Tag Archives: christianity

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 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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March 14, 2019 · 4:55 pm

Amidst Our Mess

The Hub, Mar. 6, 2019

Some memorable items displayed in my new office.

Recently, I faced an ugly reality…my old office. After eleven years, it was time to pack up and move to Christ Lutheran. With the help of my wife, Kristine, we went to work. It took more than a day, but in the end, my things were packed, and the office clean again. I found there was plenty of dust and trash tucked away in unexpected places. Over time without really recognizing it, my workspace had become disordered. Yet, how pleasing it was to find amidst the dirt and grime small treasures that sparked many happy memories.

There are times in our lives that we need to set things straight. Liturgically, the Church offers us Lent. Many Christians give up certain foods or other pleasures as a discipline to help them recall the pain of sin and Christ’s own sacrifice. Others meet with their pastors to confess their struggle with sin and discern ways to make amends. Still others recommit to extra scripture studies, worship, or acts of mercy, charity and generosity. As the clutter clears, we might remember Jesus’ love more and see our lives in a new way.

Through the season of Lent, we reconnect to Gospel joy. Brother Roger of Taizé called Lent “forty days granted us in which to marvel at a love too great for words.” We participate in Lent not to become perfect, not to revel in our darkness with long faces, but to reconnect to a love longing to spark a springtime in our lives. Amidst our mess, we are offered new life through Jesus.

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 · 4:39 pm

No Sour Faces Allowed

“Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23)

As I write, it is just a few days until we turn from the glorious highs of Transfiguration Sunday to go down into the liturgical valley of Lent. During Lent, many of our readings sound quite stark if not frightening. “Turn back! Repent!” shout God’s many prophets. Reminders of death, doubt and darkness seem everywhere. Our furnishings, dress and colors, especially the ashes of Ash Wednesday, remind us of our fragility and (too often) our failures.

Yet, I recall with joy the words attributed to Teresa of Avila, “From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us.” We don’t need to make a show of our sorrow and weakness. We don’t have to beat ourselves up, run away, or hide in fear. Instead, we can rejoice in Christian community, a place where we can be accepted as we are. There, we hear words of love, forgiveness and hope from other people who also struggle and yet speak for Jesus. “You are welcome here!”

In this season, we can indeed challenge ourselves to do better, listen more attentively, seek and serve the Jesus in others we meet with more heart. Yet, we offer this love not to gain ground toward heaven, but instead, to experience a taste of the love which has already reached down into the valley for us.

Yes, Lent can appropriately be called a holy if not solemn time. Yet solemnity need not mean rigidity and coldness. Although tears might flow, we need not get stuck in them. Lent can be a time of open hearts and deep sincerity. It serves as a liturgical call for us to turn back and take notice; to be refreshed and renewed.

In turning back, we might better see Jesus at work around us and in us. We won’t ever be perfect in this life, but Jesus uses this time in the Church to help remind us of his perfect, gracious love for us. It is meant to serve as a bit of springtime for our lives, as we continue grow as the children of God.

Originally published in the March 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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March 14, 2019 · 4:32 pm

Gather, Welcome, Serve

The Hub, Feb. 27, 2019

What was one of the simple things that people did to make me feel at home again at Christ Lutheran? They asked me my favorite color. The answer is blue, and this became a challenge to our flower team. They went out of their way to find blue flowers during a season when they are hard to come by. Those responsible succeeded (using hydrangeas mixed with other flowers and even blackberries from someone’s yard), and they were beautiful. This reminded me how all our worship services are cared for down to the smallest detail.

So often, it is the small things that matter most in welcoming others. Once, I had a couple join my congregation just because the altar guild had prepared to welcome them with gluten wafers. I have seen that if the sanctuary was too dark, too light, too cold or hot, perhaps the mic isn’t working just right, or in any other way things seem uncomfortable (even dirty restrooms), it proves a hindrance to worship and relationship. Thankfully, our property team stays on top of this. And when my friends and family shared their first impressions from my installation, they mentioned the spirit-filled music as well as the authentic friendliness of those in attendance. Everything that had been done and all who were there made them feel welcome.

In planning, preparing and attending worship, we don’t just do so for our benefit. We gather and serve to welcome others in Jesus’ name.

Originally published in The Hub, a weekly email 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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