December 20, 2006
Standing in vigil with St John's Lutheran Church
Many have asked how they can be supportive of Pastor Bradley Schmeling and St John's Lutheran Church as the trial dates grows closer. The trial will begin on January 19, 2007 and will be held at the Sheraton in Midtown Atlanta.
St John's offers three specific ways to pray with and for Pastor Bradley, St John's and the whole of the ELCA as we enter this troubling time.
- Sign up for a time during the Prayer Vigil.
- Send a prayer cloth for their prayer weaving, which will be delivered to the hearing.
- Plan a worship service in your community to stand in solidarity with them.
- Contribute to the "The Policy Is the problem" defense fund for Pastor Schmeling.
Online vigil and prayer sign-up
During the hours that the trial is in session, members of St John's will keep vigil in the sanctuary. Those wishing to keep watch and pray in solidarity during this time with others around the world may register online in blocs of two hours. Your name will appear in the online list, along with others who are in vigil, and will be posted at the church and at the trial site. (You will be permitted to register anonymously if you wish.) Look for instructions on the St John's website. A meditation guide of readings will also be available for printing. Please forward this request to join the online prayer vigil to as many people as possible. St John's wants to demonstrate to the hearing committee and to the ELCA just how many people are watching and praying.
Prayer weaving
A weaving of artwork and prayer will be constructed in the sanctuary of St John's Lutheran Church on the Friday that the trial begins. The prayer strips will be dedicated at the Thursday night liturgy. If you would like to add your prayer to the written prayers of the St John's community, please do the following: from fabric, cut pieces approximately 12 by 2 inches. On these strips of fabric write your prayer of thanks, concern or hope. We suggest you use a regular marker to write your prayer. Please write clearly, as St John's intends to read aloud some of the prayers during services. All of the prayer strips will be incorporated into the prayer weaving and presented to the hearing committee. Please mail your prayer cloth by January 12th to: St John's Lutheran Church, 1410 Ponce de Leon Ave, NE, Atlanta, GA 30307.
Orders of Service
St John's will be holding special services on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday during the trial week. They invite you to form a gathering at your congregation or in your home to worship with them. The liturgies for these services will be available on the St John's website (in PDF format or request paper copies from St John's), in keeping with a Holy Week sequence of worship around the cross. St John's says, "We would be emboldened if you and your group would join us in prayer at your location on those days." Please see the schedule below:
Prayer at a Time of Trial
Thursday, January 18, 7:00 pm
Liturgy of Prayer and Footwashing
Preacher, Rev. Barbara Lundblad
ELCA pastor and Joe R Engle Associate Professor of Preaching at Union Theological Seminary, New York
Pastor Schmeling, his witnesses and support team will be in attendance and will be blessed in a special Sending Rite.
Friday, January 19, 7:00 pm
Prayer around the Cross
Saturday, January 20, 8:00 pm
A Special Concert for Justice featuring Don and Emily Saliers, and members of St John's Lutheran Church. Emily and Don Saliers are respected musicians who have jointly written a new book, A Song to Sing, A Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice. Emily is one-half of the folk-rock duo the Indigo Girls and an out lesbian who has a "lover's quarrel" with the church. Don is a church musician and professor of theology and worship at Emory University. He has interviewed people and found that hymns like "Amazing Grace" evoke "body memory" – the sound of a grandfather's voice, the smell of a church supper, the beat of a mother's heart.
Sunday, January 21, 10:30 am
Sunday Eucharist Celebration
Preacher, Rev. Gladys Moore
She is assistant to the bishop in the New Jersey Synod – ELCA, where she serves as transformational ministries coordinator and faith-based community organizing liaison. Moore also serves 2/3 time as pastor at St Matthew Lutheran in Jersey City.
Sunday, January 21, 5:30 pm
Holden Evening Prayer
Contribute to "The Policy Is the Problem" Fund
If you want to contribute to the defense of Pastor Schmeling, please give to "The Policy Is the Problem" fund which is an account at St John's designated for this purpose. You may mail checks to St John's Lutheran Church, 1410 Ponce de Leon Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307, noting the name of the fund in the memo line. Any funds remaining after the trial ends will be donated to the movement to change the church's policy, ensuring full inclusion for all.
