This is the final edition of these blogs from the LWF assembly in Stuttgart.  As you might guess, it is a time a mixed feelings.  There is a sense that we have been here long enough, and yet the joy of such a multi-cultural exoerience is somethng you hate to leave behind.

As with most such meetings as this, the final days get hectic in getting the legislative job done.  People stand and microphones to make speeches and amendments.  Often the chair, ELCA Bishop Hanson, has to explain or clarify what is going on.  And there is the problem of translations.  Yesterday a document came out regarding the support of women clergy.  In English, the resolution called for the entire LWF to be supportive.  However, in German it seems to have called for only women to be supportive of women clergy.  A half hour later the assembly figured out the translation problem.

Today there will be more cleaning up of agenda work.  Importantly, there will also be the approval of a message to be brought back to every Lutheran church of this communion of churches.  The message will be about food security as it is based on the assembly theme "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread."  Village groups have been working on it all week.

I hope you have had the opportunity to check out the LWF assembly Website.  There is a lot more information about the event, the decisions, the worship, and what LWF is all about.  This blog has been to give you some of my impressions rather than keep you up to date on all the issues.

Susan and I have also enjoyed seeing some of the sights of Stuttgart.  Yes, we have skipped a plenary session here and there so we could simply enjoy the German hospitality.  Yesterday we enjoyed a ride on a cog driven train that took us up to one of the "normal" neighborhoods of this city.  Today we will try to find a huge garden that is part of the park system.  We have a couple of favorite eating spots to hit one more time, too.

Thanks to all who have been keeping us in prayer.  And thanks to those who have actually taken the time to read this blog.  If you are wondering if Susan and I were anywhere close to the techno concert that saw people crushed to death, the answer is NO.  When we arrived it was about 95° F, today it may not make it to 70º F.  It rains for about ten mintes every two hours.

God bless you all.  See you soon.

Pastor B.

Yesterday, Sunday, was an off day for the assembly.  Susan and I worshiped at a big old Lutheran Church in the center of Stuttgart.  The service was televised throughout the area, and I found the presence of at least five television cameras and lots of extra bright, hot lights a bit of a distraction.

Speaking of television, for fun yesterday we hopped on the U-Bahn and headed toward the highest hill in the area.  Atop the hill rises the world's first television broadcasting tower.  And on the tower is an observation area, and coffee shop, and - like everywhere - a beer garden.  We took the crowded elevator to the top and enjoyed the view of the enitire valley and then some.  It was a beautiful day, and it revealed a lovely landscape of rolling hills.

On Saturday the assembly had special reports on two major areas.  The first was illegitimate debt.  That is a huge and complicated issue, but in a nutshell means some of the poorest places in the world have governments which raise money from developed coutries by don't use it as they promise they will.  That is, they do not use it for developing food security for the poor.  Too many of the countires and banks that make the loans look the other way just so long as they can collect the interest.

The second presentation centered on HIV/AIDS.  In the US, this has become less of a problem both in number of cases (people are better at avoiding infestion) and the stigma that goes along with it.  That is not the case in many parts of South America, Africa, and Asia.  There have been some hopeful signs in places where the LWF and other church organizations have been able to treat HIV/AIDS and teach the truth about it.

Friday also saw rhe election of the new LWF president.  It is Bishop Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land.  Keep him in your prayers as he leads this very diverse organization.

Firday evening included an outdoor party on the Schiller Plaza.  Food, fun, several music groups, and a realease of Bread for the World baloons highlighted the event.

At our morning worship just a little while ago, the assembly has divided into singers, dancers, and hand-clappers.  The tasks were handed out on pieces of peper as people walked in, and we did not know immediately what the symbols on the paper meant.  In a sign of God's good will and justice, I was the singer and Susan was the dancer.

The weather today is rainy and cool.  We will go to the morning plenary session and then maybe take the afternoon to visit another Stuttgart highlight.  I think the sun will shine by this afternoon.

Tomorrow is the final day.  So I will try one more blog then.

Pastor B.

Imagine that you are driving along one of those long, straight country roads at night.  Even while it is a long way off, you see the headlights of another car coming your way.  Each second it gets a little closer.  When it's still a mile off, you begin to think the car is in your lane, but there's a long way to go, why worry?  Soon, however, you realize the car is in your lane and not showing any signs of moving.  Flashing your lights makes no difference.  What would you do?  Begin to slow down, maybe.  And what would you do if you were still going full speed ahead when the other car is only 100 yards away?  You would slam on the brakes and steer away as quickly and safely as you possibly could.

Yesterday at the LWF Assembly we heard more about a crash that is just about to happen.  It's called global warming.  And the catastrophe is only about 100 yards out.  You can argue about the causes of global warming, but there is no doubt that it is happening.  I, for one, believe we humans have something to do with it.

Global warming fits into this assembly of the LWF because it jeopardizes food security for millions of people.  I already talked a little about the threat to circumpolar regions.  Effects of global warming have displaced thousands of people in the world for whom a 17 centimeter rise in ocean levels because of polar ice melt has covered their land.  Droughts occur more often and last longer in those areas dependent on a small amount of rain from year to year.  Fish move to cooler waters further away from where people live.  Yes, in many areas of the world the negative efects are already being felt.  And, disproportionately, the changes happen to poor, oppressed, and powerless people.

The LWF spoke particularly to the need for our Lutheran community to join with people of faith everywhere to address the problem of global warming it two ways.  First, by being actively involved in the politics of change.  Barbara Rossing, and ELCA seminary professor, was part of the leadership team on this LWF topic, and she had the sad duty of telling this assembly from all over the world that the greatest nation in the world, the USA, has decided in the Senate to not take up the issue of global warming.

Second, the LWF is fully aware that some global warming is already permanent.  One of the action items for Lutheran churches will be to help people cope with the change in positive, dignifying, and security developing ways.  Food security.  People kill each other over food, or more specifically, the lack of food and food security.

Today's sessions will take on some constitution and bylaw changes.  It will also elect a president for the next six years.  Tonight there is some sort of celebration planned.  Tomorrow we are invited to worship in local churches and then have the rest of the day free.

Last night revelers in a cafe just outside our hotel window kept the music and noise going until after 4 a.m.  I'm a little tired.

The temperature has dropped significantly - by about 20 ° F.  Susan would like someone to send over here down coat.

Again, as always, thanks for your prayers.

Pastor B.

Susan Berggren says....That would be 20 degrees centigrade...not fahrenheit. No need to send my down coat...I'm sure I'll have plenty of sources here for purchasing one! We stumbled upon the Oxfam store last night while on our evening walk around Stuttgart. That is the equivalent of a Goodwill store in the USA. Some of you realize what an adrenaline rush that was for me. It was closed last night, but open today with even a fashion show happening this afternoon. Maybe I can get a job modeling to support my financial situation while here. Yesterday I spoke, through an interpreter, with a very poor woman from Mauritania. She was discovered by a person from ActAlliance, sitting under a tree, sewing together an animal skin in which to carry milk. Asked if she would want to improve her life, while benefiting her family and community by learning to be a "solar engineer" she lost her head (her words), left everything and traveled to India for three months training. Since returning home she uses her learned skills to teach people to use a small solar panel (installed on the roof of their home) to power various things, particularly a camp light, to be used in the home. Their only light. The woman was wearing what was no doubt the only garment (similar to sari) she owned. She returned to her home not an educated engineeer as we know, but an empowered woman. It was a very stirring meeting for me. I am humbled.

Yesterday was a historic day for Lutherans.  I'm guessing that most folks do not know the unhappy history of the Lutheran church and the anabaptist movement in the 16th century.  This is not the place to recount that entire history other than to remind you that Luther, Philip Melancthon, and other reformers so disagreed with the theology of what today are known as Mennonites that they willing allowed and sanctioned their persecution and execution.  Late yesterday afternoon, Bishop Hanson and the Lutheran World Federation, on behalf of Lutherans around the globe confessed the sin of such persecution and asked for forgiveness.  Now that may seem unimportant since this all happened in the 16th century.  However, many of those persecution carried over for many, many years.  As a church, our sins carry with us in many ways.  Leaders of the Mennonites were here to receive our repentance and willingly pronounce forgiveness in the name of the Lord.  A very stirring worship service of reconciliation followed the formal approval of the assembly.

Yesterday also included a keynote address from Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.  As usual (I've heard and read Williams before), he had some very insightful, thought provoking, and inspiring words.  His presentation focused on the assembly theme, Give Us Today Our Daily Bread.

Each day I become more and more aware of the strength we have as a global communion of churches.  The challenge of communicating in a number of different languages reminds me of the joy in Pentecost.

In rained yesterday, and the oppressive heat has diminished to just hot.  I can handle this. Susan and I have figured our how to take public transportation back and forth to our hotel.  Stuttgart, like many European cities, is all about downtown.  Our hotel is at one end of a mile long shopping area.  There are people everywhere. Ice cream (aka "eis") has been popular.

This afternoon there will be a presentation on global warming.  Yesterday, a delegate from the far north of Sweden gave a very heartfelt speech about that changes clearly evident around the arctic circle.  It is not a pretty picture, but one with which we must deal.

Hope all is well back in Sun Prairie.  Keep us in your prayers.  Specifically, pray that we find a laundromat.

Pastor B.

PS Thiskeyboardhasaverystickyspacekey.

Good day!  We just finished worship for the morning.  Our topic today is "Us."  The sermon Pastor Krahn and I dialoged last Sunday came from this second word in the "Give us today. . ." petition of the Lord's Prayer.

I learned about ACTAlliance yesterday.  One of the founding organizations of ACTAlliance in LWF.  ACTAlliance is now the largest international non-governmental humanitarian organization in the world - even bigger than the more well known Oxfam.  ACTAlliance works in places of trouble all over the world to help with food, water, sanitation, housing, reconciliation, and hope.

Working with refugees, orphans, and the poor is one area where LWF does its best work.  Lutherans everywhere want to help those in need.  Where we find our differences is in finding ways to change systems that keep people poor or oppressed.  Ask the Lord to give us the strength he had when he dared to challenge the sytem when he turned over the tables near the Jerusalem temple.

It rained last night a little.  Today appears to be slightly cooler but also a bit more humid.  This part of Europe has been setting heat records for the last two weeks, and the farmland badly lacks water.  Pray for rain and a break from the heat for those who depend upon the earth.

Pastor B.

We call it 4:00 p.m.  That's when the assembly broke for coffee.

Good news.  Our luggage showed up last night.  Hot (bad) news.  It is over 90 degrees and our hotel is not air conditioned.

Our bishop, Mark Hanson gave is LWF report this morning.  He noted several challenges in front of the LWF.  First - finances.  The northern Lutheran church bodies that have been financing LWF over the years are all hurting for resources.  That includes the ELCA.  He also noted that LWF will be challenged in the years to come as the majority of Lutherans live in South America or Africa.  That may change a lot about how the LWF makes decisions.

LWF General Secretary Ismael Nomo also brought some challenging predictions to the assembly.  As the world changes, Lutherans will have to decide how they will work together in it.

For worship we played with dirt.  That's where we all began, and that's is what sustains life.  How do you treat your dirt?

Thanks again for your prayers.

Today, Susan and I celebrate our 37th anniversary.

Pastor B.

We made it here to Stuttgart a little before lunch German time.  Unfortunately, our luggage did not find its way out of London.  We pray that it will show up tonight, otherwise Susan said she will have to go out and buy an entire new wardrobe.  That will be an easy task since our hotel is right smack in the middle of hundreds of stores on a pedestrian mall.

It is very warm here, and I guess that will last at least another day.

Lutherans do come in a large variety of ages and colors.  It is great to be part of such an inclusive horde.  Of course, as you know, we are right in the middle of Lutheran country.  The local Lutheran "synod" presented a series of Luther quotes, pictures, and music to help us all get in the mood this evening.

Confession.  Susan and I got here so late this morning, got lost trying to find our hotel on foot, were wearied by the travelling, and needed to have something to eat after an hour's nap.  Sooo!  We missed the opening worship.  I regret that, but once we got to our room we could hardly move.  (The hotel is not air conditioned, by the way.)

Tomorrow begins at 7:45 with a worship and Bible study.  It's about a 15 minute walk from our hotel, and I think we will check into the subway which runs the entire length of the walk.

Thank you for all of your prayers.  Keep them coming. 

Tuesday, 20:00
Pastor B.

Today Susan and I will gather our passports, toothbrushes, cameras, and Bibles for a week in Stuttgart, Germany. We will join with hundreds of Lutherans from around the world to attend the Eleventh Lutheran World Federation Assembly.

The LWF is a communion of Lutherans who have the unique view of God’s grace that brings to the world a way of understanding our relationship with our Creator. For more information, visit the LWF website.

This assembly meets under the theme Give Us Today Our Daily Bread. You are welcome to download the Bible studies and keep abreast of assembly happenings by visiting the LWF Assembly website.

I hope to be able to find a computer that will allow me to blog almost every day (much like I did at last year’s ELCA Churchwide Assembly). That blog will appear in the Monday Blog page of our church website.

The ELCA is the only U.S. Lutheran church to be part of the LWF. I am thankful for our church’s resistance to fear and isolationism. In a very global village world, Christ does not lead us to put a wall around our prosperous village. Rather, I think it is a witness to our prophetic church when we reach out to share faith and substance with others.

Susan and I go as visitors and not delegates to the assembly. On the down side, that means we do not get to represent our church with either voice or vote (although I think we get to share fully at Bible studies and worship). On the upside, we may skip some of the plenary sessions that tend to the hard but laborious work of any organization like the LWF.

As we wing our way east, we covet your prayers for a safe flight and smooth connections. Also, please pray for the Lutheran World Federation and the Lutheran witness it gives to the world through education and good works.

We will keep you in our prayers as well. May your summer be well blessed by a loving God.

Pastor B

Vacation and continuing education schedules wedge into the summer here at the church office. Once Vacation Bible School ends, hallway staff people begin to scatter in many directions. Communication and idea sharing become difficult.

That’s why this week will be important here at OSLC. This will be the only week until after Labor Day when everyone in the church office is here at one time.

It will be a communication packed week for us. We will need to address fall scheduling and a number of other issues as well. In an age of multiple communication methods, nothing compares to face to face conversation.

I want you to know that it is much more than business, however. We care deeply for one another, and much of our time is used to share highs and lows of our lives. We enjoy that wider conversation together. Keeping up with each other electronically just doesn’t cut it. It seems to me that the Holy Spirit stirs more vibrantly when we enjoy conversation where communication extends beyond words to voice inflections, hand gestures, body language, and facial expressions.

So, for this week’s blog, you get a little insight into the hallway here at Our Savior’s.

I hope you are enjoying your summer.

Pastor B

I suppose I have sung or listened to our national anthem hundreds of times. The range of one and a half octaves can be a bit challenging depending on the starting point. That most of have learned over the decades. This year, for the first time, I've suddenly garnered a new awareness that the fist stanza of Francis Scott Key's opus ends with a question mark. A question mark!

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Like the first stanza of A Mighty Fortress, the opening verse of The Star Spangled Banner begs the singing of the second verse. The question is not rhetorical. Key is asking the question about the outcome of the battle over Fort McHenry in September of 1814. In the middle of the poem he writes:

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

This line gives temporary solace to Key who has begun this song with a question:

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

The rockets the British lobbed into the fort must have created pandemonium inside the stronghold. The light from the explosions allowed Key to see that the flag still waved over the fort and it had not been taken. There was more to the British plan than bombardment, of course. Bombs are meant to soften up the opposition to make a land attack easier. The British had planned to attack after the barrage, and Key knew it (which is the reason he was out in the harbor being held temporarily on a British ship). When the explosions ended, Key was unable to see the fort or the flag in the darkness of night. So he wondered, "Does the star spangled banner still fly over Fort McHenry? Or has the Union Jack replaced it?" And this is where the first verse ends.

The British invasion failed, as we all know. In the first rays of dawn, with Key apparently still awake and wondering, the answer came. He wrote in the second verse:

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

So, sporting events, national gatherings, and especially Independence Day, we put our ears and voices to the singing of our National Anthem and end it with "play ball" and a question. I think the question needs asking, or should I say, it needs modern day answering. What does it mean to be the land of the free and is that freedom shared equally? How do we be the home of the brave in times when no one wants to make a commitment of take responsibility?

Have a wonderful Independence Day week. And celebrate the fact that in our country we have the right to ask the hard questions.

Pastor B.