March 1, 2009
First Sunday in Lent
Pr. Dawn Roginski

In a few brief passages, Mark sets the stage for the whole of Jesus' ministry. Extra words are taken away and we are left with the core of the message. With the drama contained in Mark's brief opening verses we are invited to re-focus during this season of Lent, not on whether we give something up or give something extra to charity but focusing our attention only on Jesus and Jesus' message from God which ultimately drives us towards the cross of Good Friday and the resurrection at Easter. Jesus goes without his family to the Jordan and is baptized by John. This is where Jesus is claimed by God as the Beloved One, given a new family and marked for ministry just as all of us were and are marked and claimed by God at our baptism. After this wonderful event of love it seems that Jesus barely had a chance to dry off before he was sent into the desert. It is there in the desert that Jesus truly uncovers his baptismal identity and comes to understand what that identity will mean for him and for his mission in the world.

Many people think of deserts as places we do not want to be. They are seen only as hot and dry, a place where everything you encounter burns, bites or stings. And I have to admit that I felt that way until I had chance to visit a desert. The truth of the desert is that desert soil contains many seeds, and the plants which look partially dead have roots that spread for long distances. Many things are in bloom and are just waiting for the right time to break through. Jesus went through the desert like many before him not only to be tempted, but to experience the desert as a place of transformation.

Perhaps many of us here have gone through our own deserts and came through the other side transformed. Others may be in the midst of the desert right now, and are not at the point where they can see that transformation could really happen. But I tell you it is possible for individuals and groups to endure the process of desert time and indeed be transformed. And I can tell you how it can happen. I am sure there are many here today who know that both Pastor Robert and me are part of an organization called Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, but I would imagine there are also some who are not very familiar with this organization and why it was important for both your pastors to be at the recent retreat. I have a fairly long history with this group, since I was accepted in the year 2001 when the roster I become part of was part of the Extraordinary Candidacy Project.

The roster, when I arrived, was filled with people who had terrible experiences with the ELCA. Some had been a part of ecclesiastical trials and they and/or their congregations were removed from the ELCA. Some had been outed by others and were forced to resign. Some had been taken off the roster with a cold letter from the bishop. Calls to congregations were difficult to find and these pastors often felt stuck in their current congregation or took work outside of ministry to pay the bills. They were clearly familiar with the desert of being a GLBT pastor in the ELCA, a desert experienced as cold, hard, and desolate. The retreat, then, was a place of sharing pain and trying to find a way to heal. Some seeds of hope were planted since there is power in knowing that someone else understands what you are going through, but the seeds were not watered enough and were kept in the shade of pain.

But then the spirit blew in some much needed rain and the seeds began to respond. Candidates started to arrive who did not have as many bad experiences with the ELCA. These were people who made their own decision to be out while in seminary and going through the candidacy process to become a pastor. They were fully aware of the consequences. And the ELCA, aware of some of their past mistakes, responded to them not by removing them, but postponing them. These candidates still had part of a foot in the door of the ELCA.

More rain fell as new candidates came who decided not be a part of the ELCA candidacy process at all. They brought new energy into the roster and helped all of us move forward to the point where we produced a theology statement and made the decision to become ELM. When this decision was made, it became possible to call a person to specialized ministry, and certify pastors to be chaplains. And we also decided to expand the roster to include people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. One of the best parts is that the growth of ELM means that what was being done by one very capable person is now being done by an entire committee. The seeds planted long ago in the desert of pain are now blooming in us pastors, bringing new life and hope for finding a congregation that is a good fit. And the seeds are also planted in ELCA congregations for 7 new congregations are interested in considering ELM pastors in their hiring process and we could find many more.

Now this desert was not fun and it was often difficult to see people leave over disagreements, but we are now a different group and headed in a very positive direction. And if Mark could share any insight, it would be to remind all of us today that we do not need to fear the desert because Jesus has been there first. So there is no desert so barren, so desolate that Jesus has not been there before us. In baptism, Jesus is not alone in that journey and neither are we. Jesus was accompanied by the one who would not give up on humanity, even when there was probably good reason. Our God is the one who decided to relent form punishment, and to never again leave the earth desolate, even when we let God down with our constant expressions for greed, jealousy, and violence, as well as the pain we cause each other. God placed the bow in the sky, not as a reminder to us but as a reminder of the promise made to us. This is the reign that Jesus ushers in and the message Jesus wants to spread so urgently. God forgives us, period. And this is the reign of God present with Jesus and with us.

So today we forget about whether we did a good job last year following the Lenten disciplines we intended to follow and we start anew. We will have opportunities for extra prayer and discussion, but see them as a gift that helps us renew our connection to God, not a burden. Lent is a time of repentance of turning back towards God. Will we still make mistake? Of course we will. And when we do, we pick ourselves up and move on because we will be forgiven. To aid us in our Lenten journey this year, we invite you to choose a stone from the basket in the back. You can carry the stone in your pocket or your purse, or just put it where you can see it daily. When you see this stone, remind yourself that this is a new Lent. Hold it in your hand and place your worries and concerns into it as you rub it, and then let go of those worries and concerns by bringing the stone back on Good Friday and laying it down at the foot of the cross.

We look at Lent with new eyes, remembering that in our Lenten journey, we have the opportunity to encounter God just as Jesus did, to take God's word into us that we are God's beloved children and let it penetrate all of our being, even the darkest parts of our soul, and to claim that identity as the central one or maybe even the only one we have.

With our new eyes we see that Lent, then is not just a time of repentance for now, but could also be a chance for a new outlook on life. I have started on my Lenten journey and today I invite you to join me.