Christmas Day 2012

This is a quiet day here in Brooklyn, New York where I am with my sister and brother-in-law. I continue to reflect on the season. I presided at the Christmas Eve eucharist at Epiphany Lutheran Church.  Robert Gahagen, the pastor of the church and a good friend preached. His sermon pinpointed all that has happened locally and globally, the issues in the news and yet he reminded us that it is Christmas. Jesus, God incarnate, comes into the midst of what we hear and experience.

It is always good to return to Brooklyn. It is returning to my spiritual roots as I was nurtured in the faith at Epiphany. Many of the people I knew are now in the church triumphant but what they demonstrated in their lives as church men and women of God are still with me and the others who grew up in the parish.

Hodie Christus natus est!

Musings at Christmas

In November I attended and presented a paper, "Black Soldiers, education, and the U.S. Civil War: the Fight for Liberation" at the annual meeting of the Religious Education Association in Atlanta, Georgia. It was good to see old friends and new colleagues in the field. It was my last meeting as a full-time faculty member of the association.

Last week I held my last seminary Fall semester class. I certainly enjoyed the years of interacting with the students and my colleagues. Gettysburg Seminary has been a significant part of my life.

Epiphany Lutheran Church in Brooklyn has also been an important part of my life. Recently, I heard from an old Epiphany friend, Lorrain Nelson. I had not seen her in 50 years. We talked about our nurture in the parish, the good liturgical practices, and our time in Luther League. One month prior, I officiated at the funeral of Fred DeLeon, another Epiphany friend. He and my sister were in the same confirmation class. It was good to see old friends. We gathered in celebration of life that was shared and lived on the promises of God in Jesus. Epiphany helped to nurture us in faith.

I was walking through the Capitol City Mall near Camp Hill, PA on Saturday afternoon. There were the usual crowds and a lot of conversations. In the midst of hustle and bustle of shopping, there was a trio of voices singing Christmas carols. It made me think, the singers helped to remind shoppers the reality of the season. I saw one shop manager stop to listen as the singers were in front of his store...taking moment to reflect.

Payne Book

Last week, Daniel Alexander Payne: The Venerable Preceptor of the African Methodist Episcopal Church was released in the paperback edition. I certainly hope that readers get a glimpse of this remarkable African American clergyman of the 19th century.

It is amazing how scholarly work is now disseminated to the public. With the release of the book in e-text before the hardcopy, I know that the publishing industry is forever changed. One can get it from the publisher, University Press of America, Amazon, Kindle, Nook, eBooks, etc. It is truly amazing. With the availablility of varioius sources these days, I wonder if people are reading more? I certainly hope that is the case.

Retirement

As the new academic year begins I find that I am in a major transition. I announced my retirement two weeks ago. I will finish my years as a professor at Gettysburg Seminary on January 31, 2013 after 25 and a half years. As I wrote in my letter to President Michael Cooper-White, these years have been a pastoral and theological adventure. I'll continue to reflect on this period in my life in subsequent postings.
I should also add that during this last semester at Gettysburg, my book Daniel Alexander Payne: The Venerable Preceptor of the African Methodist Episcopal Church published by University Press of America, is now available in electronic format on Kindle, Nook, etc. and will be available in paperback next week. I certainly hope it can help spread the word about this remarkable 19th century African American.

Reflections on France, Finland, and Germany, Summer 2012

As some of you know, I go to France each summer. There are those who ask, how did this come about? The short answer is that I spent my sophomore and junior summers while in college living and studying in France. It instantly became my other country and continues to be to this day. The following is a brief chronology of my time there this summer. Part of the objective of this trip was to see Paris from the eyes of Daniel A. Payne, the 19^th century African American clergyman and educator. We have heard about writers and their travels, i.e. Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast. What would it mean to tour Paris via Payne, a clergyman? I share some of my trip with you. If you have any comments, please do not hesitate to contact me (strobert1@embarqmail.com)

17 July

I had a ride to Dulles from Eric Crump and boarded United Airlines #613 for Paris for a 5:15 PM flight.

20 July

I began my Payne tour by going to Le Jardin et Palais de Luxembourg. It t was really a nice sunny day. When I walked through the garden, lo and behold, there was band music from Ambassadors of Music. This was a group of high school students from Northern Virginia. Afterwards there was a youth orchestra from the England, just north of London.

July 27

Payne preached at the Methodist Church in Chantilly, France. I decided to find the church and visit the chateau. It was only a 20 minute train ride from Paris. I located the church which is now a restaurant. It was only a short walk from the train station and on the way to the chateau.

28 July

I went to Worms, Germany to visit Heinz and Gudrun (family). When I arrived at the station (Gare de L’Est) the 7 AM train was cancelled…so it was off to the office. I was rescheduled to take the train with a change in Karlsruhe, Germany. That was not a problem, however, I thought I had Heinz and Gudrun’s telephone number on my iPhone but I didn’t….Thanks to technology, I called my cousin Esther (his sister) who lives in Seattle, Washington. It was about 9 PM there when I called. She was wondering from where I was calling…I told her I was callingi from the train station in Paris waiting for the train to visit her brother. She gave me the telephone number so that I could call him and tell him that I would arrive an hour later than expected. It all worked out.

I enjoyed beer at the Hagenbrau  gashaus…which has great beer…Heinz, Gudrun, and I drank there which is on the Rhine. That evening we ate outside at home. It was overcast and Heinz said it was not going to rain. We began eating and in the middle of the dinner it started raining…a nice steady rain…so we finished dinner using three umbrellas in addition to the table umbrella….

29 July

Sunday we had a great German breakfast. We took our time until it was time to go to the train. I thought I left at 1:15 PM…I got my bags together and looked at my ticket…the train was leaving at 12:45 and it was 12:15 PM….I told Heinz…we (well Heinz) dashed to the station…I didn’t want to look at the speedometer as we cruised or flew on the autobahn….We arrived at 12:47 and ran to the gate…the train had not left…whew…I made it back to Paris. I should say that the trip was short because of so many people traveling that weekend…I didn’t have a problem on the train to Mannheim, it was the return trip. There was only one seat left. So, I had no choice but to take it.

1 August

I took a self-guided walking tour of Paris examining and taking photos of 19^th century buildings that were present during Payne’s time in Paris. It was a long walk that included: L’Arc de Triomphe,  Tuilleries gardens,  Crédit de Lyon, Gare St. Lazare, Galarie Lafayette. I will include these and the other sites on a PowerPoint presentation on Payne in Paris.

3 August

I flew to Helsinki, Finland to meet my friends and colleagues, Brooks Schramm and Kirsi Stjerna. They were going to attend the Luther Congress which was going to begin on Sunday afternoon. It was my first time in Scandinavian country. I took the Finnair Bus from the airport to the Crown Plaza hotel. Kirsi had texted the bus information.  

4 August

We walked around Helsinki. I was intrigued by the market on the wharf and the Lutheran Cathedral. We also ran into Duane Larson and his wife. He was also attending the Luther Congress

5 August

I began my last day in Helsinki with a sauna…it was great! I met Brooks and Kirsi (they only lived two blocks from my hotel) for lunch. I returned from downtown to make the 3:15 bus to the airport….I will certainly return to Helsinki.

9 August

I took the train to Girveny, Monet’s home and garden. One is transported to another part of the creation. It was a terrific visit. After all these years, I finally made the trip. I kept reflecting on the First Article of the Creed and Luther’s response. Even with all the tourists, it was still a tranquil place.

I took Rick Steve’s (the travel writer) advice and returned to the bus and train to go to Rouen. I had been there about 15 years ago. It is the place of Jeanne D’Arc’s execution. The cathedral is a magnificent structure. It is also the home of the Museum of Education.

11 August

I met Patricia LaPlante-Collins (co-ordinator and founder of Parissoirées for an interview for The Seminary Explores.  It took 4 hours…One hour was the interview and then we at lunch. I met her at 12:15 and left the restaurant at about 4:!5…I was truly a Parisian Saturday afternoon.

12 August

I gave a short talk on Payne in Paris for Parissoirées which took place at the Tibetan restaurant. It was well received. Would you believe a woman told me that she had been on the Gettysburg campus and that her brother lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania (about 20 miles from Gettysburg).

13 August

I started packing and cleaning the apartment. I bought Mme. Duguiez (the gardienne) roses. She has been so sympathique. She also told me an alternative way to get to the airport. I think she appreciated the gift.

Yves (a Parisian friend) called and asked whether I’d be interested in seeing Lola ( a classic French film from 1960). The movie was good and interesting in that it was before the tumultuous years in the France. Afterwards, we feasted on moules-frites at Léon de Bruxelles.

14 August

With my bags packed, I closed the door to the apartment and took the bus for the airport…I was the third person online. At 12:35 we left the gate and I was on my way to the U.S.A. I continue to be sad upon leaving France and yet I am excited about seeing family and close friends.

Josephine Baker stated, “I have two loves, my country and Paris.” It is true for me, too.

 

 

 

Advent Lutheran Church 50th Anniversary

This past weekend was a mountaintop experience for me. I was invited to return to Advent Lutheran Church, Cleveland, Ohio to participate in the 50th anniversary of the congregation. I served as pastor there from June 1975 until June 1987. The banquet was held on Friday, 22 June at The Manor-Center Complex. It was amazing to see so many people who were or continue to be members of the congregation. Dr. Richard Stewart was the quest speaker for the evening. He gave a presentation utilizing PowerPoint so people were able to see the the churches that Pastor Allen Youngblood served before becoming the Mission Developer and first Pastor of Advent. Dr. Stewart grew up at Ascension Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio where Youngblood was pastor prior to coming to Cleveland. Ms. Linda Thomas-Lee was the chairperson for the event. She grew up in the congregation. One comment she made at end of the program was so telling of the Christian community and tradition, "I never thought when I was a little girl in Sunday School that I'd be standing here before you at this 50th anniversary dinner."

On Sunday, I was the guest preacher for the liturgy where Pastor Killings (the present pastor of Advent) presided. Again, to see some of the faces of members during my time there was a thrilling experience. I also looked out and could remember family members who were not longer present because they had died. I was completely floored before the service began and saw Pr. Kimberly
Vaughn. She was a former confirmation student and now a pastor in Canton, Ohio. Pr. Bruce Hathaway and his spouse, Kristi also came. Hathaway and I were diligent about doing our exegesis for the coming Sunday. During busy times in the church year, we would meet at early as 7 AM in the morning. Those of you who know me, that is not my favorite time of day, but we were committed to be as thorough as possible in our proclamation of God's Word to our parishioners.

The liturgy brought a lot of memories, too. Thelma Williams was the musician and Kathy Foster Manual sang to solos. Thelma was choir director when I was pastor and for one or two summers helped me with Vacation Church School. Kathy was in my first, First-Communion class at Advent.

I was fortunate in that I was able to stay with my good friends, Charles and Carolyn Jackson.  The only problem with staying with them is that the food is so good, I overeat. We are able to have good conversations with lots of memories and laughter.

Although it has been 25 years since I left Advent to accept the call to teach at Gettysburg Seminary, the people and ministry of Advent Lutheran Church will always be a part of me. I have certainly been blessed by their presence in my lives. It was an honor and privilege to serve Advent as pastor. It was an honor and privilege to be a part of Advent's 50th Anniversay. Soli Deo Gloria!

Reflecting on 39 years

Today is my 39th anniversary of ordination. On 10 June 1973 I was ordained by the Metropolitan Synod of the Lutheran Church in America to the Office of Word and Sacrament. The ordination took place at Epiphany Lutheran Church, my home congregation in Brooklyn, New York. I have been blessed to have a variety of experiences in the church since that time. My first call was as co-pastor to the three Lutheran parishes on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. I had specific responsibilities in Christian education, youth, and social ministry. My second call was in Cleveland, Ohio at Advent Lutheran Church. These two calls prepared me for my present call as Professor of Christian/Religious Education at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. I have served at the seminary since 1987. I have been blessed by and thankful for the experiences and encounters with people within and outside of the church. Soli Deo Gloria!

Holy Saturday

I am in my hometown of Brooklyn, New York and today I went to the Brooklyn Museum. It has been a favorite place for me from my elementary school days. I saw three powerful exhibitions:
#1. "Newspaper Fiction: The New York Journalism of Djuna Barnes 1913-1919." She was certainly a feminist who helped to transform the news story. She also spent a number of years in Paris, France.

#2. "The Dinner Party" by Judy Chicago. In this large triangular table, there were 39 place settings for some of the most notable women in history including: Eleanor d'Aquitaine, Hildegarde, and Sojourner Truth. One can only imagine the dinner conversation that would take place.

#3. "Question Bridge: Black Males":  a transmedia art project that seeks to represent and redefine Black male identity in America. Through video mediated question and answer exchange, diverse members of this "demographic" bridge economic, political, geographic, and generational divisions. I hope that all people can encounter this exhibition.

The walk through these exhibitions was sobering and powerful. Dealing with race, gender, and power, these exhibitions helped to remind me of the past and the work that still needs to take place for the future.

Good Friday

I went to St. Peter's Lutheran Church in New York this afternoon  with my sister where we attended the Service of Devotion...The Passion According to St. Matthew by J.S. Bach. It was truly a moving afternoon with the congregation invited to sing a number of the chorales. The choir and orchestra are magnificent. It is not a performance but a communal gathering. One's attention is centered on the cross of Jesus as so poignantly stated in the Bass Aria:
Come, healing cross, for me prepare it
My Savior! Lay on me its weight;
Whene'er my burden grows too great,
To thee I look for help to bear it.
Come, healing Cross

On Death and Dying

Phyllis McCullough, an Associate in Ministry, gave a presentation on death and dying in my course, "Current Trends in Adult Christian Education." Her presentation prompted good questions and discussion. It was a powerful session. In addition to the presentation, I asked students to read Martin Luther's treatise "On Preparing a Christian to Die." During this Holy Week we are reminded God's promise to us in the resurrection of Jesus.

Preaching and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Yesterday evening we commemorated the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the evening eucharist on campus. The preacher was my friend and colleague from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, Dr. Richard Stewart. He weaved together the life of King with the baptismal call to be prophetic in ministry. I was intrigued by his working with three Martins: Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Trayvon Martin. This set the tone as we prepare for Holy Week.

New Publication

I am feeling calm now. My book, Daniel Alexander Payne: The Venerable Preceptor of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, is scheduled to be released on August 16, 2012. It is published by University Press of America. I hope it contributes to the literature on Payne. I know it is a different age in publishing as it is being published in paperback as well as in eBook form. For more information you can get more details and order at: https://rowman.com/Action/Search/UPA/strobert (ISBN -978-0-7618-5867-6 (paperback);978-0-7618-5868-3 (eBook) or www.amazon.com.

A church's past and present ministry

I just received an e-mail from Pastor Keith Hayward a former student who graduated from Gettysburg Seminary in May 2011. While studying at Gettysburg Seminary he was a pastor in the Philadelphia area. He is now on Long Island, New York and serving Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. The local news station produced a segment on the congregation as it celebrates 200 years of ministry.My prayers are with Pastor Hayward and the congregation. If you have time click onto the following: http://fios1news.com/longisland/node/11333

Lenten Projections

The church enters into the Lenten season with Ash Wednesday this week. I try to enhance my faithlife by incorporating something different for the season such as more reflection time, surveying or in-depth study of one of the Gospels, reading theological and religiou education texts, etc. At this time, I'm thinking about the theology of the cross. This is prompted by my reading of The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone.It took me a few days to get throught it; not because of the length (it is a short treatise)but because it could be a meditation. I had to stop often to reflect on the words and images that Cone describes. I wonder what others anticipate during this segment of the church year?

An Educational Legacy

This afternoon the faculty were invited to a reception at the home of Dick and Jane English.They were gracious hosts...They live in the house that was the first site of Gettysburg Seminary and Gettysburg College. The students, who attended were seniors, shared their thoughts about being students at Gettysburg. The ministry of teaching demonstrated by the life and service of Samuel Simon Schmucker continues to this day.

Payne Publication

Daniel Alexander Payne The Venerable Preceptor of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is scheduled to be released in August. To get a brief description and pre-order a copy of this work please follow the following: http://rowman.com/ISBN/9780761858676

Payne Birthday

Last Saturday (February 11) was the birthday of Daniel Alexander Payne, the 19th century African American educator, ecumenist, and bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. I continue to be amazed, encouraged, and challenged by his life. I would appreciate any reflections that you might have about this remarkable person of the church.

The Dreamer

I visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC today. It is a powerful structure. The King figure has a determined look which is really descriptive of the Civil Rights Movement. For those of you who visit the monument, what are your thoughts?