Grace and peace to you all!
As we come to the end of this week, I am grateful for the partnerships that we share with other Lutheran congregations in the St. Paul Area Synod. The word “Synod” comes from two words that mean ‘walking together.’ We are synod together - we share a common journey with a variety of ELCA congregations in the St. Paul area. Although we have many different styles of worship, offer different ministries, and serve in unique ways in each of our contexts - we share a common bond in Christ. We are church together.
This was illustrated in a very tangible way for me this week. On Tuesday night, Birdie Olson and I attended a ZOOM meeting that Bishop Lull hosted for Pastors and Presidents of the St. Paul Area Synod. Over one-hundred-ninety participants filled the screens. The purpose was to offer information, best practices, and share resources regarding reopening church buildings. Given the ongoing reality of pandemic, providing safe in-person gatherings is extremely challenging. There are many more things to consider than you might at first think. Listening to what other congregations are doing and NOT doing was helpful. I came away with pages of notes that will inform our conversations as we seek to navigate the turbulent waters of Covid-19.
Thanks need to go to Bishop Lull and her staff for the multiple such gatherings over the past months. We have benefited greatly from the sharing of wisdom that these ZOOM events have provided.
I am also grateful to my pastoral colleagues in the Synod. You have been a source of strength and guidance on a variety of topics related to ministry in a time of pandemic. I have particularly appreciated their availability and willingness to discuss matters concerning worship.
Last, but certainly not least, I am grateful for the wonderful people I get to work with on a daily basis. St. James is blessed with a fabulous staff and leadership team. We are working hard together to provide multiple ministries that nurture spiritual formation, share welcome, and serve those in need. Thank you all! We are also in the planning stages for what is next. In the coming week, I look forward to sharing some of the fruits of this labor.
What a joy to be blessed by so many walking together!
In Christ’s Light,
Pastor Walt