Tag: pastoral letter
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Online Church: Responding to COVID-19
Grace to you and peace through Jesus Christ. Beloved church, the recommendations regarding the coronavirus have changed rapidly over the course of the past week. Many of our previous plans no longer apply. Now some advise not gathering in groups of 25 or more. As followers of Jesus, we are called to show mercy and…
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Pastoral Letter on #WontBeErased
Beloveds, This fall is full of anxiety and trepidation, anger and fear, for transgender people. Our government is circulating a memo proposing to legally define gender according to anatomy at birth, a definition rejected by scientists and activists alike. It attempts to legally erase transgender and intersex people from our nation. A legal definition like…
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A Note on Lenten Fasts
The season of Lent is upon us. A season of repentance, reflection, and grief for the upcoming death of Jesus, many Christians observe Lent by “giving something up,” from chocolate to Facebook. “Giving something up” comes from the tradition of fasting for Lent: restricting one’s eating as a way to grieve the death of Jesus…
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#MeToo
In the past month social media and the news have been full of reports about sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. This can be difficult for victims and survivors, as it can trigger traumas and bring up terrible memories. If this reflects your experience, please know: You’re not alone. God loves you and never wanted this…
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Pastoral Letter regarding the shooting in Las Vegas
Beloved of Christ, Many of you saw the headline this morning. A gunman in Las Vegas opened fire on a concert, killing at least fifty people and injuring hundreds more in the largest mass shooting in recent United States history. These lives lost add to the more than 30,000 Americans alone who died in gun…
First Lutheran Church 