Abundant Grace

Last year on Ash Wednesday, I ran out of gas searching for an ELCA church to attend. I was very disappointed that I missed that service.

This year, I actually found the church on time, attended the service, and went back for another lenten service last night. They have a female pastor, which is a welcomed change, and I have talked at length with her through e-mail and in person. She was quick to send me a personal e-mail shortly after my first visit. When my grandmother died, the Sunday after Ash Wednesday, she included my family in the prayers at the church, even without my asking.

They seem to be a very liberal church for the most part, and traditional, but not too traditional. I talked with Pastor Jan about my research project, in which I will be conducting a survey of the political orientations of members of Protestant congregations in Johnson County. She thought it was a great idea, and very interesting. We talked about the kind of survey it would be, and about ways to approach the churches for permission to survey their volunteering members.

After last night’s service there was a study session. They have been going through the Lord’s Prayer in sections, attempting to get at what each part means to us. Last night’s focus was "Give us this day our daily bread". We talked about what is meant by "us" and what is meant by "daily" and "bread".  Also, if Jesus were here and teaching us how to pray now, would his words be different than those he gave then. We talked about how abundant our resources are in this country, how rich we are. And, how we generally don’t have to live hand to mouth. We store up goods, we keep our refrigerators, freezers and cabinets stocked, so that we don’t go hungry. We save up in bank accounts and investments, trying to develop wealth without worry. But, it may all be in vain. We store up these things for ourselves when others have nothing. We eat plenty, while others have empty bellies. We find reasons not to give- "they are living off our tax money, they would just buy drugs if I gave them money, etc." We’ve all thought those things. But we may not be here tomorrow. And all of the things that we have stored up are kept away from those who needed it. In the kingdom of heaven, we are told that everything is upside down. The rich are the poor, the poor are the rich, the meak shall inherit the earth. I think the section of the prayer means, "Give us this day what we need to get by, and help us to put our greed aside to help others, for the Lord will provide for those who give freely of themselves." If the U.S. would have put as much effort and funding toward ending world hunger as they have in fighting for oil, millions of lives could have been saved. If we, in our communities, would think about those less fortunate in our communities when we feast on fetichini alfredo and steak, and take just a fraction of what we would spend, giving it to a homeless shelter or Gleaners food pantry or something, it would make a huge impact. But, I, like so many others, have been too greedy to do so. I justify myself by saying, "I’m just a poor college student. Others, who have more, should give." But lent is the time in which we should be most reflective about our greed and consumption and deny ourselves those things that are not needed, and instead, give of our wealth to those who have none.

I think I will attend this Sunday since I cannot go home for the weekend. I need to find some gas money somewhere, but I’ll come up with it, I’m sure. They are having a pitch-in dinner afterwards, which should be nice. And Pastor Jan said that if I couldn’t pitch in, there should be plenty of food anyway. 🙂

If anyone would like to go with me, you are more than welcome.