Blog

ASU Passport 2023

August 17, 2023

Students began classes on Thursday, August 17th. Our Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) Associate, Dylan Weeks, along with some of our LCM students, attended ASU Passport this week to welcome back students.

Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) meets every Wednesday in our Campus Center at 5:00 pm for a Bible Study (also through Zoom) followed by a free student meal at 5:30 pm (Grab N Go Option available). We then have contemporary worship at 6:30 pm in our sanctuary. Everyone is welcome!

We also have traditional worship on Sundays at 10: 30 am with a free student meal at 11:30 am in our Campus Center Library.

Human Being

August 16, 2023

It is no secret that we humans often do the exact opposite of what God would have us do. Neither is it unknown we often know what God would have us do, but instead we too frequently do quite the opposite.

Often-times our refusal or inability to do what God calls us to do is our misunderstanding of just who we are called to be and our desire to be something else or someone else even when we do have some understanding of who we are. In so doing, we actually misused and abuse the Christian faith.

It seems we have all, at times, wanted the Christian faith to be something that rescues us from our humanity. That is, we want to be something and someone other than who God created us to be. We want escape from our humanity. We want to be transported into being someone who is always healthy, does the right thing, is admired by most everyone, and is really good at all we do.

That, however, is not in the human job description. No where do I see God or Jesus or even St. Paul or other authors of scripture demanding perfection. Instead I see them as calling us back to our very human roots.

Notice the parables of Jesus. He uses images of a dysfunctional family, a vandal sowing bad seed among good seed, righteous clergy passing by a beaten man on a lonely road, a grateful ordinary peasant woman rejoicing at the discovery of a lost coin, and laborers in a vineyard, among other day to day images. These are not calls to perfection or an escape from our humanity, but taught as an opportunity for the imperfect sinners to learn from them and plunge back into our humanity to find our fix there, not outside of our humanness.

What parables might we create today in our day- to- day experience? The parable of the frustrated office worker whose WiFi went down, perhaps. Or the in over their head driver who bought a new car that is smarter than they are. Maybe the wealthy 1% and the gap between them and the growing number of poor. ..oh we have that one already, the Rich Man and Lazarus.

The point would not be to create heroes, but to bring us back to where we are supposed to be as humans living with and for others. Heroism is not humanity’s call; compassion, community, and love of neighbor in the day to day of ordinary life is the call. Occasionally when answering this call a hero or heroine might be created. These are more accidents or by products than destinations.

When an unknown department store seamstress in Montgomery Alabama refused to go to the back of the bus as local ordinances required, who knew she was to become an historical icon? She certainly had no idea. Others had done as she had, but remain unknown. Rosa was tired. Tired from working hard and tired of such discriminatory ordinances. In her resistance she was simply calling those around her back to their human roots as those created by God.

We are called to be neither Wonder Woman nor Superman. Our Christian faith is to allow us to drop the Wonder and the Super and just be woman and man….human. Amazing things do often happen when we do the ordinary things we are called to do with the gifts we have.

Maui/Hawaii Relief

August 15, 2023

Pastor Gary spoke Monday with the pastor of our church in Kihei, Maui. That church and Kihei are fine. He asked them them what would be our best and most effective way to help. They said, “Lutheran Disaster Relief”.

We have fliers w/ envelopes for that in our sanctuary. You can also give to us online and list it as Disaster Relief, or go directly to Lutheran Disaster Relief www.ELCA.org/disaster/donate . Again, list your gift as Hawaii Relief. Thanks for your generous response. And, of course, please keep them in your prayers now and for many days and months ahead.

This Week at University Lutheran Church 8/13/2023-8/19/2023

August 11, 2023

Sunday, August 13

9:00 am Sunday Worship (Sanctuary or via Live Stream)
10:00 am Free Coffee & Refreshments (Campus Center)

Monday, August 14

Tuesday, August 15

8:00 pm AA (Campus Center)

Wednesday, August 16

Thursday, August 17

ASU Classes Begin
6:00 pm Women’s Bible Study (Zoom)
8:00 pm AA (Campus Center)

Friday, August 18

Saturday, August 19

Prayer and Support for Hawai’i

August 11, 2023

We stand in solidarity with our siblings of the Pacifica Synod as the wildfires scorching Maui affect the lives of many. Please read the message below from Bishop David Nagler and consider donating to their Hawai’i relief fund.

The images on the news are apocalyptic. The fires on Maui and the Big Island of Hawai’i have killed at least 36 people (as I write this), destroyed people’s homes, churches, and schools. The town of Lahaina has been devastated.

I have been in contact with the pastors of our Lutheran congregations on Hawai’i and Maui. So far, both congregational campuses are safe, but there is a fire in the hills above Kihei that could threaten the property if the winds become too strong. Some members have lost their homes.

Many people have been reaching out to ask what they can do. We have had an initial contact from Lutheran Disaster Response assuring us that they stand ready to assist our synod. The need for relief assistance will be tremendous, but as yet we do not know the scope of the damage as this is an ongoing disaster.

So, what can the people of God do when our siblings are suffering? We can pray. I ask you to take time today and every day for the duration of this emergency to ask for God’s compassion to flow to those who are injured or grieving or overwhelmed with loss and fear. Pray that the winds may abate and for people to find their way to safety. Pray for the fire fighters, police, and emergency responders who are going to great lengths to save people and property. Pray for the community to come together with a solid commitment to rebuild and restore what was lost.

We can also give generously. We do not know the scope of the damage or how best to use our donations, but we can begin now to create an emergency relief fund. Once the smoke clears and the people in Maui and Hawai’i can tell us what they need we will send 100% of any funds donated to them. If you are able to make a donation now, please send a check to the Synod Office (1801 Parkcourt Pl. Bldg C, Santa Ana, CA 92701) and write Hawai’i Relief in the memo section. You can also donate by clicking this link Donate Now. Again, any funds that we receive will be sent to organizations and agencies providing direct relief to those affected by the fires.

Psalm 46:1 reads, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” We trust in this promise of scripture knowing that God uses God’s people to be that present help, that refuge and that strength. Let us pray and give and support our loved ones in Hawai’i.

Peace,

Bishop Dave