Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
At the closing Olympic ceremonies this past week in Beijing, the iconic Olympic flame flickered one final time before going out. Throughout the competitions, and in the weeks leading up to the games, the flame burned as a fiery symbol of the Olympics.
Amid controversies, international tensions, pandemic, and hardships, the light represented something good - people coming together to peacefully compete in contests that demonstrate human endurance and spirit. The Olympic movement is an ideal, even if it is twisted by commercialization and national propaganda. Lacking perfection, the games demonstrate as much the struggles that we face as they do the triumphs.
Although I have had my fill of the games for the time being, I look forward to the next Olympic games in Paris in the summer of 2024 when once again the torch will burn. Call me an idealistic, but when that flame is carried into its new stadium, there will be a flicker of hope that will burn within me. Might the human creature be able to finally come together across differences and work together for the good of the whole human race?
A brighter version of this hope burns within me as I think about the ministry that we share together in this community that we call St. James Lutheran. Our flame burns brightly, even in these challenging times. From it’s light, we and others can see God’s love. Christ shines through our ministries bringing hope, healing, and restoration.
In the weeks since our Annual Meeting at the end of January, our Council has been working together to plot out the big picture of our ministry for this coming year. The proverbial torch has been passed from the 2021 to the 2022 Council. Our vision, GRACE values, and Welcome Statement will be carried by a new group of leaders.
This Sunday, I invite you to raise your prayers as we install our 2022 Council at our 9:30 a.m. worship. Together we pray for: Maria Edlund (President), Darcie Evers (Vice President), Matt Schaefer (Secretary), Jim Collins (Treasurer), Deb Benson, Starlett Drader, Jon Kuneli, Tom McCaffery , and JoWana Optiz. Each of them bring rich gifts that I am confident will shine brightly as by the grace of God we build and deepen loving relationships with God, with each other, and with our neighbor.
Whether you attend worship in the parking lot, sanctuary, or online, I look forward to waving to you in worship this weekend.
In Christ’s Light,
Pastor Walt