Installation of       Bishop Thomas M. Aitken            Northeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA              August 23, 2008            Rejoice Lutheran Church, Baxter

Bishop's Remarks            At the close of the installation service, Bishop Aitken greeted the congregation. He referred to the Gospel lesson from Mark 4, noting the reckless and foolish way in which the seeds were sown on all different types of soil.            "Even though we are so important to Christ, that is only a small part of the picture. God is crazy about everyone, especially those on the margins - those who haven't been included. Using the seed God has planted in us, God wants us to grow a grace that includes everyone and all of creation. God is using us and our congregations no matter what kind of soil that seed may currently be growing in." He then presented an assignment and encouraged those gathered to respond to him with their results. The Assignment:     Day 1:  Pray and reflect upon the words of Mark 4:1-9. Imagine Jesus sowing the good seed of the Gospel into your heart and life.     Day 2:  Reflect and pray on the same verses from Mark. Then refer to the Illumination of those words in artwork on your bulletin* cover. Find a shape on the cover (a "field" ripe for harvest) and consider how Christ is growing that seed in the soil of your congregation.     Day 3:  Reflect and pray on verses from Mark. Find your "field" and imagine that as the Northeastern Minnesota Synod and consider how Christ is growing that seed in our synod.     Day 4:  As above, then consider how Christ is growing that seed in the soil of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.     Day 5:  As above, then consider how Christ is growing that seed in all nations, all religions and in all the world. * a few bulletins are left from the installation and are available at the synod office

The artwork below and displayed at the right, is an oil on canvas created by Michael Aitken (son of Bishop Thomas and Beckie Aitken). It illumines the Scripture passage from Mark 4: 1-9.

A photograph of the piece was the cover of the installation bulletin and is referred to by Bishop Aitken in his remarks (above).

The Parable of the Sower Again he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold." And he said, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!" Mark 4:1-9

The Day in Pictures

Banner at the entrance to Forestview Middle School where Rejoice Lutheran                 Church meets for worship	Guests sign a "Book of Blessings" for Bishop Aitken
Procession of participants in the installation	service and other lay and rostered leaders
Laying on of Hands	Bishop Tom Aitken with Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson

First Lutheran Church choir from International Falls provided music along with the Windchill Brass from Duluth