“The individual is the meeting place of the four elements,” writes John O’Donahue of the ancient Celtic perspective. “We have come up out of the depths.” We have this privilege, and with it a sacred obligation to live with meaning. The word obligation sounds burdensome but is rooted beautifully in the Early French ligament – that which binds us together.”
– Lyanda Lynn Haupt, ROOTED: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit
Beloved of God,
“June is busting out all over,” and on its heels come Pentecost Sunday (also Scholarship Sunday this year) and our annual marking of a Season of Creation. This year’s theme is inspired by Lyanda Lynn Haupt’s 2021 book, ROOTED: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit. Lyanda, an urban naturalist, neighbor, and friend of Peace, invites us on a journey of rediscovering a core truth which sacred scriptures, mystics, artists, and indigenous communities across the globe have proclaimed for millennia: that all life is radically interconnected. Over this three week season we will affirm our vocation as Earth-tenders to re-engage with these three strands—science, nature and spirit—rekindling conversation and rediscovering practices that will more faithfully embody God’s dream of Shalom for this world God so loves. As any member of the Adult Sunday Forum can tell you, ROOTED a great read, full of keen observations, insights into nature and spirit, and practices that can bind us more closely to the natural world. Lyanda will be with us on June 12 to talk about her book and what motivated her to write it. I hope you’ll be able to join us for what looks to be wondrous and meaningful encounter.
The notion of “binding” lies not only at the heart of the word “obligation,” as Lyanda points out in the quote above. It lies at the heart of the word “religion” as well – re-ligio: to re-bind. Jesus says as much when using an image that comes straight from the vineyard: I am the vine – you are the branches. The more rooted we are in Christ, the more solidly attached to the Vine, the better we are nourished and the more we become our true selves by becoming more like him—a process that produces wonderful fruit for us to share. This abiding, connecting, and producing begins right at the Eucharistic table. On Pentecost/Scholarship Sunday, June 2, and on June 26, we’ll gather at the Feasting Table to actualize that connection!
During the Season of Creation we look frankly and purposefully at our relationship with our planet home with the aim of reinvigorating our knowledge and our relationships with this Earth God so loves. After all, Christ was not born of this Earth—did not become a creature among creatures—to teach us how to flee the world in order to find God, but to teach us how to live fully here and now, within the creation and within the community that the Creator intended for us from the beginning. This Earth, this vineyard, is the domain in which we have been planted. It is from this soil and from this Vine, that our lives unfurl. As the alarming evidence of global warming tells us, falling short of our vocation as Earth-tenders has grave consequences. In Week Two of Season of Creation Peace member and climate activist Deb Hagen-Lukens will share how we are called as people of faith to push for changes that protect all of creation and progress we’re making in how we heat and cool our homes, power our industry and move ourselves and our goods around the world.
On Saturday, June 25, as part of our Season of Creation, we are working with the Duwamish Alive Coalition to offer a tour of the West Seattle Bog (that’s BOG, not BLOG!) You might recall Marian Christjaener’s article in the April edition of Peace Notes about the bog. The nearly 10,000-year-old Roxhill bog, which is part of the Roxhill Park natural area, adjacent to Daystar, serves as the headwaters of Longfellow Creek, and may be the only natural peat bog left of 26 that were once in the Seattle area. Stay tuned for more info about a TOUR in the works for Saturday, June 25th. [continued on page two]
Later this month, after our son’s graduation from Chief Sealth High, and our daughter’s graduation from Pathfinder K-8, our five member Kindem/Hauger household will embark on a long anticipated journey to Scotland and Ireland. The trip, twice delayed due to the pandemic, is finally coming to fruition, and we couldn’t be more excited. It includes a pilgrimage to the Isle of Iona for a one week sojourn with the Iona Community, as well as two weeks in Ireland. On our first trip to Iona in 2014, we lived in community with people from around the world, sharing meals, worship, music, faith conversations, hikes, and playful moments, and along the way strangers became friends. Our experience on Iona, a holy place of pilgrimage for nearly 1,500 years, left its mark on us. We look forward to what the Spirit will show us this time.
Filling in while I’m gone will be several new voices. Rev. Mel Jacob, retired ELCA pastor newly at Peace with his wife Mary, will lead worship twice in my stead, and Pastors Pam Russell and Chris Ode will also serve as guest pastors. Upon our return at the end of July we look forward to swapping tales with you.
With you on the Way,
Pastor Erik
What does this mean?