Be COURAGEous

By Pastor Sonja Hagander

Recently, I have been drawn to the word COURAGE.  More on that in a moment.

When I was a very young child, my Dad had a 3-sided mirrored paperweight.  I recall putting that heavy paperweight up to my forehead and somehow, because of the mirrors, I could see the ceiling of our hallways and rooms.  I would hold the paperweight up to my forehead, walk around, and pretend to stumble over, or step over, the doorway mantels of our home. Ok, you may be wondering why; we had access to plenty of other games:).  Silly kid.

I also recall visiting Norway with my grandparents; the older homes in Setesdal had significant 6-inch thresholds. I would stand on the threshold and rock: back and forth, back and forth.  Sometimes I would almost fall on my back; other times I would almost fall forward onto my face.  It was a risky game.  I had to have COURAGE.

We are entering a significant phase of our transition time.  It is a liminal time: that time of crossing and transitioning across borders and boundaries.  Did you know that the word “limen” comes from the Latin word for threshold.  This faith community is standing on a threshold; in the midst of this good transition work, we will be rocking back and forth.  Sometimes rocking back, exploring and celebrating important moments in the life of the congregation.  Other times rocking forward, drawn into the future by the Holy Spirit. It takes COURAGE! 

I forgot to mention one important detail from my rocking on those Setesdal thresholds: there were always people around ready to catch me.  And this faith community, too, is full of people ready to pray, hold, release, catch, call, care, listen, worship, sing, speak, give, lead, confess, forgive, wonder, pause, nudge, notice,  pray some more, as we rock on this threshold call transition.  It is holy work, grounded in the promise that Christ is risen and makes all things new.

Christ the King Lutheran Church/Cristo Rey Transition Task Force launches on Sunday, May 1 with 31 members on 5 teams.  We will spend time Dwelling in the Word with our scripture texts; I will overview the Transition Task Force process; Cindy Halvorson, consultant with LeaderWise will lead the Task Force into the 8 Pillars of Trust.  And, during the month of May I will orient each team:  Mission & Vision, Self-Study, Staffing, Ctk/Cristo Rey and Prayer Group into the detail and fabric of their work.  The arc of this Transition Task Force is typically  4-7 months.  Each of you will have the opportunity to engage in this intentional Task Force process.  Watch and listen for the particular ways in the coming weeks and months. And please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns or joys. 

And, on Sunday, May 22, the 31 member Transition Task Force will be commissioned during worship at both 9:30 a.m. and 12 noon.  Please hold them in your prayers.

Be COURAGEous!