Author Archive: Leesa Bell

RESETTING OUR PREFERENCES (When We Default to Factory Settings)

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"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds"...Romans 12:2

"Repentance means more than being sorry. It means being different." ...A New Kind of Christianity, Brian McLaren

When I get a new device or download the latest version of an operating system or an upgraded software program, I spend time setting my preferences. For a period of time, life with my device goes smoothly. Then, inevitably something gets corrupted or there is a conflict or a bug. Forced to do a hard restore to resolve the issue, my device will revert back to factory settings.

I think about sinful behavior as a kind of default factory setting. Most of us want to be kind, loving, generous and gracious human beings. That is our preference for our lives. We want the same for our children. Yet, under stress, we revert to our factory defaults.

A thoughtless driver cuts us off and we automatically lay on the horn in self-righteous anger. We involuntarily roll our eyes when someone espouses a political opinion different from our own. We instantly criticize our co-workers because their ideas or organizational style does not conform to our way of doing things. And when our loved ones push our buttons, do we not immediately find ourselves mentally rehearsing their faults and failings and nursing our feelings of resentment?

Self-righteous, judgmental, critical and resentful thoughts arise by default when we are confronted with difficult situations. From there it is just a short step to harsh words and unkind deeds.
 
The point is not to blame or condemn but to recognize and accept the reality of our sinful nature—our default settings. Yet if we want to change, if we want to be different, if we want to widen our repertoire of responses to include patience, compassion, gentleness and forgiveness, we need help resetting our preferences. We need God’s grace.
 
The church in its wisdom set aside certain seasons of the church year for preparation and renewal. Lent is one of these seasons. It is a time for self-examination, the purpose of which is to bring to awareness the frequency with which we default to arrogant, self-righteousness, judgmental, critical and resentful thinking.  Such self-examination is difficult. It is even more difficult to accept that we can’t, try as we may, change the way we are hard-wired.
 
The purpose of Lent is to make us aware of our default settings so that God can transform us—resetting those preferences. St. Paul urges us, “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” Note that St. Paul uses the passive voice. He doesn’t say,“Transform yourself.” Rather, he encourages us to be open to the power of God to change us, to renew our minds, to reshape us in God’s own image.  Paul reminds us elsewhere in scripture that it is not by our own strength and resolve that we change but that, “It is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”  If we want to be different, widening our repertoire of responses to include patience, compassion, gentleness, and forgiveness, it will be God’s work, not ours.
 
As we begin our Lenten journey, both individually and as a community of faith, let us engage in the self-reflection and repentance that marks a radical reorientation toward God. And may God renew our minds, refresh our spirits, and change our hearts.
Pastor Margrethe
 

ELCA Grace Gathering

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Early bird registration for the 2016 Grace Gathering ends in just two weeks, on Jan. 31, so reserve your spot today!

The Grace Gathering will be held in partnership with the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans Aug. 10-13.

The gathering will bring people together from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Participants will see the church in action, worship with Churchwide Assembly voting members, engage in experiential learning, and attend a variety of workshops that will equip congregations and synods with tools to prepare for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.

The partnership of the Grace Gathering and the 2016 Churchwide Assembly will provide a place for all members to prepare for the Reformation anniversary – which is an opportunity to rejoice in the life-giving, liberating power of the gospel – by connecting, reflecting on and discovering ways the Reformation continues to guide us today.

Learn more and register at www.ELCA.org/GraceGathering.

 

Winter Choir Festival

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A Choral Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sunday, January 14, 4:00PM

Leesburg Community Church

835 Lee Avenue, SW, Leesburg

Our Youth Choir and Joyful Noise Choir will combine to perform a beautiful hymn tune, in both English and Swahili, for the “Lift Every Voice” Hymn Festival, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event, featuring many area church and community choirs, is coordinated by the Loudoun Chorale, with a grant from the Leesburg Commission on Public Art. Six of our adult singers will also perform for the occasion, as members of the Loudoun Chorale. A turn – out of 600 is expected, in what now is a traditional event, after its start at Holy Trinity three years ago. Plan to attend this lovely and meaningful festival.

Reception to follow.  (Freewill offering.)

 

Animate: PRACTICES

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Jan. 17 - Prayer:  Oriented Toward God

Jan. 24 - Food:  Eating with Jesus

Jan. 31 - Worship:  Seeking God's Presence

Feb. 7 - Sacraments: A Tapestry of Traditions

Feb. 14 - Money:  The Joy of Sharing

Feb. 21 - Service:  The Needs Right Around You

Feb. 28 - Community: An Unexpected Family

animate:PRACTICES

with Brian McLaren, Sara Miles, Mike Slaughter, Phyllis Tickle, Shane Claiborne, Enuma Okoro, and Doug Pagitt

We will look at faith practices through the Spark House Animate Series beginning on Sunday, January 17th and continuing thru February.  Join us at 9:45am on Sunday mornings in the Augsburg Alcove (near the Coffee Station!) for a lively discussion of prayer, food, worship, sacraments, money, service and community.

all photos from http://wearesparkhouse.org/  Copyright © 2016 sparkhouse. All Rights Reserved.

Celebration of Baptism

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Fifth Grade Celebration of Baptism

Sunday, January 8 – 9:45 AM

Baptism marks the beginning of our faith journey – a journey that will last a lifetime. On Sunday, January 8, our fifth graders will have a special time to remember and reflect on their baptism and look forward to their middle school years when they will have the opportunity to participate in our confirmation program. This program helps to equip them for a life of discipleship and culminates with the Affirmation of Baptism at the end of eighth grade, where each child affirms the vows made by their parents at baptism.

On January 8, parents are invited to join their fifth grade student and are asked to bring items of significance from their child’s baptism to share with the Sunday School students. These items can be baptismal candles, the cloth used to wipe the baby’s head, photos, baptismal gowns or outfits, or any other special remembrance of that special day. We hope and pray that this event will serve as a bridge to your child’s confirmation years.

Children’s Christmas Program

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Join us Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 11:00 am for the Children’s Christmas Program!  (As part of our 11:00 am Worship Service)
This year’s program is the “drawkcaB Christmas Pageant.”   When one of the “wise people” needs to leave the pageant early because of a soccer game, the whole program needs to be done backwards. Don’t miss this special worship opportunity where our Sunday School children will present the Christmas story in reverse.  Be surprised by how much we can learn about God’s timeless love and grace.

You are invited to bring your family and friends to see our young people share the Good News.   All are welcome to come, enjoy, and Worship.

Learn more about our Children’s Christmas Program

White House Band & Steeple Dedication

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Please join us

Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, 5:00 pm

for a

“White House Christmas”

 

Back for their 3rd year, these eight former military virtuosos get together for exciting music, and tales of how they played for holidays at the White House! Led by master trumpeter, Dave Detwiler. Young jazz musicians from the community will also participate. Come one, come all! Aid goes to hurricane relief.  Information: 703 777 4912

Following the Concert:  Steeple Dedication

Celebrate the repair and re-lighting of the steeple with Christmas music by candlelight.  Light refreshments will be served i the commons after the dedication of the steeple.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 605 W. Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176

 

 

Celebrate the Holidays at Holy Trinity!

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Christmas Eve, December 24

4:00 pm Family Service with Preschool Living Nativity

7:00 pm Festival Choral Eucharist with Children’s Choirs

11:00 pm Festival Choral Eucharist with CHancel Choir

 

First Sunday after Christmas, December 27

10:00 am Christmas Lessons and Carols

 

New Year’s Eve, December 31

7:30 pm Watch Night Service

Time

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Keep awake therefore, for you do know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 25:13

 

It has often been pointed out that there are two kinds of time.  Chronos or chronological time is marked by seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks and years.  Chronos time is about the past or the future.    

In contrast, kairos time cannot be pinned down.  Kairos time is the moment of opportunity—the time appointed by God.  And here’s the paradox about kairos time; precisely because kairos time cannot be pinned down, it is a moment in the here and now. 

Most of us spend our lives driven by chronos time.  We are either looking back at the past, regretting what we did or didn’t do, or forward to the future, fretting about what we need to do next.  This is particularly true of the days leading up to the holidays.  Retailers count down the number of shopping days before Christmas.  They urge us to take advantage of the time limited Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales.  According to these voices the clock is ticking and if we don’t hurry we will miss out. 

Driven by chronos time, the holidays become the season of busyness.  There are parties to host and to attend.  There are gifts to buy.  There are trips to plan.  There are lights to be hung and trees to trim.  There are phone calls to make and e-mails to send.  The list of holiday “to do’s” is endless.   

As a result, the holidays become a source of stress.  The pressure of trying to get it all done, and get it all done just right creates a situation in which we are either regretting the past or fretting about the future.  Existing in chronos time alone rob us of the joy of the season. 

What if, just for a moment each day this holiday season, we set aside our obsession with chronos time?   What if, just for a moment, we ceased all activity and entered intentionally into kairos time?  What might we discover? 

Entering into kairos time can be as simple as pausing for a moment and asking yourself “Where is God for me in the here and now?”  Maybe you will discover that God is speaking to you through the brilliant blue winter sky or the sparkle in your child’s eye.  Maybe you will hear the voice of God as you pause to listen to the words of a Christmas carol.  Maybe you will feel the love of God as a stranger warmly greets you and lends a helping hand.   

Paying attention to the presence of God in the here and now, entering into kairos time, is simple but not easy in a chronos driven world.  It is spiritual ninja work.  Perhaps that is why the gospels urge us to keep awake, to watch, and to wait attentively.  For as the poet Ann Weems reminds us, “God will be where God will be.”  If we are not attuned to God in the here and now, if we are stuck in the past or caught up in the future, we will miss the coming of God in the present moment.     

My hope and prayer for all of us is that, amidst the busyness of this season, God will grace your days with moments of kairos time in which we know the joy of the season.   

 Pastor Margrethe