All Categories - Elim Lutheran Church

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

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!

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:

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.
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

Devotion From Pastor Kathryn: April 29, 2021

4/29/2021

Transition Team Update
I am thrilled with our Transition Team! They are Susan Rodkin – Chair, Rosemary Hart, Pastor Kathryn, Laine Gen, Peter Labberton, and Andy Hohenner. They are a wonderful group of dedicated and faithful members who are excited about this ministry they are embarking upon.

We held our first meeting on April 27, and plan to meet with Pr. Bill Wong in May. Pr. Wong is the Assistant to the Bishop for the Call Process. The Bishop has assigned him to Elim. I can tell you that we are in good hands with Pr. Wong! I have known him for almost twenty years. He is faithful, thoughtful, and well-respected in our Synod! He will provide us with solid guidance throughout this process.

The primary goal of the TT will be to create our Ministry Site Profile (MSP). This will be used in the interview process for pastors to get a sense of who Elim is as a congregation, and the mission of Elim.

Their work will involve listening to you, collating the information from small gatherings, and then discerning together where they believe God is calling Elim to in the future. You will have an opportunity to look over the document before we send it along to the Synod.

It is difficult to say how long this process will take, but most congregations take around six to nine months to complete the profile. We want to do a thorough and careful job on this so it will be an accurate reflection of Elim.

Once the profile is completed, then our Nominating Committee will elect the Call Committee. Some of the members from the TT will move over to the CC. Continuity is an important piece in this process. I am a member of the TT, but I will not be on the CC. I will serve only as a resource.

We will continue to keep you updated on our progress! Please don’t hesitate to ask Susan Rodkin or myself if you have any questions.

Most importantly, please hold these members in your prayers as they begin their work. And trust that God has cared for Elim Lutheran Church for decades, and will continue caring for us into the future!

In Christ’s Love,
Pr. Kathryn, Interim Pastor

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

Facility & Building Use
Adult Activities
Children/Youth/Families
2020-21 Annual Report

Food Pantry
Music Groups
Service Opportunities
Little Shepherd Preschool

Worship Helpers
Forms
Privacy Policy
Contact Us

Members can log into Breeze, our online Member Portal. To get login information, contact: office@elimpetaluma.org

Thrivent Financial

©2021 Elim Lutheran Church