A People on

The Move: Easter

A 2011 Devotional

First Christian Church

Minneapolis, MN

www.fccminneapolis.org
A People on the Move-Easter 2011 16 A People on the Move-Easter 2011 1

GOD told Abram: "Leave your country,
your family, and your father's home for
a land that I will show you.
-Genesis 12:1 (The Message)
A People on the Move-Easter 2011 2
June 12, 2011-Pentecost Sunday
The Birthday of the
Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 104:24-
34, 35b
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
John 7:37-39
Church
Holy Spirit, making
life alive, moving in By Ann Wolverton
all things, root of all
created being,
cleansing the cosmos
of every impurity, effacing guilt, o God, the Holy Spirit, come to
anointing wounds. us and among us: come as the
You are lustrous and praisewor- wind and cleanse us; come as
thy life, you waken and re- the fire and burn; come as the
awaken everything that is. dew and refresh; convict, con-
Hildegard of Bingen - 12th cen- vert and consecrate many
tury hearts and lives
to our great good and your
Pentecost grew from the Jewish heritage greater glory.
of the Festival of —Anonymous
Weeks, a harvest festival of seven weeks
beginning Therefore, since we are sur-
immediately after Passover and ending
on the 50th day Pentecost.
rounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off every-
It became the birthday of the church as thing that hinders and the sin
the Spirit came in the wind and fire.
Peter boldly quoted the prophet Joel that so easily entangles, and let
and David, convincing 3,000 to be bap- us run with perseverance the race
tized and follow Jesus' teachings.
marked out for us.
Our church has made the bold decision -Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
to move to the Ministry Center. May
God's Spirit lead us, renew each
member, revitalize our witness, and
move us to a vibrant active faith.
A People on the Move-Easter 2011 15
June 5, 2011-Ascension Sunday
―But you will receive
power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the
ends of the earth.‖ When he had
said this, as they were watching,
he was lifted up, and a cloud
took him out of their sight. (Acts
1: 8-9)
There they stand, mouths agape,
stunned, staring up into the sky. What
an empti-
ness the
apostles
must have
Now What?
felt as
they low-
By
ered their
gaze and looked blankly at each other.
Now what?
I‘ve had ―now what?‖ feeling at least believers, to be witnesses for Jesus‘ mes-
twice in my life. Once was when I drove sage in ways we can‘t even yet imagine.
away with my mother and sister from
the cemetery where we had just buried
my father, overwhelmed with the reali-
zation that we were leaving him behind,
forever. The second was when my
daughter and her brand new husband
walked through the gate to the plane
that would take them half a world
away for a year. The house I went
home to had never before seemed so
empty, so drained of life. How could I
go on without my father, or with my
daughter so far away?
A People on the Move-Easter 2011 14
But I did go on. I learned to live with
my father's memory instead of his physi-
cal presence. Through letters and phone
calls, my daughter and I realized we
could still be close even with great dis-
tance between us.
The Ascension story is not a story of
loss and emptiness. When the disciples
returned to an upper room in Jerusalem,
the presence of Jesus was alive with
them, just as he had promised. Indeed,
the spirit of the living Christ was so pow-
erful that the fervent prayers and fel-
lowship of these first disciples soon ig-
nited a movement that would literally
change the world.
When our com-
munity of Disci-
ples locks the
door and walks
Martha Harris away from 2201
First Avenue, we
will be venturing into a future full of
promise and new life. We will have an
opportunity, in partnership with other
So instead of dreading the ―now
what‖ feeling when we say goodbye,
let‘s instead trust in and look forward to
living the next chapter of our story.
―And now I am no longer in
the world, but they are in the
world. . . Holy Father, protect
them in your name that you
have given me, so that they
may be one, as we are
one.‖ (John 17: 11)
Introduction
As I’m typing this intro, I can see that Spring has yet to really arrive in Minnesota. It’s
barely 50 degrees and only the day before, we had snow on the ground.
The winter of 2010-11
has been a rough one. It
looks like it will be one of
the snowiest winters in
decades. So much snow
for so long.
The thing is, that as the
days get longer, the cold
tends to lose its grip. The
earth draws in closer to
the sun and the weather
gets warmer. Before
long, Spring has finally
arrived.
In this second in a series
of devotionals called A People on the Move, we move from Lent into Easter, the time
in the life of the church where we celebrate Jesus Christ’s defeat of the powers of sin
and death. Easter is a time of hope, of knowing that death doesn’t have the last
word.
As we prepare for our historic move away from 2201 First Avenue South to Garfield
and 28th, we will be closing the door on a stage in the life of First Christian Church of
Minneapolis. In many ways it will feel like a death.
But because we belong to God, a God that is with all the time, we can move in hope
of what God has yet do with and through us.
Easter is here. In good times and bad, let us say with confidence and hope that Christ
is Risen! Christ is Risen indeed!
Dennis Sanders
Associate Pastor
Easter 2011
A People on the Move-Easter 2011 3
April 24, 2011-Easter Sunday
Text; John 9:1-41
The first Sunday of April was the 4th
Sunday in Lent. The Gospel lesson in
John reports Jesus saying :―As long as I
am in the world, I am the light of the
world‖. Then it was complemented by
Paul‘s telling the Ephesians: ―For once
you were darkness, but now in the Lord
you are light. Live as children of light…‖
So, what might this mean to
us at First Christian in our
times of transition? As often
is the case, Martha Harris
provided me with a window
into these texts and our jour-
ney together. We had lunch
at the African Deli in Cedar Riverside a
week ago. The Deli is across the street
from the now closed St. Martin‘s Table
where she, Fred Smith and I met weekly
for over a decade. Every Wednesday
afternoon we met for coffee and lection-
ary reflection. I am fairly certain that
we would have had a good conversation
about these texts relate to the new and
changing realities we face, both person-
ally and at First Christian.
Just what does it mean to you and me
that Jesus ―was the Light of the World‖
and that because we confess Jesus as
Lord, ―we are [now] the light‖ and are
called to live as children of that light?
Surely our decision to join two other de-
nominations in an ecumenical , shared
ministry is a ―light to the world‖ and a
witness to Jesus‘ call for his followers to
―be one as my Father and I are one‖.
After all, ―Unity‖ was Alexander Camp-
A People on the Move-Easter 2011 4
bell‘s North Star and a fundamental
part of our Disciples of Christ heritage
and mission.
As we sat down for lunch, Martha gave
me a new book that she had found very
meaningful, entitled When Faith Meets
Reason. It included a Post-It note iden-
tifying two essays she thought I would
find valuable. One was by Hal Taussig,
and his reflections have given me a new
Children of Light
By Garry Hesser
way to make additional sense of how I,
and we, might live in the Light of Jesus
and have the audacity and courage to
accept our call to be a manifestation of
that light in our time and place. My
morning meditations have already been
re-shaped by Taussig‘s own contempla-
tive practices. Thanks to him, I have
rediscovered the music and poetry of
John Bell of the Iona Community where I
spent time off the coast of Scotland a
few years ago.
Every morning, Taussig meditates by
repeating over and over the words of
Bell‘s hymn: ―Take, oh, take me as I am.
Summon out what I shall be. Set your
seal upon my heart. And live in me.‖
Ever since Martha gave me this gift, I
have made these words a morning
mantra as I meditate.
May 29, 2011
Gospel Text: John 14: 15-21
―I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.‖ --John 14:18
Although I do not have the experience of being orphaned, in some small way, this
verse reminds me of a time when I was about 5 years old. I had gone to the Co-
lumbia Mall in Grand Forks with my Dad, and as was often the case, I seemed to
wander off and not be able to find him.
At first, I was scared because I
didn‘t know where he was or
how I would get back home, (Not) Left Behind
and I didn‘t know what to
do. Perhaps someone saw
me in distress, brought me to By Chris Wogaman
an office where there were
people who seemed to know what to do.
I must have told them we were going to be eating at the John Barleycorn restau-
rant, because they took me there and waited with me and served me a delicious
cheeseburger. I was reunited with my Dad and had no idea how scary that must
have been for him. But I was not left behind; others stepped in to help me in time
of fright and I was not left alone.
Jesus knew his fate was soon to come. But he also cared that his disciples know
that they would not be left behind once he went to his better home. So, too, will
the congregation of First Christian Church not be ―orphaned‖ once we leave all
that has been familiar at 2201 1st Ave. South for our new dwelling place. We are
watching out for ourselves through committees and opportunities for conversation;
God is watching out for us as well.
Although we cannot see it now, God will have been with us each step of the way
into our new church home. We will not be left orphaned, and what‘s more, we will
be able to give a church home to new generations of Christians who will come to
hear the Gospel preached, to live into Christ‘s realm on earth through communion,
and help through service and dedication to God and God‘s people.
Stay with us, O God, when we feel uncertain of the steps to come. Give us a strong
sense of your presence when our hearts wander far afield, and bring us together in
the home you have set for us. In your Son‘s strong name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
A People on the Move-Easter 2011 13
May 22, 2011
strength when he says that,
A Humble Prayer "[y]ou are indeed my rock
and my fortress; for your
April 24, 2011-Easter Sunday
I invite you to join me in this prayer, both as individuals and as members of our
community on a journey:

name's sake, lead and guide

By Arlene Jorgensen Hillestad me." David asks God to ―Take, oh, take us as we are. Summon out what we shall be. Set your seal upon
guide him in the same way our hearts. And live in us.‖ (John Bell, Iona Community)
Psalm 31 v. 1-5; 15-16 he later told God that he was commit-
ting his spirit to God, surrendering and ―For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of
I think that we can learn how to pray trusting that God would faithfully de- light…‖
well from David. David begins Psalm 31, liver him.
which is a prayer and praise for deliver- Grace and peace. Amen.
ance from enemies, by saying in verse 1, The next time you pray, be mindful of
"in you, O Lord, I seek refuge..." In verse the Psalms and manner in which the
5, he says, "[i]nto your hand, I commit psalmists bring themselves to God to Well, son, I'll tell you:
my spirit." In verse 15, he says, "[m]y offer up prayer. Life for me ain't been no crys-
times are in your hand." This is someone
who knows who he is in relation to God. tal stair.
He knows that God is in control of his
All that is gold does not glitter, It's had tacks in it,
life, and that God will answer prayer. Not all those who wander are lost; And splinters,
He surrenders himself to God's care in The old that is strong does not And boards torn up,
prayer. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God says to wither, And places with no carpet on
Solomon, David's son, "if my peo- the floor --
ple...humble themselves, pray, seek my Deep roots are not reached by the
Bare.
face, and turn from their wicked ways, frost.
then I will hear from heaven..." God But all the time
From the ashes a fire shall be I'se been a-climbin' on,
hears and answers a humble person's
prayers. woken, And reachin' landin's,
A light from the shadows shall And turnin' corners,
While our prayers should often be spring; And sometimes goin' in the dark
thankful prayers, it seems more often in Mother to Son
Renewed shall be blade that was Where there ain't been no light.
our prayers, we ask God for something. By Langston
Here, David makes a request that God broken, So boy, don't you turn back.
protect him from his foes: "deliver me The crownless again shall be king. Don't you set down on the steps Hughes
from the hand of my enemies and per- 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
-J.R.R. Tolkien
secutors." So often when we pray we Don't you fall now --
are asking God for help. David then For I'se still goin', honey,
requests God's favor when he says, "[l]et I'se still climbin',
your face shine upon your servant."
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
David also knows that God's love can
rescue him, so he then says, "save me in
your steadfast love." In verse 3, he rec-
ognizes that God is the reason for his

A People on the Move-Easter 2011 12 A People on the Move-Easter 2011 5

May 1, 2011 May 15, 2011
John 20: 19 – 31 John 10: 1-10

―Jesus said to him, ‗Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed ―The gatekeeper opens the gate for the
shepherd, and the sheep hear his voice. A name is very personal, but it is not the
are those who have not seen and yet believe.‘‖ (John 20:29) only way we can ever be known.
He calls his own sheep by name and
Before I came to FCC Minneapolis, I was in the restaurant business – food and bev-
leads them out.‖ –John 10: 3
erage sales. I had a set of specific commodities I was supposed to push, and some-
thing more intangible I was This detail has always fasci-
“He calls his own sheep by name”
Sales Job supposed to help create
called ―The Dining Experi-
nated me: ―He calls his own
sheep by name.‖ How many
By Chris Wogaman
ence.‖ The money I made sheep, that aren‘t kept as
By Bob Brite depended on both factors; pets, do you suppose have
I‘d get tips based on a per- names? Clearly, Jesus was
The Great Shepherd will call you by your
centage of the volume of telling a story for his disciples to under-
name to let you know He is looking for
food and drink I provided, but I would also get tips based on the quality of the line for them the proper way into
you. And the call will come when you
dining experience. Great tips would come if there was good chemistry between heaven. This story comes with its own
least expect it. The call will come to our
myself and the diners, if I provided good service without being too intrusive, and if I prickly details and thorny theological
church as well. We might be going into
could talk them into the extra appetizer or dessert or beverage. issues, as to who is a ―legitimate‖ disciple,
another place, but our name will remain
who will be saved, and who will inherit
the same. Hear the Shepherd call your
the kingdom of heaven.
The ministry of the Church is to believe and ―sell‖ a ―product‖ that we have not name as he passes by, and above all
seen, but yet believe in, the love of God experienced in grace. (And if you are un- else, be ready to go; my hope and confi-
comfortable with the idea of faith life being a sales job, sorry, but it happens to be Bracket these questions for now, and dence is with First Christian Church that
a fact, a fact called evangelism.) It is one both more intangible than the ―dining hear only the voice of the shepherd call- it will similarly respond to the holy call.
experience‖ but in some ways is more necessary to our life than food. Just as in res- ing his sheep by name. Think of name,
taurant work, you have to believe in your product to sell, in evangelism work you after name, after name, that this shep-
Gracious, good Shepherd, tender of our
have to show others just how important Jesus is to you. The ―religious experience‖ herd is calling out, knowing a little bit
or ―faith experience‖ has to be real, authentic, and sincere, for it to reach across the about what the names are referring to, souls, leader of our flock, remember us
a little about the personalities of these always by our names, the names which
divide of human souls and touch human lives.
individual sheep. It is somewhat inti- we call ourselves, and the names which
mate, as you can‘t have any kind of you call us. Lead us on by the hand
FCC is a church on the move physically, but we are called by God to be a church
relationship with anyone or anything from here, to our new home, and into
on the move spiritually. Our job is to provide ―faith experiences‖ for all souls who
unless you know what he, she, or it is the Promised Land. Calm our souls
walk through our doors, a faith community that is purposeful and meaningful, and
called.
a life context that helps others get on down the road of living in purposeful and when they worry, and rescue us when
meaningful ways. we‘re astray. Let us lay on you the trou-
What do you do when someone calls
you by name? How do you feel? Do bles we carry; nourish us into a new day.
So, what sort of ―sales‖ job are you prepared to do?
you feel included, startled, scared, joyful, Amen.
burdened, ready? What if your name is
different now than when you were a
kid? Or if has changed for professional
reasons?

A People on the Move-Easter 2011 6 A People on the Move-Easter 2011 11

 Walk together children
Don' you get
weary
Walk together
children
Don't you get
weary
Oh, talk together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great camp meeting in the
"I think joy and sweetness and affection are a spiritual
path. We're here to know God, to love and serve God, promised land.
and to be blown away by the beauty and miracle of na-
ture. You just have to get rid of so much baggage to be -An African-American Spiritual
light enough to dance, to sing, to play. You don't have
time to carry grudges; you don't have time to cling to the
need to be right.
- author Anne Lamott.

A People on the Move-Easter 2011 10 A People on the Move-Easter 2011 7

May 8, 2011 Well I can't tell you where I'm going, I'm not sure of where I've
Luke 9:1-6 downsize, to have a simpler lifestyle and
been
to fit into a smaller space. There are But I know I must keep travelin' till my road comes to an end
hard decisions to be made if you dream
of fitting into an RV. I'm out here on my journey, trying to make the most of it
When Jesus sent his disciples out to ex- I'm a puzzle, I must figure out where all my pieces fit
pand his ministry, he gave his disciples First Christian Church (our church fam-
specific instructions about what to take ily) has been located in its present space
with them. ―Take nothing for your jour- for over 50 years. When Portland Ave- Like a poor wayfaring stranger that they speak about in song
ney, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor nue Christian Church moved to this loca-
money—not even an extra tunic.‖ tion, what did they bring with them? I I'm just a weary pilgrim trying to find what feels like home
would guess that they brought very few
possessions into this new Where that is no one can tell me, am I doomed to ever roam
Packing for a Trip or a Move space from the old Portland
I'm just travelin', travelin', travelin', I'm just travelin' on
except the most important
By Mary Hurlocker thing – the people who had
worshiped God together (the
church family). As we pre- Questions I have many, answers but a few
pare to move to another new space we
What do you pack for a trip? Do you need to downsize the possessions, but But we're here to learn, the spirit burns, to know the greater truth
take a light bag or everything but the take this family of people who are wor- We've all been crucified and they nailed Jesus to the tree
kitchen sink? I learned from packing for shiping God together. We need to take
a twelve day trip to Haiti and Domini- our good news about the Ministry and And when I'm born again, you're gonna see a change in me
can Republic to pack lightly, to make do Mission of Jesus Christ everywhere.
with what you packed, and to share
with others on the trip. Gracious and Compassionate God, God made me for a reason and nothing is in vain
Thank you for the blessings you have
But have you moved lately? I haven‘t bestowed on the family of First Christian Redemption comes in many shapes with many kinds of pain
moved for over 30 years. I fondly re- Church of Minneapolis. Guide us and
instruct us as we move to a new space Oh sweet Jesus if you're listening, keep me ever close to you
member the days when I could put all
my possessions in a car to move or there where as always everyone will be wel- As I'm stumblin', tumblin', wonderin', as I'm travelin' thru
was the time I moved by shipping a box come at your table. Help us to remem-
of my possessions and took the bus with ber that the people are the church; not
one suitcase to my new location. Well, the stuff. We ask these things in the
I'm just travelin', travelin', travelin', I'm just travelin' thru
then, I got married to a man whose Fa- name of your Son and our Savior, Jesus
ther worked for a furniture store and Christ. Amen I'm just travelin', travelin', travelin', I'm just travelin' thru
the possessions not only increased but
got bigger. However, we could still
move in a Ryder truck with one car -Dolly Parton
packed in the truck with the furniture
and other stuff. Now it is time for us to

A People on the Move-Easter 2011 8 A People on the Move-Easter 2011 9