I am really thankfull for an oportunity to go to Higher Things conference. I’ve learned many things. I’ve finaly met someone from Missouri synod and I could compare ELCA and Missouri synod theology and liturgy. First thing which shocked me, was full church of young teenagers singing traditional liturgy (three times per day). It was really interesting to hear Missouri synods’ pastors views on some ethical topic, hear their sermons, see their liturgy. And also- food was great (and I get a T shirt). I am not sure if it was worthy 50$, which my congreation paid for my ticket, but it is an experience, which I’ll remember to the rest of my life. My pastor adviced me, to take it as an experiment, so if anyone of you, dear readers will go there in a future, feel free to be a scientist and not a participant. It will help you to deal with situations, when you will not agree with someting, or you will not like something (I guess it works for every situation, not only for Higher things conference).

What I experienced this week?
  • Cruz’in – car parade in Montague
  • Missouri synod conferende in Valparaiso, Indiana
  • Leading liturgy (just a few parts)
  • Moving to new house- now I live only a half minute walk from church
  • Dinner and vine tasting in Italian restaurant in Holland with members of Martin Luther Church from Muskegon
  • More visits in nursing homes
My best from this week

Pastor Ogden’s sermon. Biblical text for this sermon was from the Gospel of Mathew, chapter 13. Text is just bunch of Jesus’  parables, with different comparings of the Kingdom of heaven. When i was reading this Gospel for the first time on Friday (I was practising for sunday reading in church) I was really thankfull, that I don’t have to write a sermon on this text. When you hear these well known parables, you already know explanation and you are not interested in them, because you’ve heard them thousands times. A kingdom of heaven is like a yeast; a kingdom of heaven is like a mustard sead; a kingdom of heaven is like a pearl…  I was absolutely shocked, when I’ve heard the sermon. Pastor used absolutely different interpretation. He wasn’t describing a yeast, mustard seed etc. as a church, or as a God’s word in us. For him mustard seed, and yeast, and pearl were hope, urge need to change a world,a need to grow and make a place for bird’s nests. I think, that I will be thinking about this sermon for next few days, because it was inspiring- not only thoughts, but also a way how sermon was written.

Next  week plans: prepearing Bible stories for swimming lessons

Photo: White Lake