By Johan Baumeister
One of my favorite hymns goes “Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the Creator triumphantly raise.”
I like the soaring and majestic tune. I find beauty in the imagery of a pillar of fire, of traveling “from light into light,” and of the stars wheeling about the nighttime sky. Most of all though, I think the “us” language – invited to unite in thanksgiving with “all things now living” – is deeply compelling.
All of creation, united in thanksgiving. That’s a beautiful image.
I MAKE NO CLAIM that all of creation unites this week in Thanksgiving. Not even all of humanity is unified. In humble hope for the day that more of us can be united than divided, I offer some small thanksgivings of my own.
This week is my last week working at the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA. It is also Wondimu Sonessa’s and Bob Hulteen’s. I’d like to name and express gratitude for some of the gifts that I have seen others bring to this work over the last 15 months. I am thankful today for Wondimu’s faithful voice of love and inclusion and the stories he offers to share his wisdom, especially those of time spent in his youth with flocks and farm. I am grateful for Bob’s sense of justice and insight, for the reality checks he somewhat gently offers.
I’m grateful for Nick’s grumpy iconoclasm, because if we take our institutions or values or practices for granted, they remain unexamined and thus unworthy of the mind our Creator gave us. I see and appreciate Karen’s kindness as well as her attention to detail. I look to John with gratitude for an example of calm and firm leadership. (And also for a twice-monthly delivery of farm-fresh eggs.) I see and appreciate Mercy’s dedication to her work and care for all those around her. I am awed by Lynda’s lifelong love of the church and her consistent work to build and ensure a future for our missions.
“The ‘us’ language of ‘Let All Things Now Living’ – invited to unite in thanksgiving with ‘all things now living’ – is deeply compelling.”
For Jessie, I name the compassion that she brings with her everywhere – her commitment to ensuring that people feel safe and heard seems unbreakable. With Jeni, a talent for planning and the consistent help that she offers to make our shared work a success are but two of her gifts I appreciate and name today. Kellie’s tenacity and clear communication go a long way to keeping our office and synod running smoothly. I’m thankful for Peg’s kind words and the depth of her literary knowledge; I think both inform her work and her relationships.
I’m grateful for Bishop Ann’s leadership in centering climate justice and racial justice. I’m grateful for Bishop Jen’s commitment to ensuring that this justice work will continue to be supported by the synod, as well as for her vision of churches in accompaniment with our neighborhoods.
MOST OF ALL THOUGH, I’m grateful for the folks who volunteer their time and talents to be church in the world. For Eric, Lacy, Paula, Dan, and Rich; without them, my own work would not have been as successful, nor would there have been as much to fill the cups of those who attended the recent EcoFaith Summit. I’m grateful for Karen and Ann and John and the other volunteers from University Lutheran Church of Hope. Volunteers make our churches run, they are integral to many missions and ministries, including the ministry of coffee hour.
“The people of Salem English Lutheran Church, just off Lyndale Avenue, extended a radical and warm welcome to me and others.”
And I remain always grateful to the people of Salem English Lutheran Church, just off Lyndale Avenue. They are not the only congregation in our synod that has extended a radical and warm welcome to me and others. But they were the first for me. That reflection of Christ’s love is how we’re called to be in the world, even when the world seems difficult or determined to reject that which we love.
I hope that you will find comfort with family in the coming season, that you will continue to strive to be a reflection of God’s love and unconditional acceptance, and that you will support one another looking forward to that day when we can give thanks in unison with all of creation.