I watched a video about the future of our church with our Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton yesterday. It was quite hopeful and inspiring. At the end, Bp. Elizabeth looked directly into the camera and said: “Thank you leaders of our congregations. Thank you for your service during your exhaustion – during this challenging time.” 

I found myself tearing up a bit. Since I’ve joined you as your Interim Pastor, we’ve experienced an ongoing global pandemic, we’ve experienced a pandemic of racial inequity and divisive rhetoric in our country, we’ve had beloved members experience health problems, and we’ve buried some members. I know for certain that I would know more of you if we hadn’t been living with COVID! 

It’s been challenging for all of us, to be sure. Our Leadership Team, and our staff have been working hard to serve all of us at Elim. They have been creative, and they have been tireless in their service. So have our worship producers, our food pantry volunteers, and the leaders of our Women’s and Men’s groups, as well as those who have picked up the phone or dropped off goodies to someone whom they haven’t seen in a while. Thank you to all of you who have done your part in serving Christ at Elim during this challenging time.

We’ve also celebrated a Baptism two weeks ago, and have another for twins coming up in a week. And yesterday I spoke with a family who want their three children to be baptized. At every Baptism, we promise to teach that child about God’s love. 

We have work to do, church. May God continue to empower us to follow in the way of Jesus – the way of love, of justice and of healing in the world which is in desperate need – now more than ever. 

See you in worship, 
Pr. Kathryn

P.S. I’m preaching about demons this week. Don’t miss it! ​

Two weeks ago, I wrote to you about the rioting at our capital. It was a terrifying day for all of us, especially as each day we learn more about what could have happened to our elected leaders and police officers. 

Now today, I was mesmerized by watching the Inauguration on television. On those very same steps where we saw hatred and bigotry being acted out, today we heard hopeful, inspiring, comforting words about unity, working together, speaking the truth, racial justice, defeating white supremacy and domestic terrorism, and moving forward with fighting this pandemic. Sisters and brothers in Christ, my spirit is filled with joy! I trust yours is as well!

During this time of transition at Elim, we will be asking and discerning where God is leading us. Our Transition Team will be working on our profile which will tell us and potential pastors where we believe God is calling us.

I believe and trust that the saints of Elim will continue their good work of reaching out to the poor in our neighborhood and out into the world. Because I know where your hearts are and where your strong faith has taken you in the past, I believe and trust that Elim Lutheran Church is poised to step into the future by continuing to lift up our voices in praise to God, speaking out against injustice, and continuing the work of caring for the poor. It is needed now, more than ever.
          
Let us pray: Be with us, holy mystery of Love, to dream big dreams together. Teach us, O God, to live in it, to love in it, be reconciled in it, lest we miss Kingdom’s goal. Amen. (Taken from the prayers of both of the pastors who prayed at the beginning and the end of the Inauguration)

In Christ’s Love,
Pr. Kathryn

​These are challenging times for us, to be sure. With the events at our capitol on Epiphany, the surge in COVID cases and deaths, and add to that – being a congregation in transition, these are challenging times.  In addition to all of that, of course, is the fact that we cannot gather in person.

I was speaking with a pastor the other day, and she said to me, “Kathryn, we’re grieving. We’re all grieving a lot of things right now.”

It can be so tempting to sink into pessimism, to allow the events of our world to zap us of JOY – or worse, HOPE. We can also find ourselves complaining about things we have no control over. It takes strength to be patient, to give people the benefit of the doubt, and to forgive when necessary.   

We are in need of a shot of courage. We are in need of being infused with hope, joy and faith. We are in need of witnessing a Holy Baptism!

And so, with great joy, I tell you that sweet, little Juni will splash through the waters of Holy Baptism this Sunday! We’ll see our own Paul and Lauren bringing their beautiful daughter to the font. We will celebrate with them, and be reminded that we, too, are beloved sons and daughters of God! As we view this Baptism, it will give us the shot of hope and joy that we are yearning for!!

In the service, we will say these words along with her parents and sponsor:
We welcome you into the body of Christ and into the mission we share: join us in giving thanks and praise to God and bearing God’s creative and redeeming word to all the world.
Juni will remind us WHOSE we are on Sunday morning. She’ll remind us of our mission together – giving thanks and praise to God and bearing God’s creative and redeeming word to all the world.

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! 
See you at the font,
Pastor Kathryn

​“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60: 1–3)
 
We will hear these words of comfort and hope from the prophet Isaiah this Sunday as we celebrate EPIPHANY. He is writing around 580 BCE (Before the Common Era) to a people who are in despair, and who feel hopeless. They have left Iraq, where they were in exile, and have arrived into their sacred city of Jerusalem which is in shambles. Their temple has been destroyed.

The prophet is bringing to them an “unrestrained promise of salvation” as my Bible footnote phrases it.

I wanted to give you a fun, Epiphany Test with this devotion. But instead, I have found myself sitting in front of my television, with our two sons, watching as protestors/rioters break into our capitol. It is something I wish my boys didn’t have to witness.

• A woman has been shot in the chest
• Officers have been wounded, one taken to the hospital
• Protestors have gone into the offices of our elected leaders
• Our elected leaders, who serve us, are in an undisclosed, safe place as I write.

At this point, the scene is chaotic and doesn’t look at all like the country we
all love. I am waiting for our friend from South Africa to call us up and ask us, “Hey! What is happening in your country?”

Our President Elect, Joseph Biden, in his speech to the country, quoted from Abraham Lincoln: “The way forward is plain: peaceful, generous and just.”

We trust and believe in Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world. We trust and believe in Jesus who followed a path of peace and justice in his life, and was executed for that.

As we move forward, may we carry the light of Christ within us.
People of God, be the light. Let your light shine.  And trust that God is with us all.

In Christ’s Love,
Pr. Kathryn