Johannine Creed

For John, I have taken a bit of a different approach. Following are two scanned images of what I turned in. First, is the creed itself, in the form of a flow chart, with illustrations. Second, is a reduced copy of the flow chart, with explainations of the illustrations. Enjoy! (And remember that you can click on the images to see a larger view.)

essay + hat = essat

How to Write an Essay in the Style of Knitting a Hat

With smaller needles, CO 100 stitches
This is your thesis. You are establishing size and scope of your essat. If your essat will use multiple colors, you CO with your main color. Use a provisional CO so that you can come back and add a fancy border to your thesis if desired.

Join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.
This is where your essat truly begins. Your CO is all well and good, but it needs to relate to itself. Be careful not to twist, or you’ll end up with a useless essat, and when it comes time to decrease for the top, you’ll be in a world of hurt.

Set-Up Rows
Here you are getting ready. In the essat, this is commonly referred to as the “introduction” or "brim" or "hem." You are not to add anything to the thesis during this time. That would make your essat pucker at the beginning. You are to ensure that all aspects of the thesis are mentioned. Dropping stitches also troubles your essat.

Body: Switch to larger needles.
You are now working on the main part of your essat. Ideally, your essat will have three sections, as alluded to in your CO and set-up. In this case, and especially if your sections are based on changing colors or viewpoints, make sure your transitions between sections are smooth, and no puckering occurs when a new color or pattern section begins. You want a smooth line between all sections of the essat. Make sure to use all your stitches, although occasionally, for the sake of the pattern, it may be useful to slip a stitch until the next round.

Crown shaping:
This is where it all comes together. Ensuring that you are still maintaining the pattern set forth in the set-up rows, begin to bring your main points together. Ensure that, in decreasing, you are still paying mind to your thesis, and do not decrease unevenly around the essat.

Break yarn and draw through remaining stitches. Pull tight.
These are your final few sentences. What are you going to say that will tie it all together, so the whole piece doesn’t unravel, yet is still made from the material of the essat?

Weave in ends. 
Go over your essat, checking for any loose threads or pulled stitches. If you used a provisional cast on, go back and put a tidy edging on. Tuck everything in, make it neat and tidy.

Preparing for Preparation

Ever notice that you're never ready for Advent? You get your wreath out, you change your paraments (if you have paraments, or a blog that dresses according to the season), you begin to think of shopping and holiday travel, relatives and when you'll get the tree.

But these pre-Advent thoughts differ from the thoughts that happen during Advent. During Advent you think about the look on their faces as they open the perfect gift. You wonder if there'll be snow, and hope there won't be ice. If you're a student, you calculate how many pages you have left to write before Christmas. If you're a parent, you calculate how many times you'll hear questions about Santa, how many times they'll request to hear the same Christmas song again, how soon is too soon to put fresh sheet on your student's bed before they come home.

Today starts Advent, and, as usual, it hits with surprise. Even though we prepare for it, we are never really prepared for it. You show up for church in the morning and Boom! everything's blue (Lutherans use blue for Advent), the readings are from a different Gospel (each of the liturgical years follow a different Gospel: the year we just began is Luke), and suddenly we're singing Christmas songs and "People, Look East," and where did the time go? Now all those Advent questions have to be thought on. When will you get a tree and where will you put it? Who's coming over and when and what will they eat? And it's not just Christmas to prepare for, but winter. (Unless you're somewhere *cough*Iowa*cough* that already is wintered.) Do you have salt or sand in all the cars? What about emergency hats and gloves and such? If you get snowed in, do you have enough yarn?

Advent is my favorite season because it is the season that most reflects our lives. (Us being Christians.) We live in expectation that Christ will come again. In Advent we celebrate that expectation by remembering and celebrating the fulfillment of hope that was the first Christmas, and we look forward even more fervently to Christ's return. That's why so often in the lectionary the Advent readings are preparation-heavy. We "look east" and talk about John the Baptist advising us to prepare the way.

This Advent is a new adventure for me because I'm in a new preparation phase of life. We are all so often preparing for things. We spend the first 18 years of our lives "preparing" by going to school, learning social customs, language, and behavior. And we continue: we prepare for new family members, we prepare for the next holiday, we get dressed in the morning (prepare for the day), we prepare for the next big meeting, the next paper, the next performance, the next product update, the next big thing.

This is my first Advent while officially preparing for my career, and, as it's a career related to Advent, it's interesting to think about the connections between Advent and seminary.

But Advent's just starting, so they're young reflections and connections. Because the joy of Advent is that it isn't just four-ish weeks of preparation for Christmas, it's four-ish weeks of reminding us to prepare, daily, not just for who we want to be, but who we already are as children of God.

Luke/Acts Creed

Here is the creed for Luke/Acts. In case of screen resolution/width issues, I have put it in first as the form I composed it in (it ought to look like an angel), and second in typical format. It is again an acrostic.

God:                                                             God:
Glory                                                         Glory
Oh Lord                                                     Oh Lord
Obedient                                                   Obedient
Disciples                     we are                   believers
Do hear us               as we pray to you            do hear us
Receive our                                        prayers and
Restore in us                                    life to serve
Even as we are            reminded           to love you as
Each other and          as ourselves      we are commanded
Celestial beings         bring word       message from God
Cherubs and angels       glorify       God bringing hope.
Evil is fought and      overcome      by interpretation
Evil is the pain of    a society   which binds members
“In him is gladness, all bonds he breakest” and so now
In response to his calling, we now break away bonds
Vocation: we are called to worship, to prayer
Vocation: we are called into all the world
Entering the world we are sent out
Entering the world we go out
Spirit-led and guided we
Serve our neighbor with love
Giving ourselves and our lives to
God who we glorify and praise each day
Life and love and peace and hope we find
Look, he teaches us and now we must proclaim
Oh Lord, we pray to you to guide our voice and
Oh Lord, send us your Spirit that your message will
Resound throughout the earth as we interpret and teach that
Reality is divine action in the world though not all may see. We say:
Yes, to God we give praise, we pray, we sing, we dance, we pray, we proclaim
Yes, he meets us on the road, he breaks the bread, he opens our eyes, he lives!

GOD RECEIVES GLORY

God:
Glory.
Oh Lord
Obedient
Disciples we are believers
Do hear us as we pray to you do hear us

Receive our prayers and
Restore in us life to serve
Even as we are reminded to love you as
Each other and as ourselves: we are commanded
Celestial beings bring word: message from God
Cherubs and angels glorify God bringing hope.
Evil is fought and overcome by interpretation
Evil is the pain of a society which binds members
“In him is gladness, all bonds he breakest”# and so now
In response to his calling, we now break away bonds
Vocation: we are called to worship, to prayer
Vocation: we are called into all the world
Entering the world we are sent out
Entering the world we go out
Spirit-led and guided we
Serve our neighbor with love

Giving ourselves and our lives to
God who we glorify and praise each day
Life and love and peace and hope we find
Look, he teaches us and now we must proclaim
Oh Lord, we pray to you to guide our voice and
Oh Lord, send us your Spirit that your message will
Resound throughout the earth as we interpret and teach that
Reality is divine action in the world though not all may see. We say:
Yes, to God we give praise, we pray, we sing, we dance, we pray, we proclaim
Yes, he meets us on the road, he breaks the bread, he opens our eyes, he lives!

Matthew

This is part 2 in the creed series: Matthew. Where as the Markan Creed was written to be read aloud, in a rushing, rhythmic pattern, Matthew is of a more relaxed pace.

Gathered here, we are
Gathered for one purpose:
Goodness, and 
Guidance
Oh Lord who has called us,
Our deepest questions answered;
Oh Lord who has challenged us,
Our deepest beliefs realigned;
Do not leave us,
Disciples we have been
Don’t stop guiding us now that we are
Disciples no more, but apostles.

Under new authority: to
Us has been given the authority
Using us for God’s will
Us, who Jesus taught
No longer learners
Now we have been taught
Now we are sent out
Now we lead
Into the world: 
I am we and we are light.
Individuals joining to be groups:
I am we and we are salt
To serve or not to serve
To obey or not to obey
The choice belongs 
To all and all must choose
Every person has the choice
Every being has the ability
Each choice we make turns toward or away.
Even now we are called to be
Salt, we are
Salt, required for life;
Salt, we are called to be
Salt.

Professing repentance,
Proclaiming the only Father, God
Prophets and law guiding,
Praying even for our enemies.
Enemies and even evil which is temptation
Evil turns away from God’s will
Evil, the Evil, can be held back
Each must turn to the
One who is the Son of God,
Only He is our teacher,
Only He rose from the dead
Only He did we meet in Galilee.
Prescribed for us on the Mount, we
Pray as we have been taught, we
Pray as even He did that Night for God’s will, we
Pray for relationship, to be ourselves
Light, we are
Light required for life;
Light, we are called to be
Light.
Each of us is called
Each of us: to be leaders now
Each of us is called
Each of us: to do God’s will 

A silly little ghost story

Once, up on a thyme, there were three young fireflies. It is not well known, but true nonetheless, that young fireflies like sitting on thyme because it's good for hiding. For this story takes place not only in thyme, but on All Hallows Eve, a dangerous time for all young creatures.
Now this particular thyme was special, for it was an ancient plant, and had traveled long distances to reach its current situation near the fireflies’ home. In the outdoor section of the Ancient Museum there is a new exhibit being prepared for display. It is the exhibit of Ancient Plants, featuring those plants that were of various importances to the lives explained inside the museum. And this particular plant, housing our firefly friends, had come all the way from the Mediterranean. Being fireflies, though, they did not know of Mediterranean, or Museum, only of the odd changes in the wind that had led them to seek shelter.
“Is it done?” asked the first of the three, Luce, of Svet, who stood look-out.
“I’m not sure,” came the reply, for Svet was not looking-out as much as standing nearest the open sky with closed eyes.
“Wonder, wonder,” muttered Phos, “I feel so brave, so brave!” His voice grew as he inhaled the thyme, growing indeed in courage.
“HUSH,” whispered the other two, as loudly as they could, for a shadow fell at that moment over their hiding spot.
Indeed, they looked up, and through the cover of thyme they saw a horrid shape, wrapped in cloth, moving as if it couldn’t remember how. The three fireflies, though frightened, found courage in the thyme’s scent, and moved forward to watch the creature, whose scent had so frightened them originally. 
It was moving about the plants in the exhibition, slowly, slowly. As it moved about, it called the plants by name, and whispered, “Myrrh, no… no…Seker, guide me. Cotton, no… no…Athor, give me strength…” Indeed, every few steps it stumbled, and then renewed its search ever more intently.
At last it came upon the thyme plant, with our friends still inside. So entranced were they that they could not move, even as the strange voice uttered triumphantly, “THYME! My destruction! My preservation!” And with that, the creature leaned toward the plant and began harvesting, leaf by leaf, so carefully and cautiously that the fireflies, retreating toward the center, were shocked by the gentleness. At last, when nearly all the leaves were gone, and our friends were hiding only by digging into the soil below, the creature stopped.
“Why…” started Phos, before he could be quieted. 
But the creature paid no mind, and started only to ramble away. Svet flew forward, looking after the creature, while Luce and Phos looked around.
“No leaves. Where are the leaves?” Luce started to panic, “did he eat them?” For indeed, no remnants of the plant were left around.
“He wore them,” said Svet, softly. “Tucked them in and walked away.” For that is what had happened, and as Svet watched the creature tumble away, he could see the green poking out from beneath his bandages.

They flew straight home after that, no longer in the mood for All Hallows Eve tricks or treats. They were to spend the night together at Luce’s house, which suited them, for none wanted to fly home alone. Luce’s mother, Lux, noted their anxiety in their quickly flitting wings, and tucked a special herb under their pillows as they prepared for bed, to ward away bad dreams, and could not understand why they would not enter the room.

Thyme was used by many cultures for many different purposes. The ancient Greeks burned it as incense, believing it would provide courage. The ancient Egyptians used it in the embalming process. The ancient Romans used it under the pillow, to ward away bad dreams. Seker is the Egyptian god of light and guides souls to the underworld, while Athor is Ra’s daughter and the goddess of light.

Mark

So we have an assignment in my New Testament class involving each of the four Gospels. We are studying each one in turn, and as we finish each, we are to write a creed from the point of view of the specific Gospel writer. So, we just finished Mark, and I wrote a Markan Creed. 

Go now,
     Go and follow,
          Go preach what has been heard:
Out with the old
     Out with dusty prayers
          Out with rigid divisive laws
Demand change
     Desire the kingdom
          Demons, sickness, and death can no longer stand

By meeting Jesus
     By seeing him even crucified
          By acting, seeing, following, there is
Resurrection!
     Redemption!
          Rejoice!
Expect now apocalypse 
     Expect now newness
          Expect now salvation
Abandon your old life
     And move forward
          And preach repentance
Knead dough worthy
     Knead dough not of Herod or Pharisee
           Knead dough of Christ
Sown now are the seeds, though
     Seeds fall on different soils, and
           Soils determine the harvest.

Tell others
     Teach what he taught
          Tell all the world what he has done:
He spoke in parables
     He healed, he taught, he gave,
          He goes ahead to Galilee
Run to
     Run towards
           Run forward
Onward, followers
     Onward believers,
           Onward seekers!
Unbelief, if ye have it, cast aside!
     Unbelief will be your downfall
            Unbelief keeps you from healing
Go ahead 
     Go forward
           Galilee brings the promise:
Hope given for change;
     He waits ahead for us
           He promises the reign of God.

Good Friday

Ever notice the importance of the elements of nature in the Christian narrative?
We've got trees, water, wheat, grapes, gardens all over the place... 

Our narrative starts with a garden, and a tree that humanity uses to cause all sorts of problems.

And then, at the end, our narrative ends with a garden, and a prayer, and a tree that God uses to solve all sorts of problems.

Really vs Actually

At church today, the first reading was the Exodus Passover story. And I got caught up wondering about religion and "actually."

Did Noah actually sail the ark?
Did Moses actually glow so much he had to wear a veil?
Did the Nile actually turn to blood?

And then I realized that it doesn't matter. Because to those who believe, the answer is yes:

Noah really did sail the ark.
Moses really did glow.
And the Nile really did turn to blood.

I know we talked about this in one of my classes this year, so it's something that's been talked about before, but I'm talking about it now. Because it's hitting me now.

In the hearts of believers, all the facts of faith really happened. Actually goes out the window. If it actually happened... who cares? Who cares if I actually brushed my hair or if I combed it or if I just woke up with perfect hair? Who cares if Bob actually mailed the package? If Bob gave it to Jim and Jim mailed it, then the package was really mailed by Bob. 

I'm not making my point.

Actually is fact, is 100% provable proof that X happened just as X describes.

Really is truth. 100% or not, Really is real. 

Does a three-year-old care that his stuffed crocodile doesn't have a pulse? Croodee is still Real. He's not an actual crocodile. But he's real. Actual doesn't matter. Real does. 
And if Leo the cocker spaniel puppy isn't actually a lion... he can still really be one.

Take that, Jesus Seminar.

Holy Week

Well, it's Palm Sunday. How's your lent been?

As we enter Holy Week, I want to take a moment to reflect on a few things.

Holy Week is sort of an eclectic time for the Church. We celebrate, we dine, we mourn, we don't know what to do with ourselves, and then we celebrate again. This year, which Holy Day resonates with you?

Are you a Palm Sunday person: Do you cheer the triumphant Jesus, entering the city on a stranger's colt, even though he has warned you that he's going to die here? Do you follow the Spirit's advice, even when unsure of the results?
What do we do with this day of celebration, when we know the trials to come?

Or maybe you're a Maundy Thursday person: The meal, the community, the doubting of those you have travelled with. The fear that you are the one accused. The knowledge that you are the one accused.
What do we do with the meal, when we've been accused?

Or Good Friday: Do you deny? Do you follow the crowd along the way, on the fringe, afraid to really join for what others will say, but you can't pull yourself away? Have you done that along the Way? Do you stand at the foot of the cross, watching, waiting? And what do you do in the evening, when all is said and done, but morning, mourning, has yet to strike?
What do we do with a day called "Good" where we only blame ourselves?

And what about Holy Saturday: Do you live in the in-between? Are you resting before the celebration, or are you collapsed after the suffering? 
What do we do with the day Before?

Preparing for Lent

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and I want to take a moment to reflect on what that means, for me, but also for us as [what I see as] the Church in general.

Tomorrow we enter the desert with Jesus, on a forty-day pilgrimage toward the resurrection. We enter the desert to fast, to be tempted, to purify ourselves, to prepare.

What are you going to enter the desert with?

Today, I'm preparing to fast tomorrow. I had a good breakfast and have plans for good, healthy lunch and dinner. Partly this prepares me because it means if I eat three meals in the caf tomorrow I won't have enough meals for the rest of the week. Partly, this prepares me in that it nourishes me for the fasting tomorrow. I'm filling my canteen for the journey.

I'm also spending a good deal of today in physical preparation, outside my body. I'm cleaning and organizing my room, reorganizing my music lockers, and doing laundry. I'm finishing up paperwork and organizing and simplifying my to-do list. I'm simplifying my backpack for the journey.

Tomorrow we don our ashes and begin our trip. What will we take with us into the desert? What is our desert?

People often give something up for lent. They give up sweets, recreational computer use, watching television. Or they add something of importance to their lives: free reading time, daily devotionals, lima beans. My lenten journey this year is going to be somewhat different, and I hope to come out the other side carrying with me what I have learned. I have a list of twenty-some small tasks. For the most part, these are little things ("wake up early enough to wash my face every morning"), little things that I want to add (or remove) to my lifestyle. Some are daily ("practice!"), some are weekly ("laundry"), some are general, some are specific, but I've divided up the list into small components, and will add one every other day-ish. A big task, perhaps, but I'm about to enter the Real World, and I want to enter it to the fullest of my potential.

What is your desert going to be? What are you going to enter it with? I know couples or groups of friends that are going to enter lent together. Together they are going to do daily devotionals, give up sweets, whatever.

Isn't that what we, as Church, do anyway? We enter lent together. We no longer don ashes in the privacy of our homes and wear them into public. We recieve ashes in the public of the sanctuary and walk home with them. We don our shame, our sin, opur humanity, together as one people and take our shame into the world beyond.

Whatever you take with you into the desert, remember that you do not take it alone. For Christ is in the desert already, waiting for us.


Also, remember to close your eyes when you're being ash-ed. Keeps it from getting in your eyes.