Our siblings in Christ of the United Methodist Church (UMC) are in the midst of their General Conference until May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Obviously, I’m not exactly up on my Methodist church structure operation or general hierarchy, but this would somewhat be our Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) equivalent of the Churchwide Assembly, with voting membership gathering from our 65 geographical synods at one massive convention center to decide on church structure or overarching ministry matters. However, one difference would be that this General Conference is a global enterprise with church representatives from Africa and Europe, for starters. Yes, it can be rather moving to see the Charlotte Convention Center filled with Christ-worshipers and Wesley-adorers from so many countries throughout the world, but it can also…complicate things.
As today (April 17) marks the celebration for our friends to the north with their Canada/Constitution Act, making it a fully sovereign state, it reminds me of what was part of our routine with the twin diaper dandies during their final feed (before they finally got settled into their crib-quarters, at least). We would turn on YouTube and pull up a list of videos under the channel called, “Scenic Relaxation.” Its description is as follows:
The goal at Scenic Relaxation is to provide relaxing 4K visuals of the world’s most stunning places. From the mountains of the Dolomites, to the green landscapes of the Isle of Skye, Scenic relaxation will put you in a calming mood. Sit back and enjoy the scenery of our beautiful world :)
Evidently, it was on April 10, 1872, when Arbor Day was first celebrated in Nebraska of all places. From the Arbor Day Foundation:
As pioneers began moving into the Nebraska Territory, the lack of trees was felt deeply. Not only did the new residents miss the trees they left behind, they were also left without the trees they needed as windbreaks to keep soil in place, for fuel and building materials, and for shade from the hot sun.
Nebraska newspaper editor — and resident of Nebraska City, NE — J. Sterling Morton had an enthusiasm for trees and advocated strongly for individuals and civic groups to plant them. Once he became secretary of the Nebraska Territory, he further spread his message of the value of trees. And on January 4, 1872, Morton first proposed a tree planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day” at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture.
Part of the Easter standard operating procedure is people in higher up positions putting forth their official statements of blessings or greetings. We posted such proclamations on our Facebook page from our Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Elizabeth Eaton, and the Bishop of the Northeastern Ohio Synod, Laura Barbins. Those were obviously geared to ELCA congregation members, as well they should, in such communications. But I also noticed something different in an email I received from my college alma-mater in Wittenberg University. The campus pastor, The Rev. Tracy Paschke-Johannes, wrote, “Blessings of Spiritual Growth and Peace.”
This past Tuesday of Holy Week, our Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) invited rostered leaders to come together and renew their ordination vows. Many of the 65 synods throughout our wider church do the same: providing clergy and deacons and other leaders a space and time to feel a bit of spiritual nourishment amidst what can often be the most chaotic time of the year. For some reason, many show up in spite of all that still has to be done for a Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday, and whatever else in between. For some reason, many insist on that sacred space and time to not have to worry about worship-planning and the seemingly endless to-do list, and just sit in the assembly space and take all that Holy Spirit in.
