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Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: August 26, 2021

8/26/2021

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’”
(Psalm 122:1)

What a wonderful Sunday morning it was on August 22, to look out and see 97 people smiling, clapping, and worshiping together: IN PERSON! We also had some 40 people online – including my mother and sister!

There were so many of you who helped make that happen – from the Leadership Team, to the Altar Guild, to our Staff, and to all who joined on the Work Days. Thank you – thank you – thank you!

Thank you for your patience as we work out the “kinks” that have popped up since our return to in person worship.

Thank you for wearing your masks, not singing in church, and for keeping distance from non-family groups.

Saints of God – we are going to make it through this time!
ALLELUIA!

See you in worship,
Pr. Kathryn

Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: August 12, 2021

8/12/2021

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

At our recent Leadership Team, Staff and Transition Team meetings I asked this question: “What gives you hope?”

Here are some of their answers which are profound and inspirational:

Teenagers – because they are more tolerant of each other and lift each other up than I was at their age
My Faith in God – knowing God is always with me
After the school shooting in Florida – how the students got together to oppose gun violence in our country
Friendship – friends who lift me up
Great grandchildren – who go on even through the struggles
Little, unexpected things
The passion and enthusiasm of our members
Baptism
We’re still here!
Olympic athletes
Our church has been blessed
I feel like the church puts its arms around us

Friends in Christ, I know this is a tough time. I know you are struggling – we are all
struggling. I know you are tired of wearing a mask and keeping your distance from those you love. I know it’s difficult to know what the heck to do in some situations with this crazy virus! I know that vaccination has become a political issue, and that we all struggle with this issue.

But let me tell you something: WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS! We have the strength of God within us. We are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, and we have the hope of Christ within us.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

See you in worship at 10 a.m. on August 22!

God’s peace and hope be with you,
Pastor Kathryn

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

Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: June 24, 2021

6/24/2021

“God is humble and never comes if not first invited,
but God will find some clever way to get invited.”
(Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps, by Richard Rohr)

Kristian’s Godfather recently sent me this book on the 33rd anniversary of my sobriety. I’ve just finished it and have really enjoyed it. When I came across this line, I underlined it and put a star in the margin!

We’re moving into the summertime – so it’s a good time to sit on your porch or back patio or go for a walk and spend some time with God. Pray to be open to the “clever” ways God is inviting you to approach God. You don’t necessarily have to talk. You can just “be” with God.

God’s blessings shine upon you as you heed God’s invitations.

In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Kathryn

P.S. Many thanks for your prayers for my knee surgery on Monday!

Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: June 17, 2021

6/17/2021

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord!” (Psalm 122:1)

What a joy it is that we have a date to “hang our hats on” for when we will be returning to worship in person! Many thanks to both of our Leadership Teams, past and present, who have done so much work, including praying together, to reach this decision.

Our Bishop has encouraged us not to think of this as “things going back to the way they were.” We will gather on August 22 as changed people. We will gather in person and online.

Our Worship Team is looking at ways we worship together and considering some possible changes. For a few weeks, we will worship together before going back to two worship services. We will keep you posted on other decisions we are making as we go along.

For now, let us delight in the fact that we have a date before us! I pray that God will grant us open hearts and minds to the surprising and unexpected ways the Holy Spirit will call us to dance together!

Our choir practiced and recorded together in person this week. Since we were all vaccinated, we could all sing mask-less. We practiced “Precious Lord.” It was so wonderful to see Lauren in action as our leader – she is a fine conductor who encouraged and inspired us! We all spoke about how the words were so fitting for us after a year and a half of living with COVID.

Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light,
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

In Christ’s Love,
Pr. Kathryn

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

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