Category Archives: Uncategorized

June 4, 2019 · 6:32 pm

Celebrate. Remember. Thank.

Image by ktphotography from Pixabay

I’ve been involved with a lot of celebrations of late: family graduations from junior high, high school and college; a niece, nephew and godchild experiencing first communion or confirmation; retirement and award ceremonies; promotions and other work transitions of friends and associates; as well as planning for the ubiquitous June wedding. I even have my own anniversary coming up! There’s a lot going on, much of it good.

Recalling such times of blessing can help anchor us for the slow or even bad times which most certainly will come in a fallen world. Therefore, God told the Israelites over and over again using varied words, “Remember…Remember what I have done for you…Remember that I love you…Remember that I have chosen you to be part of my story and ultimate victory.” When things are seemingly at their worst, one can consider the love of God active in the past and find encouragement. That same God is also God of our present. God won’t let us go and will love and care for us always. That’s God’s promise.

Yes, God is always doing something new, but God’s love for us remains steadfast. It never changes. Nothing can separate us from such love. It is always at work for our welfare – seen, felt or not. The God who blessed us in the past, blesses us now in ways that will prove to sustain and lead us through the bad times toward a future filled with hope. God loves us so much that even our bad times will eventually be understood as somehow leading us toward our ultimate good and proof of that love.

As we race through our filled spring and summer calendars, let’s try to intentionally take stock of the good that surrounds us – both big and small things. Counting these blessings may be just what helps most when we face any difficult times ahead. Praise God, for it “is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes” (Deuteronomy 10:21).

Originally published in the June 2019 newsletter of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.

© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.

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May 8, 2019 · 2:45 pm

Rejoice & Sing

The Hub, May 8, 2019

The season of Easter is the high point of the Christian church year, lasting not just one day but a fabulous fifty! As the ELCA notes, “The season is an extended feast wherein the paschal candle is lit at every service as a sign of the risen Christ.” Along with the spring flowers and other festive colors, we will hear and sing many musical pieces. Where would we be without beautiful sounds to go along with the sights of Easter? 

Christ Lutheran’s Palm Sunday Cantata, 2019

“This is the Feast,” “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” and so many other canticles and hymns bring back memories of the past and joy in our present. Yet, the music doesn’t just help set a mood for our worship. Martin Luther believed it had a holy purpose saying, “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to [us] that [we] should proclaim the Word of God through Music.”

Throughout Lent, our choirs and bell choirs of all ages worked diligently under the leadership of Tim Wilson, our Music Director, and Susan Morin, our Organist, to prepare a joyful noise with a meaningful paschal message. From the Palm Sunday Cantata, Holy Week, and Easter through Pentecost, our worship experience is enriched by our dynamic music ministry.

Thanks to one and all who help our congregation rejoice and sing. You make a loving difference as your music stirs our hearts while engaging our minds and spirits as well.

Originally published in The Hub, a weekly email of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.

© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.

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April 30, 2019 · 3:59 pm

A Paschal People

Christ Lutheran’s font ready for an Easter baptism (2019).

As I write this, we have just entered the Church’s most special time of celebration. (Yes, even more special than Christmas.) We are celebrating the Three Days (also called the Triduum). During this time, we remember Jesus giving us a new command to love one another, but also to share in the Lord’s love for us, Holy Communion. “Do this in remembrance of me.” We then recall Christ’s suffering for our sake. On Good Friday, Jesus gave his life so that we might live with him forever. Christians argue about the mechanics of this mystery, but somehow, someway through the love of God, those who trust in Jesus will share in eternal, abundant life. And finally, we celebrate Easter (traditionally called Pascha) with shouts, “Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed!” We welcome the day and one another in celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

But is that really, finally it? No! The Church celebrates the gifts of Easter for fifty days. During the Season of Easter, we will hear tales of the early Church and promises of Christ coming again. The Easter cycle concludes with Pentecost, the day we remember the Holy Spirit descending upon the first people who will become “Church.” Empowered by that same Spirit through our faith and baptism, we share in all the gifts of being Church together with them and all those saints who will come after us.

And even then, it isn’t over. Each Sunday is meant to be a little Easter. We welcome new members to Christ’s family through baptism. We regularly recall and share in the Lord’s Supper. We remember the sacred stories of God’s love for us and especially the Risen Christ. We are a Paschal People called to gather so that we can be sent out to point others to the love of God; the love made most clear through Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection for our sake.

In our life together, Jesus proclaims we are to be his body. People will see Jesus through our shared fellowship, worship and service as we love one another. And as with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we might just catch a glimpse of the Risen Christ on our way. The promises of scripture might even begin to burn just a bit more warmly within us, perhaps with greater clarity and certainty, as we walk this road together.

Dear Church, I pray we experience a blessed Easter, a life with Christ which lasts forever in joy.

“Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 117)

Originally published in the May 2019 newsletter of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations for this article are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation.

© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.

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April 18, 2019 · 8:31 pm

Among the Ashes

The Hub, April 17, 2019

Image (c) Mirror.com.uk find their original article here.

Perhaps like many of you, I watched the burning of Notre Dame with great sadness. Whether we have been there or not, it remains an enduring part of our shared cultural heritage. Yet, we also should ponder signs of hope among the ashes: in the bravery of the firefighters striving successfully to preserve the main structure; in the crowds gathered kneeling, praying and singing together; and among the ruins, finding a cross preserved and shining forth from the ashes.

Although we do not know the cause of the fire yet, people are already coming forward to fund the rebuilding of this cathedral. The heart of the building, its faith community (and their connection to the communion of saints reaching far beyond Paris), lives on. This all reminds me of a sacred promise, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5).

This is a statement of what was, what is and what yet shall be through the power of the ancient events of Holy Week and the first Easter. It’s a power alive and at work in our community and in all who believe. Our world needs signs of Christ’s light amidst so much ash and decay. Through our fellowship, service and worship, God is doing something new. Jesus, who shared our sorrows, will share his risen joy.

Please be with us, in prayer and in person as you are able, this Holy Week and beyond. For our decaying world needs to find such signs of hope. People need to see that Christ is truly risen and alive in us, and its likely we need to be encouraged in our faith, hope and love as well. For dust we are, and unto dust we shall return, but we remain in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Christ Lutheran’s (Fredericksburg, VA) worship schedule for the Triddum can be found at:
http://www.christ-lutheran-church.org/

Originally published in The Hub, a weekly email of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.

© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.

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April 9, 2019 · 4:36 pm

Hidden Behind the Palms: The Roots of Palm Sunday

The Hub, April 10, 2019


Photo by Valentin Salja on Unsplash

Palm Sunday, the start of our Holy Week experience, is upon us. Most of us should recall the story, but do you know the ancient roots hidden behind behind the palms?

For many centuries, the palm had served as a symbol of victory in the Near East and Greco-Roman world. This especially became so for the Jewish people as they remembered their liberation from Egypt by God’s power.

Recalling the Exodus at Passover and during Sukkot (the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles each fall), palms helped the people of Israel remember their wondering ancestors who often had to build hasty tents as their dwelling place and eat quick meals. Even the Ark of the Covenant, holding the tablets given to Moses and serving as the “mercy seat” of the Lord, was housed in such a tent (also called a booth or tabernacle).

For the people of Israel, the palm became a symbol of freedom and nationalism. They were a people set apart by God, and in Jesus’ day, they fully anticipated their eventual liberation from the occupying army of the Roman Empire. Could Jesus be the one to accomplish it?

As Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time, he was celebrated as a prophet known for authentic teaching and miraculous works. He came into Jerusalem on a donkey much as Solomon did to be coronated. It was also as Zechariah foretold, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

And so, Jesus was met with waving palms and shouts of hosanna, a term of adulation and praise, but it also at its root means, “Save us!” This is as in Psalm 118, “Save us, we beseech you, O Lord.” Jesus would prove a savior, but what kind?

This Holy Week, I invite us all to contemplate and encounter once again his sacred story. Join us as we consider what Jesus’ entry into our lives truly means.

Originally published in The Hub, a weekly email of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.

© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.

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April 3, 2019 · 2:41 pm

Radiating Love

The Hub, April 3, 2019

Volunteers of our Feed the Children Program radiate love, smiles and blessing through our weekly student food assistance program.

As noted in the very name of [Christ Lutheran’s The Hub] weekly email, Christ Lutheran was meant to serve from the center of our community but have a far reach. Just this week, I went into the interior of our building to find four faithful people filling plastic bags with food. Weekly, volunteer teams of our congregation including youth gather to feed hungry students in our region through our Feed the Children Program. Food is collected earlier and then lovingly packed into 150 sacks, each sack representing a heart like our own with a future filled with hope. Thanks to these simple efforts, one less child will go hungry over a weekend away from school meals and other resources. You might have heard that according to government statistics, one in seven Virginia children live in families that struggle with food insecurity. That means those families don’t regularly have enough food to eat. (This is a bit better than the one in six national statistic, but it still seems dreadful.) Many hands make light work, and so I was invited to help. The task is quick and easy, and it proves a great time to share our own stories and smiles. Within a very short time, the bags were packed and readied for delivery to the local school system. From that little room in the depths of our building where only a handful of believers gathered, I found Christ reaching out into the community. It wasn’t just food but love, smiles and blessing radiating to people and places far beyond our walls.

Originally published in The Hub, a weekly email of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.

© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.

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March 27, 2019 · 6:05 pm

Faith & Fun

The Hub, March 27, 2019

Recently, members of our youth group took on the challenge of a local escape room. Inspired by the reported haunting of Chatham Manor, participants had forty-five minutes to find clues and solve the puzzle of why Lady Chatham had returned from the dead. It sounds perhaps frightening, but this family friendly event was not a horror story. There were plenty of aha moments and laughter instead.

This was an opportunity for team work and friendship. Although we did not successfully navigate all the challenges, our youth from varied schools (some not knowing each other well) discovered the gift of deepening friendship as they worked together with common purpose. As with any family, our Christian family grows stronger with shared experience overcoming trials and perhaps even having fun along the way.

Too often, people assume spiritual exercises need to be arduous. Yet remember, Jesus took time to relax with his disciples. He would go away from the crowds and rest. Growing scholarship also lifts up the humor of Jesus, often nuanced or culturally based, but it is there. It appears people enjoyed being with Jesus, and socializing would have been part of his team-building plan with his all too human disciples.

As children of God at any age, it is good that we pray and serve together, but time for play and laughter is important too. We need to share in all aspects of life, and this includes Gospel joy and human friendship. Whether its group outings or shared hobbies, Jesus is there when we gather in his name as his children. We can meet Jesus anew amidst play and laughter. 

Some of the CLC youth who braved the escape room.

Originally published in The Hub, a weekly email of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.

© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.

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March 24, 2019 · 5:55 pm

Jolt of Beauty

As I came to work, it was a dreary, cold, gray day. As I left to go home, the sun was out, birds were singing, and a large, pink flowering tree had suddenly exploded in vibrant color across from Christ Lutheran’s parking lot. This immediately captured all my attention. What had happened? It all seemed like Disney magic in its colorful perfection. Spring had finally arrived! (At least, nature said so.) What was once old and tired had become a new and exciting day.

Now, I realize that this wasn’t magic – the Disney kind or otherwise – but it was a kind of miracle. Throughout the winter months, the trees have been dormant. Their metabolisms, energy consumption, and growth all slowed, but they continued on. Life was waiting to burst forth anew.

As humans, we might experience similar dormant periods in our spiritual lives. Joy seems far away. Love might feel a bit colder. We can grow tired or our struggles; all the storms of life. Yet, God’s still at work. Through our faith and baptism, the Risen Christ is with us and the Spirit active. Life is waiting to burst forth in us. We only need to wait in trust, and much like springtime, abundant life surprises us when the time is right. We can never force it.

Ultimately, new life in Christ isn’t about our feelings. And certainly, winters of all sorts can fall over our lives at any time. Nevertheless, the fire of Christ always burns with love for us. He’s present within our hearts even when we forget him or our attention wanders elsewhere. Jesus always loves us, and sometimes we are blessed to notice.

With the paschal mystery before us, we remember Christ’s rising from the dead with shouts, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” Yet, he is crying out to us as well. “You are loved! You are mine! You are worth dying and rising for!” The resurrection surprises us with a sudden jolt of beauty. Easter arrives to awaken us to just how much God loves us even when we might not love God. Whomever we are, God desires to bring our souls back to life. Come and walk with us this Easter. Let’s see how God surprises us all…

Originally published in the April 2019 newsletter of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.

© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.

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March 19, 2019 · 6:52 pm

Tangled Branches

The Hub, March 20, 2019

Recently, I came across a piece of art called “Majesty,” by Tacita Dean. Inspired by one of the oldest, most massive, twisted, complete oaks in the United Kingdom, the tree has certainly witnessed much history and has become a symbol of the community. Using an enlarged black and white photograph of the tree split over four overlapping fiber-based papers, the artist used white gouache to painstakingly make every twig on every branch uniquely visible. In person, this reveals the intricate lacework of that ancient yet still living tree.

As we travel through Lent, we are encouraged to use varied disciplines to examine the lacework of our lives. Thus, we gather for Wednesday night worship in community. We will reflect upon some fruits of our faith: grace, mercy, justice, righteousness, wisdom, hospitality, and service.  Despite our being battered by all the elements of life, even sin, life remains. And so, each week, we are adding simple bands of varied colored clothe to a symbolic tree of life. This dead tree will grow and change, and we will begin to note our beautiful interconnectedness to every twig and branch of the Church, as well as to the one called Jesus. As Lent ends, we will remember yet another tree – how Jesus rode on in majesty only to be hung on a cross for our sake. As Isiaiah proclaimed, “See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them” (Isa. 42:9). It is Christ’s love that connects us forever and even now brings forth new life.

Originally published in The Hub, a weekly email of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.

© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.

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March 14, 2019 · 5:35 pm

Walking a New Beat

The Hub, Mar. 13, 2019

Police officers in Fredericksburg still feel pain from the relatively recent murder of a friend while on duty. Officers and their families continue to experience repercussions and pressures from past and present systemic problems related to policing here as well in other communities far away. Dealing disproportionately with evil in society, officers everywhere need to be on guard that they aren’t overcome by that evil.

That’s where chaplains come in. They meet the officers where they are, walk with them and their families through the darkness, and seek to help them stay healthy and whole. Doing so, officers will hopefully experience a more abundant life, but it also helps them become healthier servants to all.

Considering my past experiences and training, Chief David Nye [of the Fredericksburg (VA) Police Department] recently asked me if I would be willing to serve our local law enforcement community as a chaplain, and I wholeheartedly agreed.

What does this mean for our congregation? I will be serving our police department’s officers, staff and families seeking to build resiliency and facilitate hope and healing when crises come. Yet, I will also be seeking to serve victims of crime, those recently arrested, people in need of all kinds of services, and everyone I meet.

It’s just another way to live into the beatitudes, to love even some who may now be our enemies, and to help establish peace and justice on earth. Through the Spirit, we are one. You will also be with me as I serve. This is an opportunity to make new and exciting connections in our community as we seek to love our neighbors and our God in new, expansive ways. Please pray for the success of this outreach and the safety of all.

Originally published in The Hub, a weekly email of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.

© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.

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