If you worshiped online last Sunday, you might have noticed something different as we closed the service. The final hymn, Beautiful Savior, looked different. Inside separate boxes, you saw our Jan Pofahl play the organ, our sign interpreter, Marilu Lackore sign, and Kari Owens sing. Together, they entered virtual space and raised a song of praise.
Read moreSeeking the Spirit's Guidance in Lifting Up Leaders
As a dynamic and vision-focused community of faith, we constantly need leaders who have both the courage, enthusiasm, and humility to ask "where is God wanting us to go as a community". I thank God on a regular basis for these qualities that have been a mainstay among leaders here at St. James with whom I’ve had the pleasure to serve for the past dozen years (last Sunday was my twelfth anniversary.)
Read moreWelcoming The Refreshing Waters of Lent
Are you thirsty? Does it seem like life is dried up and in need of refreshment? Dehydration is a common enough experience and it not only affects our bodies, but it can also wreak havoc on our souls.
Read moreA Gift Contained in a Needle
On Friday at 2:00 p.m., I am scheduled to receive my first shot of the Covid vaccine. I am grateful for Augustana Regents in Burnsville, where I am a volunteer. They are looking to get all volunteers vaccinated so that we will be able to resume programming at some point in the near future. This vaccine comes as a gift that will benefit not only the residents of Augustana Regents but also the entire St. James community. Thank you!
Read moreWater Pictures Needed
In just under three weeks, Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent will be upon us. As you might imagine, for the past few weeks, we have been busy with preparations and planning. I am excited about what we are putting together and look forward to soon sharing it with you.
Here is how you can help St. James get ready for Lent… submit water photos
Read moreA New Phase - A New Opportunity to Worship
STARTING January 31 - In Person, Inside Communion Worship
Last week, I spoke about our metric-focused approach to regathering as a church. The Return to In-Person Ministry Team carefully monitors the COVID-related numbers on a weekly basis. I remain grateful for this team’s faithful service to our congregation.
Read moreNumbers, Capacity, Grace
I was looking forward to announcing the move to the next phase of our regathering. A positive move of the Dakota and Scott County metrics over the holidays looked promising.
Read moreLet the Waters of God's Love Break Through
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus!
I was shocked, as I’m sure many of you were, by the images, chants, and violence coming out of Washington, D.C. yesterday….
Read moreMarking Out the New Year
Although I usually welcome the New Year with noise makers, poppers, and party hats, this year I will be using a piece of chalk. On January 6, leaning into an ancient Epiphany tradition of blessing homes, I will write “20+CMB+21 “ above the doors of my home, my study at church, and the sanctuary of St. James Lutheran’s building. I do so in hope, yearning for restoration and renewal in the coming year, and I invite you to join me.
Read moreA Christmas Message from Pastor Walt
Strange, peculiar, unique, different - you can use these words along with more colorful versions to describe Christmas 2020. Like the rest of this year, we have had to adjust, cancel, postpone, and be creative with our observance of Christ’s birth.
Read moreBaking Together
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
Baking is an important part of many holiday traditions. Add a little love to flour, sugar, and butter and you can create all sorts of delights. Whether you are making lefsa, cinnamon rolls, thumb print cookies, or strudel, baking is a participatory Christmas event that brings joy to those in the kitchen and beyond.
Read moreChristmas Time is Coming
Grace and peace to you in the name of the Christ, whose presence among us brings tidings of great joy! Along with the challenges that Covid brought us this year, there has also been an opportunity for us to proclaim the love of Jesus in a variety of new ways. Using creativity and ingenuity, our faith community continued to worship, nurture and grow faith across the generations, and share expressions of care with those who were hurting. When gathering inside the familiar space of our sanctuary proved unsafe, we entered cyberspace and connected online.
Read moreGreat to See You
Grace and peace in the name of Jesus. Our Christmas Jingle Bell Photo night was lots of fun! Thanks go to Pastor Nancy and the Pastoral Care Team for hosting this gathering in our parking lot. In all we almost forty cars, and took photos of dozens of people dressed up in Christmas finery. There were plenty of bells ringing and much holiday cheer. We will be using these photos as part of our Christmas Eve Livestream worship. You will get a chance to see all the smiling faces as we sing our closing hymn, Joy to the World.
Read moreThe Gift of Advent Dawns
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ. I don't know about you, but for me, 2020 has been a year, unlike any other. To say that the pandemic has changed things is a gross understatement. Our daily patterns and rhythms are kerfluffle. We have had to mask, isolate, cancel, stop hugging, and postpone our lives. As we bring the year to a close, infection rates and death tolls continue to rise.
Read moreA Bit of Clarity During Confusing Times
Friends in Christ,
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus!
On Tuesday night, the Council approved unanimously the Regathering Phase Plan presented by our Return to In-Person Ministry Team. Based upon infection rates, science, and recommendations from the medical community, this document is a roadmap for our church as we seek to regather and return to full use of our building. It provides a bit of clarity as we navigate these confusing times.
Each week, the Return to In-Person Ministry Team will check data from Dakota and Scott Counties and determine in which PHASE we are located. St. James Lutheran will share this information on the website, weekly email, on our phone recording, and it will be posted on the doors to our building. Using your copy of the roadmap, which you receive in a mailing next week, follow the “masked Luther” graphic. As we move from red to green, we will be able to use more of our building. Currently we are in the yellow Luther or second phase.
Unfortunately, at the time of writing this letter, we have seen escalating community spread of the virus. These developments are alarming and will most likely have us moving backwards to phase one or red Luther. Again, with the roadmap in our hands, we know what our next steps will be as a congregation as we seek to be a positive force of healing and love in this pandemic.
These are hard and discouraging times. We need to remain vigilant in our efforts to hold back the spread of the virus. Not only is this good and responsible citizenship, but it is also connected to our faith. Jesus invited his disciples to show love and compassion to all, especially those who are vulnerable. St. James Lutheran joins other churches in the St. Paul Area Synod, ELCA who are making a conscious choice to be a part of the solution in helping to prevent the spread of COVID.
The staff and Council remain concerned for both the safety and the spiritual health of our community and for those who make St. James Lutheran their church home. We have resources to share if you need assistance, someone to pray with you, or just need to talk. Please contact us at (952) 890-4534.
I pray that this letter and materials find you safe and healthy.
In Christ’s Light,
Pastor Walt
Daily Prayers of Thanksgiving
Grace and peace to you all!
I pray that this weekly ministry moment finds you safe and healthy.
In two weeks, it will be Thanksgiving. This year, our celebrations will be like none we have ever experienced. Our COVID pandemic continues to disrupt, disorient, isolate, and cause havoc to the patterns and traditions that bring order to our lives. We will need, once again, to be flexible and adapt.
Even in the midst of his struggles, St. Paul encouraged the Christians in Philippi to be thankful and to pray. From prison, he wrote, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:6).” Thanksgiving, according to Paul, was to be a part of a regular and active prayer life.
From today to the first day of Advent, which this year is November 29, I am posting to the St. James Lutheran Facebook page a daily prayer and Inspirational Image. I created these to encourage us into a time of Thanksgiving and prayer. Although our celebrations might be different than we are accustomed, there is a wonderful opportunity to use these days to pray.
If you are one who already prays daily, you can use these prayers and images to enhance your regular practice. If you don’t usually pray each day, then these prayers invite you to try it out. Set five minutes aside at the start of your day for prayer. Log on to the St. James Lutheran Facebook page (new prayers are posted each morning at 5:00 a.m.). Pray. “Like” the prayer so that others in your social media feed will see it. It is that simple.
Follow this link to the St. James Lutheran Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stjameslc. When you are there, subscribe/follow/like the page. This will bring it up as a regular part of your social media feed. You might also like to join the St. James Lutheran Community - which is a Facebook GROUP of the St. James family and friends. It provides an online space for fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ at St. James.
Please join me in daily prayer, as together we lift our voices in Thanksgiving.
In Christ’s Light,
Pastor Walt
Worshiping Together in November (online and in-person)
Dear St. James Community,
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
This past Sunday, I was reminded at our All Saints’ Festival worship of the special bond that we share in baptism. God’s Spirit connects us to one another and to Christ. Even in a pandemic, we remain the church and we continue to proclaim God’s love. Beyond the walls of a building, our church was open as we celebrated and remembered the lives of the saints, who from their labors rest. It is estimated that over three hundred people took part in worship both online and in-person (Drive-In, 8a.m.) What joy!
As we look at the month of November, your St. James Lutheran community offers a variety of worship opportunities. I pray that you would take note and take part in the worship that best suits you.
Weekly In-Person Drive-In worship, Sunday 8:00 a.m.
We gather in the parking lot in the warmth and safety of your vehicle.
Weekly Online Livestream Sunday worship, 9:30 a.m.
You can watch anytime through StJamesLC.org.
Weekly Online Evensong, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
This reflective mid-week worship is growing in popularity.
Weekly Online/Phone Communion, Sundays throughout November at noon.
Website or dial 1(312) 626-6799 and enter ID #: 375-618-4638 and password: 55337.
In addition to these regular opportunities, we are also offering:
In-Person, inside worship in the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, November 18. Register ahead for this prayer service with a message. We have 25 spaces available for a masked/social-distanced worship experience. Masks are required.
Thanksgiving Eve worship on Wednesday, November 25 at 7:30 p.m. We are offering two options to take part in this time of giving thanks to God:
Online Livestream. StJamesLC.org
In-Person viewing of the Livestream in the Fellowship Hall. We have 25 spaces available for a social-distanced worship experience. Masks are required.
As always, I look forward to being with you in worship. Even though we might be physically apart, we remain connected in Christ. St. James Lutheran continues to pray for the end of this pandemic and looks forward to the day when we can all worship together in one place safely.
In Christ’s Light,
Pastor Walt
Sharing God's Love with a Smile
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
I have mentioned before how the pandemic has brought innovation to the way we are “being church.” Over the past seven months, we have been creative in all sorts of ways to share the love of Christ beyond a building. From video/phone Bible Studies and Faith Teams to multiple online worships (including a weekly communion option) and the use of a FM transmitter at our Parking Lot worships, we have used technology effectively in the proclamation of the gospel. We continue to look for new ways to connect with God, each other, and our neighbors.
One of these ‘new’ ways, involves a long-time passion of mine. While in college, I attended clown school at the University of Wisconsin in LaCrosse on two separate occasions. Throughout the 1990s, the university hosted CLOWN CAMP, which provided adults with professional training in the arts of clowning. It was there that I learned to walk on stilts and developed a clown character, Talofa. Some of the leading children’s entertainers and Ringling Bros. clowns were among my instructors.
Over the years, I have applied my “laughter-learning” in my ministry with children. Most recently, this has taken the form of providing a weekly “Jesus-time” at the St James Lutheran Early Education Center (SJLEEC). It was the highlight of my weeks, to don my black bowler and colorful jacket and share a Bible Story with the kiddos.
When the pandemic hit, I continued to do “Jesus-time” on zoom. It was good to be with the kids even in virtual space. Over the last month, further innovation entered the picture.
I now videotape “Jesus-time” so that it can be shown to all the kids at the SJLEEC. They can safely watch them in smaller class groups.
With “Jesus-time” on video, I am also able to share it with you. Each week, I will post a new video on social media for you to enjoy. Through the St. James website, you will be able to access previously published videos (click here). It is my hope that they will bring a smile to all ages - and especially to families with small children.
In Christ’s Light,
Pastor Walt
Renewing, Connecting - Reformation
Grace and peace to you!
This coming Sunday will be a time of great celebration at St. James. We will observe the Festival of the Reformation in a way as we’ve never done it.
As Martin Luther and the early reformers used the latest technology (the printing press) to share the Word of God, so we will use the technology of our time, which allows us to gather safely for worship in a time of heightened viral infection. Using an FM transmitter, we worship at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot (rain or SNOW or shine). Our Livestream Sunday worship (9:30 a.m.) will allow us to sing “A Mighty Fortress” online together. In addition, we will be able to watch six of our confirmation students affirm their faith. This year’s “confirmation” happened two weeks ago in a socially responsible and distanced way outside. Students were able to bring their immediate family with them into the sanctuary to read their confirmation verse and for the laying on of hands. We recorded those elements and will publicly share them this Sunday.
My sermon, “Always Renewing,” will highlight the constant work of the Spirit to reshape the church. Even during the pandemic, we have glimpses of “being made anew” by the Presence of God. There is a tremendous opportunity for us to be the church beyond our building and traditions.
I trust that you will join me - either in your car or through your computer. Come celebrate God’s love, grace, forgiveness, and life as we gather for worship on this Reformation Sunday.
I also want to share an invitation with you. On Nov. 1, All Saints’ Sunday, we will be celebrating God’s love through the lives of all the saints, past and present. It is a long-standing tradition to read the names of those who have died during the prayers. We invite you to share the names of your loved ones who now rest eternally with God (click here). All names that we receive by October 29 will be read during worship on Nov.1. Thank you, ahead of time, for lifting up those saints whose lives and love have made such a difference.
In Christ’s Light,
Pastor Walt
Sharing and Growing in Faith
“Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.”
Dear church family,
The prophet Isaiah’s words are a powerful reminder that faith trusts in God to provide in every time of trouble. In turn, faith seeks opportunities to share God’s loving grace with others.
During this pandemic, we remain open as a church to proclaim Christ in what we do and say. We come together in new and unconventional ways to strengthen and shape faith daily. A selection of online ministries, some brand new since March, offer many chances for faith formation. (Click here to check them out). We want to connect as many people as possible with these life-giving ministries.
I remain grateful for the leadership of our Council and the Return to In-Person Ministry Team during Covid. As the infection rates continue to rise, we have chosen a cautious path to regathering. This aligns with the wisdom of Bishop Lull and the St. Paul Area Synod. Guided by the love Christ calls us to share with the neighbor, we are concerned about spreading the virus in large group gatherings. This is not out of fear but rather centering in Christ’s concern for the most vulnerable and heeding the recommendation of our medical community.
Over the past two months, we have experimented with a few in-person opportunities to come together. The most successful has been our Parking Lot worship. We are able, using a FM transmitter, to broadcast services to you in the safety of your vehicle while you are parked in the St. James lot. This style of worship will continue Sunday mornings at 8:00 a.m. rain or shine (or snow).
As we are the church in these challenging times, I encourage each of us to turn to the heart of our faith – the life of Jesus. May we find in Christ’s love the strength and patience that we need to remain in relationship with others, particularly those with whom we disagree. May we claim our Lutheran theology which defines the church not in terms of a building but in terms of the people brought together by the Spirit to proclaim the gospel.
In Christ’s Light,
Pastor Walt