From the Pastor
Dear Friends and Colleagues in Ministry,
Welcome to summer! Summer has begun and we have been reminded of how
beautiful and how powerful she can be. My heart goes out to those who have
been affected by the tragic storms of June, including those in our
neighborhood who lost trees, branches, suffered damage to houses, lost
power, etc. May you have the resilience in recovery that comes with the hope
of baptism in our Lord Jesus Christ.
With last Sunday's Gospel text, we began a new chapter in the ministry of
Jesus. These next months, through the end of October we will be experiencing
what has been called Luke's Journey Narrative of Jesus journey to Jerusalem.
Each Sunday we will hear Jesus teaching, challenging, warning, and preparing
his disciples and those who would follow him for the difficult days to come
as he moves closer and closer to his destiny in Jerusalem. We will learn of
his equipping his followers to do ministry. We will learn more of the
suffering he will experience as he eventually is turned over to the
authorities to be crucified for his challenge to religion as it was. We will
learn of the hope and love which God sent to earth in Jesus. We are invited
to journey along with Jesus. I hope you will take that opportunity as often
as possible these next months.
We had a wonderful new beginning of ministry here at Valley of Peace on
Wednesday evening, June 23. About thirteen people came to a training session
for a Lay Visitation Ministry which will reach out with care, support, and
delivery of Holy Communion to those who are unable to attend worship.
We all were very excited to begin this ministry of being sent out to share
the love of Christ with one another. I look forward to the stories that will
come back of relationships forming and joyous times focused on the love of
Christ.
My thanks to Sue Hovde, Paul Mikelson and Dave Sawyer for their leadership
in planning for this ministry.
The Call Committee is nearly finished with the Congregational Profile which
will share the congregations' hopes and dreams for new leadership in a
called pastor. That means it won't be long until the committee will be
looking at resumes and beginning conversations with pastors who would like
to come and do ministry with you. Please keep the Call Committee and those
potential candidates in your thoughts and prayers these next weeks.
Thanks for your partnership in ministry these past four months. It continues
to be great to serve with you as your Interim Pastor.
Peace,
Pastor Dick