Message from Pastor Karyn for Feb 2022
““God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?””
This verse is on my mind this morning because last night a group of people from all over the country gathered virtually around a new little one and his parents to bless him and name him Micah Orion. Most of us didn’t know each other all that well, if at all but all of us have loved this child since we found out his mom was pregnant, because we love his parents. There is something about a newborn that brings such hope to the world despite the incredible amount of change they bring to the lives of their parents and family (or village, in my case). All of us, gathered last night, blessed him with a name that calls each of us to live a life that will run counter to popular opinion and mores. To live a life that is known for kindness and humility as we work toward a more just world.
Here at the beginning of a new year, it is good for us to be reflective about who we have been and who we want to be and then choose to make changes to move ourselves closer to the person we want to be. I don’t think people of faith can do that without considering Micah 6:8 and the ways Jesus expounded on it. You all know by now that I have been spending a great deal of time in prayer and study and thinking about what it means for a community of faith to welcome all. It is a study in kindness and humility as I work for justice in our world. It is what the leaders of our congregation have tasked me and all of us to consider when they chose Welcome All, Be Community and Serve our Neighbor as our core values. I am thankful that I am part of a congregation that continues to push me to grow in my own faith as I lead them. It is exciting and life giving. I hope that as we make our way through whatever this year holds that you see these values for what they are: invitations to grow and deepen your faith as we are church together.
The coming months are full of opportunities to learn and grow and celebrate together. By the time you receive this newsletter, we will have completed our 2022 stewardship campaign where we are challenged to increase our giving so that First Lutheran can change lives through hunger, homeless and faith formation ministries. In the next couple of weeks, we will be gathering intent of giving cards in the hopes of receiving 150 to meet JoAnn Whittchow’s challenge which results in a gift of $10,000.
This month, the Foundation will be launching its “Be a Mabel” campaign, by telling the story of Mabel Anderson and her generosity and hosting an estate planning event where all are welcome to participate and consider what their legacy will be. I have to admit, it never really occurred to me that I would leave anything that would make a big difference, until I heard Mabel’s story. I am sure you will find her story just as inspiring. The Foundation will be working this year to host several workshops to help us plan for the end of our lives, so keep a lookout for more information in the coming months.
Our Reconciling in Christ team continues to work and in February and March will put together a roadmap for our journey through this process. If you were not able to be a part of the January small group studies around Lutheran interpretation of Scripture, don’t worry, they will come around again. There is a good chance you will get an invitation to a one-on-one conversation in the coming year. When you do, please say yes. Your voice is important as we move toward being a more inclusive community of faith.
Friends, there is much that God is calling us to and we are so blessed to have so many people with such generosity of spirit and gifts. Now is the time to consider how God is calling you to serve at First Lutheran. We have no idea what the future holds, but we do know who holds us and who lights our path. “God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.
