Category: Current Events

by “Luvable Lutheran”

With some 1200 youth and adults from our Higher Things community having been there, blocks away from an eminent disaster, we thank the Lord for preserving our conference from such harm and danger. At the same time, our hearts go out to those who have been forever affected by this trauma. We ask the Lord of Life to console, strengthen, and bind up wounds with the oil and wine of His Word and Sacrament.

Luvable Lutheran is a regular HT blogger, a student, and works fo a Twin Cities hospital.  She also recently served at a FOR YOU and was a member of the conference planning staff for FOR YOU MN. She shares her experience from the first evening of the disaster on her HT blog, which we pass on to you here. 

I want to let my family and friends know that I’m safe and okay after today’s bridge collapse in Minneapolis near the UMN.  Second, I encourage you to pray for those injured, missing, the families of the dead, and those otherwise affected by tonight’s terrible tragedy.

Many of you were blocks from this site at the FOR YOU Conference in Minneapolis last week.  Perhaps you drove over the bridge on your way to the conference.  Perhaps you went jogging or exploring up River Road underneath the span.  The conference host congregation is located two blocks away. Perhaps you walked over the 10th Street Bridge and/or 19th Ave during the conference.   I myself have traveled the bridge many times to the UMN campus.  You may have noticed that the bridge has been undergoing concrete rehabilitation and lanes have been reduced.  Yes it has caused traffic headaches and nightmares, but nothing like what folks are dealing with now.

At 6:05 pm this evening during evening rush hour when the two open lanes in each direction were packed with commuters and construction personnel were still working on the bridge, it collapsed.  Approximately 50 cars plunged into the Mississippi River and onto the roads and riverbanks below.  Unfortunately, at this time 4 people have been confirmed dead and numerous others have been taken to area hospitals.  More information will be forthcoming in the press in the days ahead.

I am a graduate student at the UMN and only 24 hours previously was traveling on a parallel bridge to and from campus due to the construction.  I noticed the green metal supporting the bridge and thought to myself, why are they just resurfacing the bridge, why don’t they replace it?  Little did I know what would transpire.  I was called into work earlier this week at a local hospital (I’m a temp while in school).  Fortunately that kept me from being at campus where events transpired and in the hospital and prepared to help take care of victims if needed.  Some of my coworkers began coming back from the dinner breaks asking if we had heard of the bridge collapse.

I was in awe and disbelief.  Immediately we went online to get more information.  Knowing that cell phones frequently become overloaded and that folks can frequently call out, but not into a disaster scene, I began to make a few phone calls to my family.  Fortunately my mom’s cable was out and she was unaware of the situation, but asked her to contact my dad.  He tends to worry a bit about things and would have the state police looking for me if need be.  I also wanted to communicate the events to Sandra and Pastor Borghardt so that prayers could be made at FOR YOU Asheville.  I also communicated via Instant Messaging with members of my congregation to make sure that they are all accounted for and let them know that I was ok and at work.  Our church president and pastor continued to make sure that the sheep in the flock were safe as a number of members travel over the Mississippi River between their homes and workplace.

As we assessed things at the hospital at which I work, we began to prepare for casualties even though there are a number of other hospitals and trauma centers much closer to the scene (a Blessing in disguise).  Our hospital did go into disaster standby mode and was still that way when I left.  I am still in disbelief that this happened and have been running on adrenaline most of the evening.  Now that I’ve returned home from work, and with the images on TV, the emotions and the reality of it all has started to set in.

Looking over what transpired, there are a number of blessings and stories that are beginning to emerge.  One is that there was a school bus full of 60 kids that fell with a span, but landed over land so they could all safely escape.  The center span stayed mostly intact as it fell into the river instead of buckling or crumbling leaving some vehicles on top of the concrete instead of under it.  There are a number of vehicles that did end up in the water and some are under the concrete.  I just pray their occupants are the ones that the news are reporting that had to be rescued, but are those that are still alive.  Another blessing is that a coworker that did show up at the hospital had just left her home blocks away from the bridge and traveled safely over the bridge within an hour of the collapse.  How close she came to the tragedy is starting to hit her.  Another blessing is that Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), a level 1 trauma center received the majority of the victims since it is within a mile of the collapse.  It is well prepared to handle the types of injuries from this incident.  In addition two Fairview hospitals, the two next to the dorms used for the HT Conference, are within close proximity for other victims.  Other twin cities hospitals also received some victims and are prepared to receive the walking wounded should they show up later.  Yet another blessing is that two of the lanes of traffic were already closed in each direction so only half of the total capacity of vehicles that could have been on the bridge were traveling on the spans.  This probably prevented the tragedy from being twice as bad and victims being twice as many.  Yet another blessing is that storms headed towards the area affected fell apart so that rescue workers didn’t have to deal with the rain too.

In addition, I later found out that the conference host congregation shook from the falling of the bridge.  The pastor and his wife were there and rushed to the scene, along with several members that lived nearby.  They assisted getting the victims to safety.  The church even provided shelter for one dazed victim who waited for a ride home.  The church has continued to provide facilities for the gawkers, a place of respite for the emergency workers and other services to the community.  Thankfully the bridge sections remained stable throughout this rescue effort and the railroad cars that were crushed did not contain hazardous materials.

Recently several victims have been identified and several have gotten the dreaded news that their loved one had died.  One was a lady who worked at Thrivent and never arrived home to her husband and two daughters.  Another was a father to a two month old that wouldn’t be returning home to his wife that evening.  Please pray for these people as they cope with the tragedy that has changed their lives forever this day.

So where is Jesus in all this?  Right in the midst of it all.  It may seem like a coincidence to some, but God is at work doing his Will as evidenced in the many miracles and blessings mentioned above.   After such an intense week at FOR YOU Minneapolis from the height of worship falling down to the low of this tragedy it is hard to believe what a difference a week makes.  However, I hope that we all can cling to the hope that we have in Jesus.  He went through more on the cross than we ever have to go through, even though this tragedy is still wracking my brain.  I pray that people look to Christ and Christ alone for their comfort.  Perhaps this event will bring folks closer to Jesus too.  I don’t know God’s Will, but do trust that He guides us to do it each day.  I trust the wisdom that God only has and what will result from this incident.  Despite all the events, I can rest tonight knowing that God will take care of his baptized children no matter what.  What comfort this gives in the midst of chaos!

I also am looking forward to Sunday in the Divine Service where I can sit back and relax, receiving all of God’s wonderful gifts including the peace that passes understanding to calm all of our concerns and fears.  In the days and weeks above many things will turn back to normal and life will move on. It may be different for some, with a different route to work or school.  For others it may be the reality of moving on without their loved one by their side.  Thankfully Christ gives us the strength we need to live each day and to continue serving our neighbor, as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, by giving us our Daily Bread.  Despite the tragedy, Christ is right there beside us providing for our every need even though it may not be easy.  Christ is my sure foundation, even if there are those that are crumbling around me.

by Mrs. Lynea Sander

O Trinity, most blessed Light,
O Unity of sovereign might,
As now the fiery sun departs,
Shed Thou Thy beams within our hearts.

To Thee our morning songs of praise,
To Thee our evening prayer we raise;
Thee may our glory evermore
In lowly reverence adore.

All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee,
Whom with the Spirit we adore
Forever and forevermore.

Thursday is now upon us: the last full day of For You. You can tell it’s Thursday by the way everyone behaves – we’ve figured out the schedule, burned our adrenaline, and finally discovered which hallways to take to get to the cafeteria!

WORSHIP

Matins, Vespers, Evening Prayer and Compline continue to bring us all together at their appointed times. I always find it very encouraging to see that the Word, preaching and worship are held in such high esteem by so many youth from across the country – attendance hasn’t wavered all week!

WORK

A quote from Pr. Cwirla’s plenary session: “If you’re looking for Christ in a parable, find for the dead thing – that’s usually Him!”

Catechesis continues to be excellent in all quarters. My husband and I attended Pr. Esget’s “Driving the Devil Away” (he had some great Luther quotes!), Pr. Henrickson’s breakaway on Paul Gerhardt’s hymns, and Pr. Zielinski’s “Let us Fix Our Eyes on Jesus: Icons and Images”. All of them were extremely informative and well-presented.

PLAY

I don’t know if this would fall under “work” or “play”, but since it was during free time, I’ll put it here. My husband and I were asked to tend to one of the vendor’s booths in the “exhibition hall” while he went white water rafting with one of the groups. I got to talk to a couple of my friends that were also tending booths, meet several new people, and found out that the man who was tending one of the booths knew and had graduated a year ahead of one of my close friends! Let’s all sing the LCMS theme song now: “It’s a small world after all…” Conferences are great for that sort of thing!

Overall it was another wonderful day here in Asheville. At the beginning of the week the weather was dreary; now it’s absolutely beautiful. Praise the Lord for blessing us with sunshine and cool temperatures!

Stay tuned for the last post of the week, coming tomorrow…

by Mrs. Lynea Sander

God’s own child, I gladly say it:
I am baptized into Christ!
He, because I could not pay it,
Gave my full redemption price.
Do I need earth’s treasures many?
I have one worth more than any
That brought me salvation free
Lasting to eternity!

Today’s theme: Baptism, FOR YOU!

WORSHIP

Today started out, as it has for us at every conference, with Matins. Baptism was sung, read and preached to us – a wonderful way to start the day! My group, unfortunately, missed Vespers (though I heard it was just as good as the previous services) due to an adventure in the Blue Ridge Mountains (see that story below). Evening Prayer was beautiful as always, accompanied this evening by a procession and incense. Compline was offered tonight, as well, in three places: first, in the smaller Rutland chapel, second, in the Prayer Garden; third, at the Mountain Laurel Fire Ring, where the participants chanted Compline around a campfire.

WORK

Two plenary sessions, two breakaways and the beginning of the In-Depth sectionals were planned for us today. Pr. Kuhlman his plenaries on how Salvation was acheived for us, and Pr. Cwirla began his on how it is delivered to us. My husband and I attended Pr. Huebel’s breakaway on the history and identity of the Antichrist and Pr. Wierschke’s breakaway on the difference between “a Lutheran and a Lutheran” – differences between the synods. For our In-Depth we chose “Pastor Unplugged” with Pr. Mallie – a free-for-all question and answer session, also dubbed “stump the pastor”. The youth came up with some excellent questions, which Pr. Mallie answered very well. I can’t wait for the next two sessions to see what else they come up with!

PLAY

During our free time today, my youth group decided to take a drive out to Pisgah National Forest to swim and see the Sliding Rock we’d heard about (a natural water slide where the river had smoothed out a large rock). Now, we’re from southeast Texas. We’re not used to mountains. Mountains take longer to drive through – something we didn’t take into account when we left this morning – thus, we missed Vespers. It was, however, a beautiful drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains!

Wednesdays are always fun for me, since we’re getting into the swing of things, but we still have one and a half days of conference goodness!

Keep a lookout tomorrow for an article from one of the “staff lackeys”, Erin Stephens. Due to a few technical difficulties, we don’t have pictures yet, but look for those to be added to the articles soon!

by Mrs. Lynea Sander

        Oh, love, how deep, how broad, how high,
        Beyond all thought and fantasy,
        That God, the son of God, should take
        Our mortal form for mortal’s sake!

        He sent no angel to our race,
       Of higher or of lower place,
       But wore the robe of human frame,
       And to this world himself he came.

I made it! After much planning and preparation, I survived the 23-hour bus trip from Conroe, Texas to beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. For me, this involves months of fundraising with two youth groups in Texas, making it through preparations for my July 7th wedding, adjusting to a new life in a new town and then hopping on a bus three weeks later with my new husband and 37 other excited Lutherans. We arrived at the Ridgecrest Conference Center on Monday afternoon having snatched only a couple hours of sleep – and this, I’ve discovered after attending four HT conferences, is just the beginning!

I, as Internet Services staff, have volunteered to help out wherever needed – and for Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, that involved lending a hand to Mrs. Pellegrini and Mrs. Pruis in registration and housing. With the Christ on Campus Volunteers (CCVs), I assisted the groups as they arrived at the conference center with finding their dorms and informing them about the various activities going on around the conference this week. In the process, I learned how to get around the beautiful campus here at Ridgecrest.

WORSHIP

The conference itself got kicked off on Tuesday afternoon with Divine Service. I absolutely love this – receiving the Lord’s gifts at both the opening and the close of the conference! The strength of 1200+ faithful Lutheran youth and adults singing wonderful Lutheran hymnody never fails to give me chills at the opening service.

This evening, for the close of the first day’s events, we were blessed with Evening Prayer – if it were possible for me to have a favorite service, this would be it. Every year I look forward to praying the Litany in four-part harmony – it focuses my attention so well!

WORK

“Work” in North Carolina is much the same as it was in Minnesota last week. We chose one of ten In-Depth sectionals to attend for three sessions, and eight one-session Breakaway sectionals covering various topics. Plenary sessions, also known as “catechesis”, are the “main” sessions that we attend all together once or twice a day.

Today, my husband and I attended Pr. Schultz’s breakway sectional on the work of the Holy Spirit and Pr. Newman’s breakaway on the similarities between Muslims and Mormons. For the first several Plenary sessions, we will be hearing from Pr. Kuhlman, our Law and Gospel catechist. His first session today focused on the fact of God becoming flesh for us – and how that fact is so very hard for the world, specifically those who hold to Greek philosophy, to understand.

PLAY

As Tuesday is a “half day” of sorts, we had a shorter free time session in the evening in between a breakaway sectional and Evening Prayer. A wonderful Bluegrass band, the Balsam Range, performed for us, as well as a championship Appalacian clogging team. As I wandered in and out catching up with friends from previous conferences, I enjoyed snatches of both!

That wraps up day one – keep checking back each morning this week for more daily updates!

by The Rev. Rich Heinz

The end of the conference is upon us, just as the end of the Harry Potter series has been released, and the end of the Star Wars trilogies has come and gone. Yet, even as the Lord’s earthly pilgrimage is also over, He continues to come FOR YOU. Now, we hear a foretaste of next year’s conference, and I can’t wait! 

WORSHIP
This morning, instead of Matins, we prayed a service of corporate confession. Pastor Dan Feusse gave the sermon. Once again, beautiful, invigorating, and decidedly Lutheran – both the sermon and the liturgy. 

WORK
I went in and reminded the first plenary what the newest tab on their homepage should be: myHT! Today was the day for my breakaway on writing for myHT. I was hoping for a bit stronger attendance in my sectional, but I know that writing is not everyone’s cup of tea. I also know that there are too many great choices for sectionals in every time slot! HT conferences have a habit of lining up amazing speakers and topics that make it quite difficult to choose!

PLAY
This final day did not have as much time for play, but that’s okay. I think that many have stayed up pretty late and visited with their long-distance friends that they might not see until next summer’s conference. Which brings us to the big announcement!

At Divine Service the Pastor gives you Jesus’ Body and Blood and says: “For you!” How do you respond? “Amen!”

Amen is the theme for the 2008 HT conferences. God gives. We receive. He proclaims. We respond: AMEN!

Amen will be held at St. Louis, MO and in Pennsylvania. I can tell you already that I’m planning on going – and this time I’m bringing my family. If you missed For You this year, be sure not to miss out on the great fun, the tremendous teaching, and the heavenly liturgies of “Amen!” 

WORSHIP
For You closed with a beautiful Divine Service. Once again, amazing music, powerful preaching, and the Lord giving His Holy Gifts made this an incredible experience! Pastor Klemet Preus reminded us of our mother – the Bride of Christ – His Holy Church. After an awe-inspiring Divine Service, I had to rush to the airport, chauffeured by the mother of Nathan and Kelsey Fischer. 

DOWN THE MOUNTAINTOP
As I resume daily life at home, I enjoy resuming my normal vocations: husband, father, parish pastor, etc. It certainly is good to be home! But I can tell you, it certainly is good to anticipate bringing my wife and son next year to share in the amazing experience of a Higher Things conference! 

Rev. Rich Heinz is Senior Pastor of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church & School in Lanesville, IN. He is the editor of myHT, and a first time participant and breakout speaker for a Higher Things conference.

by The Rev. Rich Heinz

It doesn’t get better than this! Harry Potter fans abound, reading and discussing their new tome. Youth (and adult leaders) continue to learn tons each day. And teens are singing liturgy and Lutheran hymns on buses because they think it is fun!

WORSHIP

Daily Matins continues to be our starting point. I can’t go on enough about the amazing worship that the Lord gives here! We are truly invigorated by Christ’s Word, and the musical responses to that Gift are of the highest caliber –and youth recognize that!

Great hymns and straightforward liturgy are sung here. And you find people walking down halls humming the Magnificat, singing “Oh Love, How Deep,” and discussing the sermons they have heard!

WORK

Today I was introduced to the attendees in the announcements that preceded the plenary catechesis. I spoke a little about myHT and encouraged use of the site, input for desired topics, and an invitation to authors.

I also was one of the staff on hand for the HT Retreats, Lock-Ins and Internet breakaway. There again, our intentions for the coming year, and an invitation to add your talent to myHT were given.

I want to interject an omission from Day One. As late as it was, I forgot to write about Pastor Todd Wilken on Tuesday. Pastor Wilken is the host of KFUO Radio’s Issues, Etc. Check out this cool Lutheran talk radio, which can be downloaded and listened to at http://kfuoam.org/ie_main.htm . Issues, Etc. regularly provides quality discussion about faith and life. And Pastor Wilken has done the same for us.

PLAY

A United States map has appeared near the registration desk, with the invitation to use a sharpie marker to pinpoint your hometown. Dots appear all over the nation – as well as post-it notes declaring the presence of groups from Canada, Germany, Sweden, and Australia!

This evening, about a thousand people in red T-shirts emblazoned with Christ crucified descended upon the minor league baseball park of the Saint Paul Saints. Dinner was served, and we watched a movie on the scoreboard’s screen as God decided to cool us off in the rain.

The rain stopped, however, and we enjoyed a leisurely paced game, getting more time to visit with new and old friends.

WORSHIP

Vespers was prayed this afternoon, with Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer from Concordia Theological Seminary preaching. He gave us our quote of the day: “Sin is like manure on a baloney sandwich: it doesn’t matter if you just got a little bit on a tiny corner!”  (Don’t worry, after this graphic Law, the Gospel abounded!)

Tonight, after the ball game was over and the park was closing, Evening Prayer was sung. There was simple beauty, with a flute to accompany our united voice, along with a soloist for a few items. Pastor Borghardt preached yet another great homily.

At the last “Amen,” we departed in peace, filing to our buses to head back to the dorms. Tonight seems to be a little more quiet, as people are simply drained from multiple late nights (mornings?)

PS

I am absolutely thrilled to be returning to my wife and son tomorrow night! And at the same time, it will be sad knowing that I won’t see many of these friends for a year, from the crazy Bethel, DuQuoin, IL guys with their innocent antics, to our great Internet Services staff, to everyone who loved my “Vader was framed” T -shirt, to the countless volunteers that have invested thousands of “man hours” to make this conference the success that it is!

Rev. Rich Heinz is Senior Pastor of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church & School in Lanesville, IN. He is the editor of myHT, and a first time participant and breakout speaker for a Higher Things conference.

by Frederick S. Durbin

Imagine that you are Japanese and a member of the Nihon Ruteru Kyoudan (NRK), the LC-MS’s partner church in Japan. Here are some ways in which your life would be different from that of a young Lutheran in the U.S.A.

First, if your parents are Christians, they were probably not born into Christian homes. Most likely, they encountered the Gospel as adults and were led by the Spirit to take those difficult steps to the baptismal font—especially difficult in a country where, for the last half-century, the Christian population has hovered around one percent of the nation’s citizens.

Or maybe you yourself, as a teenager, have first heard the Gospel at a Lutheran church-operated English conversation school. Your teacher was an American missionary; you were interested at first in hearing about American culture. Little by little, you discovered the great truth your teacher had come to Japan to share. After asking many questions, studying the Bible, praying, and talking deeply with Japanese Christians, you came to believe that Jesus died and rose for you. Then, perhaps with your parents’ blessing or maybe after many tears from both parties, you have become the first Christian in your family.

That has not been an easy decision. Your family is not just you and your parents.  It includes all the generations of your ancestors, whose memory is honored with a carefully-tended Buddhist family altar in your home. Photos of your deceased grandparents occupy the central position, surrounded by candles, sticks of incense, and offerings of rice and sake. Your parents sometimes ring a bell here and kneel to pray, silently asking your ancestors for protection and guidance. If a visitor to your home brings a box of cookies or cakes, your mother places it on the altar for a day or two, allowing your ancestors to enjoy the gift first. Afterwards it will be shared among the living. You are taught that your ancestors are always watching over you.

So it has been a huge step for you to join a Christian church. Many of your loved ones believe you have turned your back on the long procession of those who gave you life; you have betrayed their traditions and beliefs. Your life has been completely changed by your study of God’s promises for you, and you daily wrestle with questions such as, “Are my dead grandparents eternally lost because they never heard and believed the Gospel?” You must discover what your faith means for you as a Japanese person, and as a member of your family.

At school or among friends, it is not easy to make casual references to the weekend event your church has planned. When other Japanese friends learn you are Christian, they may have one of the following reactions: they  will consider you a disciplined and “holy” person, like a rigorously-trained Buddhist monk, entirely different from themselves; they will regard you as arrogant and proud, one who thinks yourself better than other Japanese people; or—more and more commonly in recent years—they may view you with discomfort and a trace of fear, because they associate any religious belief with fanaticism.

Of course, not everyone will react in these ways. Christian schools have been around for many decades in Japan, and they are highly respected institutions. Even if parents have no interest in Christianity, they know their children will receive a good education and a solid moral grounding at such a school. Many Japanese who become Christians later in life first heard of God’s love at a Christian elementary school or kindergarten.

If you live in Tokyo, where several NRK churches are located, you may have a commute of an hour or more by train and/or bus on Sunday morning. Some worshippers come by car, but that is more common in the countryside, where roads are less crowded and other forms of transportation are not as readily available.

Your Lutheran congregation is small: anywhere from five or six regular members to forty or fifty in a “huge” church. The sanctuary is simple; the organ is of the old-fashioned “pump” variety, powered by the organist’s feet. There is no choir, and instrumental music is rare.

“Youth groups” in typical NRK congregations are closer to singles’ groups in the United States, made up mostly of college students and twenty-something, unmarried workers. The lack of younger members is because of the smallness of the congregation and the busy lives of people in that age group. Entering a good university is tremendously important in Japan, and the exams are rigorous. High-schoolers are buried in homework, often attending cram schools at night after the full school day, and have time to relax again only after they have been accepted into college.

Your NRK church does many of the same things that its counterparts in the States do: Bible studies, cookouts, concerts, summer camps, Christmas candle services, caroling for shut-ins, and Easter sunrise services. The liturgy is the same, including confession, absolution, the Service of the Word, and the Lord’s Supper. It is done in Japanese, of course, led by a Japanese pastor who is most likely a graduate of the NRK’s seminary in Tokyo.

Japan is said to be a “tea society,” meaning that, whenever people gather, they rarely disperse without drinking tea together. Partly because of the longer commutes to urban churches and partly because people are extremely busy during the week, church is often an all-day affair on Sunday. The service itself is an hour long, perhaps preceded or followed by a Bible study. Then there may be tea, coffee, and snacks—or a potluck lunch—before an afternoon event such as an elders’ or members’ meeting, an outing (such as to view cherry blossoms in the spring), the annual church bazaar, or a general cleaning of the church, with everyone pitching in to help.

Most importantly, the Gospel you hear from the lectern and pulpit is the same as that which your fellow believers are hearing around the world.   The Baptism that cleanses you is the same as the one which washes our fellow redeemed everywhere. The Holy Supper of our Lord is the same Eucharist received, whether in the U.S., Japan, or any other locale.  Jesus Himself unites you with all your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Frederic Durbin is a 1988 graduate of Concordia College, River Forest, now Concordia University — Chicago.  After serving as an English teacher in Niigata, Japan through the LCMS’ “Overseas Volunteer Youth Ministry,” he remained in Japan, where he continues as an English instructor at the University of Niigata.  Fred is also a published author of many magazine articles, and a fantasy/horror novel,  Dragonfly.