FROM THE PASTOR
We Exist for Each Other
Sunday was special. I arrived early and saw the care and love and work that went into providing a beautiful outdoor worship experience for St. Luke’s. The altar guild moved the flowers and elements to set up the altar at the front steps of the church for communion. The musicians practiced, working with the organ and a keyboard to produce the sound of God’s praise for the outside congregation. People carried chairs, set up the parking to leave space for children to roam, set up the welcome table in front of the office door. The sound system was checked out. The table for ice cream floats was prepared. People new to our congregation were welcomed. The intergenerational worshippers formed clusters of conversation and welcome. So many hands making this liturgy truly “the work of the people of God.”
The preparation began on Thursday as we taped the liturgy to share with our virtual congregation. All of us belong and are gathered at the table.
As traffic whirred past, airplanes passed overhead, and birds sang their morning hymns to the Creator I was glad we were outside. God put us on this very visible corner for a reason. We exist for our neighbors, for those not yet a part of a community of Jesus. For those who seek spiritual peace or who are experiencing suffering in their lives and families. And we exist for each other. People were kind to me, asking how I was doing with mourning my nephew’s death and my wife’s time in the hospital. I felt the prayers of this community of Jesus.
And I thought: where would we be without our faith? Where would we be without a family of believers who share with us a kind of love which bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things? And I truly believe that this is the point of our listening season and mission planning process. Why wouldn’t we want this strength and resilience of the Gospel for others? And so our plan is not driven by budgets, or members in the pew or more offerings in the plate. Our hopes for mission are driven by an unvarnished love of God and love of neighbor, and a deep wish to share the blessings of a life of faith in our community, across the globe and the generations.
The eucharist continued with root beer floats and the mingling of the Body of Christ, glad to be together in God’s beautiful creation.
And I took some bread and wine from the altar. The eucharist continued at the Ryan rehabilitation center as I placed a napkin on the table next to Janet’s chair, placed bread and wine from the altar of St. Luke’s on it, and shared in the Family Meal of the Church. You and your prayers were with us. Our virtual congregation was with us. All of us held in the Holy Spirit’s tether, with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, in every time and every place.
The NorthStar of our Strategic Plan is “regathering the church and gathering the community to change lives in Christ.” I experienced that this past Sunday.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Stephen Paul Bouman
