January Newsletter
After the whirlwind of Christmas… packed pews, extra services, loud carols, and more baked goods than anyone really needs – the church gets noticeably quieter. The candles are put away, the decorations slowly come down, and the calendar suddenly looks… manageable again. There’s a little whiplash in that shift, but there’s also relief. The quiet after Christmas gives us room to exhale, to catch our breath, and to remember that rest itself is part of the holy rhythm.
December Newsletter
Overheard in the past few weeks …
This congregation seems to be getting younger and younger. What a joy!
And indeed, if you look around, you’ll see a lot of new faces, with many hanging out in the PrayGround, adding their happy voices to the life of our community (Noise = Life!). But our growth isn’t just in little people. Young couples, retired folks, professionals new to Helena … many are finding their way to Our Redeemer’s and finding a place at Our Redeemer’s.
An end of the year challenge for you: See someone you haven’t met? Introduce yourself and find out a bit about them.
November Newsletter
I was at a meeting of local pastors and LMAs last week, and Bishop Quanbeck had us spend some time on the parable where the farmer throws seed all over the place (Matthew 13:1-9). I’ve always heard that story and thought, “What a waste.” Some is choked by thorns, some never sprouts due to rocky soil, some is carried off by birds…definitely not the way a wise and prudent farmer would seed the land.
October Newsletter
As the activity at Our Redeemer’s ramps up for the fall, I am filled with gratitude for the many ways God is already at work among us! There is a sense of energy and possibility in the air, and I am excited to see where the Spirit will lead. I thought it might be helpful to give you a little preview of what I’ll be up to in the weeks ahead, so you don’t have to wonder if your pastor spends all day just drinking green tea and rearranging hymnals.
September Newsletter
Were you in worship on August 24?* We heard about our young peoples’ summer camp adventures (funded by you), and blessed them and their backpacks as they head back to school. The front was packed with kids with brand spanking new backpacks and wearing the fun magic glasses Pastor Adam used in his Children’s Message. We got to hear about how good the food at camp was, all the new friends made, and of victories over the swim test and high ropes course. Morgan May shared about her trip to Phoenix as a voting member to this year’s Churchwide Assembly, where she helped elect our new presiding bishop, Pastor Yehiel Curry.
August Newsletter
As many of you know, there are a lot of needs after a person and/or a family has moved. You have to get all the legal paperwork, such as car titles, moved to the new state. You need to replace things that were destroyed in the wild ride of the U-Haul. You need to fill a pantry again (thank you again for all the gift cards!). But, more than anything, you need to find some peace and happiness in the new place.