By Bishop Jen Nagel
Advent blessings, dear ones. We are smack in the middle of this season of preparation for Christ’s birth. Around our house we’ve gotten as far as putting the lights on the tree, but the bin of ornaments awaits. Calendars, candles, concerts, cookies, cards. The pulls of this season are many. More than a few of you have mentioned feeling stressed and weary. Thank you for all you are carrying. I hear you.
I love Advent. In particular, I love the rhythm and patterns of the ancient Advent prayers used in many congregations within our Lutheran family and across the church. Week after week our prayers begin with “Stir up.” Stir up your power, O Christ, and come. Stir up our hearts to prepare the way. Stir up the wills of your faithful people and open our ears.
We need some stirring up these days. Our divisions are blatant. Our uncertainty is rampant and deep. The temptation to hunker down is strong. And we know only enough to pray, Stir us up, O God, by your Spirit, with your gentle might, rouse us to a new way, awaken us to your birth, turn us back to you, set us on fire with your justice, soften our hearts with your love, instill courage, comfort fears, make us ready to welcome You.
Just in the last few days I’ve savored a string of meetings and events with a thread of preparation and sense of being stirred. Let me share a few:
ELCA Youth Gathering. The next ELCA Youth Gathering will be held here in Minneapolis June 28-July 2, 2027, with 16,000+ youth expected. This past week Gathering staff visited and planning is well underway. More to come!
Candidacy Open House. On Thursday candidates at all stages of preparation for ministry as ELCA pastors and deacons gathered for an open house at the synod office. Candidacy has its own Advent feel. I give thanks for the way the Minneapolis Area Synod Candidacy Committee walks with candidates over the years of preparation.
Minnesota Council of Churches. We are active members of the Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC). At an MCC Board Meeting last week, I was reminded of the rich and varied gifts of the council. In this season, refugee resettlement is particularly crucial with more than 50 staff members dedicated to this important work of hospitality.
The choir from Amazing Grace Ministry sings at the Hmong New Year celebration.
Amazing Grace. On Saturday, I had the joy of experiencing the Hmong New Year Celebration hosted by one of our synod’s new ministries, Amazing Grace. What a wonderful event filled with music, dance, good food, and bright and beautiful traditional clothing. This marks the 50th year since the Hmong community first came to Minnesota. My thanks to Pastor Nhiabee Vang and the hospitality of Amazing Grace.
Synod Staffing. We are in a season of interviews for an Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational Vitality and a Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM). The response has been strong with more than two dozen applicants for the positions. Please pray for the Spirit’s stirring and discerning power for the interview teams and for the candidates.
For these things and all the others that need it, Stir up our hearts, O God, to prepare the way for your coming. Amen!