Led Into Life

By Bishop Jen Nagel

Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
-Taize, tune by J. Berthier, based on Psalm 103.1 (listen to a version here)

I write from Bossey, a lovely ecumenical institute outside of Geneva, Switzerland. After three airline flights, I arrived Sunday evening to join other new-ish Lutheran bishops at the Lutheran World Federation’s Retreat of Newly Elected Leaders. The ELCA is one of 154 member churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), a communion of Lutherans, from literally around the world. This group of 13 of us represents churches in Namibia, Indonesia, El Salvador, Poland, Canada, Sweden, Costa Rica, Argentina, Tanzania, Guyana, Malaysia, and the US (yes, that’s me). We’ll be together until next Tuesday—first here in Switzerland, and then some days in Wittenberg, Germany.

We share a common calling as church leaders, and we bring with us our particular contexts and experiences, joys and concerns. Though I’m across the ocean, you, dear church, are my context, and you and the lament of these last days since the shooting at Annunciation are not far from my heart. This song from Taize began our evening worship tonight: “Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.” Or I might adjust it to read, “… who leads us into life.”

Even, and I’d say, especially, in the midst of these days of grief and death, when we lack for words, and light candles teary-eyed, my trust is even stronger in this One who leads us—amidst it all—into life.

A few reflections as we are led into life:

• You can read my message from last week here, and also the call of the Minnesota ELCA Bishops here. You’ll notice some important links about gun violence and the ELCA’s Social Message on Gun-Related Violence.

• 

  One of many prayer vigils held at area churches last week (this one, at Diamond Lake Lutheran)

  I’m grateful for the ways ELCA folks are showing up—offering pastoral care at Annunciation last Wednesday, caring for families (a number of these kids and their families and educators have ELCA connections), comforting neighbors, seeking support, hosting vigils, praying, praying, praying. In an exchange with Archbishop Hebda, he expressed gratitude for the ELCA support and outreach.

• I appreciate this resource from our colleagues at Outfront MN and PRISM. I echo what they write: “News reports tell us that the shooter was transgender. This reality can make our grief more complicated, and we must take care that it does not fuel harmful narratives or stigmatization of the broader trans community. As people of faith, we know and must clearly communicate that one person’s violent actions do not define the worth or dignity of an entire community. Trans and nonbinary people are beloved children of God, made in the divine image, and worthy of safety, joy, and flourishing.”

• For many of us, the world is feeling out of control and overwhelming. If that’s your experience, you aren’t alone. I hear you. Jesus meets us in the storms. Let someone know how you are feeling. Support your mental health. And know that we (our churches, our leaders, our cities, our schools) are prayed for—I have gotten a number of notes from far afield sending prayers for all us.

• Many head back to school today. We pray for students of all ages and stages, for parents and caregivers, for educators and school support teams, and for our campus pastors: Pastor Babette and Pastor John at Augsburg University, and Pastor Kate at the U of M’s Lutheran Campus Ministry-Twin Cities.

Beloved ones, our prayers are many these days, and sometimes simply sighs, but God hears them, God hears you. Across the ocean and in conversation and prayers with colleagues from around the world, I am praying for you and with you, and for our broken hearts and battered world. “Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads us into life.”