Moving on to 2021

The past has everything to do with where we are today, but absolutely nothing to do with where we will be in the future.  I think the first time I made this statement was during a strategic planning session with the lay leadership at one of the churches where I served.  As I recall, the process had gotten bogged down because some of those involved were stuck in the past.  As a congregation, we wanted to move forward.  We wanted to make major changes in the way members were equipped for ministry.  It was not the fear of the future that was paralyzing them, it was more a reluctance to give up what had been successful in the past.

I fear the same thing might be happening as we move into the year 2021.  I can think of no time in my life when I anticipate greater change.  The pandemic has impacted every part of my life.  I have come to realize that when we finally do emerge from this health crisis, I will be living in a world that looks and feels vastly different.  It is a real challenge for an old man.  I cherish the memories of the world, especially within my church community, as I knew it.  I had expected change, but COVID-19 has hastened them in a way I had never imagined.

Let me focus on three changes I view as being most challenging for older adults, like myself to adjust to:

Hybrid worship is here to stay.  The pandemic forced us to change the way we worship.  Most of us viewed it as a temporary inconvenience.  That is borne out in the large number of older Christians who have expressed their desire to get back to in-person worship ASAP.  The reality is that many young Christians like the option of worshipping at their convenience.  While they long for the fellowship and sense of community, they also like the idea of being able to participate in worship online. 

Ministry will happen outside the walls of the church.  Most of us are accustomed to being at church.  We not only went there for worship and Bible study, but found much of our fellowship there.  In the post-pandemic world, more ministry will happen away from the church building.  Not only will more church meetings take place via Zoom, but so will Bible studies and other discipling activities.  Those under the age of forty are accustomed to functioning this way and now expect the church to adapt to their lifestyle.

Fellowship will look different.  At least for the foreseeable future, masks are going to be a reality.  Experts tell us that even with a vaccine, we need to maintain caution to avoid spreading the virus.  That really changes the way we relate to each other.  Close contact, especially hugs, are not going to happen.  We are used to fellowship time between services but that is going to be different.  Many are also going to be reluctant to attend fellowship meals.  The church kitchen might be one of the least used areas of the building. 

The one thing that does remain constant is God’s grace and His love for us.  We need to be mindful of that.  While the church as we once knew it might cease to exist, God is faithful and He has some awesome things in store for us. 

Longing for Unmasked Sounds of Joy

 

I must admit I am struggling this Advent.  It is not the season itself.  I am enjoying the Advent devotions and am reading some of my favorite seasonal books.  One tradition I have is reading again Walter Wangerin’s account of Christ’s birth in The Book of God.  He is a gifted writer and I so much appreciate the “human” aspects of his account.  I am also enjoying for the first time Gordon Giles O Come Emmanuel devotional book that focuses on the hymns and carols of the season.

Our tree is up and the magi have begun their annual trek through the house.  Our tradition is they do not arrive in the manger until Epiphany.  We have even attempted to make this year special by breaking out some of the decorations we have not used in years.  Outside the lights are up and the luminaria are lit each night making a path for the Christ Child to come to our home and hearts.  My favorite Christmas CD’s are playing while I write and I have Pandora playing the Michael W. Smith Christmas station when I am in my car.

I guess the reality of this Christmas season hit home last Monday.  I met with our daughter, Katie Seale, to record my part for the virtual choir for Christmas Eve.  Katie serves as music director at our church, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Carrollton, TX.  Usually, I am surrounded by friends and we prepare for the Christmas Eve service.  This time it was just me, a microphone, computer screen and a virtual conductor.  I left realizing how much I miss the lack of fellowship this Christmas season.

This year Barb and I will attend the 4:30 outdoor Christmas Eve service.  We will sit in our car and listen on the car radio.  I am sure we will wave at a few familiar faces.  Somehow singing Joy to the World and Silent Night in that setting comes up a little lacking.  The gift of the Christ Child still has the same impact on my faith.  It is just hard to sing shouts of praise when you are wearing a mask.

I guess the secondary ‘good news” is that there is hope on the horizon.  Hopefully with a vaccine, we are able to get the pandemic under control.  Perhaps next Christmas we will at least be able to safely gather again.  Maybe even the choir might return in person instead of appearing on a screen looking a little like the opening to The Brady Bunch.  At least I have singing in the heavenly choir to look forward to.  There will be no mask in heaven, only eternal praise.

 

 

A Traditional Holiday

 

As we approach this holiday season, I recall a conversation that I had with a mom over forty years ago.  Marge was one of my Sunday school teachers, and her husband Bob was chairman of the Board of Trustees.  They rarely missed a Sunday.  Marge and Bob had one daughter.  She was a college graduate student who I barely knew.  She had gone off to college before I had joined the staff at the church.  Her reputation was as a popular, over-achieving student, who was rarely seen around church during her high school years.  Other than Easter and Christmas Eve, I do not recall having seen her.

On this day Marge stopped by my office in tears.  She wanted my counsel on an issue.  It seems that she and Bob had planned a Christmas vacation in the Colorado mountains.  They had included their daughter in the plans, figuring she would be excited over the opportunity to spend some time on the ski slopes with them.  She was shocked when her daughter vehemently objected.  She wanted a traditional Christmas at home.  Marge was especially surprised when her daughter stated she would most miss being in church on Christmas Eve. 

I honestly do not remember how Marge and Bob’s dilemma was resolved, but that is not important.  What is significant is that we keep in mind how important celebrating the holidays with a traditional celebration is to young people.  They might go their own way much of the year, but come Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve they want to celebrate at home with family.  That is why year after year, churches are packed on Christmas Eve.

The traditional family celebrations of Thanksgiving and Christmas are in jeopardy this year as we are warned to avoid both travel and large gatherings.  Some colleges and Universities are actually telling students if you leave campus for Thanksgiving, don’t come back until 2021.  Others schools are testing students before they leave campus, with a promise to do the same once they return.

It is a challenging time for churches and those who minister to college students and their families.  How do you connect in a meaningful way?   How can you be a messenger of grace and hope when face to face contact is impossible?  Somehow, I think Christmas cards and care packages are going to be more meaningful this Holiday Season.  Those young people who treasure a traditional Christmas are going to need a little extra love this year.

 

 

Reflections on the 2020 Election

 

This past Saturday I, along with many other Americans, watched as thousands of people flocked into the streets to celebrate the election of Joe Biden as the 46^th President of the United States.  I was not surprised to see so many young people in the crowds.  The festivities took on the same passion as commemorating a World Series Championship or Super Bowl victory.  I suspect that many of them were even first-time voters.  Sure, there were a few gray heads in the crowd but for the most part, it was the under forty voters who turned the tide in this election.  At the same time there were those protesting the legality of the election, alleging the Presidency was stolen from Donald Trump.  While most of those in that camp were over forty, I am sure you could find some young faces.

I could have predicted the outcome of the election.  I quite frankly surprised that the results were not different four years ago.  The Democrats lost that election because they chose Hillary Clinton and not Bernie Sanders as a candidate.  Bernie was the choice of Millennials and those Gen Z’s old enough to vote.  When he was out of the picture, they boycotted the process.  I felt eight years ago that it was the last time that Baby Boomers would have their way in a national election.  I was only four years off.

It is tough being on the losing end.  It is also difficult seeing so much change and having it out of your control.  There is no denying that values have shifted.  A few years ago, Pew Research reported that over half of Millennials (54%) felt things had changed for the worse, that compared with 77% of Baby Boomers and 70% of Gen X’ers. 

It is tough to except change, especially when we view the modification as a borderline-revolution.  How do we live in a world where same-sex marriage is a reality, women can choose to put an end to the life within them and even the impact of the Christian Church is on a rapid decline[T1] [T2] .

I think the key to survival is to realize that for us as Christians, nothing has changed.  We feel like we are living in Babylon but God is still on the throne, and Jesus still reigns victorious.  As the people of God, we are called to do the same things we have always done.  We must be Jesus in the world.  That requires loving people for who they are, not who we want them to be.  It means being people of hope and grace.  Only when we embrace the change and view it is a new opportunity to share Jesus will the church survive. 

 

 

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There's Got to be a Morning After

 I have had the song The Morning After stuck in my head recently.  If you are not familiar with the song, it was featured in the 1972 disaster movie The Poseidon Adventure.  The plot centered around survivors aboard a cruise ship that had capsized in a tsunami.   Most of the film takes place underwater as they try to find an escape route. The irony is it popped into my mind at a time when I feel trapped inside the 2020 election process.  As I write this, there are only ten days left till all the ballots are cast.  Still, I am looking for an escape route.  I am weary of the negative campaign ads on television.  I am tired of the anger and the rhetoric. I even had a sleepless night after watching the first presidential debate.

In the film, six survivors do finally escape.  For them, there is a “morning after.” I am not sure we can anticipate much relief on the morning of November 4.  The reality is there are going to be a lot of angry and frustrated people once the results are finalized, whether it be that day or in the days or weeks to follow.  It is hard to recall a time when our nation has been more divided.  The level of angst boggles my mind. 

I think that pastors, and others who are in ministry, need to be ready to care for and support those who are faced with the defeat of their candidate for president.  I do not think the anger is just going to disappear.  The challenge for the church, myself included, is how do we be people of hope and healing at such a time as this.

As always, I looked to the Bible, as a history of the relationship between God and His people. It is there that we find hope and guidance.  I am drawn back to God’s people in the Old Testament.  The Children of Israel went through many times and circumstances that were more troubling than what we are facing right now.  God brought them through every situation.  He truly was “the Deliverer.”  Ultimately his rescue is found in the Cross of Jesus and the Open Grave.  The things of this world are only temporary. 

Yes, we will be delivered from our current situation.  There will be a “morning after.”  In the mean time we need to be the people of God, standing confidently focused on the cross.  That means rising above the current fray and being messengers of hope. 

 

 

In-Person Worship: Guess Who Might not Come Back

Barb and I have opted not to return to in-person worship, even though our church has opened back up.  It is a combination of both of us being over seventy and the fact that her “pre-existing conditions” place her in the “high risk” group.  While we miss the fellowship with our church friends, we recognize that this is just a season we are going through.  One unexpected benefit is we are able to be part of our children’s individual ministries.  Our sons, Peter and Mark, are both pastors.  We are able to worship with them virtually, and still participate with our church family at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church where our daughter Katie serves as director of worship and the arts.

Though the view of the congregation is limited, we are able to see a few familiar folks at Prince of Peace.  Yes, there are a few folks who are our age and older who are in attendance.  We are okay with their choice.  In-person worship is not something we feel comfortable with right now.  With the latest data indicating another spike in COVID-19 cases, we recognize it could be several months before we feel comfortable being out and about again.

I am well aware of the fact that folks are anxious to return to church.  Early in the pandemic my brother Jim reminded me that “we are not designed to live alone.”  When the opportunity to gather with friends and family becomes available, people will flock to be part of it.  I am hearing reports from my friends in youth ministry that when they hold events now, the kids come in droves.  It does require some adjustments for social distancing, etc. but even with the restrictions the kids want to be around their friends.  I suspect the same need is driving adults to return to worship.  The experience in the sanctuary fulfills one need and the fellowship in the parking lot and around the coffee pot satisfies another.

As people drift back to worshipping in-person, I hear one generational group is conspicuous in their absence.  Millennials, probably more than any other group, have been impacted by the pandemic.  While we still tend to think of them as being young people, the reality is that the oldest of the Millennial Generation are now approaching forty.  Do the math; If Millennials are the generation born between 1980 and 1995, they are now, for the most part, established in their careers.  Many are parents with young families. 

Many Millennials have been forced to work from home, while also supervising their children.  They are juggling their own jobs while also overseeing their children’s education.  As a result, many are in overload.  Their own needs, including spiritual, have been put on the “back burner” as they function in survival mode.  Even if their children are returning to in-person instruction, it is difficult for them to see much normalcy in the midst of the pandemic.   As a result, they are probably going to be the last generational group to return to in-person worship…. if they come back at all.

Millennials are not big on on-line worship.  The two things they cherish in being part of a worship community are lacking in virtual worship.  They want to be engaged.  That means involvement and fellowship.  Unlike many older adults who are content sitting in the pew, Millennials desire to be actively engaged in ministry.  They want to be in leadership positions and involved in hands-on ministry.  They also desire to network with others their age.  That is especially true for young parents who are looking for support and emotional encouragement. 

The challenge for pastors and church leaders become, how do we minister to and equip those who are not physically present? The truth is most Millennials still have the need but might not ever return to our church buildings again.  The new reality is finding ways to do ministry outside the physical church structure.  In the future, ministry is not going to happen in the church, but through the church touching the lives of people where they are at. 

I have long maintained that older adults and Millennials have much in common.  Now, the pandemic has added another element to the list.  At this point in time, many of us are sheltered at home.  That does not lessen our need to hear the gospel message and to be equipped to share it with others.

The Church, Science and Teen Faith

 

A few years back I found myself on the same program as creationist Ken Ham.  If you are not familiar with Ken Ham, you probably have heard of the Noah’s Ark Creation Museum.  Ken Ham is the Australian who was behind the project.  His “Back to Genesis” lecture series focuses on the first eleven chapters of the Bible.  In Ken Ham’s opinion, evolutionary theory has led to cultural decay in our country.  We were both speaking at a teacher’s conference.  I remember his statement to the audience of mostly Lutheran grade school teachers.  “More students lose their faith in high school than in college.”   The litmus test is evolution.  What happens when what they are taught in Biology Class runs contrary to what they heard in Sunday school. If the church cannot be trusted on that issue, what else can they be lying about?

Even among churchgoing teens there are shadows of doubt when it comes to how they view science and the church.  According to research from the Barna Group, 49% of Christian teens feel “the church seems to reject much of what science tells us about the world.”  When you add the reality that many teens do not “see the church as a safe place to express doubt (27%}, you can begin to see the problem.  Many Christian teens see the Bible and science in conflict and when that happens almost one in four (24%) consider themselves on the side of science.  That compares to only 17% who would consider themselves on the side of the Bible in such a debate.  Just a little over one in four (28%) see the Bible and Science as being “complementary,” meaning they support each other. 

This becomes a predicament when they head off to college, especially if they attend a public university.  What happens when the professors share a “world view” perspective that not only runs counter to what they were taught about creation but many of the values that Christians hold dear?   That puts a tremendous burden on parents and those who are involved in church youth ministry.  According to a report from the Barna Group, less that half (48%) feel “very prepared” to discuss science and the Bible with their teens. 

The current pandemic has brought this issue even more to the surface.  The question in the minds of many teens is not over who to listen to, but rather why are we not listening to the scientist who have the information?  Here again the church must take the lead in responding to the situation with appropriate action.  It also means creating a forum where the issues of science and The Bible can be discussed.