People of Hope,
In her letter regarding the President’s recent executive orders concerning immigration, Bishop Eaton encourages us to join four callings: a call to prayer, a call to learning, a call to personal witness, and a call to public witness. (Bishop Tim of the Alaska Synod joined other Region 1 bishops in a similar statement found here). In truth, these are always our callings, but they do indeed feel pressing for us during this moment in our country. Because of this, I wish to raise them again for us, and perhaps add a fifth call.
Maybe you were like me in the past couple weeks and felt flooded by the news. I am greatly concerned for our neighbors who are Trans and immigrants/refugees, as well as the legalities of actions being taken at the federal level. And as I am flooded by the news, and by my emotions, the call to prayer becomes even more important. When we’re feeling flooded by events, it’s time to flood our lives in prayer! For me that looked like lighting candles and spending more time praying. For you, that might mean using your minutes in your commute or while washing the dishes. Perhaps it’s taking an extra time while first waking up, or just before you go to bed. Perhaps it’s logging off your phone earlier than usual, or taking that walk through creation. For all of us, it will look like gathering together in worship or in small groups and praying together. Where two or three are gathered, Christ is there.
And then we must pray with our feet.
We are called to stay informed and learn so that we can move with wisdom and truth. We are called to be a personal witness in our relationships and encounters – to speak against dehumanization and speak truth. We are called to be a public witness by calling our representatives (Lisa Murkowski 202-224-6665, Dan Sullivan 202-224-3004, Nick Begich III 202-225-5765), and coordinating with others to address our government. This may mean we also need to connect with other organizations who have more knowledge and expertise. Amidst the flood of news, we may need to decide on a particular concern we feel God is calling us to learn and respond to, and trust that others are stepping forward in their callings in regards to other issues. All of this stems from our primary call to love God and to love our neighbor.
Finally, I would add a fifth calling for this moment and that is a call to community. This call is interwoven through each of the others. We do not do this alone. We do not do this as only the Lutheran Church of Hope. It is also a call to connect with one another, within our congregation and beyond, and to be reminded that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Connect with someone in the congregation. Invite a neighbor to dinner. Play! Join us in our singing and our praying. Now is the time to lean in. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and the Spirit of the Lord is upon us.
With you in peace and love,
Pastor Liz
In her letter regarding the President’s recent executive orders concerning immigration, Bishop Eaton encourages us to join four callings: a call to prayer, a call to learning, a call to personal witness, and a call to public witness. (Bishop Tim of the Alaska Synod joined other Region 1 bishops in a similar statement found here). In truth, these are always our callings, but they do indeed feel pressing for us during this moment in our country. Because of this, I wish to raise them again for us, and perhaps add a fifth call.
Maybe you were like me in the past couple weeks and felt flooded by the news. I am greatly concerned for our neighbors who are Trans and immigrants/refugees, as well as the legalities of actions being taken at the federal level. And as I am flooded by the news, and by my emotions, the call to prayer becomes even more important. When we’re feeling flooded by events, it’s time to flood our lives in prayer! For me that looked like lighting candles and spending more time praying. For you, that might mean using your minutes in your commute or while washing the dishes. Perhaps it’s taking an extra time while first waking up, or just before you go to bed. Perhaps it’s logging off your phone earlier than usual, or taking that walk through creation. For all of us, it will look like gathering together in worship or in small groups and praying together. Where two or three are gathered, Christ is there.
And then we must pray with our feet.
We are called to stay informed and learn so that we can move with wisdom and truth. We are called to be a personal witness in our relationships and encounters – to speak against dehumanization and speak truth. We are called to be a public witness by calling our representatives (Lisa Murkowski 202-224-6665, Dan Sullivan 202-224-3004, Nick Begich III 202-225-5765), and coordinating with others to address our government. This may mean we also need to connect with other organizations who have more knowledge and expertise. Amidst the flood of news, we may need to decide on a particular concern we feel God is calling us to learn and respond to, and trust that others are stepping forward in their callings in regards to other issues. All of this stems from our primary call to love God and to love our neighbor.
Finally, I would add a fifth calling for this moment and that is a call to community. This call is interwoven through each of the others. We do not do this alone. We do not do this as only the Lutheran Church of Hope. It is also a call to connect with one another, within our congregation and beyond, and to be reminded that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Connect with someone in the congregation. Invite a neighbor to dinner. Play! Join us in our singing and our praying. Now is the time to lean in. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and the Spirit of the Lord is upon us.
With you in peace and love,
Pastor Liz
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