Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
Tonight, we celebrate the ordination of Sherri Lawrence to Word and Sacrament ministry. You can log on at 6:00 p.m. through the Shepherd of the Hills website (click here).
Sherri is a “daughter” of St. James. This means that she has been nurtured through her participation in the life of our congregation and heard the call to ordained ministry while a member of St. James. What a joy it has been as her pastor to watch her hear and respond to God’s invitation to become a pastor!
Joy is a good descriptor when talking about Sherri. It describes the way she leads worship and preaches. Sherri’s compassion and delight in the Lord are well expressed in her smile. She is a people-person and will serve the church well. She has been called as an Associate Pastor by Shepherd of the Hills in Edina.
Before the restrictions of Covid-19, we had planned a big celebration at St. James back in March. Sadly this did not happen. Sherri, the Bishop of the Minneapolis Synod, and myself agreed that it would not be safe for us to carry out our plans. Safety remains an important consideration for both St. James and Shepherd of the Hills - both congregations offer worship online.
Although the ordination will not be as planned - it will be a wonderful worship. Using a time-honored ritual of the church, we will mark this important transition in Sherri’s life as she becomes Pastor Sherri with the full blessing and prayers of the church. Though we will adjust the ritual slightly, the heart of an ordination centers about the mission of the church, God’s Word, vows, and the prayers of the people. We will do that in a responsible way that honors the wisdom of our medical community and larger church.
Sherri has chosen me to both preach and present her for ordination. Both are great privileges that I am thrilled to receive. As I fulfill these roles, I will do so on behalf of the community of St. James where Sherri answered the call to become a pastor. I will also do so with joy.
In Christ’s Light,
Pastor Walt
p.s. This Sunday, St. James will offer a Parking Lot worship option at 8:00 a.m. - Come for a Service of the Word in the comfort and safety of your vehicle. We will do this for the next few weeks, as a way for those who want an in-person worship experience. I look forward to seeing you. We will continue our 9:30 a.m. online worship - which you can access live at 9:30 or at any time afterwards that is most convenient for you.