Exploring The Unknown Land Outside Our Door

When I think of expeditions of discovery and exploration, my imagination goes quickly to remote corners of the globe.  You discover places and things that are far away.  Frozen tundras and civilizations hidden in rainforests.  Ever since a child, I have been fascinated by stories and photos of the kind that you encounter in National Geographic or on the Discovery Channel.  I have always been eager to learn about this planet and its peoples.

When the church traditionally talked about missionary work, it looked to places afar.  We would send preachers, teachers, doctors to the other side of the earth to be missionaries of Jesus' love.  Although this history has not always been reflective of that love, Lutherans learned that the model of accompaniment is able to produce much fruit and life-connections.  We have as much to learn and receive in global partnerships as we have to teach and give.  I am grateful for the relationships that we have at St. James with the Christians in Idunda.  We have so much to learn from our African sisters and brothers.      

For now, I want to focus on the needed missionary work outside our front door.  Our neighborhood is a largely unexplored horizon when it comes to sharing the love of Jesus.  Dramatic demographic changes are happening all around us.  Major cultural expectations regarding church and religion have shifted.  No longer is church attendance and membership a prized social value.  The neighborhood has changed drastically since the days when the people built St. James in the early 1960's. 

How might you share Jesus’s love in the place where you live, with your neighbors? How might you reach out with kindness and care? What words and actions could you use to imitate Jesus? These have always been important questions to ask but especially critical in these times. No longer can we rely on others to do missionary work for us - we must all be missionaries. Our greatest witness comes not in quoting scripture and pious feelings, but rather in living out scripture’s compassion.

May God strengthen you for this kind of work this week. And if folks are curious as to why you are being so helpful, be sure to tell them that you learned about it at your church. At that point, invite them to check out St. James. With our online worships, now is a great and non-threatening time for others to check us out.

In Christ,

Pastor Walt      

Online and In-Person Worship Plan for August

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

At the July Council meeting, the decision was made to adopt a hybrid approach when it comes to our ministry this August. Guided by recommendations of the Minnesota Department of Health, the bulk of our ministry will remain online. Although we desperately miss being together in person, we understand that large gatherings of people can spread the virus in ways that can be deadly. St. James leaders, myself included, have discerned a cautious route.

Throughout August, our primary way of worship will be live-streamed online. We will gather online on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and on Wednesdays, at 7:30 p.m. There will be a phone-in worship option at noon on August 2, 9, and 16.

Starting Sunday, August 23, in addition to the online option, we will offer a Parking Lot worship at 8:00 a.m. Come to worship in the safety of your vehicle for a spoken Service of the Word. You will be able to tune in the sound on your car radio (87.9 FM - in the parking lot only).

Flexibility is key in these times of rapidly changing information about and approaches to the virus. At the August Council, we will reevaluate our ministry and decide upon a direction for September based on the following: 

• Spiritual needs of the congregation, as determined through the Council’s contact initiative.   

• Recommendations of science/health community. 

• Seek a balance between the top priority of safety (especially for those most at risk) and the spiritual needs for gathering – whether that is virtual or in-person.   

• Awareness of our capacity of resources, including staffing.  Comfort levels vary among our staff and must be honored as we navigate these uncharted waters.  Depending on the direction we take, we might need to shift financial resources for staffing.  

I invite your prayers and patience as we navigate these uncharted waters. In all that we do, we seek the Spirit’s guidance and remain grateful for God’s presence.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Blessings for the Journey Ahead

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

It has been a tradition at St. James Lutheran to share prayers of blessing with our High School graduates as they prepare to open the next chapter of their lives. Over the years, this has taken various forms. Most recently, we have offered the opportunity for a personal prayer at the font with family. We have done this at the start of worship and it has been a special time for families. What a joy to pray with young men and women as they head off to college, boot camp, or enter the workforce.

Given our online reality during Covid, we will be taping these blessings and then playing them back during worship. We have mailed letters to all our 2020 graduates, inviting them to participate. On designated dates, I will share a prayer with them and their parents. Over the coming weeks, you will be able to witness these blessings as a part of worship.

Please keep in your prayers all our young men and women who are in times of transition. These moments are always stressful but especially so during the pandemic. We trust in God’s guidance and steadfast love for them. I pray that they will know of God’s presence as they head out, no matter their destination. I also pray that they will remember that they have a church home that loves and cares for them.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Taking Time to Refresh and Vacate

Over the next three weeks, I will be taking time for summer vacation.  Both my family and I look forward to this time for reconnection and renewal.

While away, I am grateful for Pastor Nancy who will be providing worship leadership and care coverage.  Thanks go to Pastor Scott Simmons for weekend on-call coverage.

Should a situation arise that you require pastoral care, you can either call the Church Office (952) 890-4534 and press 3.  Someone will respond to your need.  

I look forward to returning to worship on August 16.  

In thanks for the ministry that we share in Jesus' name, 

Pastor Walt  

Enhancing our Digital Welcome

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

I am excited to announce that St. James Lutheran is looking to invite someone with digital marketing experience and expertise to strengthen our online presence. This new staff position will enhance our website, expand our social media footprint, and share our faith formation resources with a broader audience. They will create content that engages and connects.

Seeking staffing support for digital ministry comes from two places. First, it is a product of our strategic plan, which was adopted by the congregation at this year's Annual Meeting. All three areas (SPIRITUAL FORMATION, SERVICE, and WELCOME) of our strategy will benefit from a digital marketer. They will help share our online faith resources with more folks, bolstering SPIRITUAL FORMATION. Similarly, they will make known all the SERVICE opportunities that we are doing but somehow remain unknown.

The impetus for creating a new position comes from the WELCOME mission team. This team has the charge to expand hospitality both within and beyond our current congregation. After reviewing the ways that we welcome, the group focused on our website and social media. We are doing a good job but find ourselves understaffed. Digital marketing takes a unique skill-set that we would like to add to current efforts.

Our experience of being church during a pandemic highlights the importance of online ministry. Again, we have done a good job in providing multiple resources to nurture spiritual health. Our livestream worships, online/phone communion, ZOOM Bible studies, devotionals, Faith Teams, Sunday School/VBS, and Backyard ZOOMs have helped build and deepen relationships with God, each other, and our neighbors. What a joy it has been to share these resources beyond our congregation with a broader digital audience. However, getting the word out about these ministries has been a challenge. We need help.

If you or someone you know has skills in digital marketing and are interested in working part-time at St. James, check out our job posting (CLICK HERE). We share this invitation both within and beyond our congregation. Please pray that God might send us the right person. I am optimistic that we will be able to find someone gifted in this area. I also do not doubt that online ministry will remain a vital part of our congregation's life even after we survive the pandemic.

I hope this ministry moment finds you safe and healthy. I continue to miss seeing you in person and long for the day when we can all safely come together. Until then, I will wave to you online at the end of our livestream worship.

In Christ's Light,

Pastor Walt

In Front and Behind the Camera

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus!

On Sunday, July 12, we will be on our one-hundredth twenty-first day of online/phone ministry as a church. The pandemic continues to wear long and hard on us but we are patient in our resolve to practice physical distancing for the sake of those who are most vulnerable in our midst. It continues to not be safe for us to come together all in one place.

As I’ve said more than once, although our building remains closed, our church is open. Using the gift of technology, we continue to assemble as the Body of Christ. Each week, we worship three times; (Sunday LIVESTREAM at 9:30 a.m., PHONE at noon, and Wednesday LIVESTREAM at 7:30 p.m.) There is Bible Study on Thursday ZOOM at 7:30 a.m. and PHONE at 11:00 a.m. Each week, over fifty people gather at various times for FAITH TEAMS - small groups that check-in, study, and pray together. Finally, a Backyard ZOOM on Thursday evening allows for informal fellowship. For more information about these online ministries, including how you can participate, check out our website www.StJamesLC.org. With all these things happening, we need to give thanks to a variety of leaders and staff for their efforts making such ministry possible. Thank you all.

Today, I would like to raise particular thanks to one group of folks - our Worship Team. This is the group that works to provide our LIVESTREAM worship. Some of them you see on a weekly basis. In front of the cameras are Pastor Nancy Connor, Kelvin Miller, and Jan Pofahl. We have also seen Kate Andrews, Bob Andrews, Kjersten Dysthe, Megan Kuneli, Mark and Lynne Lind, Tom McCaffrey, Anita Flinner-McCaffrey, Jeff Owens, Kari Owens, Hailey Peterson and Miriam Ring. Their words and music have lifted our spirits and proclaimed Jesus’s love. Behind the scenes and cameras are Jeff Andrews, Kate Andrews, Doreen Evans, Ainsley Fuerst, Barrett Fuerst, Mark Lichtenberger, Noah Lichtenberger, Kjirsten Pearson, and Matt Schaefer. Your support has been essential in our ability to apply technology for the sake of worship.

I am thankful for the chance to work with such talented and dedicated folks. I’ve lost track of the hours that these folks have so generously shared - you have kept our church open and vibrant. When you log on for worship on Sunday or Wednesday, be sure to join in me in sharing a word of thanks for all of them.

I look forward to the day when we will once again be able to gather safely together. Although that time is still in the future, it will come. We need to be patient and grateful for the opportunities that we do have to be the church.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

p.s. Don’t forget - we have online/phone communion on Sunday, July 12 at noon and Parking Lot Worship on Wednesday, July 15 at 6:30 p.m. You can find information about both of these worship opportunities online, click here.

Parking Lot Worship

Grace and peace to you,

It has been one hundred and eleven days since we took our ministry online and have refrained from gathering in person for worship and fellowship. I have lost track of the number of ZOOM/phone calls that have allowed us to "be the church" during this pandemic. I remain grateful for the efforts of the St. James staff, who have stepped up in a variety of ways to make a positive contribution in keeping our church open and vibrant. Thank you.

With gratitude in my heart, I look forward to the next phase of our coronavirus response - offering opportunities to gather in-person again. The Return to In-Person Ministry Team has been working hard on guidelines that allow for safe assembly. Next week, you will receive in the mail a summary of their accomplishments and work.

As I have mentioned in previous communications, this group's task is not easy. There are many things to consider, and there is an inherent need to get it right. We don't want to infect and cause harm to anyone because we rushed too soon in our return to being physically together.

July 15, which is just two weeks away, will be the first of our large in-person gatherings. We will come together in our cars for a Parking Lot Worship. Mark your calendars and make plans to be with us - rain or shine (except for downpour or lightning). I invite you to arrive a few minutes before 6:30 p.m. so that you get a good spot. Using your FM radio, you will be able to worship with your St. James friends from the comfort of your vehicle.

I am looking forward to seeing you. It will be a fun night of praise done in a socially-distanced and safe way. For those who wish to stay at home or are unable to come out, Evensong worship will be Livestreamed at 7:30 p.m. Our website (StJamesLC.org) contains more information about our Parking Lot Worship and other online ministries.

I appreciate your support as we continue to navigate these unknown waters. Please pray for wisdom, patience, and the Spirit's guidance.

In Christ's Light,

Pastor Walt

Connections Continue

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

As I reflect upon our ministry together this week, the word “connections” comes to mind. Even as we are physically apart, we remain connected. We are together in Christ as we worship, study, and fellowship online and by phone. On Sunday, we will share communion using the available technology. I look forward to presiding on ZOOM and hope you can take part in this experience (click here for more information).

I am happy to report that we made significant progress this week as we welcomed the return of our Spanish Pentecostal neighbors to worshiping/studying at St. James. This week they are using the outdoor worship space. We are close to having guidelines that will allow them and other outside ministry partners to use indoor space. Nurturing connections among neighbors is a part of our vision as a church.

I give thanks for the good work of the Return to In-Person Ministry Team that has brought us to this place. Join me in saying thanks to Viv Aarestad and Diane Miller (co-leaders of the team) and its members (Wendy Dickman and Mark Lind) for the many hours they have devoted to crafting guidelines that will keep folks safe. There are so many recommendations from the medical community that need to be carefully weighed and applied to our context. I am grateful for their compassion, concern, and thoroughness. Please pray for their ongoing work, which is heading in the direction of returning to the full use of our ministry facility. Although it will still be a while before our congregation of seven hundred can gather as we once did, significant progress is underway. It would do well for us to include patience in our prayers.

I also ask you to pray for our Connected in Christ, pilot ministry. A few weeks ago, I mentioned this initiative that seeks to find a way for us to connect our whole community with St. James Lutheran’s online resources. You might recall that I shared the opportunity for stiped summer internships to our young adults. I am happy to share that this week we selected a group of three applicants and a team leader. What joy to have Johnny Corcoran, Brady Haller, and Noah Lichtenberger join Jeff Andrew (Team Lead) as our Connected in Christ Team.

In the next few days, they will begin the work of reaching out to new technology users in our congregation to assist them in accessing our online resources. They will learn from these interactions on how best to help others. Phase One involves equipping those who have technology that they need help using it. Phase Two is testing out equipment that is easy to use with those who don’t currently have access. Phase Three is determining the overall need for technology in our congregation and figuring out a path toward linking everyone. This is a challenging but important initiative. I am grateful for our team and Jeff’s leadership - confident that they will make a lasting impact on our future ministry.

The last connection that I want to acknowledge is that of your generous support. Throughout this pandemic crises, St. James has received the financial support that we have needed. Your gifts have allowed us to focus on ministry - to creatively use the resources at hand to be church in new and unimaginable ways. We have not had to worry how we are paying bills. Thank you.

I pray that this weekly ministry moment finds you safe and healthy. Be sure to let us know if there is any way we can help out and support you in these challenging days.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Cones and Conversation with the Pastors

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

This past Monday night, Pastor Nancy and I had a wonderful opportunity to talk with our post-High School young adults. A few weeks ago, St. James send out Dairy Queen gift cards to everyone in this age group. A sweet treat to remind them that we care and pray for them. With the ice cream treat came the invitation to join the pastors in a conversation.

We wanted to provide an opportunity for them to talk about the times in which we find ourselves. The pandemic has disrupted jobs, education, graduations, and a bunch of plans for everyone. As pastor’s we wanted to give a chance for our young adults to share their perspectives.

It was a good evening and I’m grateful for all who participated. Thank you. I pray that God will bless our conversation and allow it to set the stage for future ministry with this age group.

I am also grateful for the ministry partnership that I share with Pastor Nancy. She continues to be such a blessing for the St James community and a support to my ministry here. Her wisdom and experience are invaluable. On Monday night, her service as a university pastor (Pacific Lutheran University) came through loud and clear.. We are gifted by God to have her with us.

I ask that you pray for our young adults who are facing this new world and context. They need our care, comfort, and encouragement. Reach out to them and let them know that their church loves them and is here to walk alongside them.

I pray that this note finds you well. Thank you for your continued support of the ministry that we share. Your gifts make a difference and allow us to focus on ministry (like reaching out to our young adults). I look forward to connecting with you through our online ministries….

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Connected in Christ

Grace and peace to you…

The Coronavirus Pandemic has created an environment of isolation within the St. James community.  Since moving to online ministry, those without access to technology have been at a loss.  Without resources, they have been unable to view worship and connect visually with their church family.    

We have tried to address this concern by offering phone connection opportunities such as weekly Phone worship at noon on Sundays and Phone Bible Study on Thursdays. Although I look forward to these times to connect with those we’d otherwise miss., there are many who remain disconnected.

Faced with the prospect of needing to continue ministry online, it is a significant spiritual, as well as emotional, concern to have a portion of our community unable to connect.  How can one feel a part of the Body of Christ when excluded from worship, and opportunities to gather as a virtual community for bible study and fellowship?

Connected in Christ is a pilot ministry that seeks to learn how to connect the St. James Lutheran community with our online ministries. We will also learn what the need for this connection is within our community. The pilot ministry has three phases and is planned for the summer of 2020. Phase one involves working with folks who have technology but don’t know how to use it to access our online resources. Phase two will use the learning from the first phase to program devices that are simple to use. We will try this technology among a trial group. Phase three will bring our learning from the project into a summary form. We will ascertain the over all need of technology in our congregation and put together a proposal to meet that need.

We mailed invitations to our High School graduates and college-aged young aults to apply for three stipend internships. If you are in this category, I encourage you to apply. We need your help with this ministry. It will be a great experience to be able to work with new technology users from older generations. If you are interested, click here (for application and job descriptions). The deadline is June 14.

Connecting people is an important part of our mission as a church. Providing skills, technology, and access will help us to build and deepen those loving relationships with God, with each other, and with our neighbor. I am excited for what God will do as we bring generations together to better use the gift of technology. This has implications to strengthen ministry long after we exit this pandemic. Imagine, what would it look like for us to continue to worship, study, and share fellowship with those who are home bound?

I pray that this ministry moment finds you safe and healthy. I look forward to worshiping with you online on Sunday, Wednesday, and whenever you choose to connect.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Online/Phone Communion - This Sunday

On this coming Sunday, Holy Trinity, June 7, I will be presiding over communion at my kitchen table. You are invited to join me either online or by phone.

The decision to preside over a ‘virtual’ table was one that did not come easy. Currently, the E.L.C.A. is divided over how to celebrate (or not) the sacrament during this pandemic.

Our social isolation and move to online ministries poses challenges to traditional understandings of what it means to assemble as the Body of Christ. Over the past month, I had many conversations about theses matters with pastoral colleagues including Bishop Lull.

Initially, I supported not offering communion until we could be back together again. This was for two reason. The first involved access. I know that not everybody can log on to our online resources. Celebrating without including these folks did not seem right. My second concern revolved around understanding virtual community. How could we assemble for worship in a way that was mutual and participatory?

As I struggled with these issues, it became clearer that our online reality wasn’t going away anytime soon. The emergency situation that continues to restrict our gathering together in one place is likely to linger for months to come.  Due to health risks, some in our community might stay away even after it has been determined it is safe for some limited in-person gathering.

The Body of Christ at St. James is hurting in its physical isolation and would benefit greatly from the nurturing and strengthening of faith found in the celebration of the sacrament.  That is the message that I heard from St. James folks during our Online Worship Listening Post.

According to the E.L.C.A. statement on the practice of ministry and sacraments, The Use of the Means of Grace; “At the table of our Lord Jesus Christ, God nourishes faith, forgives sin , and calls us to be witnesses to the Gospel.”  As one who was called to serve the St. James community as an ordained minister of Word and Sacrament, I find myself compelled to resume the role of presiding at Table in the midst of this pandemic crises.

On pastoral grounds, caring for the spiritual needs of the community, I will preside over Eucharist this Sunday. For a fuller explanation of this decision (click here).

Sunday’s communion will use ZOOM technology because it addresses some of my initial concerns. Zoom allows those with computers and phones to come together in the same virtual space. It is not a “perfect” connection but it is one that can provide great meaning and comfort.

From my “pastoring” ZOOM experience of these past months, I have come to appreciate the genuine connection that occurs when people interact using this technology. There is nothing ‘viritual’ about it - it is real. ZOOM allows for greater interactive participation than our livestream worship between presider and the rest of the assembly. For directions on how to participate in Sunday’s ZOOM online/phone communion (click here).

Celebrating at home, is reminiscent of the early church which gathered in homes to sing, pray, and break bread. It is also the place where we have most been during these days of isolation. Before covid-19, as a pastor I regularly visited folks in their homes. Many times I would share the sacrament with them. I know that those encounters are powerful moments of faith that sustain weary souls.

On Sunday, June 7, there will be two worship opportunities. At 9:30 a.m., we will livestream from the sanctuary. This will be a Service of the Word with music. Presiding Bishop Eaton will preach. At noon, I will ZOOM from my home and share communion with those who log on at that time. Only the 9:30 a.m. worship will be available on YouTube for those who missed worship. Links for both worships can be found on the front page of the St. James website.

I pray that you will be able to worship at one or both of these times this Sunday.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

The Church is OPEN!!!!

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

I heard a lot of political chatter this past week about “reopening” churches.  With the relaxing of restrictions on crowds gathering for religious purposes, some congregations have rushed to “open up.”  

In a fantastic sermon during Wednesday night’s Evensong, Pastor Nancy reminded us all that the church never closed!  Pastor shared the time-honored Vacation Bible School song - “I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together.”  

The church is not a building.  We are the people of God, gathered by the Spirit, to give witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.   The decision by the Executive Mission Team, affirmed by the Council, to switch from in-person to online/phone ministry is a great example of the church active in love.  

When it was determined that to gather physically together was dangerous, especially to those most vulnerable to the virus, love demanded that we close the doors of our beloved building.  Love keeps those doors shut until the point where it is safe to return to being in-person again.   

Even though the doors at 3650 William’s Drive remain locked, St. James Lutheran Church is open, active, and vibrant.  Online and phone ministries continue to build and deepen loving relationships with God, with each other, and with our neighbor.  I am grateful for the amazing and creative job that our staff has been doing.  The feedback has been encouraging.   Giving remains strong allowing us to focus on ministry.

On Sunday following our Pentecost worship, I will be announcing three new initiatives that will strengthen us as we continue to navigate these turbulent waters of pandemic.  Please tune in - wear red - and celebrate what God is doing through the church beyond the walls of a building.

About that building…  At last week’s Council meeting, it was decided to form a Mission Team that would create a detailed plan for a safe return to in-person ministry.   I am thrilled to announce that Vivian Aarestad and Diane Miller have graciously agreed to co-lead this effort.  They are gathering resources and forming a team, which will include the voices of our medical professionals.  

Having worked with both of these dedicated women on ministries, I am confident that they will be thorough and compassionate.  We need to be patient and give them the time and support that this endeavor requires.  The Covid-19 virus demands that we exercise caution and careful deliberation.  Jesus’s command to love the neighbor asks no less.   The church must give the safety needs of the most vulnerable in our midst top priority.          

Meanwhile, we will continue to be the church.  I am the church.  You are the church.  We are the church together.  Sharing the love of Jesus is what we remained called to do.  

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Walking Together

Grace and peace to you all!

As we come to the end of this week, I am grateful for the partnerships that we share with other Lutheran congregations in the St. Paul Area Synod. The word “Synod” comes from two words that mean ‘walking together.’ We are synod together - we share a common journey with a variety of ELCA congregations in the St. Paul area. Although we have many different styles of worship, offer different ministries, and serve in unique ways in each of our contexts - we share a common bond in Christ. We are church together.

This was illustrated in a very tangible way for me this week. On Tuesday night, Birdie Olson and I attended a ZOOM meeting that Bishop Lull hosted for Pastors and Presidents of the St. Paul Area Synod. Over one-hundred-ninety participants filled the screens. The purpose was to offer information, best practices, and share resources regarding reopening church buildings. Given the ongoing reality of pandemic, providing safe in-person gatherings is extremely challenging. There are many more things to consider than you might at first think. Listening to what other congregations are doing and NOT doing was helpful. I came away with pages of notes that will inform our conversations as we seek to navigate the turbulent waters of Covid-19.

Thanks need to go to Bishop Lull and her staff for the multiple such gatherings over the past months. We have benefited greatly from the sharing of wisdom that these ZOOM events have provided.

I am also grateful to my pastoral colleagues in the Synod. You have been a source of strength and guidance on a variety of topics related to ministry in a time of pandemic. I have particularly appreciated their availability and willingness to discuss matters concerning worship.

Last, but certainly not least, I am grateful for the wonderful people I get to work with on a daily basis. St. James is blessed with a fabulous staff and leadership team. We are working hard together to provide multiple ministries that nurture spiritual formation, share welcome, and serve those in need. Thank you all! We are also in the planning stages for what is next. In the coming week, I look forward to sharing some of the fruits of this labor.

What a joy to be blessed by so many walking together!

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Missing You...

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

On Monday night, we had a great turnout for the ONLINE LISTENING POST. Familiar faces in tiny boxes filled the ZOOM screen.

It was good to hear that folks are appreciating the different Lutheran liturgies that we have been offering. I am grateful for Pastor Nancy and Kelvin who attended the session as extra “ears” (thank you also for all the work that you put into making our worship special.) Already, we are allowing the feedback to shape upcoming worship. I trust that those present will notice some suggestions implemented as early as this coming Sunday. Other ideas require a bit more thought - please be patient.

As I think back on Monday night, a common theme throughout the discussion was the fact that “WE MISS EACH OTHER.” Being physically apart, we yearn to be in each other’s presence. I resonant deeply.

I’m glad that we continue to have a significant number of people who log on, either at the times when we livestream our worship or at some point afterwards. These numbers remain comparable to our attendance prior to the pandemic. I’m glad that our church continues to come together as a community around the Presence of Christ. We continue to feast upon God’s Word, pray with each other, and sing the songs of faith. Worship nurtures our spirit.

That said, I miss the hand shakes, high fives, and hugs that were part of the way we were present with each other. I miss saying, "good morning,” and holding the door open for you. Standing outside the doors and welcoming you to worship was one of the highlights of my week. As thankful as I am that we have technology that allows us to gather virtually, it is not the same as ‘being there’ with you.

What I heard on Monday night is that many of you are in the same place. Grateful for what we have AND missing what we once had. It is a bittersweet place in which we find ourselves. Naming that reality is important as it trusting that the Spirit remains alive and present.

Christ promised to never leave his church orphaned (that is the gospel for this coming Sunday when you log in - John 14:18.). Christ continues to give the Holy Spirit, which is the church’s lifeblood and song. Guided by the Spirit, we are brought to places that are loving and close to God. The Spirit accompanies us to places unknown.

The St. James staff has been meeting in workgroups on a weekly basis to consider next steps. I have been in daily conversations with pastors from other churches around our Synod. From the start, our Council, has also shared their gifts of leadership in careful discernment. Thinking about the needs of the most vulnerable and fragile in our midst, we are in no rush to make a hasty return. There are many issues that we must address. This airborne virus remains dangerous. We must be patient and get it right. I am confident we can do both.

In the meanwhile, we will continue to see each other on opposite sides of computer and smartphone screens. We will ZOOM and chat on phones. Join me also in prayer, that the Spirit provides the needed wisdom and direction.

I miss you, my church family. Also, I appreciate that the Spirit has brought us together and have linked our lives in Christ.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

p.s. Check out worship this Sunday. You will see more familiar faces, including a special video greeting. I’ll be sure to wave…. pw.

LISTENING POST - ONLINE WORSHIP

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus!

Since the early days of my ministry at St. James, over eleven years ago, I have found it helpful to periodically host what I have come to call “Listening Posts” on a variety of topics and ministries. These opportunities have provided valuable feedback, which in turn has helped to shape the ministry of St. James in positive ways.

On Monday, May 11, at 7:00 p.m., I will host a ZOOM Listening Post on our ONLINE WORSHIP. The number of people who are worshiping with us online remains strong. We have received much appreciation for our Sunday and Wednesday worship.

What we are interested in learning is what do you find most beneficial about these worship experiences? Your response will help us shape future worship opportunities.

Are you free on Monday night? I’d love to have you join in this conversation.

This is open to the whole St. James community. Please register by clicking the button below. You will be sent the ZOOM link on Monday afternoon.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

So, I Have This Idea....

Grace and peace to you all in the name of Jesus!

Check out this video…. click image to play

I am enjoying this beautiful weather that we have been having. This would be a fantastic spring in any year. However, given our social distancing and isolation, it has come as a particular blessing. To be able to walk outside and have the sun shining in my face refreshes my spirit.

Early in the week, as I was soaking up the rays, nestled into a chair on my back deck, I had an idea. Typically, this is the time of year that we have friends over for BBQs. Not a good idea - yet. Our resolve to maintain safe distances needs to remain firm. Although we might want to go there - the wisdom of our medical community says to wait.

Missing those informal connections that spring provides for families, friends, and neighbors - I was wondering, “what would it look like to do something virtually?” What if we had a ZOOM happy hour? I could host this from my backyard, and you could join me from yours. To add some fun, we could have interesting conversations about a variety of things - from bizarre and zany to pertinent and meaningful.

Back in my seminary days of the mid-1990s, two professors hosted a BYOB Happy Hour for students. It was an informal way of thinking big, trying out ideas, and sharing thoughts on a variety of topics. I enjoyed those times. I learned a great deal - not only about theology but also about my thoughts on a bunch of things. In the years since I have hosted a few campfire conversations following mid-week summer worship. These were also productive times.

So….. whatdayathink? Are you interested?

I am trying out using an online survey to see if there is enough interest. Take a few moments to share your thoughts. I would appreciate your feedback on whether to do this, dates/times, and potential topics. Thank you ahead of time - not seeing folks in person makes it harder to gauge reactions on new ministries.

I pray that this ministry moment finds you and your family healthy and safe. Please let us know how we can help support you.

Although I can’t see you, I thank you for worshiping online with us on Sunday and Wednesday. The number of views continues to match/exceed the attendance we would have if we were able to meet in person. Thank you! Your views encourage us to continue our efforts.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Thankful for Many Hands at Work

ZOOM picture of the Council meeting this week

Today we enter our seventh week of ministry in the context of social distancing. Wow! Has it been that long? Yup. Sadly, some days it feels like it has been seven times seventy!

Earlier this week, I had an opportunity to ZOOM with both the full staff and the Council of St. James. We talked about our ongoing need to keep social distance in our ministry. I shared with both groups that in many ways the first phase of St. James's response to COVID-19 has come to a close. Quickly, we adapted to the crises by shifting ministry from in-person to connecting through technologies (online, phone, and mail.) Through applying creativity and a strong desire to connect with others, we shared God's love even as we were physically apart. Stage two involves maintaining that ministry until we can safely return to in-person ministry.

Before we go into the next phase of our COVID-19 response, I want to take a moment and share my appreciation for the efforts of our ministry team of staff, volunteers, and congregational leaders that worked together. We spent many hours behind computer screens and cameras to go online. Everyone had to learn new skills and redeploy abilities. We connected on the phone, through social media, multiple mailings, and ZOOM. Again, I have a deep appreciation for each person. Each of you has been a blessing to our community of faith and struggle. Thank you!

At the risk of missing someone, I want to name names because it is essential to see that our ministry over these past seven weeks has truly been a team effort.

Special thanks need to go to Pastor Nancy Connor, Kelvin Miller, Jan Pofahl, Jeff Andrews, Mark and Noah Lichtenberger, Matt Schaefer, Ainsley Fuerst, and Kate Andrews for the weeks of multiple online worship opportunities. What a joy to also have Kjersten Dysthe, Kari and Jeff Owens also provide music for online worship. Thanks go to our Pastoral Care Team for staying in weekly contact with over sixty people - Pastor Nancy Connor, Birdie Olson, Greta Soleim, Kari Owens, and Karen Krafka. Thanks go to Patty Seewald for providing weekly Sunday School online, to Siana Adrian for weekly confirmation online, and to Katie Lichtenberger and Casey Fuerst for weekly SPARK (youth) online. I am grateful for the thirteen FAITH TEAM leaders who are meeting weekly with over sixty adults in small pray/chat groups. They are Ben Barnard, Pat Byrne, Gary DeKrey, Sylvia Dobrovolny, Starlett Drader, Ainsley Fuerst, Konrad Gastony, Jon Heimer, Sam Hosszu, Barb Kleinfeldt, Megan Kuneli, Joann LeClair, and Deb Mueller.

St. James is blessed to have Doreen Evans. Not only is she overseeing our financial situation and managing operations, but she has also coordinated mask-making efforts, arranged for the distribution of 1440 lunches from Chipotle for medical workers, and worked on our application for federal payroll assistance. I am also grateful for Kjirsten Pearson, who has supported our multiple communication efforts, including mailings, our website, emails, and social media. It was a blessing to have Casey Fuerst design initial logos and postings.

As you see, this is a big list of names. Many hands are doing Christ's work during this pandemic- most of them are behind the scenes. Please join me in raising a prayer of thanks for each of them.

Pray also that God might strengthen as we enter stage two of living with this virus. Now we face the challenge of sustaining our efforts for an undetermined length of time. According to the wisdom of medical professionals, we will need to remain diligent in our social distancing, lest infections flare-up. Our sprint has turned into a marathon. It will be some time until it is safe to return to in-person ministry.

I am confident by the grace of God that we will continue to connect with God, with each other, and with our neighbors. Thank you for your prayers, words of encouragement, and continued support. I am also thankful for you and for this ministry that we share.

In Christ's Light,

Pastor Walt

Ministry in A New Season

Dear Church Family: 

Christ s Risen!  Christ is Risen, indeed, Alleluia! 

It seemed strange not to shout those words to a full house on Easter morning.  These are bizarre days, a time unlike any other.  It is also a unique opportunity for us to ‘be church.’  Jesus sent his disciples into the world to bring a word of hope - God remains with us during struggles and trials.  At the tomb, we hear the Easter invitation, “Do Not Be Afraid.”  Through faith we can find courage. 

With confidence in Christ, we continue to build and deepen loving relationship with God, each other and our neighbors.  Today, we are doing this using technology.  Attached is a snapshot of connections that St. James is making.  I am deeply grateful for those who stepped up to share their time and talents.  Together, we are making a positive difference. 

Isolated from each other and our regular routines, it is essential for us to be the church.  Although we did this before the pandemic hit, we now see its importance more clearly than ever before.  It is essential for us to worship, study, pray, and care for others.   

In the face of economic uncertainty, folks continue to share resources that makes ministry possible.  Thank you for giving online, through Simply Giving and mailing checks.  Your generosity allows us to focus on ministry.  I pray that this letter finds you and your family healthy and safe.  We know that you are facing all sorts of challenges and struggles. Let us know how we can support you.  You remain in our prayers and I ask you keep the St. James staff in your prayers as well.  

When we get the “all clear” from the medical community, we will gather to shout out our Alleluias together.  I look forward to that day when we will sing our Easter hymns with enthusiasm.  Until then, we wait with patience as the people of God.  

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

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St. James Lutheran - Ministry SNAPSHOT 

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Using our strategic plan as a focus, here is how we have been church together: 

Spiritual Formation: 

• Weekly Sunday Livestream worship – on average, we were watched on 340 devices each week.   

• Nightly Online worship, Monday to Friday during Holy Week.  

• Wednesday night Online worship throughout the season of Lent 

• Sunday School Online each week (11:00 a.m.) 

• Weekly Bible Study Online on Thursday mornings (7:30 a.m.)    

• Weekly Phone Bible Study on Thursday mornings (11:00 a.m.) for those without the internet.  

• Weekly Online Confirmation Class on Wednesday (6:30 p.m.)  

• Daily video devotions throughout Holy Week. 

• Faith Teams – a new way to connect (prayer, devotion, and conversation) using ZOOM.   Currently, we have forty-nine participants in twelve small groups and its growing.  

• Weekly Sunday Phone Check-in-Devotions (11:00 a.m.) for those without the internet.   

• HOPE daily devotional.  

• Easter daily devotional – FEAR NOT!  - sign up on the website. 

NEW: Evensong – weekly online worship on Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m. 

Welcome:  

• Weekly Phone Update on Thursday (4:00 p.m.) for those without the internet.  

• SPARK Youth – are sending out weekly notecards to senior citizens. 

• Weekly Sunday Phone chats (11:00 a.m.) with those who don’t have online access. 

• Pastoral Care Team Contacts – our care team is connecting with fifty folks each week. 

NEW: A Welcome Team is forming to explore how we can expand hospitality 

Service:  

• Sewing fabric masks for local senior living care facilities. So far, our folks made over three hundred! 

• In partnership with Chipotle, 1440 meals delivered to clinic and hospital workers  

• Shared $3,200 with local food shelves.  

NEW: To meet the high need, St. James will host two Blood Drives in April/May.  To date these drives are full.  

As we build and deepen relationships with God, each other, and our neighbor we have made nearly 5,000 connections so far during this pandemic.   

A Different Kind of Easter at St. James

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus!

This year, Easter looks different.  In the place of usual celebrations and holiday traditions, there is disruption worldwide.  There is also pain, suffering, and lots of fear. The Covid-19 virus has turned things upside down.  

It has been meaningful for me to collaborate with of a group of E.L.C.A. pastors from the Twin Cities. We came together to produce a daily devotional for the fifty days of Easter.  Inspired by Jesus's Easter words to Mary at the tomb - FEAR NOT- the pastors share uplifting messages, images, songs, and practical suggestions on how you can share God's love with others during this time.  Sign up, and starting on Easter Sunday, April 12, you will receive your first devotion. For the seven weeks of Easter, a daily dose of FEAR NOT will appear in your email inbox. It will be there in time for your morning coffee.   

CLICK HERE (to sign up)

It has also been a joy to work with Pastor Nancy, Kelvin Miller, Jan Pofahl, and Jeff Andrews (and his youth AV team - Mark/Noah/Kate Marie) on preparing this year’s Easter worship. It will livestream on Easter Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., and then be available at 11:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. At 6:30 a.m., I will offer a ZOOM sunrise worship from the deck in my backyard. Patty will do Sunday School online for the children and their families at 11:00 a.m. Also at 11:00 a.m. there will be a PHONE worship opportunity where I will read the gospel, preach, and share in a time of prayers.

For all links and access information (click here). The password for all our materials is 55337.

No doubt, it will be a different kind of Easter at St. James this year. Still, I am confident that the hope that is ours in Easter - that God resurrects life - will be proclaimed. Perhaps, we will hear it in a new way as we log in, phone in, or read our emails. Perhaps, into the tombs of our isolation, we will catch the glimpse of new life dawning.

May the God who brought Jesus from the dead, resurrect our hearts, minds, spirits, and bodies this Easter time.

In Christ’s Light,

Pastor Walt

Connecting in Christ

I miss seeing you. Even if you don't come to worship weekly, I looked forward to when I saw you on a Sunday morning, or maybe at some random time during the week. Whenever you arrived at the building on Williams Drive, it was good to reconnect. You lifted my spirits with your presence.

COVID-19 has made in-person connections difficult and potentially dangerous. Wisdom demands prudence and isolation. We need to stay home and at a social distance to reduce the negative impact of this pandemic. This sacrifice is painful and wears heavy upon us all. Still, working together, we can have a positive effect.

As a pastor, I am concerned about both the physical and spiritual health of folks. Keeping apart helps promote physical wellness during a pandemic. St. James is doing its part in postponing our in-person ministry until it is safe to gather once again. We are providing spiritual care, using technology to offer worship, Sunday School, Bible Studies, and devotions. I am grateful for our staff, who has worked tirelessly to provide these opportunities. I also appreciate the efforts of the Pastoral Care Team, who is making dozens of calls a week to check-in.

Driven by concerns about the longevity of our isolation, I instituted a new ministry this week. We are in the process of forming small groups, which we are calling Faith Teams. Each group of three to four folks has committed to coming together virtually once a week for forty minutes. Brought together by a Faith Team Lead, they check-in with one another and offer mutual support. Using a simple devotional and prayer format, they share faith and encouragement. They are using ZOOM for the conversation; this technology is easy to use and allows folks to connect using laptops, tablets, and regular phones.

Already we have over forty people connected through nine different Faith Team Chats. Participants extend beyond the St. James community to include friends and neighbors. My initial goal is to grow the number involved to a hundred over the next two weeks. Part of "being church" is to come together to offer mutual care and support. Guided by God's Word, our spirits need strengthening through interaction with each other. We need to listen, pray, and to be present for one another with the kindness of Christ. Each of us has the power to make a difference in the life of someone else.

Will you be willing to come together with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ at St. James and take part in a Faith Team Chat? Perhaps you would like to lead one of these conversations? I will give you the resources, support, and some training to get you started. Maybe you would prefer to participate instead? We have leaders that are forming groups and need willing participants. I will connect you. Click the link below and let me know how you would like to get involved.

I am confident that through Faith Team Chats, St. James can continue to bring about our vision to build and deepen loving relationships with God, with each other, and with our neighbors. Not only will this ministry help us to survive these trying days, but it can build St. James. Even during a time of this pandemic, God's Spirit can grow and strengthen Christ's church.

In Christ's Light,

Pastor Walt