The ARK April 2012 Volume 23, Edition 4

30 Pages·2012·1.38 MB·English

by  Mary Jane Glauber

Interchurch Families: Christian Unity Made Visible in our Households
International Standard Serial Number: ISSN 1943-6467 (print)
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TTHHEE AARRKK
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The ARK Copyright 2012 AAIF all rights reserved
A Publication of the American Association of Interchurch Families
Easter
Greetings!
MJG ©
http://www.interchurchfamilies.org/ Click: sitemap Scroll down to find: THE ARK

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! THE LORD IS RISEN !
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Jesus is among us they saw that the stone, which
The Gospel of Mark tells us: was very large, had already been
“When the sabbath was over, rolled back. 5 As they entered the
Mary Magdalene, and Mary the tomb, they saw a young man,
mother of James, and Salome dressed in a white robe, sitting MJG ©
bought spices, so that they might on the right side; and they were
go and anoint him. 2 And very alarmed. 6 But he said to them,
early on the first day of the week, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are
when the sun had risen, they looking for Jesus of Nazareth,
went to the tomb. 3 They had who was crucified. He has been
been saying to one another, raised; he is not here. Look,
‘Who will roll away the stone for there is the place they laid him.
us from the entrance to the 7 But go, tell his disciples and
tomb?’ 4 When they looked up, Peter that he is going ahead of
April Showers
Rain storms drench early
blooming flowers in Kentucky
continued on page 3
We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Cor 15:51-58)
The ARK April 2012 [1] Volume 23; Edition 4
AAIF IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA
The Ark, A Publication of the American
Association of Interchurch Families

April 2012 - Volume 23; Edition 4
Interchurch Families: Christian Unity Made Visible in our Households
We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Cor 15:51-58)
Contents: page 2 Jesus is among us
Pages 1 & 3 Jesus is Among Us
Pages 3 - 4 What Wondrous Love is This
Pages 5 - 7 Luke 24:36-48: “Hands and Feet” from Home by Another Way by Barbara Brown Taylor
Page 7 For the Third Sunday of Easter: Luke 24: 36b - 48 “Lord of All Hopefulness”
Page 7 Hannah Wemitt reflects on Matthew 19:14
Pages 8 - 9 ELCA NEWS SERVICE;February 22, 2012: ELCA, Catholic leaders celebrate their
Christian unity, continue dialogue
Page 10 The Hope of Eternal Life - Common Statement of the Eleventh Round of the U.S.
Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue & Some Historical Background for The Lutheran-Roman
Catholic Dialogue
Pages 11 - 12 The Power of Place: The National Register of Historic Places: Here are some
suggestions for helping you to plan a driving trip to Collegeville, MN for the 2012 AAIF
Biennial Conference; Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary Series
Pages 13 - 14 Buildings at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University Campus and Saint
John’s Abbey Church are included on the National Register of Historic Places: A Self-
Guided Walking Tour
Page 15 The Saint John’s Abbey/University Church Schedule for Daily Prayer &
Eucharistic Liturgy:
Page 15 Your Arrival at the 2012 AAIF Biennial Conference in Collegeville, MN
Page 16 “A Sense of Place” quotes by Wendell Berry
Page 16 The Kentucky Council of Churches Policy Statements link & Ecumenical Advocacy Days
Page 17 Dr. Donald Ottenhoff, Director of the Collegeville Ecumenical and Culture Research
Institute (on the SJU campus); and Prof. Darrell Jodock of Gustavus Adolphus College
in MN have agreed to speak at the 2012 AAIF Biennial Conference to be held from July
13-15, 2012 in Collegeville, Minnesota.
Page 17 About the Collegeville Ecumenical and Cultural Research Institute on the SJU Campus
Page 18 First Person Method; The Collegeville Method
Page 19 Mission of the Collegeville Ecumenical and Cultural Research Institute
Pages 20 - 21 Ecclesial Literature Project: Words Making Worlds
Page 21 Integration in Theological Education
Page 21 Vocation and Professions
Page 22 Vocation Through the Lifespan
Pages 22 - 25 Collegeville Institute Seminars & Called to Life: Reflecting on Vocation
Pages 25 - 27 Professor Darrell Jodock, who is the Drell and Adeline Bernhardson Distinguished Professor
in Religion at Gustavus Adolphus College, will be one of the featured speakers at the AAIF
2012 Biennial Conference at Collegeville, MN & Dr. Jodock’s discussion of the importance
of “Vocation Study and Awareness”
Page 28 The Commission on World Mission and Evangelism invokes new understanding of
mission and evangelism
Page 29 Many Thanks
Page 30 “Grace” & Looking forward to the 2012 AAIF Biennial Conference: July 13- 15 in Collegeville,
MN - Please join AAIF Members as we meet to explore the possibilities that exist in being
interchurch families
The ARK April 2012 [2] Volume 23; Edition 4
Jesus is among us
EEaasstteerr 22001122
(Continued from page one)
you to Galilee; there you will see may also distract us from being through our presence and in all
able to see that of God and the that we do.
him, just as he told you.’ 8 So
Risen Christ in the world around
they went out and fled from the
us. We carry this Light out into the
tomb, for terror and amazement
world as a beacon of hope by
had seized them; and they said
God is guiding us through the what we do and how we act
nothing to anyone, for they were depths to a new meaning and to toward humanity. This is how we
afraid.” a new life if we allow God to carry the risen Christ out into the
work through us. world and make Christ
transformed and living among
We know that as the story has
Through our baptismal covenant us.
been told when the women went
in the living waters we are made
to find Christ’s dead body so
members of the Body of Christ. We too are transformed to
that they could properly anoint it
We are given candles at the become beacons of hope for a
and prepare it for burial that they
time of our baptism to serve as world that often has no hope.
didn’t find Christ’s dead body.
symbols of the Light that will This is the Easter message we
The person who did appear,
burn within us as Christ, God, carry out into a world that is
they mistook as the gardener,
the Holy Spirit, the Triune’s waiting to hear it.
but it is Jesus.
Light for the world.
As Christians we must be alert
How many times do, Jesus and
We may wish for a window for “that of God” at work in us
our Creator, stand before us in
through which we would be able and among us so that we can
ways that are far too easy for us
to see the risen Christ provide God’s message of hope.
to completely miss or to ignore
transformed and living among
although it is Jesus who is
us. However, it is through the Most Blessed Easter
actually standing there right in
Light shining through the Greetings to everyone on
front of us and who exists in the
community of baptized believers behalf of AAIF.
midst of us? The women thought
that perhaps the Risen Christ in the way that we act or are ~ Mary Jane Glauber
sometimes called upon to react
was a gardener.
in the world so that the world
can see the presence of Jesus
Jesus arrived as a messiah What Wondrous
bringing a message in a form
that was not what was expected Love is This
and then after his death he is
mistaken to be the gardener.
What wondrous love is this,
The real question before us in O my soul, O my soul!
the midst of the messiness of
What wondrous love is this,
life and in the stressfulness of
our daily lives is to ask how to O my soul!
see Jesus in the most hopeless
What wondrous love is this
moments of our lives.
that caused
The very messiness of life itself
the Lord of bliss
may even serve to distract us.
The stressfulness of our MJG © to lay aside his crown
ordinary lives, which has
for my soul, for my soul,
perhaps far too common place,
Bearded Iris: a native
plant in Kentucky
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Jesus is among us
Easter 2012
to lay aside his crown for my
soul.
To God and to the Lamb,
I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb, I
will sing.
To God and to the Lamb
MJG ©
who is the great I AM,
while millions
join the theme,
Lilacs in bloom
I will sing, I will sing,
Various other lyrics exist for this What are the religious highlights
while millions join the theme, hymn coming from the early to for which this new millennium will
mid 1800’s when it was be best known and remembered?
I will sing.
apparently used as a church
camp song. Will we have contributed to
something positive and good for
And when from
The melody is beautiful. humanity? How are we
death I'm free,
contributing?
What was happening in America
I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
during that time period while this As ecumenists and interchurch
And when from death I'm
hymn was first popular? families, how do we envision our
free, I'll sing on. journey toward our goal?
This hymn is coming back into In the hymn “What Wondrous
And when from death I'm
popularity. What factors made it Love is “this” it refers to “death”
free I'll sing and joyful be, popular originally and what brings and specifically “freedom from
it back to our attention once death.”
and through eternity
again? Are the causal factors the
I'll sing on, I'll sing on, same or quite different? Ideas and concepts can die too,
just like a body or plants can die.
and through eternity
Do our preferences reflect on our
I'll sing on. times and situations so that we Unless someone steps up to
can learn more about ourselves keep those concepts and ideas
and how it is that God works alive, they can be forgotten.
Words: American folk hymn,
through us? How else are we
ca. 1835
able to hold up a large mirror to This is a broader concept
Music: Wondrous Love
be able to look at ourselves in regarding the meaning of death.
Meter: 12 9 12 12 9
our society within our own current
cultural tendencies and context if It puts far more responsibility on
The music for this American Folk
we don’t pay close attention to us as Christians to be constantly
hymn can be heard at http://
details like these? alert for the potential to be a
www.oremus.org/hymnal/w/
beacon of hope in the midst of
w247.html
despair and to seek out solutions
The ARK April 2012 [4] Volume 23; Edition 4
Jesus is among us
Easter 2012
when there seems to be none ‘Listen to my voice’ or ‘Look at for a living, her family status,
available. The death of an idea my face?” income level, and hobbies - all
or of hope for some kind of Then Taylor asks us if we could based on having shaken her
possibility can lead to some identify someone by their hands hand.
terrible consequences. We are and feet alone. Taylor imagines
called upon “to be awake.” the FBI posters at the post office Taylor recalls a friend whose
with hands and feet on them father had died suddenly. His
Easter, a time of rebirth, a time instead of faces. father had been a mechanic in a
when all the northern garage, and no matter how hard
hemisphere is coming back into Taylor notes, “Hands and feet he had scrubbed his hands,
bloom, we are reminded that are simply not the first things we there had always been a little bit
rebirth and hope for something notice about one another, and of ground in grime that he
better is possible. Everything is yet they are so telling of who we couldn’t get to clean off of his
possible through Christ, and this are.” Taylor points out that “what hands, no matter how hard he
becomes most evident at this she likes most about hands is worked at cleaning his hands.
Holy Season of Easter. that they do not lie. They can’t.” The son first saw his father after
~ reflections by M.J. Glauber Taylor explains, “We can usually his death as he lay in his coffin;
exercise some control over our the son went over to examine
faces so that they look the way his father’s hands. He was
(For The Third Sunday of
we want them to look, but our pleased to see that his father’s
Easter) Luke 24: 36b - 48 hands give us away every time.” hands were as they always had
been, well scrubbed, but with a
Taylor loves “those Sherlock little bit of grime that always
Jesus said to them, “Why are
Holmes stories where some stayed. The grieving son said,
you frightened, and why do
unsuspecting soul is introduced “Look they tried to clean him up,
doubts arise in your hearts? to Holmes, spends about five but they couldn’t. It’s my daddy;
Look at my hands and my minutes in his presence, and it’s really him.”
feet; see that it is I myself. leaves the room. Then the great
detective turns to Watson and Jesus said, “Look at my hands
Touch me and see; for a ghost
tells him what the visitor does and feet,” and “when they did,”
does not have flesh and
bones as you see that I
have.”
“Hands and Feet”
In her book, Home By
Another Way, Barbara
Brown Taylor points out
that Jesus wants his
friends to identify him by
looking at his hands and
feet; they will see the
wounds Jesus received
on the cross. Barbara
Brown Taylor notes that
this is a rather peculiar MJG ©
way to identify someone.
She asks, “Why not say
Fleabane - a native plant of Kentucky
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Jesus is among us
Easter 2012
had happened to him, which
were the only proof he had that
he was who he said he was,”
Taylor explains.
Taylor notes, “You know what his
(hands and feet) said about him.”
Then Taylor asks, “What do ours
say about us? Where have they
been, whom have they touched,
how have they served, what
have they proclaimed?”
Taylor explains that Christ told
MJG ©
them before he left them, ‘You
are witness of these things,’
entrusting the world to their
Fleabane - a native plant of Kentucky care.”
Taylor notes,”they could see was coming to those beloved Taylor adds that “When that world
everything that had been done to hands and feet, they had fled, looks around for the risen Christ,
them. They saw hands that had hiding themselves away where when they want to know what
broken bread and blessed broiled they could not see the bleeding that means, it is us they look at.
fish. They saw the hands that nor hear the pounding of the Not our pretty faces and not our
had pressed pads of mud against hammers,” Taylor reminds us. sincere eyes but our hands and
a blind man’s eye and taken a feet - what have we done with
dead girl by the hand so that she “Christ wanted them to know he them and where have we gone
rose and walked. ... They saw the had gone through the danger and with them. We are witnesses of
hands that reached out to touch a not around it, so he told them to these things,” Taylor explains,
leper without pausing or holding look - not at his face, not into his and then adds, “ We still are: the
back.” eyes - but at his hands and feet, body of Christ.”
which told the truth about what
“And his feet - the ones that had
carried him hundreds of miles,
taking his good news to all who
were starving for it - into the
homes of criminals and corrupt
bureaucrats, whom he treated
like long lost-kin.” ... ”They were
wounded now - all of them - the
hands that joined him to other
people and the feet that had
joined him to the earth. They had
holes in them, sore angry looking
bruises that hurt them to look at,
only it was important for the
MJG ©
disciples to look, because they
had never done it before. Earlier,
when they had figured out what
Rhododendron blossoms in spring
The ARK April 2012 [6] Volume 23; Edition 4
Jesus is among us
Easter 2012: Faith and Culture; Christian Identity and Unity
Hymn for the Third Sunday of give us, we pray, One, a children’s theatre in
Easter: Luke 24: 36b - 48 Louisville, KY.
your peace in our hearts,
Lord, at the end of the day.
In the interview, Hannah Wemitt
Lord of All
was also asked what is her
Hopefulness
“favorite exercise.” She
  doesn’t care for conventional
Lord of all hopefulness, exercise. Then she explained
Lord of all joy, that she “loves to move whether
it is dancing, walking or playing.”
whose trust, ever childlike, Jesus said, “Let the
Wemitt clarified that she loves
no cares could destroy, little children come to “to have dance parties in her
be there at our waking, and give own living room with her little
me, and do not hinder
one, ”who thinks her mother is
us, we pray,
them, for the kingdom pretty funny.”
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at
the break of the day. of heaven belongs to I imagine the sweet precious
moments that the two share.
such as these.”
Lord of all eagerness,
Matthew 19:14 We have been exploring the
Lord of all faith, meaning for Matthew 19:14 over
whose strong hands were skilled the past few years. I believe that
Hannah Wemitt was asked who Hannah Wemitt’s response, for
at the plane
were the people she admired whom are her favorite people
and the lathe, the most. and why, does an excellent job
be there at our labors, of addressing what
She responded, “It would be characteristics that children
and give us, we pray,
children.” possess that we should learn
your strength in our hearts,
and emulate in our daily actions
Lord, at the noon of the day. Then Wemitt explains, ~ M.J. Glauber
“Children are often
underestimated but, to me,
Lord of all kindliness,
are the most honest and
Lord of all grace, inspiring of us all.
your hands swift to welcome, The world from a
child’s perspective
your arms to embrace,
is so achievable,
be there at our homing,
there are no limits,
and give us, we pray, and they dream
big.”
your love in our hearts, Lord,
at the eve of the day.
Wemitt then clarified,
“We should all
Lord of all gentleness, dream big.”
Lord of all calm,
Hannah Wemitt is
whose voice is contentment, the director of MJG ©
whose presence is balm, marketing and public
relations for Stage
be there at our sleeping, and
Pink Azalea
The ARK April 2012 [7] Volume 23; Edition 4
Jesus is among us
ELCA NEWS SERVICE commitment to Early
February 22, 2012 unity in Christ. spring flowers
- a common
"We recognize that violet
ELCA, Catholic there is urgency in
our joining
leaders celebrate
Catholics to
their Christian unity, respond to the
great needs of
continue dialogue
poverty and
12-08-MRC human care. Being ©
MJG
stewards of
CHICAGO (ELCA) - In gratitude creation and
for the "unity in Christ" between working toward
the Catholic Church and the peace throughout
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the world are
America (ELCA), ELCA commitments that
Presiding Bishop Mark S. Christians are able
Hanson shared with Pope to share in daily
Benedict XVI a sense of life and in our
urgency between Lutherans and ministries of care," Hanson also shared his deep
Catholics in responding to the he said. respect for Pope Benedict, his
"great needs of poverty and ministry of oversight, and for the
human care" in the world. "With you, we pray for peace. well-being of the Catholic
As we see the suffering in Syria, Church. He also asked that
Hanson led a delegation of in Africa, and in the Middle East, Pope Benedict and Catholic
ELCA leaders to meet with Pope we join your call for peace Church leaders remember in
Benedict and other Catholic throughout the world. As prayer The Lutheran World
Church leaders Feb. 14-16 at Lutherans, we share this call Federation and the Evangelical
the Vatican. The ELCA and its and commitment with you and Lutheran Church in America "as
predecessor church bodies have the leaders of the Abrahamic we promise to remember you in
been in active dialogue with the faiths. This time calls for Jews, our petitions to our gracious
Catholic Church since the Christians and Muslims to God."
1960s. deepen our understanding of
one another and our resolve to The ELCA is the only U.S.
In his greeting to Pope Benedict, work together to build a world of Lutheran church in The Lutheran
Hanson said, "As Catholics and peace with justice." World Federation, a global
Lutherans, we have a renewed communion representing more
Information for PLEASE SEE Please contact: Dave and
WWW.AIFUSA.ORG Carol Natella who are the
AAIF:
For membership National Co-
Are you interested in meeting
information and other
and talking to other Chairs for AAIF
pertinent updates:
interchurch families in your
AAIF 2012 Biennial & for information about how
city between AAIF Biennial
Conference to form a City chapter in your
Conferences?
area or how to find the AAIF
Information in this edition
of the ARK: July 13 - 15 City Chapter closest to you.
The ARK April 2012 [8] Volume 23; Edition 4
Jesus is among us
ELCA, Catholic leaders celebrate their Christian unity, continue dialogue
than 70 million Christians Scripture areas of morality, ethics In response to the meetings at
worldwide. and theology, looking at the Bible the Vatican, Hofstad said he was
as an authoritative source for encouraged "both by our
Accompanying Hanson in the teaching ministries. reception as the Evangelical
delegation were the Rev. Jessica Lutheran Church in America
R. Crist, chair of the ELCA According to McCoid, members representatives and by the
Conference of Bishops and from the Council for Promoting affirmation on the part of Catholic
bishop of the ELCA Montana Christian Unity affirmed the leaders that we must continue
Synod; the Rev. Robert D. dialogues and shared the our joint ecumenical
Hofstad, bishop of the ELCA importance of "coming back to relationship."
Southwestern Washington what we have in common. This
Synod; and the Rev. Donald J. will help us remember what we During their time in Rome, ELCA
McCoid, assistant to the ELCA have done and harvest the fruits leaders also met with Archbishop
presiding bishop on ecumenical toward unity." Luis Ladaria, secretary of the
and inter-religious relations. Congregation for the Doctrine of
McCoid said the ELCA Faith; Monsignor Michael Crotty,
Together they met with several delegation received an update on from the Secretariate of State for
Catholic Church leaders as the dialogue between The questions regarding the Near
"Christians in dialogue," said Lutheran World Federation and East; and Cardinal Jean-Louis
Hanson. "These engagements the Catholic Church. A statement Tauran, president of the
are signs of a mature ecumenical on the 500th Anniversary of the Pontifical Council for
relationship," he said. Reformation is being developed. Interreligious Dialogue.
Information about the Catholic
In the United States, the ELCA Church's emphasis on the Year http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/
and the U.S. Conference of of Faith was shared. Our-Three-Expressions/
Catholic Bishops have recently Churchwide-Organization/
completed an eleventh round of It will include an ecumenical Communication-Services/News/
dialogue. During their meetings focus and accomplishments as Releases.aspx?a=5195
at the Vatican, the ELCA leaders the 50th anniversary of Vatican II
presented "The Hope of Eternal is observed.
Life" -- a common statement from
the eleventh round of dialogue -- "Ecumenism is central to
to Cardinal Kurt Koch, president the ELCA's mission and
of the Pontifical Council for identity," said McCoid. "Our
Promoting Christian Unity. meetings provided an
opportunity to discuss the
The common statement offers depth of mutual concerns,
fresh insights into some issues celebrate the round on 'The
that proved contentious in the Hope of Eternal Life' and
debates of the 16th century, such affirmed the systematic
as the communion of saints, approach in the current round
prayers for or about the dead, on authority."
the meaning of death, purgation,
the promise of the resurrection For Crist, ELCA members and
and more. Catholics have "come to a
point where we can celebrate
The current round of dialogue, our unity and talk about our
"Ministries of Teaching: Sources, differences and concerns in
Shapes and Essential Contents," the spirit of Christian unity."
will address through the lens of
Virginia Bluebells - Native Plants
The ARK April 2012 [9] Volume 23; Edition 4
USA-ELCA and Roman Catholic Dialogue Jesus is among us
The Hope of
Eternal Life
- Common
Statement of the
Eleventh Round of
the U.S. Lutheran-
Catholic Dialogue
Our churches affirm that death
cannot destroy the communion
with God of those redeemed
and justified. The nature of the
life that the justified departed MJG ©
share with God cannot be
described in great detail and, in
this life, it remains a great
mystery.
contentious in the debates of the It was reviewed by:
sixteenth century. Among the Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory,
Nevertheless, Catholics and
issues explored in this dialogue chair of the USCCB Committee
Lutherans share the sure and
were continuity in the communion for Ecumenical and Interreligious
certain hope that the justified
of saints, prayers for or about the Affairs, and Presiding Bishop
departed are “in Christ” and enjoy
dead, the meaning of death, Mark S. Hanson of the ELCA.
the rest that belongs to those
purgation, an interim state
who have run the race.
between death and the final It has been authorized for
general judgment, and the publication by:
The agreements emerging in
promise of resurrection. Msgr. David Malloy, general
Round XI of the U.S. Lutheran-
secretary of the USCCB, and the
Catholic Dialogue contribute to
Agreements are affirmed Rev. Donald J. McCoid,
the ongoing ecumenical journey.
on the basis of new ecumenical executive, ELCA.
The foundation for the
discussions and findings of insights, as readers will
http://www.ELCA.org/Who-We-
Round XI was established by the discover in this statement
Are/Our-Three-Expressions/
“Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Round XI.
Churchwide-Organization/Office-
of Justification.” That declaration
of-the-Presiding-Bishop/
was received officially by the
The Hope of Eternal Life was
Ecumenical-and-Inter-Religious-
Catholic Church and member
developed as a resource by:
Relations/Bilateral-
churches of the Lutheran World
the Committee for Ecumenical
Conversations/Lutheran-Roman-
Federation on October 31, 1999.
and Interreligious Affairs of the
Catholic.aspx
Further, the statement of Round
United States Conference of
XI builds on the findings of the
Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and
previous ten rounds of the U.S.
the Ecumenical and Inter-
Lutheran–Catholic Dialogue.
Religious Relations section of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
This common statement of
America (ELCA).
Round XI offers fresh insights
into some issues that proved
The ARK April 2012 [10] Volume 23; Edition 4