Ever had the experience of sitting with someone, in the same room, at the same table, and then you hear them ask, “where are you?” For a moment you have been lost in thought. Sharing space with someone else, but no longer present with them…

This Sunday we will celebrate All Saints Day.

As Barbara Brown Taylor says, one of the living saints from whom I have learned much, “More than any other day of the year, (All Saints Day) is family reunion day for the church . . . it is a day for pulling out all the old family photograph albums and remembering where we came from.” (Home By Another Way, p.211)….

Reflections on Grace from one of my favorite writers as we remember and celebrate again the central theme of the Reformation, we are justified by Grace alone. “After centuries of handling and mishandling, most religious words have become so shopworn nobody’s much interested anymore…..

I’ve just returned from the annual Fall Bishop’s Theological Conference. The attached picture is of a small portion of the Gull Lake shoreline. I love Fall. It is a beautiful time of year. There are apples to pick, pumpkins to gather, and fireplaces to gather round.

My name is Lamont Koerner. In collaboration with the Saint Paul Area Synod staff, your council has invited me to serve as your Intentional Interim Pastor during this time of leadership transition. More about what that means as we begin to work together.

I am writing this “ministry moment” on October 4th,on the church calendar it is the day we remember St. Francis. Francis of Assisi, was a renewer of the church, he died in 1226. Francis was born into the family of a wealthy merchant, Francis gave up his inheritance to serve poor people. He formed the Order of Friars Minor (called Franciscans), who took on poverty and the task of preaching "using words if necessary." Francis had a spirit of gratitude for all of God's creation.

The phrase “It Takes a Village” took on a whole new meaning to me this past week. On Wednesday I felt like I was getting a cold and took some aspirin and put on a warm sweater, as the day wore on I realized that I was not getting better but rather felt my symptoms worsening. I then realized that I needed to take a Covid test….unfortunately it was positive.

These have been busy days at St James with start up of fall activities, Sunday school, choirs, confirmation and celebrating the 83rd Birthday of St James. These are great days filled with excitement and anticipation of St James future ministry opportunities!

The “Festival of Welcome” was indeed a grand celebration! It was wonderful to see so many children in worship and the start of Sunday School! It was a joy to hear the choir and to gather around the altar for Holy Communion.

September at St James is going to be filled with activities. We are excited that Sunday school is starting up, the choirs will begin their rehearsals, confirmation students will begin their studies and Faith teams will resume.

We continue looking at some of what makes us Lutherans unique. Last week we considered the first of the three “Solas.” The word is Latin for “alone.” The early Lutherans developed three prongs to their theological differences with the Church at that time. They were: Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), Sola Fide (faith alone) and Sola Gratia (grace alone). This week we consider grace alone.

We continue looking at some of what makes us Lutherans unique. Last week we considered the first of the three “Solas.” The word is Latin for “alone.” The early Lutherans developed three prongs to their theological differences with the Church at that time. They were: Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), Sola Fide (faith alone) and Sola Gratia (grace alone). This week we consider faith alone.

Last week I said we would spend a few weeks looking at what makes us Lutherans unique. We start out by looking at the three “Solas.” The word is Latin for “alone.”

Have you ever wondered what makes us as Lutherans different than the other Christian denominations in the world? I thought maybe over these weeks in August we might consider a few of those characteristics and beliefs that make us uniquely Lutheran.