Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
As I reflect upon our ministry together this week, the word “connections” comes to mind. Even as we are physically apart, we remain connected. We are together in Christ as we worship, study, and fellowship online and by phone. On Sunday, we will share communion using the available technology. I look forward to presiding on ZOOM and hope you can take part in this experience (click here for more information).
I am happy to report that we made significant progress this week as we welcomed the return of our Spanish Pentecostal neighbors to worshiping/studying at St. James. This week they are using the outdoor worship space. We are close to having guidelines that will allow them and other outside ministry partners to use indoor space. Nurturing connections among neighbors is a part of our vision as a church.
I give thanks for the good work of the Return to In-Person Ministry Team that has brought us to this place. Join me in saying thanks to Viv Aarestad and Diane Miller (co-leaders of the team) and its members (Wendy Dickman and Mark Lind) for the many hours they have devoted to crafting guidelines that will keep folks safe. There are so many recommendations from the medical community that need to be carefully weighed and applied to our context. I am grateful for their compassion, concern, and thoroughness. Please pray for their ongoing work, which is heading in the direction of returning to the full use of our ministry facility. Although it will still be a while before our congregation of seven hundred can gather as we once did, significant progress is underway. It would do well for us to include patience in our prayers.
I also ask you to pray for our Connected in Christ, pilot ministry. A few weeks ago, I mentioned this initiative that seeks to find a way for us to connect our whole community with St. James Lutheran’s online resources. You might recall that I shared the opportunity for stiped summer internships to our young adults. I am happy to share that this week we selected a group of three applicants and a team leader. What joy to have Johnny Corcoran, Brady Haller, and Noah Lichtenberger join Jeff Andrew (Team Lead) as our Connected in Christ Team.
In the next few days, they will begin the work of reaching out to new technology users in our congregation to assist them in accessing our online resources. They will learn from these interactions on how best to help others. Phase One involves equipping those who have technology that they need help using it. Phase Two is testing out equipment that is easy to use with those who don’t currently have access. Phase Three is determining the overall need for technology in our congregation and figuring out a path toward linking everyone. This is a challenging but important initiative. I am grateful for our team and Jeff’s leadership - confident that they will make a lasting impact on our future ministry.
The last connection that I want to acknowledge is that of your generous support. Throughout this pandemic crises, St. James has received the financial support that we have needed. Your gifts have allowed us to focus on ministry - to creatively use the resources at hand to be church in new and unimaginable ways. We have not had to worry how we are paying bills. Thank you.
I pray that this weekly ministry moment finds you safe and healthy. Be sure to let us know if there is any way we can help out and support you in these challenging days.
In Christ’s Light,
Pastor Walt