I BELIEVE

The Confirmation students at Bethel are in the midst of working on Faith Statements. In trying to explain the assignment, I asked them and their mentors to each share one thing they believed at the beginning of class. I shared that I believe that a new box of Crayola crayons is the best way to start the school year. Another student shared that I believe that markers are better than crayons. Because this was their belief, I controlled myself from a serious debate.

After giving them a few examples of what a faith statement could look like, I sent the students off with the mentors to have some conversation over some questions, including things like who are 2 people you think have a strong faith and why? What are four times you have prayed? I wanted to get them talking with their mentors about faith, and also starting to think about faith for themselves.

As we gathered back together, I asked each person around the table to write one thing they believed about God, Jesus, or faith.  As we went around the room and shared what we had all scribbled down on our little purple piece of paper, I realized that we had created our own creed. We each had something we believed and when put together, we were truly a representative of the priesthood of all believers. We do not all believe the same thing, but we all believe something. Here is belief statements put all together.

I believe that God is always watching over you and is always there for you no matter what.

I believe that God or Jesus are always listening.

I believe I will not have faith in God without being faithful to Jesus.

I believe that God always has a reason for doing something.

I believe God can control everything, except for your thoughts.

I believe God does listen to us and our prayers.

I believe God loves everybody.

I believe that God’s love will transform the world.

I believe that God is always with me.

I believe God will protect you.

I believe that God loves me and has my back.

I believe that God believes in us, and therefore we have hope.

I believe that I we are children of God and we are loved.

I believe that God is all powerful and all existing.

I believe God does what is best for everyone.

I believe everyone can connect through God, even if they are not Christian.

TRANSITION OF DEFINING EMBRACE

I was asked what my intentions were with this blog. It started as a project. I spent the Spring Semester working on an independent study. It started with a panic phone call to my advisor. I realized that I got confused while registering for classes. I registered for two classes that fulfilled the same requirement. I needed to find something else.

Nancy asked me what I was thinking. I have a deep curiosity for pluralism, emerging adults and ministry in the city. As our conversation went on she said what about community in the city. I do not remember how I answered, yet I know I had some apprehension of what I would do and read.

More clarification came my way as we begin to realize there is something unique about ministry in the city. Nancy wanted me to play with that.

It all made sense. My favorite thing is community. If I could have anything in the world, it would be community. I believe I first experienced community, well initial Christian community, when I participated in the Summer Theological Academy with Theological Education with Youth. I could talk about that experience and being in community, but I do not believe that I was able to truly articulate with that meant.

As we began to look for texts for this project, Nancy and I made suggests to one another. Through the reading, we begin to see how this would all play out. We knew in some capacity I would research congregations. After attempting to interview one congregation via phone, I knew that I needed a different route. At that point I realized the power of social media in our culture. The unique urban congregations I took interest in all had something in common, a website that articulated their history, ministries and hopes not just for their congregation, but the community that surrounded them.

I believe that social media and the internet held the identity for the congregation, and I would even suspect that many people in the congregations may not even be aware of the identity the congregations presents to the public.

It was through interacting with the internet presence of these congregations that I began to learn what makes community in the city unique. And as I moved forward, I started to transition from using the word community to embrace.

As the semester began to wind down, I knew that I needed to begin to present my findings. As I begin to write up formal papers to send to Nancy, I realized that this did not shape the project. I thought how can my final product look different, mainly because I was excited about how technology has changed ministry. Therefore, this little space came alive.

If you go back to the archives, you will find posts that look to my reactions to some unique congregations in the city, as well as being in dialogue with texts and people about what embrace/community. It was fun, because I am finally being able to articulate something that is my passion.

So, now I am left wondering, do I continue on this journey. And I suppose I will. I don’t think I will stop defining embrace. Because after that semester, I am left to define embrace for myself. I can see and read about it, but what does it mean to experience it.

As we move on, I transition to share my unique experiences with embrace while living in the Twin Cities, finishing a graduate degree or two or three, and serving three congregations and communities in South Minneapolis doing children, youth and family ministry.

I know that embrace is unique, and I’m ready to find a definition of it for myself.

THE CITIES ARE ALIVE IN THE SUMMER

I spent the summer doing a lot of wandering. There is something unique about the city in the winter, especially Minneapolis and St. Paul. People are around, yet it is different. Once the doors of summer were open, I experienced a new city. As I drive through South Minneapolis to get to work, I see a diverse group of people on the streets.

There are people carrying bags of recently purchased groceries, while others are waiting for the bus, and unlike winter, they are not huddled under the bus shelter looking for warmth. There are women and men that are on a casual stroll, but to counter balance their activity, there are men in suits walking with a stride that can only be explained as I have people to see and things to do. And more than anything else, I see children. Everywhere there are children. They represent a magnitude of races and cultures. Some are running down the street on their own, while others are being pushed and pulled by a parent or guardian.

But one thing is clear, the Cities are alive in the summer.