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What is Pastoral Care and who does it?

Pastoral Care – The ministry of caring at the heart of the church’s life. This definition, which I have borrowed from the Episcopal church, feels right. Maybe you saw last week’s blog –  “When to call the pastor”. In that blog I wrote about how we can find comfort and strength in hard times by making a connection with someone who’s connection to the God who loves us is part of the package. Just connecting with a pastor in hard times and in good times can help us rejoice, mourn, and put things in perspective. But now I want to push you a bit, because I think we can get that ‘connection’ in a pastoral way from more than just the ordained clergy person you know. I think we are all called to pastoral care. Continue reading “What is Pastoral Care and who does it?”

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When to Call the Pastor

Call PastorEver thought about this? Its 2019, and the church appears to take a back seat to many things, today. But, I believe that the church, and, specifically, pastors, are an important part of the fabric of our lives. We need a pastor, at hard times and good times, in crisis or celebration, because connecting with a person, especially a person whose ‘identity’ is minister of the church, is a healthy, life-giving moment. Call your pastor. I mean it.  Continue reading “When to Call the Pastor”

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Pentecost wind in our midst

The Spirit was alive on Pentecost at Holy Cross Lutheran! We felt it! So many people were smiling, and laughing, and yes, we were prayerful, too. The idea that God sends the spirit to each of us, as Comforter, as Advocate, as “force to be reckoned with” is sensational to me. Seeing the spirit in the music we sing (both traditional, and played melodically on our organ, and the upbeat Vocal Choir singing with a gospel beat), seeing the spirit in the faces of the children enjoying crepe paper pompoms and red plastic windmills – yes and hearing the spirit in the scriptures read in our midst. God is good. Continue reading “Pentecost wind in our midst”

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I Arise!

Don’t miss the Ascension day worship this thursday, May 30th, at 7 pm at Peace Lutheran Church, 1525 Glen Creek Rd., in West Salem. We have been invited to participate in this worship together! Holy Cross hosted last year, and now we will visit Peace Lutheran for this annual worship event.  Continue reading “I Arise!”

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Breakfast on the beach

We finished studying the Gospel of John in our verse by verse Bible class yesterday at Holy Cross. (We’re going to finish the year with 1John).  And so I got to read and experience Breakfast on the Beach with Jesus one more time. It’s a simple story, in JOhn 21, of the resurrected Jesus. But for me its a story of Peter, who loves Jesus so much but screws up all the time. Sound familiar? Well, I certainly see myself in that description; maybe you see yourself too. This year, in January, I got to visit the Holy Land with my husband, Pastor Joe, and we found our trip to the sea of Galilee very moving. The spot called Tagbha in Arabic was my favorite. Because this is where John 21 happened.  Continue reading “Breakfast on the beach”