kicked out of the ELCA because they had ordained two lesbian pastors and did so knowing that they would be facing an uphill battle. The congregation choose not to let this hinder their efforts to minster to those that have been ousted by the church and continued to be a strong example of living out their christian calling of radical love and acceptance. After the decision of the 2009 church wide assembly of the ELCA to ordain gay and lesbian clergy the door became open for St. Francis to consider becoming a part of the ELCA once again.

It was a great thing to experience especially since one of my biggest issues with the church is its all to often used ability to exclude and cast out. In Bishop Mark Holmerud's homily he used the analogy of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and talked about how it was like St. Francis was coming home or was it actually like the ELCA was the son finally coming home? The whole morning I had been thinking about how wonderful it was going to be to have the community of St. Francis as part of the ELCA again and indeed it is! But isn't it even greater that the community of St. Francis has welcomed me and the rest of the ELCA back home! After all it was the ELCA that sinned against of the people of St. Francis by not loving them for who they where.

All of a sudden I went from being the giver to being the receiver and it was absolutely wonderful! I came away from this service filled with hope that the church can indeed actually live into the teachings of Jesus and its christian calling! Here is an article from the San Francisco Chronicle talking about the service Article.

So as you can see I will occasionally post not on Friday's when I feel so moved to reflect so check back often!

Peace, Love, and Blessings
Tony