New Devotional to Lift Your Spirits

Grace and peace to you!

How’s your spirit these days? Do you sense that God is near? In the turmoil of pandemic, where our usual ways of doing things, including worship, are disrupted, how is your spiritual health?

These were some of the thoughts that I brought with me as I hiked into the canyons of five National Parks this summer. I sought refreshment and solace for my body, mind, and spirit along some amazing trails. With notebook in hand, I reflected on the experience and life with God. I also pondered how Christ emptied himself, letting go, to connect with others and the life God desired him to live.

From my hikes, I have put together a five-week devotional series called, Canyon: A Kenotic Search for God. St. James Lutheran is providing free subscriptions to this content to anyone in our community who would like to use this daily electronic devotional. Sign up below and starting tomorrow morning, you will receive daily inspiration in your email inbox in time for your morning coffee.

If you would like more information about the series before you sign-up (click here). Be sure, however, when you are ready to sign-up to use the special “St. James Lutheran” link below. That way, the devotional will come at no cost to you. This is just one more way that our congregation is nurturing spiritual health.

I pray that my huffing and puffing along many miles this summer, results in meaningful insights that will strengthen and encourage you in your faith.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Blink your lights if you love Jesus!

If you would have told me when I was ordained over twenty-three years ago, that I would be preaching weekly outdoors to folks sitting in cars, I would have laughed. It would have seemed too bizarre.

Now, I chuckle to myself as I’m getting ready to begin the 8:00 a.m. Parking Lot worship. Looking out at those who have gathered, I feel like I’m in a CARS movie. I’m waiting for Mater and Lighting McQueen to appear….

Seriously, I am glad that our rain or shine Parking Lot worship is bringing us together in a creative and safe way during this pandemic. Our attendance is growing each week and last week we had over thirty people!

Through the use of an FM transmitter (87.9 FM), we can come together for a half hour to praise God and worship. If you haven’t tried it out yet, maybe this week offers you an opportunity.

In addition to the weekly option on Sunday morning, we have offered additional Parking Lot worships on Wednesday evenings. Our next one will be next week on October 7 at 6:30 p.m. Come a few minutes earlier so you get a good space. Each person will receive a small gift as a remembrance that God travels with us. We will have music and we’ll honk our horns in praise. It is a lot of fun and great to be together. Again, you should check it out.

At our first Wednesday evening Parking Lot Worship, we began the practice of honking horns as part of the liturgy. For example, whenever we would say Amen, we would HONK! HONK!! HONK!!! It has become a part of the way we worship in our vehicles. I guarantee that on October 7, we will give everyone’s horn a good workout.

Of course, we had to modify the practice for Sunday morning. Wanting to be a good neighbor, we DON’T HONK at 8:00 a.m. Instead, we blink our lights in the places where we would otherwise make a loud obnoxious noise.

Blink your lights…. it is what you do on the highway to politely let someone in front of you. It is also a way of thanking someone who extended the same courtesy to you. The world can use more people who blink their lights on the highway.

As a Christian, we are called to share in the love of God. Following Jesus, God invites us to both give and receive kindness. Whether it is a kind gesture (like blinking your lights) or a thoughtful word, each day is full of opportunities to be Christ to another. May God strengthen each to make the best use of these chances to share in the joy and blessing of God’s Kingdom.

I look forward to seeing you soon in your vehicle or through our online worships. I remain grateful for the way that the Spirit is allowing us to continue to be the church in a way that is safe for the most vulnerable in our midst. Don’t forget - blink your lights if you love Jesus!

Still "Walking Together"....

Grace and peace to you all,

The Saint Paul Area Synod will be hosting a historic Assembly online this weekend. Through the use of technology, we will conduct a bishop election.

I say “we” because the Saint Paul Area Synod is not a separate entity but rather a larger expression of our church. The word “synod” means walking together. St. James joins 109 other congregation and new starts in making up our Synod. Along with 64 other synods around the country, together we are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Our church has three interconnected expressions: St. James Lutheran Church (local), St. Paul Area Synod (regional), and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (national). At each level, people are called to serve as pastors, deacons, and leaders. Through elections and call processes, the church participates in the selection of those who serve the church.

Bishop Lull has served the St. Paul Area Synod for the last six years and will be standing for re-election to another six years. Over these years, on multiple occasions, St. James Lutheran has welcomed our bishop to preach, preside, and teach. I am grateful for her insight and leadership. Let us pray for her as the church meets this weekend to decide whether to extend her call for another six years.

Attending the first virtual Assembly from St. James Lutheran is President Birdie Olson, Secretary Lee Larson, Mark Lichtenberger (who was elected by the Synod last year to serve on Synod Council), and myself. We will have the responsibility of not only electing a bishop but also participating on a variety of resolutions relating to the life of the Synod. Please keep all those who are participating in your prayers this weekend. Join me in asking God’s Spirit to guide the Assembly in the way God would have us travel.

During these days of pandemic and great changes, the Church continues to walk together. Although the SPAS Assembly will be like none other, I am confident that it will be a time to celebrate and seek God’s presence among us.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

p.s. Don’t forget…. on Sunday morning, 8 am Parking Lot and 9:30 Online, I will lead the second Teaching Worship on the Ten Commandments. If you missed part one - click on this video link…..

A Lesson From Tanzania

This picture shows a school classroom in the village of Nanange, Tanzania.

Back in February, I attended the Pamoja Summit in Iringa, Tanzania.  It was an incredible experience that continues to inform and shape my ministry at St. James.   I learned a great deal from my colleagues, both those who traveled with me from St. Paul and also those who I met in Tanzania. 

Before COVID caused us to rethink the way we are doing ministry, I had a notebook filled with ideas and things that I wanted to try at St. James.   Many months later, it is time that I dusted off those pages and returned to some of the insights from Iringa.

One of the things that intrigued me back at the start of the year was the concept of a “Teaching Worship.”   These happen in Tanzania by the order of the bishop around once a month.  Instead of using the regular liturgy for worship, the worship time is used for teaching.  One of the challenges that the Iringa Diocese faces is the rapid growth of congregations (it is the fastest growing Lutheran church on the planet.)  The concern of the bishop and pastors is that many adults who attend don’t know the basics of the faith.  Teaching worships help to engage the church in not only learning the foundations of Christian faith but also aids them in applying that teaching to everyday lives.   

Teaching was a core part of Martin Luther’s ministry (he was a teacher of the Old Testament in Wittenberg) and has an important legacy within the church that bears his name.  Pastors within the Lutheran church are called to preach and teach the gospel.  Whereas teaching and preaching are related, they are different forms of proclamation with varying goals.  Preaching seeks to inspire, comfort, and challenge.  Teaching focuses more on learning and applying concepts.           

For the next two Sundays, during our 9:30 Online livestream, we are trying out our own version of this Tanzanian worship style.  In addition to music and prayer, there will be an extended time for learning.  We will start with the Ten Commandments.  On September 20, we will look at the commandments as they concern our relationship with God.  On September 27, we will look at the application of the commandments to our relationships with others.  

In these days of pandemic, there is an opportunity for creativity and being the church “outside the box” of our usual patterns and practices.  At St. James Lutheran, we continue to make good use of technology and innovation as we seek to proclaim the good news of God’s love in diverse ways.  Teaching worships are just one more attempt to make the best out of our circumstances.  I trust that you will find this unique style to lift your spirit, give you something to ponder, and grow in your discipleship as a follower of Jesus.  

I pray that this Ministry Moment finds you safe and healthy.  I look forward to when I will see you again - through your computer, car window, or in-person.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

For Your Spirit - Part Two

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus!

Last week, I shared a few words about the importance of daily prayer and scripture reading. As Christians, we need to nurture our spiritual health regularly. Although God will love us whether we tend to our spirits or not, we may not be aware of God’s presence if we don’t take the time to stop and breathe.

Starting on Monday, St. James Lutheran will offer a weekly video-devotion called, “BREATHE.” Each short video will feature a reflection, scripture, and a prayer. They will be posted on our website by noon each week - ready for you to access whenever you need to take a break and BREATHE...

We begin with focusing on the G.R.A.C.E. values that we have been using at St. James Lutheran for the past ten years. As I mention in the first video, G.R.A.C.E. is an acronym for God’s Grace, Respect, Appreciation, Compassion, and Encouragement. These Christ-centered and bible-based values offer guidance on how we relate to one another in the context of Christian community. They can also be used as we relate to others beyond St. James.

I look forward to sharing this additional online resource. It is one more way that St. James Lutheran is providing resources to build and deepen relationships with God, with each other, and with neighbors.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

p.s. Last night’s Parking Lot worship was a hit. In spite of the cool/rainy weather, we had thirty-two cars and sixty people in attendance. Special prayers and pins were given out to students, teachers, and all those working in our schools. We continue to pray for them all at the start of what will be a challenging school year.

For Your Spirit - Part One

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

A few years ago, I started Light From This Hill to provide devotional resources to pastors, congregations, and individuals. It is my belief that regular folks need simple and refreshing ways to connect with God. Our spirits need nurturing on a daily basis because life can be hard, take unexpected turns, and be incredibly busy.

Through my website, lightfromthishill.com, I offer a variety of devotionals which I have written (this is what I do on my days off). It is a joy to share these with folks in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, New Jersey, and New York. During the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter, I have also shared them at no cost with the whole St. James community.

As part of expanding our online ministries during this pandemic, St. James Lutheran is offering subscriptions to WELCOME: Sharing God’s Welcome. I wrote this four week, daily devotional series on embracing hospitality as a Christian. At God’s table, you will find inspiration that will lift up your spirit.

Each day, you will receive another installment of the series in your email inbox. It will be there in time for your morning coffee. It starts the day after you sign-up.

Since I know how busy life can be, I’ve designed each devotion to be read in under five minutes.

There is no cost for the St. James community if you use the link below to sign-up.

I pray that this resource will shine a little light on your path and help to nurture your spirit.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Welcome Andy!

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ !

It is a joy to share the news with you that St. James now has a part-time Director of Multi-Media. Andy Anderson is a graduate of Augsburg College with work experience at Lutheran Social Services of MN. Andy will be crafting both digital and print media, helping us to get the good word out about St. James ministries. Through website, social media, and mailings, Andy will strengthen the ways we tell the story about what God is doing in our midst.

This new position came out of the work that we did last year with our Strategic Plan. As you will recall, at our Annual Meeting the congregation voted on a three point focus for our ministry. Through Spiritual Formation, Welcome, and Service we build and deepen loving relationships with God, with each other, and with our neighbors. Although we have a strong tradition in each of these areas, we discovered that not everybody knows all that we do together. The recommendation of our Welcome Mission Team was that we hire someone to inform and invite.

The timing of this hire couldn’t have been better. In the midst of the pandemic, the challenge is to let folks know that St. James remains active in ministry even as we are not gathering all together in our sanctuary. There are many stories to tell about how we continue to worship, learn, and grow as children of God. Having a Director of Multi-Media will also allow us to take advantage of the opportunity to extend our ministry beyond our doors. We are no longer limited by the size or location of our building. St. James ministry can now reach beyond Burnsville as folks log in from other parts of the state and country.

Please pray for Andy as this new chapter of ministry begins with us. I ask that you join me in welcoming Andy onto our staff and into our community of faith.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Go and Make Disciples

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.

Exploring The Unknown Land Outside Our Door

When I think of expeditions of discovery and exploration, my imagination goes quickly to remote corners of the globe.  You discover places and things that are far away.  Frozen tundras and civilizations hidden in rainforests.  Ever since a child, I have been fascinated by stories and photos of the kind that you encounter in National Geographic or on the Discovery Channel.  I have always been eager to learn about this planet and its peoples.

When the church traditionally talked about missionary work, it looked to places afar.  We would send preachers, teachers, doctors to the other side of the earth to be missionaries of Jesus' love.  Although this history has not always been reflective of that love, Lutherans learned that the model of accompaniment is able to produce much fruit and life-connections.  We have as much to learn and receive in global partnerships as we have to teach and give.  I am grateful for the relationships that we have at St. James with the Christians in Idunda.  We have so much to learn from our African sisters and brothers.      

For now, I want to focus on the needed missionary work outside our front door.  Our neighborhood is a largely unexplored horizon when it comes to sharing the love of Jesus.  Dramatic demographic changes are happening all around us.  Major cultural expectations regarding church and religion have shifted.  No longer is church attendance and membership a prized social value.  The neighborhood has changed drastically since the days when the people built St. James in the early 1960's. 

How might you share Jesus’s love in the place where you live, with your neighbors? How might you reach out with kindness and care? What words and actions could you use to imitate Jesus? These have always been important questions to ask but especially critical in these times. No longer can we rely on others to do missionary work for us - we must all be missionaries. Our greatest witness comes not in quoting scripture and pious feelings, but rather in living out scripture’s compassion.

May God strengthen you for this kind of work this week. And if folks are curious as to why you are being so helpful, be sure to tell them that you learned about it at your church. At that point, invite them to check out St. James. With our online worships, now is a great and non-threatening time for others to check us out.

In Christ,

Pastor Walt      

Online and In-Person Worship Plan for August

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

At the July Council meeting, the decision was made to adopt a hybrid approach when it comes to our ministry this August. Guided by recommendations of the Minnesota Department of Health, the bulk of our ministry will remain online. Although we desperately miss being together in person, we understand that large gatherings of people can spread the virus in ways that can be deadly. St. James leaders, myself included, have discerned a cautious route.

Throughout August, our primary way of worship will be live-streamed online. We will gather online on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and on Wednesdays, at 7:30 p.m. There will be a phone-in worship option at noon on August 2, 9, and 16.

Starting Sunday, August 23, in addition to the online option, we will offer a Parking Lot worship at 8:00 a.m. Come to worship in the safety of your vehicle for a spoken Service of the Word. You will be able to tune in the sound on your car radio (87.9 FM - in the parking lot only).

Flexibility is key in these times of rapidly changing information about and approaches to the virus. At the August Council, we will reevaluate our ministry and decide upon a direction for September based on the following: 

• Spiritual needs of the congregation, as determined through the Council’s contact initiative.   

• Recommendations of science/health community. 

• Seek a balance between the top priority of safety (especially for those most at risk) and the spiritual needs for gathering – whether that is virtual or in-person.   

• Awareness of our capacity of resources, including staffing.  Comfort levels vary among our staff and must be honored as we navigate these uncharted waters.  Depending on the direction we take, we might need to shift financial resources for staffing.  

I invite your prayers and patience as we navigate these uncharted waters. In all that we do, we seek the Spirit’s guidance and remain grateful for God’s presence.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Blessings for the Journey Ahead

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

It has been a tradition at St. James Lutheran to share prayers of blessing with our High School graduates as they prepare to open the next chapter of their lives. Over the years, this has taken various forms. Most recently, we have offered the opportunity for a personal prayer at the font with family. We have done this at the start of worship and it has been a special time for families. What a joy to pray with young men and women as they head off to college, boot camp, or enter the workforce.

Given our online reality during Covid, we will be taping these blessings and then playing them back during worship. We have mailed letters to all our 2020 graduates, inviting them to participate. On designated dates, I will share a prayer with them and their parents. Over the coming weeks, you will be able to witness these blessings as a part of worship.

Please keep in your prayers all our young men and women who are in times of transition. These moments are always stressful but especially so during the pandemic. We trust in God’s guidance and steadfast love for them. I pray that they will know of God’s presence as they head out, no matter their destination. I also pray that they will remember that they have a church home that loves and cares for them.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Taking Time to Refresh and Vacate

Over the next three weeks, I will be taking time for summer vacation.  Both my family and I look forward to this time for reconnection and renewal.

While away, I am grateful for Pastor Nancy who will be providing worship leadership and care coverage.  Thanks go to Pastor Scott Simmons for weekend on-call coverage.

Should a situation arise that you require pastoral care, you can either call the Church Office (952) 890-4534 and press 3.  Someone will respond to your need.  

I look forward to returning to worship on August 16.  

In thanks for the ministry that we share in Jesus' name, 

Pastor Walt  

Enhancing our Digital Welcome

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

I am excited to announce that St. James Lutheran is looking to invite someone with digital marketing experience and expertise to strengthen our online presence. This new staff position will enhance our website, expand our social media footprint, and share our faith formation resources with a broader audience. They will create content that engages and connects.

Seeking staffing support for digital ministry comes from two places. First, it is a product of our strategic plan, which was adopted by the congregation at this year's Annual Meeting. All three areas (SPIRITUAL FORMATION, SERVICE, and WELCOME) of our strategy will benefit from a digital marketer. They will help share our online faith resources with more folks, bolstering SPIRITUAL FORMATION. Similarly, they will make known all the SERVICE opportunities that we are doing but somehow remain unknown.

The impetus for creating a new position comes from the WELCOME mission team. This team has the charge to expand hospitality both within and beyond our current congregation. After reviewing the ways that we welcome, the group focused on our website and social media. We are doing a good job but find ourselves understaffed. Digital marketing takes a unique skill-set that we would like to add to current efforts.

Our experience of being church during a pandemic highlights the importance of online ministry. Again, we have done a good job in providing multiple resources to nurture spiritual health. Our livestream worships, online/phone communion, ZOOM Bible studies, devotionals, Faith Teams, Sunday School/VBS, and Backyard ZOOMs have helped build and deepen relationships with God, each other, and our neighbors. What a joy it has been to share these resources beyond our congregation with a broader digital audience. However, getting the word out about these ministries has been a challenge. We need help.

If you or someone you know has skills in digital marketing and are interested in working part-time at St. James, check out our job posting (CLICK HERE). We share this invitation both within and beyond our congregation. Please pray that God might send us the right person. I am optimistic that we will be able to find someone gifted in this area. I also do not doubt that online ministry will remain a vital part of our congregation's life even after we survive the pandemic.

I hope this ministry moment finds you safe and healthy. I continue to miss seeing you in person and long for the day when we can all safely come together. Until then, I will wave to you online at the end of our livestream worship.

In Christ's Light,

Pastor Walt

In Front and Behind the Camera

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus!

On Sunday, July 12, we will be on our one-hundredth twenty-first day of online/phone ministry as a church. The pandemic continues to wear long and hard on us but we are patient in our resolve to practice physical distancing for the sake of those who are most vulnerable in our midst. It continues to not be safe for us to come together all in one place.

As I’ve said more than once, although our building remains closed, our church is open. Using the gift of technology, we continue to assemble as the Body of Christ. Each week, we worship three times; (Sunday LIVESTREAM at 9:30 a.m., PHONE at noon, and Wednesday LIVESTREAM at 7:30 p.m.) There is Bible Study on Thursday ZOOM at 7:30 a.m. and PHONE at 11:00 a.m. Each week, over fifty people gather at various times for FAITH TEAMS - small groups that check-in, study, and pray together. Finally, a Backyard ZOOM on Thursday evening allows for informal fellowship. For more information about these online ministries, including how you can participate, check out our website www.StJamesLC.org. With all these things happening, we need to give thanks to a variety of leaders and staff for their efforts making such ministry possible. Thank you all.

Today, I would like to raise particular thanks to one group of folks - our Worship Team. This is the group that works to provide our LIVESTREAM worship. Some of them you see on a weekly basis. In front of the cameras are Pastor Nancy Connor, Kelvin Miller, and Jan Pofahl. We have also seen Kate Andrews, Bob Andrews, Kjersten Dysthe, Megan Kuneli, Mark and Lynne Lind, Tom McCaffrey, Anita Flinner-McCaffrey, Jeff Owens, Kari Owens, Hailey Peterson and Miriam Ring. Their words and music have lifted our spirits and proclaimed Jesus’s love. Behind the scenes and cameras are Jeff Andrews, Kate Andrews, Doreen Evans, Ainsley Fuerst, Barrett Fuerst, Mark Lichtenberger, Noah Lichtenberger, Kjirsten Pearson, and Matt Schaefer. Your support has been essential in our ability to apply technology for the sake of worship.

I am thankful for the chance to work with such talented and dedicated folks. I’ve lost track of the hours that these folks have so generously shared - you have kept our church open and vibrant. When you log on for worship on Sunday or Wednesday, be sure to join in me in sharing a word of thanks for all of them.

I look forward to the day when we will once again be able to gather safely together. Although that time is still in the future, it will come. We need to be patient and grateful for the opportunities that we do have to be the church.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

p.s. Don’t forget - we have online/phone communion on Sunday, July 12 at noon and Parking Lot Worship on Wednesday, July 15 at 6:30 p.m. You can find information about both of these worship opportunities online, click here.

Parking Lot Worship

Grace and peace to you,

It has been one hundred and eleven days since we took our ministry online and have refrained from gathering in person for worship and fellowship. I have lost track of the number of ZOOM/phone calls that have allowed us to "be the church" during this pandemic. I remain grateful for the efforts of the St. James staff, who have stepped up in a variety of ways to make a positive contribution in keeping our church open and vibrant. Thank you.

With gratitude in my heart, I look forward to the next phase of our coronavirus response - offering opportunities to gather in-person again. The Return to In-Person Ministry Team has been working hard on guidelines that allow for safe assembly. Next week, you will receive in the mail a summary of their accomplishments and work.

As I have mentioned in previous communications, this group's task is not easy. There are many things to consider, and there is an inherent need to get it right. We don't want to infect and cause harm to anyone because we rushed too soon in our return to being physically together.

July 15, which is just two weeks away, will be the first of our large in-person gatherings. We will come together in our cars for a Parking Lot Worship. Mark your calendars and make plans to be with us - rain or shine (except for downpour or lightning). I invite you to arrive a few minutes before 6:30 p.m. so that you get a good spot. Using your FM radio, you will be able to worship with your St. James friends from the comfort of your vehicle.

I am looking forward to seeing you. It will be a fun night of praise done in a socially-distanced and safe way. For those who wish to stay at home or are unable to come out, Evensong worship will be Livestreamed at 7:30 p.m. Our website (StJamesLC.org) contains more information about our Parking Lot Worship and other online ministries.

I appreciate your support as we continue to navigate these unknown waters. Please pray for wisdom, patience, and the Spirit's guidance.

In Christ's Light,

Pastor Walt

Connections Continue

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

Cones and Conversation with the Pastors

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

This past Monday night, Pastor Nancy and I had a wonderful opportunity to talk with our post-High School young adults. A few weeks ago, St. James send out Dairy Queen gift cards to everyone in this age group. A sweet treat to remind them that we care and pray for them. With the ice cream treat came the invitation to join the pastors in a conversation.

We wanted to provide an opportunity for them to talk about the times in which we find ourselves. The pandemic has disrupted jobs, education, graduations, and a bunch of plans for everyone. As pastor’s we wanted to give a chance for our young adults to share their perspectives.

It was a good evening and I’m grateful for all who participated. Thank you. I pray that God will bless our conversation and allow it to set the stage for future ministry with this age group.

I am also grateful for the ministry partnership that I share with Pastor Nancy. She continues to be such a blessing for the St James community and a support to my ministry here. Her wisdom and experience are invaluable. On Monday night, her service as a university pastor (Pacific Lutheran University) came through loud and clear.. We are gifted by God to have her with us.

I ask that you pray for our young adults who are facing this new world and context. They need our care, comfort, and encouragement. Reach out to them and let them know that their church loves them and is here to walk alongside them.

I pray that this note finds you well. Thank you for your continued support of the ministry that we share. Your gifts make a difference and allow us to focus on ministry (like reaching out to our young adults). I look forward to connecting with you through our online ministries….

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Connected in Christ

Grace and peace to you…

The Coronavirus Pandemic has created an environment of isolation within the St. James community.  Since moving to online ministry, those without access to technology have been at a loss.  Without resources, they have been unable to view worship and connect visually with their church family.    

We have tried to address this concern by offering phone connection opportunities such as weekly Phone worship at noon on Sundays and Phone Bible Study on Thursdays. Although I look forward to these times to connect with those we’d otherwise miss., there are many who remain disconnected.

Faced with the prospect of needing to continue ministry online, it is a significant spiritual, as well as emotional, concern to have a portion of our community unable to connect.  How can one feel a part of the Body of Christ when excluded from worship, and opportunities to gather as a virtual community for bible study and fellowship?

Connected in Christ is a pilot ministry that seeks to learn how to connect the St. James Lutheran community with our online ministries. We will also learn what the need for this connection is within our community. The pilot ministry has three phases and is planned for the summer of 2020. Phase one involves working with folks who have technology but don’t know how to use it to access our online resources. Phase two will use the learning from the first phase to program devices that are simple to use. We will try this technology among a trial group. Phase three will bring our learning from the project into a summary form. We will ascertain the over all need of technology in our congregation and put together a proposal to meet that need.

We mailed invitations to our High School graduates and college-aged young aults to apply for three stipend internships. If you are in this category, I encourage you to apply. We need your help with this ministry. It will be a great experience to be able to work with new technology users from older generations. If you are interested, click here (for application and job descriptions). The deadline is June 14.

Connecting people is an important part of our mission as a church. Providing skills, technology, and access will help us to build and deepen those loving relationships with God, with each other, and with our neighbor. I am excited for what God will do as we bring generations together to better use the gift of technology. This has implications to strengthen ministry long after we exit this pandemic. Imagine, what would it look like for us to continue to worship, study, and share fellowship with those who are home bound?

I pray that this ministry moment finds you safe and healthy. I look forward to worshiping with you online on Sunday, Wednesday, and whenever you choose to connect.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Online/Phone Communion - This Sunday

On this coming Sunday, Holy Trinity, June 7, I will be presiding over communion at my kitchen table. You are invited to join me either online or by phone.

The decision to preside over a ‘virtual’ table was one that did not come easy. Currently, the E.L.C.A. is divided over how to celebrate (or not) the sacrament during this pandemic.

Our social isolation and move to online ministries poses challenges to traditional understandings of what it means to assemble as the Body of Christ. Over the past month, I had many conversations about theses matters with pastoral colleagues including Bishop Lull.

Initially, I supported not offering communion until we could be back together again. This was for two reason. The first involved access. I know that not everybody can log on to our online resources. Celebrating without including these folks did not seem right. My second concern revolved around understanding virtual community. How could we assemble for worship in a way that was mutual and participatory?

As I struggled with these issues, it became clearer that our online reality wasn’t going away anytime soon. The emergency situation that continues to restrict our gathering together in one place is likely to linger for months to come.  Due to health risks, some in our community might stay away even after it has been determined it is safe for some limited in-person gathering.

The Body of Christ at St. James is hurting in its physical isolation and would benefit greatly from the nurturing and strengthening of faith found in the celebration of the sacrament.  That is the message that I heard from St. James folks during our Online Worship Listening Post.

According to the E.L.C.A. statement on the practice of ministry and sacraments, The Use of the Means of Grace; “At the table of our Lord Jesus Christ, God nourishes faith, forgives sin , and calls us to be witnesses to the Gospel.”  As one who was called to serve the St. James community as an ordained minister of Word and Sacrament, I find myself compelled to resume the role of presiding at Table in the midst of this pandemic crises.

On pastoral grounds, caring for the spiritual needs of the community, I will preside over Eucharist this Sunday. For a fuller explanation of this decision (click here).

Sunday’s communion will use ZOOM technology because it addresses some of my initial concerns. Zoom allows those with computers and phones to come together in the same virtual space. It is not a “perfect” connection but it is one that can provide great meaning and comfort.

From my “pastoring” ZOOM experience of these past months, I have come to appreciate the genuine connection that occurs when people interact using this technology. There is nothing ‘viritual’ about it - it is real. ZOOM allows for greater interactive participation than our livestream worship between presider and the rest of the assembly. For directions on how to participate in Sunday’s ZOOM online/phone communion (click here).

Celebrating at home, is reminiscent of the early church which gathered in homes to sing, pray, and break bread. It is also the place where we have most been during these days of isolation. Before covid-19, as a pastor I regularly visited folks in their homes. Many times I would share the sacrament with them. I know that those encounters are powerful moments of faith that sustain weary souls.

On Sunday, June 7, there will be two worship opportunities. At 9:30 a.m., we will livestream from the sanctuary. This will be a Service of the Word with music. Presiding Bishop Eaton will preach. At noon, I will ZOOM from my home and share communion with those who log on at that time. Only the 9:30 a.m. worship will be available on YouTube for those who missed worship. Links for both worships can be found on the front page of the St. James website.

I pray that you will be able to worship at one or both of these times this Sunday.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

The Church is OPEN!!!!

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

I heard a lot of political chatter this past week about “reopening” churches.  With the relaxing of restrictions on crowds gathering for religious purposes, some congregations have rushed to “open up.”  

In a fantastic sermon during Wednesday night’s Evensong, Pastor Nancy reminded us all that the church never closed!  Pastor shared the time-honored Vacation Bible School song - “I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together.”  

The church is not a building.  We are the people of God, gathered by the Spirit, to give witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.   The decision by the Executive Mission Team, affirmed by the Council, to switch from in-person to online/phone ministry is a great example of the church active in love.  

When it was determined that to gather physically together was dangerous, especially to those most vulnerable to the virus, love demanded that we close the doors of our beloved building.  Love keeps those doors shut until the point where it is safe to return to being in-person again.   

Even though the doors at 3650 William’s Drive remain locked, St. James Lutheran Church is open, active, and vibrant.  Online and phone ministries continue to build and deepen loving relationships with God, with each other, and with our neighbor.  I am grateful for the amazing and creative job that our staff has been doing.  The feedback has been encouraging.   Giving remains strong allowing us to focus on ministry.

On Sunday following our Pentecost worship, I will be announcing three new initiatives that will strengthen us as we continue to navigate these turbulent waters of pandemic.  Please tune in - wear red - and celebrate what God is doing through the church beyond the walls of a building.

About that building…  At last week’s Council meeting, it was decided to form a Mission Team that would create a detailed plan for a safe return to in-person ministry.   I am thrilled to announce that Vivian Aarestad and Diane Miller have graciously agreed to co-lead this effort.  They are gathering resources and forming a team, which will include the voices of our medical professionals.  

Having worked with both of these dedicated women on ministries, I am confident that they will be thorough and compassionate.  We need to be patient and give them the time and support that this endeavor requires.  The Covid-19 virus demands that we exercise caution and careful deliberation.  Jesus’s command to love the neighbor asks no less.   The church must give the safety needs of the most vulnerable in our midst top priority.          

Meanwhile, we will continue to be the church.  I am the church.  You are the church.  We are the church together.  Sharing the love of Jesus is what we remained called to do.  

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt