The Resurrection Connection | | |
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The Lutheran Church of the Resurrection
A Reconciling in Christ Congregation
in the Saint Paul Area Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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Spring 2024
In this Issue:
What's in Worship
Pastor's Corner
What We've Been Up To
From the ELCA
From the Saint Paul Area
Synod
Links
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The Season After Pentecost
The two central cycles of Christmas and Easter that focused on the person and work of Christ now give way to the implications of those events for the life of the church as we move into this long season. The focus of the lectionary readings is on how the church lives out the callings discerned during the Easter season. The time after Pentecost calls us to proclaim, bear witness to, and live out God’s ongoing will for the world God so deeply loves. The church knows and believes in its very bones that salvation is bound in and of a love for the world, not an escape from the world.
The Sundays after Pentecost return to gospel readings from Mark. There is no particular unifying theme to the readings from Mark’s gospel. They portray Jesus’ ministry in typical Markan style: with urgency, focus, and a relentless drive forward to ensure that the kingdom of God comes among us. The last weeks of summer, we focus on the Bread of Life imagery from the Gospel of John. Here, we imagine the ways that Jesus feeds us and nourishes us for the sake of the world God so loves.
As we enter a season that includes, for many of us, changed if not relaxed schedules, greater time outdoors, and more flexibility in schedule, may we daily be grounded in the beauty of creation and God's grace of the world as we are weekly fed and nourished by the word, bread and wine.
(Adapted from sundaysandseasons.com)
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Calendar
Check out the on-line calendar for up-to-date activity information! Click the button below.
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Beloved of God,
The abundant rain and the greens of summer growth put me in mind of the Season of Renewal into which our congregation has entered. Your Season of Renewal team, Sue Stroschein, Joel McDermott, Adam Wright, and I have been working behind the scenes on this important project for a couple of months now.
On July 14th we will host a special Adult Forum after worship to share with you what we've done and where we're going. I hope you'll be able to join us for that discussion.
In the meantime, let me share a bit with you. Many of you completed the congregational vitality survey in May in which you were asked questions about our congregation. Thank you! I don't have to tell you that worship and music ranked high. Other high points included Spiritual Life, Lay Engagement and Empowerment, and even Change Readiness! I look forward to talking with you in more detail about this survey, where it comes from, and how it helps us.
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We received a VERY in depth demographics and psychographics report with more than 40 data points including population growth, diversity growth, religious affiliation, race and ethnicity, and housing instability. The consultant we are working with, Mary Frances, is one of the leaders of the FaithX Project which is a leading organization supporting congregations in missional analysis and planning. I know how much many of you enjoy data, so I'm excited to share more about this with you at the forum!
We are now conducting a series of One-to-one conversations with members of our community and congregation. These conversations grow out of Community Organizing and are specifically intended to get to know people, what they are passionate about, how they are involved in the community, and what needs they see.
All of this will lead us to plan and execute several 90-day projects as well as come away with a clear idea of the few areas of focus we want to carry with us into the future.
This is an exciting time! Please pray for our congregation and this Season of Renewal.
In Peace,
Pastor Sarah
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Worship, Music and the Arts | | |
Curious about the ELCA Youth Gathering which five of our young people are attending next month? Read on below about the theme "Created to Be." Or click below for more information. | |
We have been created to be ourselves. Created by the Holy One. Since the last time the ELCA came together for an ELCA Youth Gathering, our young people have experienced several major life events. Still today, we are experiencing an ongoing public health crisis mixed with an economic and political crisis. However, we can rest assured that we are created to be in relationship with one another.
We are created to be brave, to show up with an open mind and heart, willing to be challenged.
We are created to be authentic, to bring our whole selves and know that we are loved by our Creator.
We are created to be free, to be transformed by the gospel.
We are created to be disruptive, to work for justice for all our siblings.
We are created to be disciples, to be sent out into the world to love our neighbor just as we are loved by God.
Our host city, New Orleans, has always been its true, authentic self. Our theme, “Created to Be,” highlights the arts, music and soul of this beautiful, vibrant and resilient city. New Orleans was built to host and be a city where all God’s children come together.
We plan to dive deeper into justice, mental health and anti-racism conversations throughout the Gathering. These are hard conversations, but our church desperately needs to have them. We also hope to foster relationships and be a sanctuary for one another. We are saint and sinner simultaneously, and we need forgiveness when we aren’t or can’t be brave, authentic, free, disruptive disciples.
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News from the Saint Paul Area Synod | | |
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Thank you for your congregation’s faithful and generous sharing of mission support with the synod and churchwide expressions of the church during May 2024.
Mission support is one of the expressions of our being church together. As church together we walk with and prepare leaders for service in the church. We support one another through transitions and call processes. We pray with and for one another as we seek to live out God’s call here in the greater St. Paul area. We discern God’s call for starting new missions and congregations locally; and support global missions through partnerships in Tanzania, Guatemala, and the ELCA Churchwide organization.
One of my favorite passages from scripture is from the second chapter of Acts. Shortly after the depiction of Pentecost, we get a glimpse of what the early church looked like:
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
As church together, we are a group of believers gathered in congregations, conferences, and just recently in assembly, devoting ourselves to the apostle’s teaching, prayer, and breaking bread together. We bring our treasures for the common work we do together. Thank you for all you do in your congregation and for your support of the work we do as church together.
In Christ’s service,
David Laden
Treasurer
P.S. Watch for an invitation soon to a Mission Support Celebration Dinner on Monday, Aug. 19. We hope leadership/financial representatives from every congregation in our synod will attend!
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Links to Sunday morning worship services are on our website prior to each service. Or go to the LCR YouTube page to livestream. | |
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Wednesday Morning Prayer
Join us each Wednesday at 8 am on Zoom for Scripture, prayer, learning, and delightful discussion!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91793468392
Or call: 312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 917 9346 8392
Email or call Pastor Sarah with any questions:
pastorsarah@lcr-elca.org
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Taking Faith Home is a weekly Bible study and prayer resource developed for individuals, families, and friends to use during the week. It offers suggested readings, a hymn, questions to consider, and a ritual to engage our whole lives in faith practices. find out more by clicking below. | |
Want to check out the upcoming readings and some related artwork? Click the button below to go to Vanderbilt Divinity Library's Revised Common Lectionary website. | | | | |
