University Lutheran Chapel of Berkeley

Children sometimes ask us “Aren’t Lutheran people Christian?”

In The Little Lutheran Barbara Jurgensen answers:

Do you have a favorite flavor of ice cream? My favorites are butter pecan and pralines and cream. There are lots of other great flavors: chocolate, almond crunch, vanilla, peach, strawberry, cherry nut, chocolate chunk, raspberry — to name just a few. And all are delicious.

It is the same with churches. There are Presbyterian, Methodist, Roman Catholic, United Church of Christ, Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal, Pentecostal, Reformed, Quakers, Church of the Brethren, Lutheran and many others.

They are all part of our Lord’s church here on earth. Any church that wants to follow Jesus as their Lord and do what he wants them to do is a Christian church. It’s the same with people: any person who looks to Jesus as their Lord and Savior and wants to follow him is a Christian.

You might enjoy visiting a church that is different from your own. We can learn things from other churches because we are all brothers and sisters in our Lord’s big family.

One of the reasons we have so many different denominations in the U.S. is that many of them began in other countries where they spoke a different language.

When people came over from Germany they built churches where they could worship in German. People fromPoland needed to worship in Polish, and people from Mexico, the Caribbean and some South American countries in Spanish. But we are all one in our Lord. The church is Jesus’ church, and we need to make everyone welcome.

There also can be other reasons why the various denominations formed. For instance, some people wanted to place more emphasis on God the Father, some on Jesus and some on the Spirit. Some wanted their worship geared more toward the intellect, and others more toward the heart.

Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection are held together in one liturgy lasting three days (triduum).

The liturgy of the Three Days begins on Maundy Thursday with an act of confession and absolution. This year, we revive the practice of  footwashing, reiterating Jesus’ sign of communal love. “Mandatum,” the “command” to love, is the source of the term Maundy. This eucharist recalls Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, and concludes with a stripping of the sanctuary of all adornment, in preparation for Good Friday.

In ancient times the second part of the Three Day Liturgy was called the Triumph of the Cross. English speakers now call the day Good Friday (originally “God’s Friday”) because we know the end of the story, the resurrection.  The service concludes when at the foot of the life-giving cross we pray for everyone and everything on earth and engage in a ritual of reverence for the cross on which hung Christ, the Savior of the whole world.

Forgotten by most Christians for about 1400 years, the Easter Vigil has been restored to its rightful place as the central worship service of the year. We gather outside to light a great fire and light the new paschal candle, praising the risen Christ as our light. We conclude this three-day triduum liturgy with the first holy communion of Easter, and we get to once again sing alleluia again.

Maundy Thursday
Apr 5 @ 7:30 pm liturgy with foot washing, meal at 6:30 pm (bring a potluck dish!)

Good Friday
Apr 6 @ 7 pm

Easter Vigil
Apr 7 @ 9 pm with brunch at midnight (bring bells for the celebration!)

After a busy weekend things have slowed down a little for us at the Chapel, but not for our friends who are walking across country in support of the Campaign for an American Dream. 

In their first week they trudged mile after mile through heavy rains and finally arrived at the State Capitol where they received a standing ovation from legislators. Sadly Jose had to leave the walkers in order to attend his Deportation Court Date. We are with him in our thoughts and prayers as he defends himself and his right to stay in his home country.

The other five walkers have arrived at Lake Tahoe and are facing much colder temperatures and snow in the Sierras. We are planning on having them call in at the Chapel so we can hear of their most recent stories. Take a look at their blog which is full of adventures and deep reflections, as well as lighthearted and funny encounters with mud puddles, blisters, and piglets.

You can also connect with them on Twitter and Facebook. We are also tracking their progress the “old school”, with a non-digital paper map, sticky notes, and push pins on the big pin board downstairs. Take a look next time you are at the Chapel!

This Sunday (March 25th) we will celebrate the Baptism of Vivienne Frieda Fernanda Grantham.

In Vivienne’s honor, a special luncheon will be held following liturgy (at 11 am), sponsored by Vivienne’s grandparents, Jim and Rebecca Shields.

We are very excited for Vivienne, her parents, and grandparents and are looking forward to celebrating with them this coming Sunday. Everyone is invited to stay for the luncheon!

Blessings to Vivienne, her parents Issabella and Ted, and the rest of her family who will be joining us for this exciting day.