In the name of love....

U2 music as a way to celebrate Christ's love?  Sure, why not?  On Saturday, June 23rd I attended a special "U2charist" service (spirituality+justice+rock and roll) that was brought to Resurrection Lutheran by our fantastic intern, Vicar Ray McKechnie, who will be leaving us in a few weeks after a year of awesome service... sad :(

Vicar Ray McKechnie - photo credit: Pam Hogeweide  

The service was an inspiring combination of U2 music performed by our enthusiastic Resurrection Praise Team and messages about equality, justice, humanity and faith.  It was a service based around the Eucharist (hence the clever name) which is also known as the Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and had a very thought provoking message shared by the Reverend Dr. Dan Brunner, professor of Christian History, Formation, and Earthkeeping at George Fox Evangelical Seminary.

The missions of the ONE campaign and Millennium Development Goals were shared and a free will offering was taken to benefit the Lutheran World Relief/Lutheran Malaria Initiative and local non-profits focusing on hunger, HIV/AIDS, and environmental sustainability including SnowCap Community Charities, Outgrowing Hunger, Cascade AIDS Project, and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. 

U2charist - photo credit: Pam Hogeweide

The message from Rev. Dr. Dan Brunner and an audio clip of the Praise Team performing "Pride (In The Name of Love)" are available here for a limited time.

Please also check out Resurrection Lutheran Church's webpage as well for additional information about our ELCA based Lutheran church, our stewardship, ministries and events.

Tuesday People*

I am so thankful I ‘manned up’ and took a chance in going back to school.  The thought of doing so was scary as hell considering my previous college debacle.

My first college experience was a time when I was at my worst.  I was so far down the rabbit hole, sunk in a pit of depression, hopelessness, lack of self-worth, etc. that I couldn’t cope with everyday life, let alone school.  I barely passed my classes, cut myself off from all but a few select friends and holed myself up from the world.  This depression greatly affected my faith as well, when your self-worth is so low you certainly don’t feel worthy of God’s love and you feel like no one cares about you, even our Heavenly Father. 

Over the years as my mental health has gotten somewhat better my faith has gradually come back and I have once again found comfort in the promise of Christ’s love.  It has, however, been the encouragement, insight and faith of the amazing group of ladies that make up my cohort at George Fox University that has truly encouraged me to open myself up again to God’s love.   From in class prayer on occasions when numerous ladies need a little bit of help to the daily encouragement and support found on our little Facebook group, I have never been a part of something where there is such a shared feeling of God’s love on a personal level and I am so thankful to be part of this amazing group of ladies. 

• You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7-8)

• You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

• Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. (Psalm 61:1-4)

So here’s to my Tuesday People:

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

 

*(read Tuesday's With Morrie - it will change your life)

High Fidelity - Jeremy Camp

This has been a rough week.  Jeremy Camp's song There Will Be A Day reminds me that I am not alone in my day to day fight and that I will someday find the peace I long for.

There Will Be A Day lyrics
Songwriters: Camp, Jeremy Thomas;

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth
That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you're walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you've walked out all alone

Troubled soul don't lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that's in store
Outweighs the hurt of life's sting

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I can't wait until that day where the very one
I've lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I've faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery
O, this is why, this is why I sing

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day he will wipe away the tears
He will wipe away the tears
He will wipe away the tears
There will be a day

Jeremy Camp