Elim Lutheran Church
Office:  504 Baker Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
707-762-4081
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Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: July 29, 2021

7/29/2021

 
Hello Church, 
I realize not all of you are over 60; however, I thought Pastor Buechner's words would still lift your spirits. If you're under 60, it might help with understanding your loved ones who are over six decades old! May God continue to bless us through these challenging times which we are living in! 

See you in worship, 
Pastor Kathryn
 
Aging
from Frederick Buechner Quote of the Day

When you hit sixty or so, you start having a new feeling about your own generation. Like you they can remember the Trilon and Perisphere, Lum and Abner, ancient Civil War veterans riding in open cars at the rear of Memorial Day parades, the Lindbergh kidnapping, cigarettes in flat fifties which nobody believed then could do any more to you than cut your wind. Like you they know about blackouts, Bond Rallies, A-stickers, Kilroy was Here. They remember where they were when the news came through that FDR was dead of a stroke in Warm Springs, and they could join you in singing "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön" and "The Last Time I Saw Paris." They wept at Spencer Tracy with his legs bitten off in Captains Courageous. 

As time goes by, you start picking them out in crowds. There aren't as many of them around as there used to be. More likely than not, you don't say anything, and neither do they, but something seems to pass between you anyhow. They have come from the same beginning. They have seen the same sights along the way. They are bound for the same end and will get there about the same time you do. There are some who by the looks of them you wouldn't invite home for dinner on a bet, but they are your compagnons de voyage even so. You wish them well. 

It is sad to think that it has taken you so many years to reach so obvious a conclusion. 

-Originally published in Whistling in the Dark

Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: July 22, 2021

7/22/2021

 
For the next five Sundays, our Gospel reading will be taken from the Gospel of John, chapter six. The focus will be on Jesus – the bread of life.

This weekend, I’ll be at the Primes’ new home in Rescue with six Confirmands and two fathers. The youth will be having a lot of FUN together, we’ll pray under the stars, we’ll do some bubble praying, and we will share meals together. We will also watch our Sunday morning service, along with all of you, as Pr. Brian Claasen leads us in worship.

As we all lift up the bread together during Holy Communion, we will recall Jesus’ words for us to “do this in remembrance of me.” We will celebrate with you that Jesus is the bread of life.

When we sit around the fire pit on Saturday night, I’ll make sure that we pray for all of you.

Please hold all of our Confirmands in your prayers, as they learn about Jesus’ love, have fun together and celebrate that we are a part of the Elim family.

“Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” (John 6: 35)

In Christ’s love,
Pastor Kathryn

Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: July 15, 2021

7/15/2021

 
“The apostles gather around Jesus, and they tell him all that they had done and taught. Jesus says to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’”
(Mark 6: 30 – 31)
 
Holy Rest
 
We’re in the middle of summer. The restrictions have been lifted for us, although we still need to wear our masks to some businesses and hospitals. I put my mask on when I went to physical therapy last week. (Many thanks for your prayers for my recovery, by the way!)

Some of us are travelling. My husband, Pr. Thomas, is driving across the country with our daughter Hannah and son Nikolas! They’re in a van with most of Hannah’s worldly possessions, as she is moving back to California! This is very exciting for us, as she has been living on the east coast for nine years!

On Sunday, when we turn our computers on and settle in for worship, we’ll hear this Gospel reading: Mark 6: 30–34, 53–56. The disciples have returned from their adventures of healing and teaching, and Jesus tells them to take a break, take off their sandals, put their feet up and rest a bit. He encourages them to take a “holy rest.”

Might this be a good thing for you to do as well? You don’t need necessarily to get in a boat and go to a deserted place. Maybe you could just find a comfortable chair, inside or outside, and sit with Jesus for a while? You could read a Psalm, or make a gratitude list, or just sit quietly – recognizing that you’re not alone. Not really.

Jesus is right beside you. And he’s got a big smile on his face that you are taking a little time out – to rest a while with him.

Maybe you could take your shoes or sandals off. It might remind you that you are sitting on sacred ground.

May God’s peace surround you,
Pastor Kathryn

Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: July 8, 2021

7/8/2021

 
​“Blessed be the Lord,  who daily bears us up.” (Psalm 68:19)
 
My heart is filled with gratitude for your support and encouragement for me during my recovery from knee surgery. The doctor said it was good that I had this surgery, because my meniscus was badly torn in two places. He also said they were old tears – so who knows how or when it happened? I’m just grateful he was able to repair it.

It wasn’t a knee replacement; it was arthroscopic surgery. He said I won’t be able to drive for another two to three more weeks. So I’m basically working from home, which is a bit disheartening for me since I was just beginning to make some pastoral visits, as well as getting to the church office a bit more with the opening up after our COVID shutdown!

I am so grateful for Rosemary and Kevin Hart who led our Midweek Worship (POP: Prayers on the Patio) last Wednesday and will lead this coming Wednesday. Also for Shelley Westby who has agreed to lead it on July, 21. I will be leading it on July, 28, and our daughter, Hannah, will be joining us!

Thanks to two members who will be picking me up and bringing me home so that I can record next Thursday, July, 15 at the church!

Your prayers, your lovely cards, the beautiful prayer shawl, and the ways so many of you have “stepped up” during this time, are so appreciated! 

I continue to hold you all in my prayers.

In Christ’s Love,
Pr. Kathryn

    Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson

    Interim Pastor

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