Bishop Susan Candea

My pastoral message to the Central States Synod as we prepare to elect a president. It is important to add our words of faith to the public discourse.

So this was our Fall Theological Conference this year! A whole day on Zoom sitting at our desks and it was wonderful! Our theme was Articulating Theology: God, Words, and Us. Our presenters, Dr. Mary Streufert and Dr. Kris Kvam invited us into deep thinking and discussions on how we, as the Central States Synod, will implement our social statement on Faith, Sexism, and Justice to use gender-inclusive and expansive language for God. One of my favorite images of the da...y was an ancient statue of a pregnant Jesus on the cross. Yes, a pregnant Jesus who reminds us that Christ births us into a new way of life, a new way of being community, a new world transformed by God’s love, echoing the words to Nicodemus in the third chapter of the gospel of John - you must be born anew. I was so proud of the leaders of this synod who were willing to engage in this important work. See more

Over the months people have often asked me how I am doing. I usually respond that I’m doing okay and then go on to share that I walk every morning and go for longer hikes on the weekends which have helped me stay healthy both physically and spiritually. I’m doing okay because I am being cared for by God’s creation, which invites me to simply be and breath and reminds me that life is larger than whatever is causing me to worry. Years ago I wrote that I love fall because ...it is a reminder that life does change . . . It is God who is there to catch me when I fall, to gather me when I feel scattered, to comfort me when my dreams die and fade . . . Wouldn’t it be nice to be as free as the leaves that are blown in the wind, not worrying about where I land, for wherever I land will be okay since it is God’s wind that is blowing me . . . . My hope is that as God’s wind blows around in all of our lives, we do not react with fear or resistance, but simply open ourselves up to the possibilities that blow our way and walk paths to discover God’s amazing creation. See more

This is a statue I encountered on my walk entitled Come to Me. I sat on the bench next to Jesus reflecting on how much I (and I’m guessing many others) are longing for Jesus to simply embrace us in gentle, loving arms, looking down on us with that peaceful smile. Just let us rest in you and make it all okay. We are so tired and weary of the struggles in our lives and in our country. But I wondered if in these days, Jesus’ face would have that peaceful smile or would we ...see anguish and even tears flowing down his face. The invitation would still be there, come to me, but would Jesus add, Come to me and put aside your fears and worries which lead you to lash out at one another, to blame and demean, to simply react rather than listen, remembering that my arms are wide enough for ALL God’s children and ALL of creation. Come to me and let my peace and love, my mercy and forgiveness, my truth direct your words and actions in these days. As I walked away, I found myself praying, As you invite us to come to you, O Jesus, we pray that you would come to us. Soften our hearts with your grace, embolden our spirits to speak up for those on the margins, as you did, and guide us in the ways of your kingdom. Amen See more

This past Sunday I drove up to Smithville where I discovered some lovely hiking trails, plus path that lead me over the Smithville Lake. As I walked, I could see a beach with picnic tables just across the water and thought it would be a short easy walk to get there. But the path didn’t lead me directly to where I wanted to go. Instead it kept winding farther away from the lake, causing me to stop at least three times and almost give up, turn around and just head back to my... car. But I kept walking and eventually (some 45 minutes later!) it brought me to where I had wanted to go. It just took longer than I had anticipated. And it made me think about this pandemic we are in. I am so ready to just have it over, to stop and go back to what normal looked like. But the pandemic is not done with us. We know where we want to go - a way of life where all of God’s children experience care and respect, kindness and welcome, freedom and purpose. But we are not there yet. We have a quite a ways to go. So as followers of Christ, we keep walking, walking as children of light as the words of the song remind us. I pray we do not give up and go back, that we keep moving forward even as we are tired and weary for it truly is beautiful where God wants to lead us - communities of love for our neighbors. See more

On Sunday I found a wonderful place to walk along the Streamway Park in Merriam, KS. This path took me along Turkey Creek on one side and buildings, traffic, civilization on the other side. As I walked I reflected on how this is our path through daily life, with the reminder of the sustaining love of our creator God while we tend to the traffic and tasks of our life together. We can’t just retreat from the world, but nor should we forget to take time to simply reflect and be. And what makes this journey possible is our baptismal waters which guide us through our path of life, being renewed by God’s presence while we actively engage in the world around us.