Go & Tell the Story

 By Deacon Timothy Siburg, Director for Mission, Innovation and Stewardship When we proclaim Christ crucified and resurrected, and believe that God is alive, we profess a living faith. It’s one that abides. It’s also one which knows that God’s promises are true. That God is present and up to something- through, for, with, and even in, you and me. That’s bold and awe-inspiring. It might be terrifying too. But such is life with our God who knows us better than we know ourselves, and who loves us, is with us, and is for us, always.  That raises a question though for me. As we have moved through this pandemic, and come to this point where many of us adults, at least, have now been vaccinated, I’ve started to hear and wonder myself, “what’s next?” What might this mean for us as God’s people today in the weeks and months ahead? And what might it mean about what God is up to? Amid this pandemic time, my own life has changed again since I last shared space on the synod blog....

 By Deacon Timothy Siburg, Director for Stewardship Merry Christmas, People of God!!! What joy it is to think about God’s presence with me and with all of you on this most holy of days. Admittedly it’s been a hard year. It’s been a weird year. It has not been one that anyone could have dreamed of, imagined, or hoped for. But all that said, God has been present in it and continues to be just as God always is- Emmanuel, our God with us. Our God who has come into the world yet again as we celebrate today, and will continue to celebrate in the rest of the twelve days to come. Our God who comes and is with us who opens hearts, hands, minds, and our very own imagination.  Seeing God at work in the world is one of the true gifts of serving on synod staff. I witness God’s activity in, around, under, through, and for all of you every day. In processing this witness, I often share with my spiritual director about where I have sensed God’s presence and movement, and what God sightings I ...

 By Deacon Timothy Siburg The disciples claim, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." How many times have we said similar things in our lives? "We have nothing, but a few cookies. Nothing but a few people. Nothing but a few hymnals, bibles, and an old church building." This is the language of our human created lie and sin of scarcity. This is the language of a lack.  Language of a lack of resources, a lack of assets, a lack of provision, a lack of hope, a lack of imagination, perhaps even… A Lack. Of. Faith. But Jesus says, "bring them here to me." So the disciples bring the loaves and fish. And God acts.  Jesus sees the loaves and fish as assets and things that have been entrusted to the people's care. They are resources. They are not limits, but things that can be stewarded and shared. They are ordinary things of this life through which God will do the extraordinary. How might our worldview turn, if instead of seeing a lack of something...

By Deacon Timothy Siburg, Director of Stewardship Hope is a funny thing. It can be fleeting. It can be fulfilling. Sometimes it can feel abundant, and other times it can seem worse than scarce. Amid the realities of an upside-down world, where a pandemic has changed the way we do just about everything, it might seem that hope may well be in short supply. The numbers are daunting. Each day it feels like a damage report- as cases go up, and the total who have lost their battles with this dreaded virus go up as well. Thinking about a way forward in ministry may seem hopeless too. There is no real safe way to sing in groups right now, and for me, a musician, that makes the idea of gathering for worship in person not very hopeful. My grandma, like many in care facilities around the world is more or less under lock down to try and stay safe. All my family’s summer trips and vacations have been cancelled. Add in the continued isolation and distancing, and it can really feel hopel...

By  Deacon Timothy Siburg, Director for Stewardship There’s nothing quite as wonderful in the life of the church as baptism. A day with baptism is a day another Child of God is claimed and named. It’s a day of celebration. It’s a day of proclamation of God’s promises, a day where God’s story is recalled, and perhaps when God’s work in our midst is most visible. It’s also a day filled with promises- promises by God, by the one being baptized, and the whole faith community providing public witness and promise. As we know, baptism is only a beginning. From the Water and the Word, filled with the Holy Spirit a Child of God enters into life walking with God who is with them always. From the flowing water, one is called, empowered, equipped, and sent into a life of discipleship and stewardship. It’s a life of joy and great meaning, but also one with plenty of challenges. The way of the cross is not always easy or happy. But it propels us forward. It propels us as the People o...