October 26, 2006
reformation sunday
This Sunday, if I have kept my dates straight in my head, is Reformation Sunday at Community Church. I'll double check when I arrive at the office this morning. The lectionary text for this Sunday is here. I will likely focus on the Jeremiah passage and the Gospel. Jeremiah is fabulous, per usual. And Mark continues his drive toward the cross unabated by any exposition or color commentary. For a Reformation Sunday, what do these passages say to us? I think that they say that God wants to save a community...drawing us in from east and west...and each of us individually, curing our blindness and hearing us when we call. But if we want to think of this as Reformation, we have to 
decide what it is that is being reformed. Is it an institution or is it our hearts and lives? Dunno. That is worth pondering this morning.
Oh, and then there is that noodly Hebrews passage about the high priest...Christ. We are the Body of the High Priest. What can a Baptist say about that? Are we ready to be teachers, and healers and devout worshipers of God as Christ is? Really? Again, the Reformation abounds.
Try not to listen to the news today. Not only were more innocent people killed in Iraq and Afghanistan (I include our military in that tally.), but the World Series game was rained out. There is very little good news...a Reformation may be needed after all.
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Yesterday's seminar was good. Diana Butler Bass hit a homerun again. I did not stay for the afternoon session. I had a meeting. Sadly, the guy who presented is the chair of the diocese congregations committee. He is the one person we have been trying to get to Reconciler lo these many years. We need him to begin to understand what Reconciler is about in hopes that the diocese will support us and grant us some mission/ministry status. The ABC has asked us to get everyone else in line before they act. They are fairly well ready to run with it. The Covenant is waiting to see what ECUSA will do. Ah, a Reformation indeed. Heh.
Okay, enough of the Reformation stuff. Right.
Posted by tripp at October 26, 2006 06:53 AM"I hate Reformation Sunday," says the crypto-Episcopalian who is serving as deacon at a Lutheran Church on Oct. 29.
Posted by: Jorge Sanchez at October 26, 2006 11:17 AMI was going to say that this reminded me of the conversation in Jorge's blog between him and Larry on the two meanings of 'conversion', a radical turning around of one's life and formally joining another church or faith.
Now that he's brought it up...
A reformation of one's life, sì; 'Reformation', no.
Only two good things came of it in England: services in the vernacular and an attempt at the daily offices for everyman.
Posted by: The young fogey at October 26, 2006 02:35 PMIndeed, it will be one of only a handfull of such services I have attended and the first I have led. Even at the other Baptist churches I have attended, the day received only a bare mentioning.
The priesthood of all believers route may be what I take. The Hebrews passage lends itself to that. So too does the Jeremiah.
But as an ecumenist, I am challenged. A reformation is either endless...not progressive per se, but theotic. Or a reformation is something that can be completed once the desired changes have been made.
Interesting.
Posted by: Tripp at October 26, 2006 04:08 PMThere is much Reformation Sunday excitement abounding up here at St. Olaf. We have "Luther-on-a-Stick" free for all students, a raffle for Luther bobble heads and surfing Luther bumper stickers for purchase.....It's all a little much for me. hehe. Those silly Lutherans!
Posted by: Laura H. at October 27, 2006 10:21 AMWhat in the world is "Luther-on-a-stick"? My imagination utterly fails me. As Tripp no doubt remembers, singing "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is the extent of our annual nod to Reformation Sunday. We're always in the midst of stewardship at this time of year; in other words, reforming our hearts in relation to money and posessions.