NORTHEASTERN IOWA MARCH 2019 • VOLUME 32, ISSUE 3 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Celebrating Renewal:Star Katherine von Bora Luther — Faith in the Home A life of faith begins at home by Marcia Hahn Bible stories and scripture help people live a life grounded in faith Parents nurture tion committed to doing good for who actively interpreted scripture to values to help others,” Lewis says. “Somehow we understand what God was doing in their children have to be able to articulate our her life. live a good life. identity, how we live, and our pur- When parents pose and vision with specific theo- “Mary sees a pattern about who connect those logical and Biblical claims.” God is and what God does, and she values to scrip- realizes she is a part of that,” Lewis ture, they’re Lewis adds that the more that says. “Mary teaches us that living a Karoline Lewis helping their people connect faithful living to life of faith is how we see our pres- children learn specific Bible stories, the more rel- ence here on earth and how we live how to live a life of faith. evant and authoritative the Bible out life as a continuation of faith becomes in their life and in their as part of a larger history of God’s “A lot of people know they should understanding of who God is. people. “ live a certain way, but what they really need is a direct correlation MARY’S LIFE CENTERED ON SCRIPTURE Lewis says that first century Pales- with actual Bible stories and scrip- tine home life is a witness to Mary’s ture to give a concreteness to their Lewis points to Mary, mother of influence on Jesus. Jesus, as an example of someone faith,” says the Rev. Dr. Karoline “It can be assumed that Jesus Lewis, associate professor and learned from Mary what it meant to Marbury E. Anderson Chair of Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. >> Continued on page 2 “This is what a life of faith does.” Creating spaces to make spe- IN THIS ISSUE cific connections to the Bible is key for a meaningful faith 1 A life of faith begins at home life, according to Lewis. Oth- What is God up to? erwise, doing good acts just 3 because people are supposed Synod Assembly to can become rote and mind- 4 less. 5 Barnabas Uplift marks 10 years of service in Postville “If we don’t have a vocabulary that is distinctively theological 7 Congregations and faithful, we’re no different than a business or organiza- Prayer Calendar Virgin and Child (The Tallard Madonna) by Giorgione 8 A life of faith begins at home << Continued from page 1 have scripture at the center of his well has an encounter with Jesus life,” Lewis says. “He is a savior for and she tells others to come and MARY’S SONG OF PRAISE all people.” see. Mary Magdalene sees Jesus in Gabriel the angel came to the garden and she goes back to the Mary, and she wonders how In Luke, Jesus references people disciples and tells them that she has this is possible. Why would that others might not pay attention seen the Lord. to. He sees the widow whose only God see her? Mary moves from son has died. He spots Zacchaeus, a “It’s one thing to have an encounter incredulity to, “Here I am.” She tax collector, in the tree and invites with God, but you can’t keep it to realizes that God has favored him down. He has a conversation yourself,” Lewis says. “You have to her and regarded her. God has with the criminals on the cross. invite others to see it. These are de- looked on the lonely. Jesus’ monstrative characteristics of what ministry for the oppressed and John tells how Mary initiated Jesus’ discipleship looks like.” the marginal reflects Mary’s public ministry. She knows who Magnificat, her hymn of praise. Jesus is and she has witnessed for WHAT’S YOUR BIBLE STORY? 30 years what he can do and what Mary’s Song of Praise he is capable of doing. When the Lewis likes to ask people what their Luke 1:46-55 wedding ran out of wine, Mary tells favorite passage or story from the the steward to do whatever Jesus Bible is and why. And Mary said, tells him. Mary affirms who Jesus is “My soul magnifies the Lord, “I would argue that this is a person’s and encourages him. She is there at and my spirit rejoices in God my theology in a nutshell,” Lewis says. the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and Savior, “People should see in our actions at the end at the foot of the cross. for he has looked with favor on our theology. We reveal who God the lowliness of his servant. is by what we do. How we choose Surely, from now on all genera- to live our life is who we think God tions will call me blessed; “Mary can’t make sense of her is in the world and who we un- for the Mighty One has done derstand God to be and what God life without scripture; it is the great things for me, wants. That brings the kingdom of and holy is his name. first thing she goes to.” God present here on earth.” His mercy is for those who fear Lewis says that it’s important to him equip people to talk about why they from generation to generation. “Mary’s presence is demonstrative He has shown strength with his of the key characteristic of disciple- believe what they believe and how that affects their faith life. arm; ship — an abiding relationship in he has scattered the proud in the present,” Lewis says. “By nur- “People don’t talk enough about the thoughts of their hearts. turing a relationship with God and the authority of scripture,” Lewis He has brought down the with a community of believers, we says. “Mary can’t make sense of her powerful from their thrones, actually experience eternal life here life without scripture; it is the first and lifted up the lowly; and now; we experience salvation in thing she goes to. She’s a theologian he has filled the hungry with this moment.” making sense of her world through good things, Lewis says that whether it’s Mary the lens of what God is up to. and sent the rich away empty. or someone else from the Bible, He has helped his servant Israel, “That’s fundamentally what a faith in remembrance of his mercy, it’s important for people to con- of life should be — to get up every nect their lives to scripture and to according to the promise he day and say, ‘What is God up to made to our ancestors, tell others about it. John and Luke today and asking me to do?’ ” provide glimpses for what a life of to Abraham and to his descen- faith looks like. The woman at the dants forever.” 2 NORTHEASTERN IOWA SYNOD | www.neiasynod.org PRESIDING BISHOP What is God up to? by Elizabeth A. Eaton What is to be except that God is faithful. When done? Our con- “It’s clear to me that we are living the Lord admonished, “Do not re- member the former things, or con- gregations are in a time of transition, especially growing older sider the things of old,” this wasn’t and smaller. At for the Western church.” a command to forget God’s past least 40 percent saving work, but to believe that God of our congre- was still acting. This is true for us gations have an I think we are asking the wrong today. When we stop asking what average weekly questions. we can do to fix the church and worship atten- start asking what God is up to, we dance of 50 or less. ELCA member- The questions we are asking have open ourselves up to the life-giving ship decreases by 70,000 people a to do about us: “What can we do?” promise of God’s future. year, or roughly the loss of a synod They express loss and grief and per year. Clergy retirements out- fear — loss and grief for what Then we are also open to more number new candidates for minis- we were and fear about what we questions: How is the Spirit reshap- try. Financial pressures and building will become. Not only do these ing the church? How will Christ maintenance create stress. There is questions not lead to productive use us as Christ’s living body in the a dearth of people in their 20s and answers, they also don’t point to world? 30s in our pews. How do we change hope. It’s as if the church’s one foun- If we want to attract people to our this? How do we reverse the trends? dation rests on us and our efforts. congregations to rebuild a memory, These are anxious questions that I think we need to ask: “What is God God will not bless our efforts. But come from anxious people across up to?” if we — grabbed by the Spirit in this church. We aren’t the only ones baptism, changed by the word, asking them — just about every It’s clear to me that we are living in intimately and lovingly connected mainline denomination, including a time of transition, especially for to Jesus and each other in commu- the non-Latino population of the the Western church.