Elim Lutheran Church
Office:  504 Baker Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
707-762-4081
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Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: May 27, 2021

5/27/2021

 
Dear Church,

This Sunday is Holy Trinity Sunday! It's the only festival in our church year which celebrates a doctrine. Well, actually, the Trinity - simply put - is how God is with us. 

Let me tell you a story: 
It's from a Rabbi in my town named Stacey Friedmann. She grew up in a small synagogue. Each week, a family would bring the sacred Torah scroll -that's the first 5 books of the Bible -- the Old Testament as we call it -- to their home for safe-keeping until the following Shabbat service. Since it was a small synagogue, the Torah was often in her family home. 

There it sat - in her Living Room -- where her family gathered each evening. They would discuss their day together, argue with each other, the children would do their homework, her parents would read. The Torah would be present - as a visible reminder to her family that Yahweh was present with them in their daily lives. 

GOD IS WITH US. 

Let us pray: 
Almighty Creator of all -- as we look up into your skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, moon and stars in their settings -- remind us of your command to us to be caretakers of your brilliant world. 

Redeeming Christ -- you gave your life so that we might live an abundant life. Remind us of your glorious promise to be with us day after day - right up to the end of the age. 

Life-giving Spirit -- empower us / embolden us / and inspire us to follow Christ in our daily lives. AMEN.  

See you in worship! 
Pastor Kathryn

Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: May 20, 2021

5/20/2021

 
"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) 
Hello Church! 
My husband, Pastor Thomas, shared this animated film with me today. I am a fan of Wendell Berry, and it is an especially lovely poem of his. 

Click Here to access the 1:17 minute long video. I encourage you to watch it through twice, and give thanks to God for the peace of wild things! 

We are celebrating Pentecost this Sunday! 

"See" you in church! 
Pastor Kathryn ​

Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: May 13, 2021

5/13/2021

 
God’s Blessings Shine Upon our Leadership Team!
“Well done, good and faithful servants.”

It is with a grateful heart that we lift up our outgoing Leadership Team! They met many challenges in this last year with grace and perseverance. They rolled their sleeves up and went to work together to continue serving Elim when we were hit with the order to shelter in place. They grieved and prayed together when we lost Roger Davis. Through it all, they remained faithful.

Many thanks to them for their leadership for all of us at Elim Lutheran! May God bless them as they move forward in their lives. May the Holy Spirit inspire them as they discern where God is leading them to serve God next!
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See you all at our upcoming Annual Meeting this Sunday at noon where we will vote in a new Leadership Team.

May God continue to bless Elim as we all step into the future together, trusting that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide us.

In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Kathryn

Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: May 6, 2021

5/6/2021

 
“The Way We Were”
Some people are saying they can’t wait “to get back to things the way they were.” Bishop Mark is encouraging all of us to ask how going back will be different? How will the church have changed? What are ways that we can BE church in different ways? I know that some people are worshiping online with us, like my own mother!, and we don’t want to lose them! How can we make sure that they will have a place with us at Elim? 

I can assure you that our Leadership Team is working hard on planning a way for us to worship in person, and to figure out how we can make our worship accessible to people online as well as in person.  We are doing the research, listening to our county health regulations, talking with other churches and synagogues – all in order to be prepared, to keep us all as safe as we can, and to assure that those who don’t feel comfortable coming back can still find a way to worship God with us. 

These are not easy times. (I guess that is the understatement of the year!) But I believe we will continue to be church together. And I hope we can keep these things in mind:
  1. God has been with Elim for almost a century. God’s promise to us is that God will continue to be with us on this journey, and to give us what we need while we’re on it. 
  2. We need to be patient with our church leaders as they plan and prepare. We promise to keep you updated on our progress. 
And finally -- put September 5th on your calendars! We are going to worship in the park together! What a JOY that will be! I can’t wait! 

See you in worship, 
Pastor Kathryn

    Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson

    Interim Pastor

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 ​Elim Lutheran Church | 220 Stanley St, Petaluma CA 94952 | 707-762-4081 | office@elimpetaluma.org
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