Dear People of God,

On Wed Sept 24, I was teaching our confirmation students about the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion.   As we talked about how the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper become the body and blood of Christ, I asked the students how they preferred to receive Holy Communion.  Do they like to “intinct” by dipping the wafer in the chalice?  Or do they like to eat the wafer and then drink wine from an individual communion cup? One student said he prefers intinction because when you dip the wafer in the wine, you are receiving the body and blood of Christ all at the same time, not separately.  For this student, the wafer dipped in the wine becomes Christ’s complete body united with his blood.  I had never thought about it this way and was quite amazed by the wisdom and insight of this young person!
 
As I left the church later that evening, I was reminded that as Christians, God always has new things to teach us about our faith.  It’s never too late to grow in our understanding of the sacraments or deepen our understanding of the scriptures – even if we have studied those same things many times before.

In our confirmation class, we also talked about how the word for “sacrament” in the Latin language is “mysterium.”  As human beings, we all have questions about our faith and, at times, God can even seem like a mystery to us.  But when we experience God’s love and grace made real to us in the waters of Baptism and the bread and wine of Holy Communion, we can be confident that we are his beloved children.  In Baptism we are marked with the cross of Christ forever and God promises that he will never leave us or forsake us. And, as Martin Luther assures us in the Small Catechism, let us proclaim together, “This is most certainly true!”  

Peace,
Pastor Heather

FEBRUARY 2025
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9)

Dear Friends in Christ,

In these past weeks I have been dismayed by the violent conflicts taking place around the world.  It seems that images of war and bloodshed from the Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, the Sudan, the Congo and elsewhere loom large in the media.  And here in the USA, I am weary of the gun violence that plagues our communities.  I long for destruction and heartache to end so that children, families, and all others can feel safe and free from fear.

In 1995, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America released a social statement called “For Peace in God’s World.”  In recent years, people have taken a renewed interest in this document and the wisdom it offers as to how Christians can work toward global peace.
In the social statement,
“For Peace in God’s World,” it reads: We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America share with the Church of Jesus Christ in all times and places the calling to be peacemakers. In the liturgy of Holy Communion we pray ‘for the peace of the whole world,’ asking, ‘Lord, have mercy.’ Our petition unites faith in the Triune God with our world’s sufferings and hopes… The basis of the Church’s peace-calling is in God’s final peace, the peace of God’s eternal reign. That calling is to proclaim the Gospel of God’s final peace and to work for earthly peace.
 
Indeed, throughout the Scriptures we see that God’s ultimate desire is that peace prevail on the earth.  This is the example Jesus Christ has given us:
◆ Jesus taught love for one’s enemies;
◆ he reached out to those who were oppressed, downtrodden, and rejected;
◆ he prayed for his enemies while himself being rejected on the cross;
◆ above all, through Jesus’ violent death, God redeemed the world, “for...while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10).
How can we as Christians promote the peace of Christ in our world?  The social statement spells it out quite clearly:  Where the Church lives in unity, overcoming divisions and welcoming the stranger and outcast, the Church contributes to earthly peace.  Where the followers of Jesus refuse to repay evil with evil but turn the other cheek and go the extra mile (Matthew 5:38-42), where in their life together Christians’ creative, nonviolent responses to hostile acts open up possibilities for reconciliation, the Church contributes to earthly peace.

Where churches in different countries work in solidarity for human dignity, the Church contributes to earthly peace. Peace in the community of faith serves by example the ministry and message of reconciliation entrusted to the Church for the world (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
 
May we all heed the words of Jesus’s Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12):  “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  And as Edwin Markham so wisely stated, “We have committed the Golden Rule to memory; now let us commit it to life.”
 
Prayer:  Dear Lord Jesus Christ, help us to be expressions of your love in the world, both as individual members of your body and as your whole body, the Church. Empower us to support one another as we seek to build peace.  Amen.

In Christ,
Pastor Heather

My dear congregation,

As we stand at the threshold of a new era, emerging from the shadows of a global pandemic, I am filled with both gratitude and anticipation. The journey we have traveled together has been marked by challenges and uncertainties, yet through it all, our faith has remained steadfast. Now, as we embark on the path of post-pandemic re-engagement, let us do so with courage, compassion, and a renewed sense of purpose.
First and foremost, let us give thanks for the resilience and strength that has carried us through this difficult season. We have witnessed the power of community, the importance of connection, and the unwavering love of our Creator. In the midst of hardship, we have discovered new depths of faith and reliance on God's grace.
However, as we look ahead to reengaging with our congregation and community, let us not forget the lessons we have learned during this time of isolation. Let us remember the value of intentional outreach, the significance of inclusive fellowship, and the need for adaptive creativity in our ministry efforts.
Re-engagement is not simply about returning to the way things were before the pandemic. It is an opportunity for us to re-imagine and revitalize our mission as a church. It is a chance to reach out to those who may have felt disconnected or marginalized, to welcome them with open arms and open hearts.
Let us embrace this moment with humility and empathy, recognizing that each member of our congregation may be navigating their own unique challenges and uncertainties. Let us extend grace to one another as we seek to rebuild and renew our community together.
As we reengage with our ministries, programs, and worship services, let us do so with a spirit of innovation and adaptability. Let us be willing to try new things, to take risks, and to listen deeply to the needs of those we serve. Let us be guided by the love of Christ in all that we do, seeking always to bring hope, healing, and reconciliation to a world in need.
My friends, as we stand on the threshold of this new chapter in our journey together, let us do so with faith, hope, and courage. Let us step forward into the future with confidence, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.
May we embrace post-pandemic re-engagement as an opportunity to deepen our commitment to God and to one another. May we be guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit as we seek to build a more just, compassionate, and inclusive community.

In Christ,
Pastor Heather Brown