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“To obtain such faith God instituted the office of preaching, giving the gospel and the sacraments. Through these, as through means, he gives the Holy Spirit who produces faith, where and when he wills, in those who hear the gospel.” Augsburg Confession, article, V.
Creation, the imagination of God for a place alive with sacred beauty, is a speech act. God breathes and speaks a Word that inspires order from chaos. What imaginative word are we called to proclaim amid the disorders and chaos of our present lived experience, that reflects the will of the creator of life? What role does proclamation play in organizing public life and what are the responsibilities, ethical demands, and boundaries? What are the barriers and concerns we need to overcome in order to make coherent public announcement of the alternative divine reality imagined by the prophets and by Jesus?
The Rev. Dr. Matthew Lenahan is launching a preaching cohort for faith leaders interested in regular weekly, monthly, and/or seasonal discussion around the preaching task and the ecological crisis. The cohort(s) will meet at the Wittel Farm house, 1753 Mill Road, Elizabethtown.
The intention of the cohort is to build skills, practices, and language for the craft of proclamation as a viable and necessary public expression of hope; not as false optimism but as concrete possibility marked by personal and institutional transformations. Preachers are change agents. What tools do we need to become storytellers of liberation, justice, and peacemaking? How do we speak with courage, conviction, and commitment against all of the discouragement, cynicism, and indifference we see in public life? How do we talk about doom, collapse scenarios, climate science, broken political and economic systems, and an alternative way of living in human community? How do we bring hope and joy into proclamation that does not sound false? How do we do this as Lutherans?
Saturday, December 6th. 9:00 am to 3:00: Cohort Launch Retreat that frames the preaching role within our social context. What is the role of preaching in an age of doubt, uncertainty, and institutional rejection?
How do we exercise a public voice/witness that addresses the larger social challenges in front of us with good news, hope, and joy?
What is the Word to the world regarding climate change, declining democracy, vast economic inequality, and the existential threats both visible and invisible?
Calendar for the year will be determined and shared at the retreat. (Likely both monthly and seasonal rhythms).
Cost: retreat day, $20.00.
Annual cohort: $180.00
Register here: COHORT 25.
Some of the wisdom resources we will enjoy:
- Earth Gospel, Sam Hamilton-Poore
- Life After Doom, Brian McLaren
- Creation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and the Pulpit, Leah Shade The Great Search:Turning to Earth and Soul in the Quest for Healing and Home, John Philip Newell
- Climate Church, Climate World, Jim Antal
- Devotions, Mary Oliver
- Refugia Faith, Debra Reinstra
- We will also have special guests joining us for some cohort sessions
