In an earlier blott, we looked at the idea of keeping our minds open to new voices that can lead us in troubled times. The blott, titled “Who Are Our Prophets Today?” Rev. Ed Trevors uses Bruce Springsteen, The Boss, as an example of a courageous voice.
We think we may have found a new voice – Rev. Paul Drees.
Pastor Paul Drees, a progressive Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) pastor based in Wisconsin, is known for his online ministry on TikTok and Instagram, which he began in 2021. He is a graduate of St. Olaf College and Luther Seminary and serves at Mount Calvary (Trempealeau) and Tamarack (Arcadia) churches.
Gemini
On Rev. Drees’ introductory page, he has an interesting message. We quickly realize that he has a new way of thinking.
I give thanks to God for Her guidance through this whole ordeal, and the healing she’s provided me. I pray that I might continue to be a faithful witness to Christ, regardless of the platform. – https://www.pauldrees.com/about
I don’t wish to speak for Rev. Drees, but I was taken by his use of the feminine pronoun for God. To me, it immediately says, “Welcome, all!” It also says to me, “Let us open our minds together.” It also breaks our mental autopilot (and auto-correct!) about our assumptions.
Rev. Drees has an active Facebook page, where he posts poignant, and often humorous skits, where he he has conversations with himself. One self is the thoughtful reverend, with clerical collar, the other self is, well, clueless in the way most people are.
He also discusses difficult issues, such as the murder of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, and his anger is real and unapologetic, but also framed in a context that will lead to justice.
God as a Female Presence
Mike Morrell has a web site that explores various corners of spirituality.
Here’s a sampling of the wealth of feminine images of God in Scripture, including the Apocrypha.
Mike Morrell is an interesting fellow, and shares his world view on his “about” page, including
What are your fractal elements, stirred like shards of a stained-glass cathedral shimmering and reflecting the whole of the Sun?
Here are a few more of mine…
I’m a contemplative-in-process, seeking a more grounded experience of God, life, myself and the world: Not because of grand mystical aspiration, but in order to stay sane in the here and now.
I think my two girls are funny and brilliant – both my academically ‘gifted’ (as the school system names her aptitude) daughter and my Down syndrome daughter; they each teach me a ton.
[ed. note: while I was working on this section about Mike Morrell, I was listening to a shuffle on my nearly 2,000 Spotify “liked” list, and Luke Kelly’s “Scorn Not His Simplicity” began playing.]
Mike has a thoughtful Facebook page, with interesting photos and artwork. He also seems to share WLBOTT‘s fascination with eggs and the their symbolic nature.
I’d like to share some of the images and photos from his Facebook page.
A Deeper Dive
We were fascinated by this image on Mike’s Facebook page:
St. Mary Magdalene Br. Robert Lentz According to the ancient tradition of the East, Mary Magdalene was a wealthy woman from whom Christ expelled seven “demons.” During the three years of Jesus’ ministry, she helped support Him and His other disciples with her money. When almost everyone else fled, she stayed with Him at the cross. On Easter morning she was the first to bear witness to His resurrection. She is called “Equal to the Apostles.”
After the Ascension, she journeyed to Rome where she was admitted to Tiberias Caesar’s court because of her high social standing. After describing how poorly Pilate had administered justice at Jesus’ trial, she told Caesar that Jesus had risen from the dead. To help explain the resurrection, she picked up an egg from the dinner table. Caesar responded that a human being could no more rise from the dead than the egg in her hand turn red. The egg turned red immediately, which is why red eggs have been exchanged at Easter for centuries in the Byzantine East.
The inscription at the bottom of the icon reads: “Saint Mary Magdalene” in Syriac, a dialect of the language spoken by Jesus.
Robert Lentz OFM (born 1946) is an American Franciscan friar and religious icon painter. He is particularly known for incorporating contemporary social themes into his icon work. He belongs to the Order of Friars Minor, and is currently stationed in Holy Name Province.
All roads lead to… Austin Minnesota? We found so many interesting intersections and connections in today’s topic that we could easily spend a week going down rabbit holes. But let’s limit ourselves to one fanciful connection.
Rev. Drees obtained his Bachelor’s in Social Work from St. Olaf College and then went to Luther Seminary for his Masters of Divinity.
We’ve long been fascinated by St. Olaf College. We first learned of the college many years ago through the beautiful choral concerts featured on PBS at Christmas.
Here’s a cool song for any time of the year!
St. Olaf College is a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American pastors and farmers led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after the King and the Patron Saint Olaf II of Norway and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Another WLBOTT connection is the close proximity of St. Olaf College to WLBOTT HQ. From our corporate offices, take a 10 minute drive to the highway, head north on interstate IH35 for 1,124 miles, and then exit the highway for a 6 minute drive to the campus. St. Olaf College is only 68 miles from Austin, Minnesota.
