Gulf Coast Oil Spill: Responding to the Challenge

From our Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson to rostered leaders:

June 28, 2010

Sisters and brothers in Christ,

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is both heartbreaking and infuriating. It causes deep sorrow, both for the initial loss of human life and for the deep and lasting damage to an ecology that provides life and livelihoods for so many of God's creatures. At the same time we grieve that the natural beauty of this region, a sign of God's marvelous creativity, has been defiled.

Moving to indignation and anger over the neglect and carelessness that led to this disaster, both in private industry and in government regulation, is understandable. However, to do so without recognizing the responsibility we all share -- as consumers of petroleum products, as investors in an economy that makes intensive and insistent energy demands, and as citizens responsible for the care of creation -- lacks credibility and integrity. An honest accounting of what happened (and what failed to happen) must include our own repentance.

Nonetheless, God remains faithful in restoring the creation and human community. Among the voices that despair and condemn, we have a witness of hope to proclaim.

First, God, who made the creation and made it good, has not abandoned it. Day after day God sustains life in this world, and the powerful vitality of God's creation, though defiled, is not destroyed. The life-giving power of God's creative goodness remains at work, even in the Gulf of Mexico. The Spirit will continue to renew the face of the earth (Psalm 104:30, as we just sang at Pentecost). All who care for the earth and work for the restoration of its vitality can be confident that they are not pursuing a lost cause. They serve in concert with God's own creative and renewing power.

Moreover, the human family need not drown in a flood of suspicion and recrimination that is more toxic and more lasting than the oil that floods the Gulf can ever be. The cleansing waters of baptism in Christ -- who died not for the righteous, but for the unrighteous -- bring forgiveness and reconciliation with God. In this reconciled life with God we have the freedom to move beyond mutual condemnations and hostility to give a powerful witness of a reconciled community that lives in service of the creation and the neighbor. By refusing to surrender to the toxicity of recrimination, we can convince others that they can join us safely in the life and service of this community.

Responding to a challenge of this size and complexity will call upon countless insights and skills, embodied in hundreds of occupations and trades, and upon the collective strength and will of us all. God's Holy Spirit has abundantly blessed the human community with the gifts needed to do this work. We can do it with sober confidence, good will and even joy.

There are times for mourning and for repentance, as well as for reconciliation and commitment to the creation's care. They come at different moments for different people. As you serve in your communities, I commend to you resources for worship, study and action that express the hope of Christians who see God's creative goodness, Jesus' forgiving reconciliation and the Spirit's abundant gifts for service. This is a moment when the human community needs to hear a word of true hope, and we have one to speak.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.- Psalm 145:8-9

In God's grace,

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

"I Am His Own"

This poem was written by CtK member, and 2010 graduate of Belgrade High School, Kimi Siemsen, for her Baccalaureate service. Enjoy!

I Am His Own
by Kimi Siemsen

I believe in the sun even if it isn’t shining,
I believe in love even when I am alone.
I believe in God even when He is silent,
but how long have I been in this storm?

I’m lost in my own translation, so
take my life, and make it yours, Lord.
Fill me with your love.
You are all I need;
tell me I am Your own.

My heart’s desire is to know You more, Lord,
to possess by faith what I cannot earn.
Help me reach the lost and alone, to tell of joy
and hope where both are gone.
I surrender all of me.
I will put my trust under the shadow of Your wings.

I want to fall in love with You, Lord,
You are my hiding place; You always
fill my heart with song, and
I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.

As I reach this road at the end of the sunset,
the winding pathway begins to fork.
I reflect on this new battle,
unsure of which road to follow,
but I will not take my love from Him, nor will I ever betray
my faithfulness.
Wishing will never substitute for a prayer.

And though sometimes my prayers feel like
they’re bouncing off the sky,
the hand I hold won’t let me go
because I know I am His own.

ELCA Social Statments in Process

Did you know that there are currently three ELCA Social Statements in the process of being written? Did you know that YOUR input and feedback is needed in the process?

The following introduction is from this page on the ELCA website:
"Faithful participation in society is integral and vital to the mission of the ELCA. As individual members and as a corporate body this church lives out the Christian faith in encounter with the concerns that shape life in God’s creation. Social statements, messages, social policy resolutions and studies of social issues are important means by which this church carries out its participation in society.Currently, there are three processes underway: Criminal Justice, Genetics and Human Disabilities."
Click on the links to learn more about each statement/message and its process.

Check out this page for links to the ten existing social statements (on Abortion; Church and Society; Death Penalty; Economic Life; Education; Environment; Health and Healthcare; Peace; Race, Ethnicity and Culture; and Sexuality) and more information on why we have social statements in the first place.

Have questions? Let us know!

Montana Synod Newsletter

The June issue of the Montana Synod Newsletter is available. (It came while we were on vacation in Alaska - more about that some other time...)
Check the synod newsletter out here.

CtK Youth Car Wash This Saturday

It's time for the annual CtK Youth Car Wash - Saturday, June 12th, 10am-Noon - in the Albertsons parking lot. Come get your car squeaky clean for only $5! Tell your friends and neighbors! And please pray for decent weather!!

New Issue of Cafe Available Online

The latest issue of Cafe - the zine of Women of the ELCA is now available. The topic this month is prayer, with articles on prayers for a first job or job change, prayers for big changes, and prayers for safety.

While most of the articles are written by women, they really are for everyone. Enjoy!

Busy Weekend!

An exciting weekend is taking shape here at CtK:

The 2010 Montana Synod Assembly and Theological Conference begins at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Billings on Friday afternoon.

On Saturday morning the men's Bible study meets at Perkins at 6:30am and the women's Bible study meets at 7:30am at Wheat Montana.

Saturday evening there's a Jeni Fleming concert at the Babcock Theater in Billings as part of the Synod Assembly. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. Drive over and check it out!

Sunday morning will be a great celebration here at CtK: during worship at 9:30am we will be receiving almost 30 new members, recognizing the high school class of 2010, hearing our adult choir sing for the last time this season, having a great cake reception after worship, and then tackling Spring Clean-Up Day (weather permitting) at 11:00am. Wear your jeans to worship and plan on helping out a little!

CtK Member Receives Indian Name

CtK member Carolyn Gaub received the name "the teacher that tells many good stories" from the Crow tribe in a special ceremony. Read the story and check out the video here. Congratulations, Carolyn!