Higher Things - Set-up and Arrival

So first, apologies that I did not keep up with posting this week! I really was just too busy. Every day was full, and what little downtime I had was spent trying to get sermons written for Sunday and Monday's funeral. But I'll try to catch up and tell you about the week . . .

Monday morning: unload the truck and set-up. 

Higher Things has a box truck and it is FULL of stuff! Pretty much everything we need, we bring with us. So there's a lot to unload and sort and get to where it needs to go. The nice things about this conference is that almost everything (chapel, plenaries, breakaway sessions, merch, and HQ) was in the same building, so the truck didn't have to drive from place to place - which is the way it often is.

After unloading, the rest of the day was spent unpacking, sorting, finding what we needed, figuring out how to set-up a chapel space, thinking through logistics, and getting things ready for the Opening Service on Tuesday. All this was because we didn't actually have a chapel to use - we had to use the auditorium and turn it into a worshipful space. 

Oh, and we also had to move me down from the Staff dorm to the dorm where my group would be staying. It was a full day!

I was assigned a CCV (Conference College Volunteer) who worked with me in the chapel all week. Her name was Magdalena and - bonus! - I knew her father at the Seminary and she is friends with my daughter! She was a BIG help, since I didn't have any summer vicars or deaconess interns this year. She, the organist, and I pretty much ran the chapel for the week. (Sadly, I did not take any pictures of the chapel set-up to show you!)

After dinner was an Evening Prayer service for all the Staff to bless the room and the chapel space and just to end the day right. I also ordered a bunch of pizzas for our group so it would be here for them when they arrived - which was around 9 o'clock or so, I think. I got back to the dorm around 10:30ish I think, and helped them settle in. Then I had to move into my room and turn in. 

Oh, and did I mention it was HOT! And the dorms were HOT! No AC. Fans blew hot air around, which helped a little . . . but pretty brutal heat the first few days. but more on that tomorrow . . .

Matthew Machemer

Associate Kantor at our Fort Wayne Seminary

and our Organist for the week

Higher Things - Drive and Set-up Day

Awful. Just awful.

A leisurely Sunday afternoon drive up the East Coast to Massachusetts? Not happening.

I actually left earlier than I thought I would, and got in later than I wanted. Ugh. Just awful.

Crawled on the Beltway. Crawled up I-95 in Maryland. Crawled through Delaware. The NJ Turnpike was actually good! But then got on the Garden State Parkway and . . . crawled. NY State Thruway? Crawled. Once I got across the bridge it was okay for a bit, but then a highway entrance closed for construction sent me on a detour where me and everyone else who wanted to get onto the highway . . . crawled. Between sheer volume, construction, and accidents, it was NOT a nice drive!

I did finally arrive and guess what? Couldn't get my room! They have me staying with my group instead of with staff, which is in another dorm which doesn't have check-in yet! Fortunately, they worked it out for me and I finally got to a bed, but today I have to move to the other dorm whenever that opens for check-in. Just another thing to do . . .

Today is set-up day. So breakfast at 8, and then we begin unloading the truck at 9. Once we get all the chapel stuff, have to figure out how to set up the chapel and get it all ready to go. All our services will be in the auditorium, so we have to figure out how to set up a worship space to share with where the plenaries will be. Then get everything organized and ready for tomorrow. Today ends with Evening Prayer for the staff at 9 pm and to consecrate the space for our church.

This campus (UMass-Amherst) is BIG! I think we're going to do a LOT of walking . . .

Passports

So my passport expires in January of next year, so time to start the renewal process. I don't know why passports aren't accepted when they have less than six months until their expiration, but there ya' go. So time to renew. 

I saw that you can do this online now. So I went and got a new photo and did the online process. It was pretty easy. They tell you to expect the process to take 6 weeks or so, but in LESS than one week after my payment cleared, I was notified that my application was successful, my new passport printed, and it is now in the mail to me! Less than one week! My wife said, "Yup. That's what happens when people go back in to work!"

Walk-Run-Ride for Life Update

I'm a little late with this, as with most things on this blog (!), but to give you all an update on the Walk-Run-Ride for Life . . .

The Lutherans were awesome!

Our Lutherans for Life team finished in 1st place for fundraising this year, and while it doesn't show on this screenshot, the Immanuel Lutheran team finished in 3rd. Great job! Lutherans love life!

And then this, too . . .

Lutherans 1st and 2nd for individual fundraising!

BUT . . . update: after I took this screenshot, I was edged out for 2nd. But still! Lutherans 1st and 3rd in individual fundraising! Great job!

And overall (and most importantly), over $90,000 was raised for the Assist Pregnancy Center. THANK YOU to all who donated - you're the best! And we look forward to raising even more next year.

+ Roy Clark +

Laid to rest the patriarch of our congregation yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery. It's always impressive to go there, but even more yesterday as Roy received full honors . . . and a little more! For usually, cannon blasts are reserved for generals. But Roy got them yesterday for they were practicing at the time we were processing into the cemetery.  :-)

Roy's in one of the older sections, and has an old grave marker, before they changed them to be all uniform. Rest in peace, Roy. See you soon.

At Arlington, time limitations are severe. There are so many funerals there you don't get much time. Here is the brief meditation I preached for him yesterday.

June is Life Month

JOINT RESOLUTION

Designating the month of June as ‘‘Life Month’’.

Whereas the United States of America was founded on the principle that all people are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including the right to life;

Whereas the right to life is a fundamental truth enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and reaffirmed throughout the history of the United States as a cornerstone of liberty and justice;

Whereas every human life is inherently precious, has equal dignity and worth, and deserves legal protection; Whereas the Supreme Court issued its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on June 24, 2022;

Whereas the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization rightfully returned to the people of the United States and their elected representatives the ability to protect innocent unborn life;

Whereas it is the responsibility of the people of the United States and their elected representatives to protect unborn life and to plead the cause of those who cannot plead for themselves; and

Whereas faith-based and community organizations, pregnancy resource centers, medical professionals, and countless families across the United States serve as champions of life, offering essential care, resources, and support to pregnant mothers and families in need: 

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Life Month Resolution’’.

SEC. 2. LIFE MONTH.

That the Senate and the House of Representatives—

(1) designate a ‘‘Life Month’’ annually;

(2) recognize that every human life is a sacred gift from God, possessing inherent dignity and worth;

(3) reaffirm the fundamental truth recognized in the Declaration of Independence that life is an unalienable right;

(4) commend individuals, parents, families, faith-based organizations, and communities who work to promote a culture of life; and

(5) urge policymakers to defend the sanctity of human life by enacting laws that protect the unborn and provide resources to empower women and families to choose life.

Vacation

We got to take an early vacation this year. My wife is limited to two weeks off in the summer, and she uses one of those weeks to help at Higher Things, and another week to take my daughter back to school. So by taking vacation before the summer starts, she can take the time we need. 

So we went to . . . Hawaii!

This trip doubled both as vacation and for our 30th Wedding Anniversary. And we got free flights! Last year, we volunteered to get bumped from an overbooked flight from Chicago to Minneapolis, and we each got $1,200 vouchers (for a $200 flight!). So thank you, American Airlines, for our free trip to Hawaii! 

I'll post some pictures and mention some of the things we did. I'll start with this: part of our package at one of the resorts we stayed at was a photo session with one of their photographers. So we got an "official" 30th Anniversary picture.

More to come!