The Salt Shaker
flavoring the world with justice and love
Rally Day!
Remember how awesome Easter worship was this spring? If not, let me remind you that around 400 people grabbed a lawn chair and shouted "Christ is Risen" about a hundred times in God's great outdoor sanctuary! It was a morning I will not soon forget. Fast forward to...
Habitat for Humanity Build
Each year Saint Michael Lutheran works with other churches in the “Faithful Builders Coalition” to raise money and help a family build a quality and affordable home here in Omaha. Our congregation uses offerings from Holy Week and Easter to support Habitat...
A Cup of Cool Water
There is a lot of discord in the world. The pandemic rages on and political polarization and misinformation divides communities, families and even churches. The UN released a new report on global warming that raised a "red flag for humanity" meaning that if we don't...
Team Saint Michael has a new look!
I’ve always been a fan of team sports. Maybe that’s why I enjoy the Olympics so much. Even the individual events are the result of a group effort by coaches, trainers, family and friends. The church is by definition a team event as well, with every member of the...
July 7 Wingtips
First, A Few Announcements about Church Staff: The council is nearing completion of a redistribution of staffing responsibilities in the communications and office administration area. We will be posting a part-time communications position soon so look for more...
The Evolution of the Church Office
Church leadership has always been a partnership of administration and proclamation, of ideas and the execution of those ideas which usually involves a whole team of people. One of the key people at Saint Michael has been the Office Administrator, the role Joyce Uber...
June 13-19 Read Your Bible
June 12/13: Paul as an Apostle Reading: Galatians 1:11-2:10 Acts 9:1-15 Background: Lutheran Study Bible (Introduction to Galatians, paragraph 3) [Paul] first provides a strong defense of his authority as an apostle sent directly by Jesus Christ and God (1:11-24; see...
Wingtips 6.9.21
First of all I'm thankful for all of the wonderful birthday blessings! I'm so grateful for the gift of community and you all are the best present one could hope for! Second- a reminder that this Sunday, from 9:00-10:00 am, we will have a reception in the Gathering...
Read your Bible: June 5-11 Letters from Paul
Readings: Galatians 1:1-10 Romans 1:1-15 Background: Lutheran Study Bible (Introduction to Galatians, paragraph 2) Other Jewish leaders who were believers in Jesus had come to Galatia. They insisted that to be acceptable to God the non-Jewish believers must observe...
Easing our Way Forward
Caution: Data ahead! But also information about changes coming to worship and other activities at Saint Michael. So read all the way through. The good stuff is at the end! This graph from the Douglas County Health Department, shows the number of...
Justice is more than a verdict
When George Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020 there was broad condemnation of the actions of Derek Chauvin and the other police officers. Only two days later, on May 27, 2020, Omaha police chief Todd Schmaderer said in a statement: We are deeply disturbed by what we...
Alleluia! Giving thanks for Easter!
The Alleluias have returned! Like a bright, yellow daffodil announcing spring’s arrival, the refrain of Easter is punctuated by a Hebrew word that means, “Praise the Lord”. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! During Lent, we fast from saying that word...
Lamenting Anti-Asian Racism
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. - Gal. 3:28 Even before the senseless murder of Asian Americans in Atlanta this week, the ELCA had designated this Sunday,...
Holy Week and Easter Worship
...we are going to have an outdoor sunrise service! I grew up doing these every year and I've wanted to find a way to have one in Omaha for the past five years! This year feels like the perfect time to make it happen but don’t worry, it won’t be exactly at...
The Cross, the Gallows, and the Capitol: Part 5
Law and Gospel: How do we pray for God’s kingdom to come in a broken world? The Arrests As of now, over 275 arrests have been made in connection with the Jan. 6th attack on the Capitol. News sources report more than 400 investigations have been opened based on some...
The Cross, the Gallows, and the Capitol: Part 4
The two hands of God. Are church and state really separate? The scene Minutes after Senators were rushed out of the Senate chamber, part of the mob that stormed the Capitol made their way into that now empty room. Some riffled through desks while several men made...
The Cross, the Gallows, and the Capitol: Part 3
What exactly is the "freedom of a Christian"? A Story I intended to begin this post with my own story about that common, human experience of asserting our individuality over and against the “parental system”. The standard conversation goes something like:...
The Cross, The Gallows, and the Capitol: Part 2
Can a sinner/saint DNA help address “the truth” issues we face? A story In the fall of 1984 I was a freshman at the University of NE when the foundations of everything I thought I knew nearly crumbled. I was walking past the student union one day when I noticed a...