I just returned from Florida. I have been back in town for only a few hours and I already miss my classmates. I listen to 11 wonderful presentations from my fellow youth workers. I had the joy of presenting my Youth Ministry plan first. While my report was well recieved I did learn from my classmates and picked up some wonderful ideas that I am looking forward to sharing and putting into place here at Holy Cross.
The Spirit was moving during my time. When 2 or more are gathered..... We had great conversations late into the night. Including a late night run to Wendy's. God is working in the youth of the ELCA. If what I saw over the last couple of days is any indication the youth are in good hands.
The biggest item that we all agreed upon was that we cannot do this alone. The single biggest influance of the faith life of youth is you! Parents ranked number one in all the research data. We as a church need to do a much better job of partnering with parents to create vibrant faith in out families.
Watch for some new things coming soon.
I think many of us feel the same way. It’s like the struggle we have with Law and Gospel. Don’t like the law, but love the gospel. Your words made me think of Luther’s words I learned in Confirmation class. Below are some words from F. H. O. Jungkuntz. Not sure who this is, but…
ReplyDelete“Fasting and bodily preparation is, indeed, a fine outward training…” So pious and devout
Lutheran Christians have been taught in the succeeding centuries since the Reformation,
committing these words to memory as a part of their catechetical instruction (preparatory to Confirmation and admission to the Lord’s Supper for the first time). We are at once reminded that the balance of the statement reads, “…but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, Given and shed for you for the remission of sins.” While conceding then obvious emphasis in the statement, we are left to reckon with the equally evident fact that the latter clause neither negates nor neutralizes the former, so that we may assume that Lutheran catechumens are still instructed that “fasting and bodily preparation is, indeed, a fine outward training,” specifically, as this relates to the individual’s preparation for a profitable reception of the Sacrament, and ostensibly also, as a useful spiritual exercise for a salutary observance of Lent.”
Is it like our appreciation of a warm spring day like today after a cold winter. We can’t really appreciate Easter until we have some Lent in our life. I don’t see preparation for Lent as being down on ourselves, but being down on the brokenness of our life through sin. I’m with you though. Lent is not fun. I especially don’t like the hard to sing hymns.
Here is some Easter for you. Hymn’s (poems the confirmation class wrote Sunday)
Hymns by Confirmation Class
The see is planted into the ground
As Jesus was put on this earth
As they both die
They also bloom.
Into the form they were always meant to take.
Where death is you victory?
Where death is your power to hurt?
Death gets its power to hurt from sin
And sin gets its power from the law
But thanks be to God who gives us victory Through our Lard Jesus Christ.
When the body is buried it is mortal;
When raised it will be immortal;
When buried it is ugly and weak;
When raised, it will be beautiful and strong
When buried, it is a physical body,
When raised, it will be a spiritual body.
The resurrection of Christ, holy true
Gave us our religion and faith.
The resurrection of Christ, joyful and happy
Helped shape who I am today.
The sting of death is sin and the power.
Lord your labor is not in vain.
Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead.