Watch here as we continue to add news and information about the Tenth Triennial Gathering.
‹ Back to BlogChristianity is not comfortable
In her sermon during closing worship of the Women of the ELCA’s Tenth Triennial Gathering, Angela Khabeb, pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Waukesha, Wis., alerted those assembled: “News flash. Christianity is not comfortable. If you are comfortable in Jesus, you are doing it wrong.” (View a video of the sermon here.)
Reflecting on the day’s gospel, the parable of the sower and the seeds from Matthew 13, Khabeb said the focus of the story is the harvest and the ways God chooses to “use the terrain of our hearts” to plant the seed of God’s word. Khabeb recalled Jesus’ words from John 12 that a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die before it bears fruit.
“What does it mean for God’s word to die inside of you?” Khabeb asked as she walked among the front rows of the convention hall. “Could it mean that we must release the God that we have created? The God that we have fashioned in our own image?
When we have God all figured out, then God belongs to us and not the other way around. –Angela Khabeb
“That God needs to die. The God that we’ve got all figured out, the God that votes like we do, the God that looks like we do, that talks like we do. That God needs to die inside of us so that we can have some fruit.
“When we have God all figured out, then God belongs to us and not the other way around. But when that seed dies in your heart and begins to take root, then you belong to Jesus. Isn’t that what it’s all about?”
Khabeb underscored the point that the seeds of God’s love are intended for all, comparing the farmer in the parable to Oprah Winfrey. “You get some seeds, you get some seeds, everybody gets some seeds,” she shouted to laughter and applause.
When people first heard the story from Jesus, Khabeb said, “they were like, what? Those people over there? They get some [seeds] too? Yes, that’s right. Because otherwise God would be the God of just us and not the God of the universe. See how that works? God cannot be God of the universe if the seed does not fall on everybody.
“When we do this thing together, everybody gets blessed. That’s how you know God is in it.”
Nearly $64,000 was collected during Sunday’s service of Holy Communion. The offering is being shared among Phebe Hospital (25 percent); Cherish All Children (25 percent); and Women of the ELCA (50 percent).
This article was first published in Living Lutheran. The Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering was held July 13-16 in Minneapolis. About 3,300 participants attended the event, which included more than 1,300 first-time attendees. More news from the gathering can be found here.
Comments (30)
I would love to have a video of that closing service. How powerful it all was, the Spirit was soaring. And Pastor Khabeb’s homily just struck my heart. Thank you – thank you!
Love what I just read. Love the truth of the message. When we have God all figured out that god is an idol.
Thank you, Pastor.
Inspired! A new thought and something to ponder.
Wish I had been in attendance.
Will videos be available of any of the presenters?
Her sermon was so inspiring!! A perfect end to a wonderful convention.
Mary, we had not negotiated that with our presenters in advance. We will approach them, and then depending upon their willingness, we will make them available.
I hope you have you-tubes, I would like to share with my daughters. I think avenues like that are ways to show this is not your grandma’s WELCA.
How can I get a video of this presentation?
I would like video of this presentation
As I wrote above, we have to return to our presenters because our contracts with them did not include video reproduction and with worship services there are copyright issues that are also raised. Give staff some time to work on this, and we’ll certainly let folks know if/when videos become available. Thanks for your patience!
Perhaps getting those requests in to the large presenters before The Phoenix Triennial would solve our “after” requests. Thanks for all you do!
Ah, but it is not always worth the effort and expense to do that negotiation in advance.
Linda, I so agree with the many comments about the Triennial. I have said to those who have asked that the Tenth Triennial was “OVER THE TOP”. Thanks Carol for saying that the WELCA is not your grandmother’s.. I am a great-grandmother who attended the constituting convention as a voting member and was blessed again to be in Minneapolis. The Spirit, Sophia, she was well and alive. I am ready to sign up for 2020. Thank you planners, staff and presentors.
Keep working on the videos. These days so many talks and sermons are available online it has become expected. It should be part of the normal contract. I was unable to be there as I was preaching at my own church, but would love to see it.
Wonderful time of worship with some AMAZING women! I’m thankful for the opportunity and all the LOVE!
I was truly blessed to hear this sermon and to be a participant in the worship service. To God be the glory!!!
It has been a week since she give the sermon and it is still with me. What a joy to listen to her and would love to go as a visitor to her church in the future. what an amazing minster and woman of our time.
Minnie, I totaly agree with you. it was OVER THE TOP. G0 Lutheran Ladies!
Who and what does the “Spirit Sophia” have to do with a gathering of Lutheran women?
I also would love to have a video of the sermon at the closing worship – that was fantastic and an absolute perfect way to end the gathering – a definite emotional high ! I will keep watching to see if a video is available. And thank you Linda for all you have done and continue to do for Women of the ELCA
I was happy to be back again in Mnpls. and grateful to hear her sermon. Awesome! My first triennial attendance was 1996 in Mnpls., and I have been to most of them ever since, a couple of times as a voting delegate to convention. So inspiring to be among so many of our Lutheran sisters and to have opportunity to hear so many fine presenters.
Totally agree with Carol above. This was most definitely NOT your (or my) Grandma’s WELCA! I am so blessed to have been able to go and there are so many women in my congregation I was thinking about and wishing could have been there. All the speakers were just out of this world! So very inspiring…in a troubling way. Christianity is definitely no comfortable!
Loved everything about the Gathering (except the bookstore ) The speakers were phenomenal and so inspiring. Thank you Linda for all that you do for WELCA. I would also be interested in any videos.
Wow what insights
Her message was engaging and at the same time challenged you. Use of social media, Facebook ,& Twitter live videos, you tube & Snapchat is the way to reach the younger generation. It’s where they go to find out what is going on, we must be more proactive reaching the younger generation if we want the good of Welca to continue. I talked to 2 women in their 20s at the gathering who heard NOTHING about the gathering from their church, but happened to see a tweet or Facebook post & found out more on their own. These women were from the Minneapolis area! Having video, either live or delayeda of inspiring speakers is one way to reach these young women & get them excited to attend a gathering. This was my first & it was an awesome experience & I would sure like to see it continue!
Will wait to see if there’s any possibility of receiving a copy of the Sunday sermon. She sent us home with many things to ponder. I hope we will be able to share.
Pastor Khabeb has given permission to Women of the ELCA to make a video of her sermon available as well as a transcript. We’re working on both and will announce their availability soon.
Wonderful Good News. Thank YOU Pastor for allowing many other women and men to hear your preach the Good News.
I too would like a video or printed presentation by the speakers
We’re busy working to get videos and transcripts loaded, but since we have one up already, I thought I’d mention it here. You can watch Pastor Khabeb’s sermon at https://youtu.be/IZJTBTSCYYM.