Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

If you're not wearing green, don't panic - in my experience that's a relatively Irish thing to do (NOT wearing green, that is). The year I lived in Northern Ireland (granted, it was a Protestant part of the Province), St. Patrick's Day came and went without any of the fanfare we associate with it in the United States - it's a SAINT'S day, after all, which means you go to church if you're Catholic. And many Loyalists/Protestants would wear orange before they wear green, but the explanation for that can wait until another day (in the meantime, however, please continue to pray for lasting peace in Northern Ireland - friends of mine there are nervous about the growing violence and are afraid of a return to the Troubles).

It seems to me that Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in the US the way so many other holidays are - as an excuse to behave in ways one might not otherwise, to spend money that's not so necessary to spend, and to find kitschy outfits and decorations to somehow prove something. What's going on here?

Perhaps it's time to remember the man behind the day. To that end, this History Channel website has some interesting articles, about Patrick and about Ireland in general. Hope you find it interesting.

We would also do well to think about the faith that inspired Patrick. There's a hymn in our hymnal based on St. Patrick's breastplate, which always serves to remind me that God's really not so far away and that the here and now can be holy - filled with the presence of Christ. It's number 450 in the ELW. Here's the 4th verse:
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

God bless you on this day and always!

Lent: Making a Space for Grace

There's a new edition of a great zine: Cafe - stirring the spirit within. You can find this issue with a theme of Lent: Making a Space for Grace, by Inez Torres Davis here. Enjoy!

Fuzzy Things in the Fridge and at Church

I am so thankful for the many cans of soup that were received during the Souper Bowl of Caring held Sunday, February 1st.

Gallatin Valley Food Bank is helping a record number of requests for food. Every contribution, whether big or small, helps them carry out their important mission.

The national peanut scare has caught our attention in regards to food safety. I love peanuts like the next kid, whether young or old. I am not a happy camper if I miss my morning routine of coffee, The Wall Street Journal, and peanut butter smeared on two slices of Wheat Montana Toast. I also love peanut products, like that Thai Peanut salad dressing from Trader Joe’s that makes my lips sting.

When moving the cans of soup from the worship space last week, I noticed three cans of soup that had expiration dates prior to February 1st, 2009.

Yuck! Who would want to eat food that has expired? My colleague and wife is always after me to throw out fuzzy and moldy leftovers from the fridge. I am always after her to use up the black bananas for banana bread, or to throw them out.

When you make a food contribution to Gallatin Valley Food Bank or to Christ the King, I am asking each and every one of you to look at the expiration date on the food you are bringing from home, and to throw out any item that has passed its stamped expiration date.

I know I need to be better at using up leftovers in the fridge at home, and encouraging Lindean to bake those black bananas.

If you’re going to have a food scare, let it happen at home. Please don’t let it happen at Christ the King.

We’ve had enough food scares for 2009.

In Christ,
Pastor Grant AKA Fuzzy Leftovers Guy

Preliminary Photos

A few photos from tonight's Shrove Tuesday shindig - a good time was had by all! Anyone who says, "Church is no fun" clearly wasn't here tonight!!

More coming by the end of the week...

Lutheran Study Bible

Happy Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday/Shrove Tuesday!

Here at CtK we are gearing up for the evening's festivities: Pancake Supper from 5:30-6:30pm and all kinds of silly goofiness from 6:30-7:30pm. Come when you can and leave when you need to - it's going to be GREAT! (cake walk, limbo, crafts, jokes, pies-in-the-face to raise money for the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans this summer).

Of course today doesn't make sense all on its own. Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday celebrations exist only because of Ash Wednesday, which is tomorrow. Today is just our last day of preparation for tomorrow and the whole season of Lent - a season of returning to our lives as baptized disciples, with renewed focus on the disciplines/practices of our faith: prayer, fasting, alms-giving, and self-denial, to name just a few. We spend these days remembering Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, his betrayal and crucifixion.

It's fairly common to hear church folks talk about what they're going to "give up for Lent." Giving something up for Lent can be a wonderful practice, if it gives you time, space or other resources to focus on your faith or serve others. Some of us also talk about "adding something for Lent" - like a new time for prayer and Bible reading, or volunteering in a ministry that can use our gifts.

I'm hoping people will turn again to their Bibles during this season. In just a few days Augsburg Fortress, the publishing house of the ELCA, will have new "Lutheran Study Bibles." We pre-ordered several here in the church office - swing by and check them out (call first to make suer they've arrived!). Or go online here and see the new Study Bible sampler. Enjoy!

New Synod Newsletter

The Montana Synod has just published their (our?) February newsletter. Included are some thought provoking reflections by Bishop Crist on her recent trip to Israel and Palestine.
I commend it to you!

Luther’s Morning Prayer

We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected us through the night from all danger and harm. We ask you to preserve and keep us, this day also, from all sin and evil, that in all our thoughts, words, and deeds we may serve and please you. Into your hands we commend our bodies and souls and all that is ours. Let your holy angels have charge of us, that the wicked one have no power over us. Amen!