So…. what’s your favorite hymn? The St. James Lutheran Worship Team wants to know!

This summer, we’d like to use favorite hymns at the start of every worship.

On Sunday, May 15, we will celebrate with four youth the affirmation of their baptism during the 9:30 a.m. worship. As a community we will gather around Lukas Fuerst, Sara Gastony, Amanda Shero, and Leif Thompson to confirm their faith. It will be a joyous event for their families. And it will be a joy-filled moment for the entire St. James Lutheran community, wherein these young adults have had their faith nurtured.

You are invited to an evening of sharing ideas and enthusiasm to strengthen St. James Lutheran’s ministry. On Tuesday, May 17, we will offer a Ministry Planning Night to plan the next four months of our life together.

On Sunday, St. James Lutheran launched a campaign to gather financial resources that will strengthen our ministry and allow our community to grow.

There are moments in the life of churches that are magical. For me, and I’m guessing for others, Easter Sunday 2022 was one to remember.

What joy to have so many folks once again gathering in our sanctuary for worship!

It is with joy that I write to you in the middle of Holy Week. When we gathered on Palm Sunday, the experience touched my emotions. I can’t begin to describe how powerful it was to see folks in the sanctuary waving palm branches. Added to this joy were the photos that I’ve seen of folks waving their palms in front of their computer screens. It was a great start to a week filled with opportunities (in-person and online) to celebrate the mystery of Jesus’s passion.

One of the things that I enjoy is teaching the Bible. Though written a long time ago in a land far away, the Bible remains God’s living word to us and for us. Each of us, whether we have a degree from a seminary or not, can engage the wisdom, comfort, and challenge that is found within the pages of our holy book. Part of my job as a pastor is to help folks make connections between God and neighbor; the Bible is a great resource for making that happen.

Last week, I mentioned that we we needed folks to sign up for Altar Guild and Communion Servers for us to be able to resume communion distribution at the Altar. Thanks to a good response, we will be able to serve the sacrament around the Altar on Easter Sunday. Yay! From the acknowledged Lutheran sacrament of Holy Communion, we now expand our efforts this week to the serving of the unofficial Lutheran “sacrament” - Coffee!

For this week’s Ministry Moment, I have two items that I want to share with you from interactions on last Sunday. The first involves the opening of worship, while the second involves our regathering in-person.

Gathering around the altar table for the distribution of communion is symbolic of our unity in Christ. As we stand and kneel in a large circle surrounding the altar table, it serves as a good visual reminder of of the baptized community to which we belong.

From the outset of the pandemic, as a congregation, we have followed recommendations from the CDC and Stay Safe MN. Our Return-to-In-Person Ministry Team used these guidelines to develop a comprehensive pandemic response, including a detailed phase approach for regathering. When recommendations changed, adjustments were made in our practice and policies.

Today is Ash Wednesday and it marks the beginning of the season of Lent for Christians around the world…. check out St. James Lutheran’s Lenten resources…

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.

Thirteen years ago there was snow on the ground as the movers transported the boxes, furniture, and the piano into our brand new home in Savage. A week earlier these items were in a parsonage in New Jersey. It was a time for new beginnings as Katie and I signed the paperwork on our first home purchase. Two days after moving in, I preached my inaugural sermon at St. James.

As one who has taken many retreats over the course of ministry as a pastor, I appreciate the time for reflection, introspection, and growth that such opportunities provide. Retreating from normal patterns and work places have allowed me the space for my mind/body/spirit to gain perspective and be creative.

Scripture is full of light metaphors. In both Testaments, we find light linked to God’s glory, love, and wisdom. God’s light shines into the darkness of our world. God illuminates our way, guiding us in the path of hope, love, and faith. We find joy as we delight in the warmth and brightness of God’s presence.

Looking back at a year of ministry is always a humbling experience. I am reminded of and thankful for the contributions of many folks who have graciously shared their God-given gifts of time, talent, and treasure.

Over the last few months, there has been talk about conducting a Capital Campaign at St. James. Since the summer, Council has been involved in multiple conversations about conducting a special offering to meet needs that go beyond our mission budget. In September, they approved the formation of a team to work out the details, goals, and process of conducting a Capital Campaign.

I write with heightened appreciation. In just three days of starting our Sowing Seeds Stewardship Campaign, I am delighted to report that we have gathered 25% of our goal of $538,000. The word that pops into my mind is “WOW!”

As a community of faith, we rely on generosity to carry out our ministry. Together we give gifts of time, talent, and treasure sowing seeds in God’s garden. These as seeds of love and they grow in ways that are amazing and abundant.