From a Small Room

isn't this a beautiful world? i'm from minnesota, spent a few years in alaska. two similar, yet different worlds. let's engage in some sharing together, shall we? i'm ian. elca youth director. music lover. film director wannabe. walking junk drawer. pleased to meet you.

[ianmcconnell]

Today's Reflection: I claim ... We Claim (08-08-2015)

Today’s Reflection: I claim … We Claim (08-08-2015)

Greetings! Check out this reflection by my co-worker Thomas. We work together at Redeemer Lutheran Church & Redeemer Center for Life in North Minneapolis.

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[ianmcconnell]

The Call For White Clergy to Preach "Black Lives Matter."

The Call For White Clergy to Preach “Black Lives Matter.”

This Sunday demands a sermon in every church on “Black Lives Matter” from pastors of all creeds, races, and political orientations. Frankly, I think if a member of the clergy avoids the topic, they do so intentionally, and out of cowardice. Have no fear, little flock, have no fear, little flock For the Father will keep you in his love forever; Have no fear, little flock. The Call For White Clergy…

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[accras]

Thandie Newton #blacklivesmatter

[ianmcconnell]

We Don't Need No More Trouble

I’ve been utterly speechless about what’s happened in Ferguson. And St. Paul. And New York City. And everywhere in “The Land of the Free” where you’re at higher risk for harassment, mistreatment, abuse, or death because of the color of your skin. Music will have to do for now.

Until there are no more first class and second class citizens of any nation;

Until the color of a man’s skin is of no…

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[ianmcconnell]

we love food and you too!

What a beautiful night it was at Redeemer Lutheran Church for the Redeemer Afterschool Program(RAP)! I can’t tell you how encouraging, painful, and refreshing it is to participate in a ministry that actively responds to the needs of community. Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon/evening, children from around the neighborhood stream into the church with backpacks full of homework and bodies full…

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[ianmcconnell]

Conflict Management in Churches I'm in this amazing class at Luther called "Church Organization and Leadership" right now. We're in the midst of a set of lectures and discussions that essentially are the reason I was most excited to take this course in the first place: Conflict and Change.

[ianmcconnell]

Untying My Shoes and Completely Derailing

"I've Got to Turn Aside": The Burning Bush

We’re in the season of Pentecost.

In recent months (wait, maybe years?), I have really been recognizing that energy that moves me sometimes to action, tears, compassion, awareness, etc.

I have been identifying that energy as the Holy Spirit at work in my life through a variety of agents; most often, it has been music, spoken word, and people in my own life.

I have been asking, Veni Sancte Spiritus

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[tumblingtheology]

"Write These Words on Your Doorposts"

Here is the sermon I preached this week to 600+ people at the Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza. The texts it’s based on are Deuteronomy 11:18-21 and John 5:2-9a.

    Good morning. God’s grace and peace be with you all.     I have this experience probably once a week: I’m sitting in my office at church, or I’m at home in the living room, and I get up to go find something in another room. Only when I walk into the sanctuary, or into the kitchen, suddenly I have no idea what I was doing or what I was looking for, and I stand there, confused.     How many of you have ever done that? And you probably have to go back to where you were before and look at what you were doing to figure out what you got up for in the first place, and then you can go get it.

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[ianmcconnell]

Liminal Spaces... this idea is stuck in my head right now. What are the liminal spaces I've entered? What do I need to say as I walk through them? How have they impacted my life? What the hell. This is too good.

[stuffaboutminneapolis]

Visit Original Link

Anyone Else But You - Moldy Peaches

We all know the movie “Juno” was set in Minnesota, and I have posted this before, but I am just feeling this song tonight. Why? I don’t know. I just have a lot of love for you guys right now.

You are always tryin’ to keep it real, I’m in love with how you feel. I don’t see what anyone can see in anyone else but you.

[lexapro20-mg]

[lady-tromboss]

this hit me like a load of fucking bricks.

[it-always-gets-better-kid]

forever reblog

[thedownlowe-blog]

6.59am.

[ianmcconnell]

Well, isn’t this just fantastic.

[ianmcconnell]

Reblogging myself from fall 2012. What was then a dream fought for has become a reality cherished.

[ianmcconnell]

Beautiful ladies! Happy birthday, @kennch01!

[ianmcconnell]

The Truth About “True Love.”

"

What we call “true love” is that rare and sacred union that happens when two people join in this dance together.

It is a friendship, a love affair and an act of worship. Passion, lust, affection, caring, trust, respect and devotion all become part of an exquisite surrender. Lovers merge with each other and with the vast, wild universe. Neither knows for sure if it will last a weekend or a lifetime. It doesn’t matter.

All that matters is this moment of oneness—holy and beautiful.

It contains eternity."

[ianmcconnell]

Many of us are tempted to think that if we suffer, the only important thing is to be relieved of our pain. We want to flee it at all costs. But when we learn to move through suffering, rather than avoid it, then we greet it differently. We become willing to let it teach us.

Henri Nouwen

[nevver]

1 Flannel Shirt, 7 Halloween Costumes | Art of Manliness

[ianmcconnell]

Yep. Now, to choose only one for Halloween...!

[tumblingtheology]

Sermon: Prayer and Wrestling Matches

Here’s my sermon for tomorrow morning. The gospel text is Luke 18:1-8, and the first lesson is Genesis 32:22-31 (the story of Jacob wrestling with God).

    God’s grace and peace be with all of you.     Does God answer prayers? This is one of the hard questions of faith. Does God answer prayers?     Sometimes, we feel confident that God hears and answers our prayers. When a loved one recovers from an illness, we feel God’s presence. When a situation that’s been causing us anxiety is resolved, we believe that God has intervened. At times like these, it’s easy to believe in the power of prayer.     But other times aren’t so easy. Other times, we pray with all our hearts, but nothing changes. A bad situation grows worse. Illness claims a life. And at those times, we wonder if God is even listening. Does God even care? Or how could God hear our prayers, our pleas, and ignore them?

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[ianmcconnell]

Such a great sermon from one of my "online pastors" :)

[ianmcconnell]

Wonderful bit from Nadia Bolz-Weber's memoir, "Pastrix: the Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner and Saint".