Concluding third week at ACTS DMin program

July 6th we finished up our third week of on-campus studies.  Here's a bit about the ACTS DMin Preaching Program. 

My on-campus classes take place in Chicago at the Lutheran School of Theology and McCormick Theological Seminary in Hyde Park.  The program is named ACTS – the Association of Chicago Theological Schools consisting of: Chicago Theological School; Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary; Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; McCormick Theological Seminary; North Park Theological Seminary; Northern Baptist Theological Seminary; and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary.

We are blessed to have many good, and nationally renowned professors, lecturers and preachers teaching our classes such as Thomas Long (Candler School of Theology); Frank A Thomas (Memphis TN); Anna Carter Florence (Columbia Theological Seminary); Charles Rice with the Episcopal Diocese of Newark… 

My second week elective class was ”Preaching the Good News from Difficult Text”.  We find a text that is particularly difficult for the context of the congregation and preach it.  Sounds simple, but much more difficult than I thought it would be!  Our class size was such that we did not have an opportunity to preach in class like originally planned. 

My third week class (called Colloquy I) was a summary of learning good preaching skills, techniques, delivery… and we all got an opportunity to preach.  What a wonderful experience! 

The classes began at 8:30am – and finished at 5:00pm with several evening lectures taking place throughout the week(s).  Over this next year I will be working on three sermons (preached to my congregation on Sunday morning) using specific techniques learned at school.  I will also be working with a group of congregation members (Pastoral Preaching Group – PPG) to help develop these sermons and provide feedback after delivery.  I’ve entitled my first year project, “Preaching as an Evangelistic Tool”. 

The latest from my doctoral studies

Blessings friends and church family,

I’m starting  my second week of studies and wanted to share a bit of the first week with you.  I arrived at the seminary Sunday evening of Father’s Day where I met the group I will spend the next three years in study and class with.  The group is an interesting, dynamic, diverse bunch of men and women of varying cultures, denominations and ages. 

We have four students from Sweden; one from Germany; a missionary from Bosnia; and three students from Canada.  One of our Canadian friends was born and raised in Holland.  One of the other Methodist pastors (whom I was ordained with) is from Ghana, Africa.  The rest come from all points of the US.  Our ages range from about mid-thirties (maybe a bit younger) to 72.  The denominations are as varied as our ethnicities:  Presbyterian; Missionary Baptist; the Evangelical Covenant Church (a rapidly growing multi-ethnical denomination in the US and Canada); the Anglican Church; the Lutheran Church; the Episcopal Church; the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany; and the Methodist Church.  Wow!  What a group! 

I’ve enjoyed getting to know these people and have learned a lot from them in the first week of study.  Our first week was centered around Incarnational Transformation – a kind of illustration, that imitates the form and content of the scriptural text with the aim of to be a contemporary retelling of the story – psalm – lament – proverb – oracle… The retelling is told with integrity to the original scripture (with a great amount of study and examination of the original context and content).  Ideally, the retold story is a fresh way of looking at the scripture.  A new way to  enlighten and teach the listener. 

Each day we have chapel services (30-45 minutes long) and I am enjoying the mid-day break of worship, song, and prayer.  Earlier this week I felt right at home with several Methodist hymns being sung for the service including, “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” – both Charles Wesley songs. 

This week I’ll be in a class called Preaching the Good News From Difficult Text taught by Dr. Gennifer Brooks of Garrett Theological Seminary.  This class is designed to help us see the good news in the text that seems to do anything but offer good news. 

I’m excited to be with a group of people who are striving to better themselves in preaching.  I’m given a unique opportunity (I believe) to learn from people around the world, to become a better preacher, and to share what I’m learning with my church and community.  Over  the next three years I will have a yearly parish project (yet to be defined) which will be one way I can share (especially through preaching) what I am learning.  Well, enough for today. 

I will keep my church and community in my prayers and ask you do the same for me and my family.  Blessings to all of you who are helping to lead and prepare for worship in my absence.  Remember!  To celebrate the Fourth of July with us this coming Sunday.  We’ll welcome Mary Friederich back to share a wonderful message from the pulpit.  Blessings to Melissa Hubbard and her gift of song shared this last Sunday! 

Don’t forget Freedom Fest this coming Saturday and the upcoming Talent Night (Wednesday).  

Peace to you,

Patrick

Behind my garage, close to the vegetable gardens we have carefully cultivated the last several years, grows a plant.  It is a plant many of you would be familiar with.  It is tall.  It is green.  It is sharp and thorny.  At the top of this five foot sentinel is a blossom of the most beautiful purple.  Surrounding this flower is a crown of thorns – closely guarding the jewel from what possible harm, I do not know. 

The plant?  It’s a thistle.  We’re all familiar with those, aren’t we?  Why don’t I pull this weed out by its roots?  Because, the imagery of this flowering blossom surrounded by the crown of thorns reminds me of Jesus on the Cross.  The thistle itself serves reminder that no matter the thorny nature or the name we are called (a weed for heaven’s sake!) all God’s creations are meaningful and beautiful.  I’ve known many thistles in my life.  When more closely observed or more intimately known, that thorny thistle reveals a beautiful blossom.  I’ve been a thistle myself.  I like to think there’s a beautiful flower in all of us. 

Peace to you,

Patrick 

I was thinking of Father’s Day coming up soon, a day I haven’t been able to celebrate with my dad for quite some time.  He passed away at age 60, in 1995.  Several weeks ago I observed our ‘across the street neighbors’ who were playing in the front yard – I’ve watched their two little children growing up the last 5-6 years.   The older boy now plays basketball, rides his bike or skateboard by himself.  Sometimes he ventures out into the street to get the occasional stray ball – that’s around the age he is.  He’s becoming independent and learning to do things on his own. 

This particular day I watched his dad teach him how to mow the grass.  It was a first time for him and a proud moment for his dad.  His dad taught him how to pull the cord to start the mower.  I watched as he carefully went up and down the yard in nice even rows.  At one point I heard him call out, ‘Dad! Dad!’  Dad came out of the garage and the boy pointed to something in front of the mower. Dad helped him past this point of object. 

It means something when we take time to teach our young.  We are passing down knowledge and experience.  We are solidifying our relationships.  We are being a family.  These are proud moments!  This is especially important for dads and their children (sons or daughters). 

We take time to teach our children these things and this is important.  We want our children to know how to take care of themselves.  More than just survive - how to prosper.  Let us take the same care and consideration in teaching our children about our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Take time to pray with them (not just for them). Take time to tell them about the stories found in our bibles.  If you don’t know the stories – get a children’s bible and learn them together.  Take time to bring your children to worship on Sunday mornings.  This is especially important because it’s here they will connect with children their own age and learn about the importance of setting time aside each week for worship – prayer, song, fellowship, scripture, message, communion… 

Blessings to you my friends.  My prayers will be with you on Sunday morning. 

Is one faith one religion?

I just finished reading Cross-Cultural Paul (Cosgrove, Weiss and Yeo) for one of my doctoral classes. Cosgrove writes an interesting concept when talking about American Individualism.

"An ancient person who held that his or her religion was the one true religion might have reasoned that a state establishment of that religion protects people from false religious practice and does not hinder them from embracing the true faith from inner conviction. This is what led to Christendom in the West.... The strongest Pauline argument against Christendom is Paul's apocalyptic view of the world and the "powers". It is inconceivable in this view that the powers of the world might establish one true faith."

In our community and across the nation we have a multitude of religions and varying denominations within the Christian faith. The ability to worship in different ways is vital to our coming to know God better. Even as God has made each of us uniquely, we worship and receive the Word of God differently. That we can do so, here in this country is a testament to the wisdom of our founding nation builders. Cosgrove states, "The political freedom of the church requires a state that is restrained from any establishment of religion." It's a blessing to be part of a nation where this holds true.

Loving Kindness

My wife's dad passed away on May 12^th.  So, Sunday, May 13^th Brenda, Grace and I left for Kentucky for her father’s funeral arrangements and service.  As we were driving through Illinois we stopped at a local gas station.  A very nice lady, perhaps middle-aged, with a pronounced limp and a cane walked slowly by on her way into the gas station building.  As she passed she asked if we were from Wisconsin – she had seen our license plates.  “Welcome to Illinois” she said, with a bright smile.  “Are you staying?”  We said no, just passing through on our way to Kentucky. 

“Well, have a safe trip and again, welcome to Illinois.” 

 

What an uplifting gesture on her part.  She could have just walked by and right into the station, but her words of welcome, her smile, her kindness brought a bit of sunshine into the moment.  Moments like that serve as a reminder to me that kindness to another can lift one’s spirits – and perhaps our kindness, our words, our smiles come at a time when someone really needs them – whether we know it or not. 

 

Blessings to you all and see you on Sunday! 

Continuing Education

I've always been a believer in continuing education and at age 47 I'm putting my money where my mouth is (what an interesting phrase!) by beginning a doctorate degree through ACTS - A Program of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools. The emphasis of the degree will be on preaching and eventually (Good Lord willing) the degree will be conferred through Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Chicago.

I thought I would chart some of this journey through my blog - but rather than bore you with minutia I will try to post things I am learning through my studies.   My work has already begun - primarily the reading of some twenty text books that need to be completed prior to the residency classes.   I'll be in residency three weeks each summer over the next three years.   I'm also privileged to work with a group of my congregation members on a particular ministry project. 

So, here's something I recently learned... One of the books I’m reading for my classwork discusses the importance of how we listen to sermons. Stress is usually placed on how the sermon is delivered, the content, context, preaching style… this is important – no doubt.   But equally important is the consideration of how we listen to sermons.

1)  Do we listen to sermons with our heads – seeking to better understand God, our beliefs, importance of scripture, answers to questions…

2)  Do we listen to sermons with our hearts – our faith makes its home in our heart. We feel rather than understand the gospel and respond to God’s love.   Feeling is a way of knowing.   Response to sermons stirs emotions and the listener may say, “Don’t just tell me to love my neighbor, help me feel love for my neighbor.”

3)  Do we listen to sermons through action – ‘faith without works is dead’   These listeners seek a way of life pleasing to God, through their actions.   This listener is looking for direction from God through the sermon.

4)  Do we listen to sermons through worship – through the congregation as it worships.   When members of the congregation pray, sing, say the Lord’s prayer, offer tithes, celebrate the sacraments… the congregation is preaching and the spirit is uplifted.

There are other ways of how we listen to sermons listed in this book (When God Speaks Through You, Craig Satterlee).   These are just a few I thought interesting.

BTW – there is a whole chapter of this book dedicated to ‘why we sit where we do’! Some want to sit right in front to connect better with the pastor.   Some want to sit closer to the choir.   Some want to sit with a good view to the cross or a stained glass picture.   Some want to see the other congregation members better. So many different dynamics in our worship time. Who knew?!!

Remembering Judy

Let me share these thoughts with you... My deepest condolences go out to Andy and Angie Ellefson for the loss of Angie’s mom. Almost every Sunday, for over two years, we have been blessed in worship by Judy and Eddie Jenson. Neither are members of the church. In fact they have their own church to which they belong; but, they have been supportive and encouraging of our two year old, contemporary worship service. I have enjoyed tremendously getting to know them. Judy was always smiling, encouraging – a fine, sensitive, sweet soul. I particularly love the way she would sweep her granddaughters into her arms. She would hold them in her lap, tease one of the girls with the nickname, spankenheimer... Her love for her family and God were immense.

Judy passed away very unexpectedly on Thursday (March 1st) even as Eddie was driving her to the hospital. She wasn’t feeling well. I understand her last words to Eddie, as he was driving, were “I love you.” Judy, we will miss you. You have been a joy to us all and we love you. We will be here to support Eddie and Angie and the family in any way we can.

Pastor Patrick and the Milton United Methodist Church.

Preaching at Cedar Crest

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to lead the worship service, and give the message, for Cedar Crest in Janesville at their Sunday evening worship service. Now, this is a busy time for me since Lent had started on Ash Wednesday and I was already preaching three times a week. So, I did what anyone might do and I complained to my wife about having to go. I was tired. I didn't want to take extra time away from my family (I do enough of that already). I didn't want to prepare another sermon. But, I went anyway... kicking and screaming, so to speak!

When I got to Cedar Crest I was warmly welcomed by Terrance and Bess - two of the elderly helpers. Bess gave me a bulletin and walked me through the order of worship. I had some time before service began and went around visiting with some of the people who gathered for worship. Their ages ranged from mid-twenties to mid-eighties. One lady, a Lutheran, came to these worship services even though she was not a resident at Cedar Crest. What a wonderful group of people! There were probably 30-40 in attendance for worship that evening.

And, what a great service it was, too! The organ was played by a blind woman named Carolyn Schultz (no relation). I could have listened to her play all evening. The prayer time was uplifting and the message went well. Many of the people shared with me how meaningful the service was and what a wonderful message.

I talked with one of the residents, John, for a long time after the service. He is a retired pastor from the Iowa conference. He enjoyed the message, the walking through scripture – likened me to a Jesuit priest he knew – I think this was a compliment!

By the time I left the service I found my spirits uplifted and I had been fed. What a joy. In the midst of my weariness and complaining, God had been at work within me. What a blessing.

Sometimes we don't want to do what God is calling us to do. But I think we find that if we go, even if we have to go kicking and screaming, if we go we will be pleasantly surprised by how God can be at work in us. What a blessing.

Preaching today

This summer I am beginning a doctoral program with an emphasis in preaching. The doctorate is through the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS) and I will be working through Garrett Evangelical Seminary. I spend a fair amount of time studying preaching because I would like to improve my own delivery, content, theological soundness...

Some of the great preachers I appreciate are: Peter Marshall, Ellsworth Kalas, Fred Craddock (learning to appreciate him more), Gerald Kennedy, Harry Emerson Fosdick. There are probably a few more I really enjoy and get a lot from, but here's my question to you.

Do you have a preacher that has stood out for you? What is it that makes that preacher so good, in your opinion? Is it content, is it delivery, is it style? What makes a preacher good?

Is this preacher someone who has helped you grow spiritually (maybe even theologically) through the sermon? Has this preacher encouraged you to delve deeper into scripture or brought it to life somehow?

What makes a preacher good? Your thoughts would be appreciated and helpful to me.