For Our Sake, We Are One

"It been quite the week in Lake Wobegon .." began Garrison Keillor on his "Prairie Home Companion" radio show. In our case, make that plural. On July 12th, we began Vacation Bible School, which really had been a work in progress long before that week. This week, we have youth out on a mission trip to Lincoln, IL. The respite week between was anything but calm as we dealt with a forced staff absence. Yet the work of the Kingdom of God continues.

This week, we will read in Ephesians 4 that some were called to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers. I would add that some were also called to be carpenters, plumbers, secretaries, doctors, nurses, bank managers, repair people, and you get the idea. As Lutherans, we teach that all vocation is a calling from God. We teach that we are all called into the priesthood of all believers to do the work of the Kingdom of God. Our examples of living daily in the presence of God are noticed. We all have bits and pieces that we can contribute to make the Kingdom prosper.

Remember that as you say your kind words, do your acts of love, and pray for those around you or far away. We are living out the unity we have in the Holy Spirit as we seek to become whole in Christ Jesus.

For Your Sake, We Receive God's Grace

Dear Friends,

In my back yard, there is a sports complex with a fairly new high school baseball and softball field. Tonight, the field was all lit up and could be seen for miles because there was an evening game. The temperature was in the mid-80s with humidity high enough that it looked like an evening fog. Although I was never a ball player myself, I love to hear the shouts from the fans cheering on the players.

What’s are some of your favorite summertime memories? Maybe your summertime stories are anything but ball games, fairs, farm-life, pools, camping outdoors, or even Iowa heat and humidity. Maybe summers were the time for traveling, sightseeing, or visiting family and friends all over the country. Your memories or maybe even this 2021 summer is all about being on the road and meeting new people along the way. With this big National Holiday weekend, maybe you think of how much you love fireworks on the 4th of July. Just remember that for many people and our furred friends, the sounds of explosives are terrifying.

The stories of our joys and challenges, celebrations and fears explain how we understand the world around us. Sometimes our stories seem familiar or unfamiliar, boastful or humble, truthful or impossible or even just plain confusing!

In our passage this week from 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, it can be a bit confusing, at least for me. Paul was trying to share the story with the people in Corinth about how he knows a lot of things, important things. He says that he doesn’t have to boast, but he could because the things he knows are the truth. Then there some other things mentioned; it’s a lot to ponder. (Uff dah!) until the very end of passage when Paul basically sums it all up by saying, (Pastor Katie’s translation), God, in my hardships and in my joys, in my story of life, the truth is: your grace is all I need. So, thank you for loving all of your children of your own making and continue to give them your strength, your love, and your promise of life everlasting.

What’s your story of God’s gift of grace? To share our stories, we need to gather together! Come to worship this weekend, invite friends over, or meet people right where they are and listen to one another’s story of highs and lows, joys and sorrows, the stories of God’s gift of grace.

This weekend, we celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism with Elle Elizabeth Meseck and Andrew Joseph Parrish and their families. We look ahead to the amazing week of VBS and Day Camp. We will have a special summertime Next Steps with Pastor Katie for prospective members on July 18 after 9:45 worship. We end the month of July with a Youth Mission Trip – with 4 open spots that still simply must be filled! Our summertime at Holy Trinity is God-honoring and simply - vibrant!

Go to our website holytrinityNL.org for the most up-to-date information and invitations.

See you at church,

Pastor Katie

For Your Sake, We Serve

DEAR FRIENDS,

We welcome the raindrops and pray for days of renewal of the earth, our households, and our communities. Just as soon as I say something like that, I can sense a “but, Pastor Katie the rain is ruining our plans to go to…”

Our passage this Sunday from 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (NIV) has this bold message for you and for me. After Paul encourages us as faithful people of Christ, he says, “see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” Meaning, imaging and addressing the needs of others is our witness to God’s gift of grace for you and for me.

Paul continues in the NIV translation and says, “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.” What a powerful message to say to us this very moment in our time that this isn’t about diminishing one another’s story of joys and/or challenges, but lifting them both up with mutual respect, care, and compassion.

I have this amazing group that I meet with each week, my small group. They are “my people” in this place and time who not only share their stories, they listen to my own. I feel safe in this group to discuss but also not feel obligated to solve personal or world issues. The way I see it, “we are holding one another’s story today.” The greatest gift we can give to one another is our time, our fully listening ears, our commitment to be compassionate and to hold one another’s story. In this, as individuals and as a group, we have equality.

Paul completes the passage for this Sunday with, “The goal is equality, as it is written; The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” We may read this to mean a political movement. Maybe it could be and should be read in that context. But what I hear in this space and time is our need, our want, and our calling to listen to one another and demonstrate compassion for all of God’s children with equal dignity, respect, and honor. How we could change our everyday conversations if we looked at one another without categorizing or assuming, but fully listened and held one another's story, including the center of each story our personal hurts, joys, and challenges?

Beloved children of God, we know we are created and inspired to grow in our relationship with God and with one another. What is the best way to take steps forward in our growth? By engaging in worship, sign up to serve as an usher/greeter/praise team or tech team. Sign your children and youth up for VBS/Day Camp, or helping with the many projects at Holy Trinity including crafts and quilting. What ways are stirring your heart right now to share in the Good News that we are loved and forgiven by a gracious God?

Blessings to you always,

Pastor Katie