March 11, 2025 - The Anniversary of a Day of Change and a Blog Rememberance

Five years Ago Today the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. A year later, in 2021, after the death of more than 600,000 Americans, artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg organized a memorial to them on the National Mall. The image here is part of how she remembered and honored those who died.

Shortly after on March 22, Pastor Ray passed away. 

We, as a nation, appear to be forgetting. or at least not honoring collectively, the memory of those who died. Rather the wake of COVID brought horrible lies and conspiracy theories which grew and nurtured authoritarianism around the world. We saw a further fracturing of communities instead of to connection, empathy, and compassion. 

That said, this is the blog entry posted on March 24th that starts with his Lent message for the March newsletter that year is a remembrance.

Know that I am with you as you journey to the cross this Lent, and know that the Lord is with you, too. 

Pastor Ray McKechnie

This was how Pastor Ray closed his letter in our March monthly newsletter.

On March 22, 2020, he passed away from a sudden heart attack.  Our community obviously feels this loss deeply and we continue to pray for Pastor Ray's family, especially for his husband, Eric.

The 23rd Psalm came to mind all day, both preceding and during Sunday's zoom meeting of the congregation. Particularly the words "He leadth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul" and yes, the King James translation is still the one I repeat in my heart. This was, coincidentally, the Psalm reading in Sunday's lectionary.

Yet I hardly felt I was being led beside the still waters on Sunday. These past few weeks have taken many off our sure footing as we began to learn how to cope with the coronavirus. Pastor Ray was beloved by so many of us and his sudden death was like being tossed in the rapids rather than by the still waters. Despite that feeling, yesterday also helped me to know God continues to lead this community, and those around us, to live life and love beside those still waters.

The Second Reading - Ephesians 5:14 "for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." picks up on Pastor Ray's last line of the newsletter. Both suggest another invitation or approach Jesus can give us. We can have faith that Christ can shine on us, in us, and through us even in our grief.

I felt this shining on us, in us, and through us was present in two musical highlights in worship when these readings came up three years ago. I doubt Annie, Vaune, and Kim, at that time, made their selection of  Jennifer Knapp's Peace primarily to support the sermon or the readings, and yet Peace did support and resonated with the sermon then, Pastor Ray's passing now, and readings. The lines "That I might hear a simple word" and "All tempests He will bind with a mighty word" was relevant to the gospel's story. The blind man first heard and then followed Jesus' word before he saw Jesus. Although it must have been coincidental, the lines in the verse "And when my enemies draw near / I pray that they will find / That I'm protected and secure" strongly echoed the sentiment in Psalm 23.

Today's First Reading is Samuel 16:7 - "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

This verse captures one dimension of the difficulty encountered in the Gospel Lesson of The Blind Man Healed. Whatever truth we communicate about God publicly, we rely on outward appearance as a touchstone or point of reference. God's presence and attributes are not truly recognized through direct sensual evidence, even in our own hearts. We discover them through faith. The questions then become:

    How do we communicate about God and our faith to others? 
    What is the vocabulary that can used to share our God and faith experiences?

Look at Ephesians and how true that verse feels. Look at how Pastor Ray closed his letter. The words are a challenge to keep them true in a different way than he meant but that makes his words, perhaps, even more meaningful .

With Eric (his husband), we will work through a community response while we practice our not gathering. It is likely to be different, regarding a traditional gathering memorial or celebration of life anyway. What has not changed is this congregation's desire to live into the moment and resolutely search for and find our love-in-action response specifically for this time and in this place.

We shared our grief through a zoom meeting on Sunday night and I have faith that we will find a way to collectively honor him and lovingly support his husband in this moment.

March 9, 2025 - First Sunday in Lent with Guest Musician Maria Olava Touches Our Hearts

In a moment of pure musical grace, the congregation was drawn into deep reflection as the warm, resonant tones of a nylon-string guitar filled the sanctuary. Our guest musician, Maria Olava, a very strong finger picking guitarist, offered a performance before the Children's Sermon and delivered a gentle rendition of Ábrete Corazón by Rosa Glove that was profoundly moving.

Each note was played with intention, every phrase imbued with an emotional depth. The delicate arpeggios and fluid transitions created a mesmerizing soundscape, inviting all who listened into a space of prayerful contemplation. It was more than music—it was worship in its purest form, a heartfelt offering to the divine.

As the melody unfolded, one could sense the spirit of devotion flowing through the strings, reaching everyone present. The balance of precision and passion made it clear: Olava is not just a musician but a vessel for something greater. Creator was blessed to witness such artistry, and the echoes of that performance will linger in our hearts.

In today's parable, The Good Samaritan,  a lawyer answers his own question about eternal life by saying "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.”

Unable to utter the word “Samaritan,” the lawyer could only respond to Jesus' question "Who was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers" by saying “The one who showed him mercy.”. This was completely unlike the music and lyrics of Ábrete Corazón which conjure up, inspire and yield to that love simultaneously.

Open up, heart
Open up, feeling
Open up, understanding
Set reason aside
And let the Sun shine
Hidden within you
Open up, ancient memory
Hidden in the earth in the plants,
in the air
Remember what you learned
Underwater, under fire
Long ago
It's time now, it's now
Open up, heart And remember how love heals
How the spirit cures How the tree blossoms
And life endures

March 5, 2025 - Ash Wednesday - Death Connects All of Us Who Are Made From Clay and Dust

Ash Wednesday's service was extraordinary. My faith was not just believed during worship but felt. Past Ash Wednesdays have sometimes been primarily rituals to participate in for me. 

Tonight's service was an encounter and I wasn't in person for the service but participated by Zoom. Creator's shared sanctuary became a sacred space where our hearts beat in unison with the rhythm of the felt divine presence.

As usual, this worship was recorded. For many the readings, Pastor Emillie's reflection, and the imposition of ashes may have been routine. What I felt, however, was orchestrated by the day's events which evoked experiences that have occurred over the past few months.

My needing to engage with mortality differently was made more real last year in October when my wife's younger sister died from cancer. Attending her funeral cemetery arrangements were arranged, including where my wife and I will be buried. And a few weeks back I read a poetry book by sister's husband, Bill Davies, called Oldmanhood.  The title alone made me contemplate slipping, in life and health, from manhood into oldmanhood. I recognize I now reside in a neighborhood where life, health, annuity and retirement decisions all need to be made more urgently. And I received a package on Wednesday morning from a friend writing about a road trip with his late wife's urn along. Ash Wednesday's overwhelming and humbling truth made real.

This is also a season for the ongoing disagreements over truth and the accusation the recent administration has made against Lutherans (among others). This made me think of Gimme Some Truth that John Lennon sang in 1970 "I've had enough of reading things by neurotic, psychotic pig headed politicians. All I want is the truth, just gimme some truth" Now I wonder if I can handle the inconvenient truths of this new era seen from new perspectives.

For over a month our Creator Wednesday Bible Night Conversations has anticipated the Sunday Narrative lectionary readings. The Gospel reading was the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Reading this on Ash Wednesday changed the framing context of the parable. Thinking that Jesus has turned his face to Jerusalem and chooses to start with "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead."

This changed who this parable was about for me. The man who fell into the hands of robbers is the Christ figure. As we discussed this, one participant expressed her desire for a satisfying ending to the Samaritan parable. Where the ultimate fate of the man who was helped is given. Certainly one ending to Christ's story is not satisfying either. 

Anyway, because of the timings of both the Bible Night Conversation and the service, I chose to attend via Zoom. Pastor Emillie's reflection began with the reminder that we all will die. Death connects us all in this way, yet it is so hard in this particular season to recognize that connection. 

"Who are our neighbors?" Pastor Emille asked. Sometimes our neighbors are immigrants who don't look like us that are being pulled out of our country. Sometimes our neighbors are the ones taking those immigrants and labeling them criminals. Sometimes they are those sitting next to us in church and sometimes they are the ones who are on the street, hungry and homeless. Through all of it death is the great connector. When denying that basic fact and grabbing power to make ourselves greater, we have scripture to remind us that finally we are dust and to dust we shall return

The imposition of ashes in the service nodded to both past tradition and innovation reaching for more meaning. Those gathered received the familiar ash cross on their foreheads but the cross was made by someone else in the congregation rather than the pastor alone. The moment was immersive, participatory, and deeply personal for me, even over zoom. Matt's music didn’t just fill the room—it moved through me, The song, written by his friend, captured the moment perfectly.

Creator's congregation often embrace the full spectrum of human experience—joy and sorrow, doubt and conviction, reverence and celebration. It is a community where all are welcome, where questions are honored, and where the sacred is encountered in both the ecstatic and the everyday.

Here, faith is not just something to be understood—it is something that is lived.

An Apology to Canada Regarding Tariffs

 As Joni Mitchell once sang in A Case of You "You are in my blood like holy wine".

We owe you an apology. Truly.

You deserve better. The world deserves better.

As people of faith, we believe that being a good neighbor is not just a social contract—it’s a spiritual calling. Across traditions, we are reminded to care for those around us. Jesus told us that loving our neighbor is the greatest commandment, second only to loving God. The Hebrew Scriptures call us to welcome the stranger and seek the welfare of our communities. In Islam, the Prophet Muhammad taught, “He is not a believer whose neighbor does not feel safe from his harm.” And we know you are not responsible for American fentanyl deaths.

You have been the kind of neighbor we all hope for—steady, kind, and generous. You have stood by us in times of crisis, shared in our joys and sorrows, and reminded us what friendship between nations can look like. And yet, our government has chosen conflict over cooperation, self-interest over partnership. A 25% tariff on Canadian goods is not just bad economics—it’s bad faith. It undermines the trust and goodwill that has long defined our relationship.

Being a good neighbor is about more than proximity—it’s about posture. It’s about choosing relationship over rivalry, generosity over greed, and cooperation over control. It’s about recognizing that our well-being is tied up with one another’s. No border, no policy, no tariff can change that fundamental truth.

As people of faith, we are called to love our neighbors and to act with integrity and fairness in all things. Trade policies should reflect these values—promoting cooperation rather than division, mutual benefit rather than hardship. We lament that these tariffs have instead created unnecessary tension, affecting workers, businesses, and communities on both sides of the border.

You know that many Americans, including those of us in the faith community, oppose actions that disrupt our shared prosperity and unity. We pray for a future where our nations work together in the spirit of justice and compassion, building bridges rather than barriers.

The great theologian Howard Thurman wrote, “There is something in every one of us that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in ourselves… and if I hear the genuine in me, I can hear it in you.” To be a good neighbor, we must listen for the genuine in one another. We must resist the forces that seek to divide us and instead build bridges of understanding and solidarity. We appreciate and applaud Justin Trudeau's direct message to the American people.

So, to our Canadian friends: We see you. We honor you. We want to stay a good, global neighbor. While the actions of those in power may not reflect it, remember that many of us stand with you in friendship and gratitude.

We are in this together with love and humility

March 2, 2025 -Transfiguration Sunday - Listen to Jesus, See His Face, then Go Down from the Mountain

What the Wednesday Bible Study and Pastor Emillie's sermon stressed was why we cannot "tabernacle' or stay where we momentarily encounter God or have a powerful spiritual encounter. The narrative lectionary reading makes this obvious. 

Peter, John and James may likely be seeing this as an end time experience since Elijah is there. They may not even know where they are in time but the next story of healing the boy would not have happened if they remained. Nor would the death that Jesus was foretelling would not have happened. 

The disciples would likely saw the Transfiguration as an end-times vision—perhaps a glimpse of the coming messianic kingdom. However, they misunderstood its full implications, particularly that Jesus' path to glory included the cross. 

Recently someone asked a class I am in how we felt about state-sanctioned violence being a part of God's plan. I can only speculate based on atonement theories I have seen offered. I find what works in my soul is to incorporate that suffering into the faith that all the experiences we can become part if the way we are drawn closer to God.

 I was also struck with verse Luke 9:31. During the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah speak with Jesus about his upcoming "departure" in Jerusalem. The Greek word used here is "ἔξοδος" (exodos), which is the same word for "Exodus."

Luke’s use of "exodos" in the Transfiguration account is profound. It frames Jesus' journey to the cross as a new and greater Exodus, where he leads people to salvation, not from physical slavery, but from sin and death. This deepens the disciples' (and our) understanding of his mission as the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan

The whole passage demonstrates the move from the season of Epiphany, the reason to connect with everyday needs afterwards and starting the Lenten journey of turning to face the cross. 

February 23, 2025 - Seventh Sunday After Epiphany - See As God Sees

Each of the four Gospels has an account of Jesus being anointed . These are all done by a woman. Each have different circumstances with different outcomes.

Does the truth in one account's story lead us to doubt the truth of the others? Today's Gospel account is Luke's. Simon, a Pharisee. hosts a dinner for Jesus. His actions there are compared with another attendee, a woman in the city who is "a known sinner".

Jesus teaches Simon through a parable that the one to whom little is forgiven loves little. And we are so locked into our everyday transactional exchanges of life it is easy to compare and conclude that Jesus is advocating "bigger sins" will lead humankind to bigger forgiveness and, ultimately, to a larger love of God. Jesus, in truth, is calling for recognition of a need for forgiveness to fully embrace God's love and extend it to others.

The woman "sinner" actually shows her deep faith and humility, displaying profound respect and love in what she does. Jesus, wanting to teach Simon about devotion and respect, compares his actions to the woman's. on foot washing, a greeting kiss, and anointing Jesus with oil. Instead Simon subtly, and with cold formality, has distanced himself from Jesus and from his obligations as a host.

Rather than focusing on Jesus' forgiveness for the woman Pastor Emillie's sermon was all about the worship going on in the passage. This passionate worship on exhibit is also partially hidden. This passage is not told from the worshiping woman's perspective. Instead the narration is from Simon's eyes, and the lessons are taught, through him, by Jesus. 

He clearly is not perceiving what the woman is doing. From Simon's attitude it is implied that she is an uninvited attendee . She is too broken in Simon's judgment to belong there. Yet she is present and the worship she displays is intimate, personal and emotional.

Pastor Emillie recounted different worships she has experienced, from Congolese dancing and moving through their space with chairs on their heads to the Catholic chanting surrounded by incense and, at times, praying using the rosary. How Christians worship is diverse and shaped by the individuals who are gathered together.

At Creator the congregation formally worships Sunday mornings. Arguably we meet for worship on Wednesday afternoons as well for a Bible Study  What the upcoming narrative lectionary Gospel means to us is shared and we marvel at the understanding that is revealed rather than debating if any interpretation is more "right". When Pastor Emillie preaches her Sunday sermon it is always a thought-provoking different perspective from the Wednesday discussion.

And it is apparent how our faith saves us; and we go in peace both Wednesdays and Sundays.

Major Accomplishments of USAID Programs with ELCA Involvement and Current Government Policies on Refugees

USAID (United States Agency for International Development) has historically collaborated with ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and its affiliated organizations, such as Lutheran World Relief (LWR), by providing funding for various humanitarian and development programs. These partnerships have enabled ELCA-affiliated groups to expand their reach and impact in areas like disaster relief, agriculture, and community resilience.

However, recent policy changes have significantly impacted these collaborations. In January 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order temporarily halting the disbursement of foreign development assistance funds, including those managed by faith-based organizations like LWR. This abrupt funding freeze has disrupted critical programs related to global health, refugee support, food security, and disaster relief.

The suspension of funds has led to considerable challenges for ELCA-affiliated organizations, hindering their ability to deliver essential services to vulnerable populations. In response, these organizations are seeking alternative funding sources and advocating for the restoration of aid to continue their vital work.

 Examples of USAID-Funded ELCA Programs:

• Honduras Agricultural Initiative: LWR partnered with USAID under the Feed the Future initiative to promote women's leadership in agriculture. This project aimed to improve nutrition and food access by encouraging women's participation in municipal politics and raising awareness of gender issues among men.

• Nepal Disaster Resilience Project: LWR implemented the USAID-funded Strengthening Local Governance for Disaster Resilient Communities (SAKSHAM) project in Nepal. The initiative focused on enhancing community resilience through disaster risk reduction and management, benefiting nearly 300,000 residents in flood-prone areas.

• Lebanon Housing Rehabilitation: Following the Beirut port explosion, LWR, with support from USAID's Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, facilitated the safe return of 1,986 vulnerable individuals to their homes by repairing damaged residences, providing stability amid ongoing crises.
  

  Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW) has been actively involved in refugee resettlement and support services. In February 2025, LCSNW, alongside Church World Service (CWS) and HIAS, filed a lawsuit challenging the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and the associated funding freeze. The lawsuit argues that the suspension is unlawful and violates Congress's authority to make immigration laws. 

  As of March 7, 2025, the Trump administration has implemented several significant immigration reforms:

  Executive Actions

  • Executive Order 14159: "Protecting The American People Against Invasion" (Signed January 20, 2025): This order expands the use of expedited removal, denies federal funding to sanctuary jurisdictions, imposes penalties for undocumented immigrants who fail to register, increases hiring for ICE and CBP agents, restricts access to public benefits, expands 287(g) agreements, and increases federal prosecutions for immigration-related offenses.

  Legislative Measures

  • Laken Riley Act (Signed into law on January 29, 2025): This law mandates the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who admit to, are charged with, or are convicted of theft-related crimes, assaulting a police officer, or crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury, such as drunk driving. It also allows states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for alleged failures in immigration enforcement.

  Policy Changes

  • Termination of Temporary Humanitarian Parole Programs: The administration plans to revoke the temporary legal status of approximately 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the Russian conflict, as well as over 1.8 million migrants from various countries who entered under humanitarian parole programs initiated by the previous administration.

  • Resumption of Family Detention: The Department of Homeland Security has announced the reopening of two Texas detention centers, Karnes and Dilley, to detain families in the U.S. illegally. These facilities, operated by private contractor CoreCivic Inc., will house families with final deportation orders from federal judges.

  These measures reflect the administration's focus on stricter immigration enforcement and the reversal of policies from the previous administration.
  

  The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is a collaborative effort between multiple government agencies, each playing a specific role:

  U.S. Department of State (DOS) – Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM)

  • Leads USRAP and oversees the entire refugee admissions process.
  • Funds and manages Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs) that process refugee applications overseas.
  • Works with international organizations like the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and IOM (International Organization for Migration) to identify and refer refugees for resettlement.
  • Coordinates refugee transportation to the U.S.

  U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

  • Conducts security screenings and in-person interviews of refugee applicants overseas.
  • Determines eligibility for refugee status based on U.S. law.

  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)

  • Manages refugee resettlement once refugees arrive in the U.S.
  • Funds programs to help refugees with housing, healthcare, job placement, English language training, and social services through state and local partners.

  U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

  • Not directly involved in USRAP, but provides humanitarian aid and development assistance to displaced populations in refugee-producing regions.
  • Funds programs that support refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) abroad to improve conditions in host countries.

  Key Features of USRAP:

  1. Refugee Eligibility & Screening

     • Refugees must meet the United Nations definition of a refugee: someone unable to return to their home country due to persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
     • The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) interviews applicants and conducts security checks.
     • Medical screenings are required before travel.

  2. Priority Categories for Refugee Status

     • Priority 1 (P-1): Individuals referred by the UNHCR, a U.S. embassy, or an NGO.
     • Priority 2 (P-2): Groups of special humanitarian concern identified by the U.S. government.
     • Priority 3 (P-3): Family reunification cases for certain nationalities.

  3. Resettlement & Support

     • Approved refugees are assisted by Resettlement Agencies (RAs) like Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Church World Service (CWS).
     • Refugees receive financial assistance, housing support, job training, and language classes through the Reception and Placement (R&P) Program.
     • After one year, refugees must apply for a Green Card (permanent residency).

  4. Annual Refugee Admissions Ceiling

     • The U.S. president sets a yearly cap on refugee admissions in consultation with Congress.
     • The cap has varied widely depending on administration policies (e.g., 125,000 in 2022 vs. 18,000 in 2020 under different administrations).

  5. Key Challenges & Recent Developments

     • USRAP has faced temporary suspensions and policy changes, such as the travel bans and funding freezes in recent years.
     • In February 2025, LCSNW and other organizations filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, challenging a suspension of the program and funding freeze.
     • The Biden administration has focused on rebuilding USRAP after previous cuts, with increased admissions and expanded pathways.

     The Presidential Determination on refugee admissions sets the maximum number of refugees allowed to enter the United States each fiscal year (October 1 to September 30). Here's a historical overview of these annual ceilings and the actual number of refugees admitted:

     Fiscal Year	Ceiling	Actual

     2015	70,000	69,920
     2016	85,000	84,989
     2017	110,000	53,716
     2018	45,000	22,491
     2019	30,000	29,916
     2020	18,000	11,814
     2021	15,000	11,454
     2022	125,000	25,519
     2023	125,000	60,050
     2024	125,000	Data Pending
     2025	Suspended	Suspended

     Note: The data for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 reflect recent policy changes and may be updated as new information becomes available.