Wired Jesus Podcast

Well, I’m back from Florida and now deep in the final prep for our U2 Eucharist. Despite what you may have read via Reuters, the first live U2 Eucharist will not be in London in May but here in Chicago this Sunday.

One thing that has struck me since the gathering and in being interviewed by the Chicago Tribune last week about the Eucharist is that people both “inside” the church and those “outside” the church don’t get creative type pastors. Part of me would like to think there might have been a time when creative artists who were into the life of Jesus and modeling that were welcomed and understood, but I come back to realizing that “creativity” with faith is what got Jesus nailed to the cross.

In Orlando, we had 137 church leaders wandering around and excited that there they were not alone, that there were other people who see the faith journey as something other than a sunday appointment or a political power game little different than a village council. Likewise, the reporters from the Tribune that visited here to talk about the U2 Eucharist and a special series we are doing on the arts and worship (we have guest artists who create during our worship services – a watercolor artist who painted Bible stories during the service that was projected on the wall; a biblical storyteller ; we have dancers and clowns and a potter), the reporters thought it was the coolest church they had ever heard about. I’m not sure all the members here would agree.

I’ll have an interview in the Tribune this Sunday that talks about some of this need for the church to get “postmodern” to be relevant to the faith journey of postmodern generations. I guess its always been that way from generation to generation, there is a comfort in the past and and discomfort with those who point us to the future.

So, I found this prayer during my devotional time this morning, so for all the creative type pastors and leaders out there, I offer this to you. Its an old prayer in older English, but its a great reminder from the past that none of us are alone, that creativity and the journey of faith do belong together.

A Prayer for my Pastor
Everlasting, Gracious, Heavenly Father, for my pastor I pray; grant him to speak Thy word with joy; fearlessly against every error, false doctrine, and abuse; that he may declare and make plain to us the mysteries of the gospel, and remove from our hearts all delusions. Keep him steadfast in the true doctrine and Christian life, that he may be unto us a leader into everlasting life. Guard his body against sickness, that to our benefit, he may for a long time go before us and preach Thy divine word without fear or hesitation, without hypocrisy, not of favor, hatred, jealousy, or for self advantage, but proclaim the truth in all it’s purity and fullness, and denounce evils as becometh them, that I and many more may be won for Thy kingdom, Open my heart and ears that I may listen to Thy word with desire and love, with reverent mind, and hearty attention; to walk in accordance thereto in true faith and bring fruit unto Thy divine glory, Save me from becoming tired of hearing and from soulfulness of soul; inestimable riches of Thy grace, which is tendered to us in the sermon. Grant me grace to know and esteem my pastor as a servant. and steward of the divine mysteries, that I receive Thy word from his lips without offence, unto the bettering of my life the abhorrence of sin; and not let correction pass me by unheeded, nor, that I offend, or despise him by whom the correction cometh. Preserve us all in the true faith and a Christian life, that we may daily grow and increase therein, remain steadfast unto our end, and be eternally saved; through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ….Amen
J. K. Wilhelm Loehe (1808 – 1872)