We're Back!

It's a new year and time to renew writing on-site.  I needed a break for a few months to recharge and to spend more time with folks in person.  Now we're back and ready to go.

We'll talk about this week's sermon tomorrow, but first...three announcements.

1.  Theology on Tap will be at Eric and Amy Peterson's place on N. Pine St. in town this Saturday at 7:00 p.m.  Join us for all the usual fun and discussion!

2.  We're looking for a couple of people to help enrich our Lenten experience this year.  You'd meet for an hour with me talking over the season of Lent, it's meaning and purpose, etc.  Then you'd go home and think about ways to enhance our Lenten journey inside and outside of worship.  You wouldn't have to think up stuff whole cloth (though you sure could if you were inclined).  We have helpful materials, especially for the in-worship stuff.  Then we'd meet and figure out one or two special things to do for Lent this year, which you might also help organize.  Let me know if you want to delve deeper into the meaning of Lent before it gets here.

3.  I'm going to do my best to post every day here to keep up interest.  You can help me with that.  Over the years I've learned that theology (i.e. "God Stuff") is a cooperative endeavor.  It doesn't do much good for one person to speak in a vacuum all the time, even if that person is good at speaking.  To discover God you need back and forth, two or more gathered...even if that gathering is in virtual space like this one.

I've also had plenty of experience with online community.  That other blog I write totaled 21 million page views in 2012.  That's a lot of eyes.  But those eyes come not just because of what I say, but for entertaining and intriguing questions and discussion.

Part of the reason I needed recharging is that it's hard to write every day here without much response.  I don't mean that I need the gratification of knowing people are reading.  People do read here.  Also I get plenty of that kind of gratification at the other place.  I don't need to be a superstar with billions of followers. But occasionally I do need some good questions or thoughtful conversation to keep me going, to feel like I'm not under pressure to come up with something all on my own every single day.

If you like reading here, if you missed it while I was on break (which several folks said they did), leave a comment every once in a while.  We don't have filters up anymore so you can just leave it and see it right away, as far as I know.  (If that's not happening, e-mail me and let me know.)  Either talk with me or talk with each other, but just provide another voice from time to time.  That'll restore my energy for the work here.

Looking forward to chatting with you about all things theological!

Pastor Dave (pastordave@geneseelutheranparish.org)