Peace and Blessings to you, Beloved Church.

One of the parts of our Lutheran branch of the Church that I appreciate most is the focus on scholarship and social growth. Through study and sharing with one another, we better understand God, our faith, and how Christ’s reconciling work is unfolding in our lives and world. This summer, I will be leading a book study that will cover three contemporary works that I hope are helpful for our understanding of God’s work amidst humanity. I invite you to reserve them at the library, or order copies for yourself as you are able, and begin reading with me. I’ll host three online Zoom reflection sessions through the summer (one for each book, dates TBA in June, July, and August), and I hope you can join for all three. 

READING LIST: 

• Take This Bread by Sara Miles (Ballantine Books) 
• The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby (Zondervan) 
• Dear Church by Lenny Duncan (Fortress Press) 

- Pastor Paul

Friends, 

Grace and peace to you in this time after Pentecost. I am so thankful for your presence and patience throughout this past year and half that has been so, so challenging. I’m proud of you — proud of your adaptation and flexibility in the midst of a global pandemic that has changed nearly every aspect of our lives. We have been stretched, challenged, and heartbroken as we’ve faced some of our worst fears. We are tired, and we long for life to just return to “normal”. And I am thankful that it looks like we may finally be able to resume some of our congregational practices that have been on hold for so long. But I want to invite you to think deeply about what comes next. At this precipice, we have an opportunity to see with new eyes, and to think afresh about what the upcoming chapter of Messiah’s history will entail. We can grow out of this challenge that was set upon us. So, I ask: what new development are you most hopeful for in the life of Messiah Lutheran Church? And how might you take part in making it happen? Summertime is usually a slower season as far as church activities go. But perhaps it’s the perfect time to catch our breath and prepare for a fall season in which Christ’s love will continue to be poured out upon the world. I look forward to sharing with you in the life that is to come. 

- Pastor Paul