Being Church in the World

Dear Ones,

It’s been a long time since I last wrote, and even longer since we’ve seen each other. We’ve walked together through the drama of quarantine and COVID, and many of us have been swept up in “The Uprising,” or the urgent call for racial justice, not just in Minneapolis, but across the country. And now, it seems, we’re settling in for the long haul.

In the liturgical seasons that we celebrate in the Lutheran Church, we’ve moved from Lent, into Easter, and then Pentecost, and we’re now in “Ordinary Time.” It sounds boring, but it’s one of my favorite seasons of the church year. This is a time when, like the growth that comes in summer, we settle in to learn and grow. We learn from Jesus about what it means to follow him and learn from the early apostles about what it means to be church.

Unlike other summers where we simply send you out to have new experiences and immerse yourselves in the places you are, we’re continuing to gather in small ways this summer, as a way to stay connected, and to accompany you through this extraordinary, “Ordinary Time” in your life.

Here are some ways for you to stay connected, grow in your faith, and be the church in the world:

We’ll be sharing weekly messages through email and social media from our staff. Look for those on Tuesdays as a source of inspiration and encouragement as we walk together this summer.
Lectio Lunch Hour, where we’ll gather on Instagram Live each Wednesday at noon and read portions of the book of Acts, where we learn how the early church got its legs, and consider what this book has to say to our lives.
Me and White Supremacy, folks in our community are gathering in groups of 2 or 3, and walking through this book by Layla Saad together. Find the book for free-use through the U here or through Hennepin County library here, as an ebook or audiobook. E-mail Pastor Kate if you would like a partner or small group to read with by Mon., June 29.
Join our Facebook group! We’ll share updates and have a space online for community building this summer!
We’re hoping to get a small group together regularly to volunteer at local food shelves at churches near the George Floyd Memorial. More info coming next week, but if you’re interested in this, e-mail Dana!

Last of all, as we gather this summer, we’re also preparing to welcome the Class of 2024 to the U of M. It’s going to be an unpredictable start for them, and so we’re considering ways we can welcome folks into community. If you know incoming students from your high school or church back home, refer them here. We’ll send them a “Welcome to the U” care package, that will include our new LCM mask!

Thanks, everyone. I miss you a ton and am eager to be back in the same space as you. Until then, though, I look forward to connecting online.

Good courage to you today,
Pastor Kate