Whenever I’m having “one of those days,” the kind when I start to wonder if what I’m doing is accomplishing anything at all, I try to grab ahold of something that might remind me of the larger purpose of what I’m doing. Sometimes, it’s stopping to remember the love of family and friends whose relationships are so central in my life. Sometimes it’s connecting with colleagues in ministry who face comparable challenges, reminding me I’m not alone. And sometimes, it’s re-reading the “Letter of Call” this congregation placed in my hands a little over five years ago.
“We call you to exercise among us the ministry of Word and Sacrament which God established and which the Holy Spirit empowers.”
This is how the “Letter of Call” begins. It goes on to list the variety of ways I am to “exercise” this ministry through acts like preaching, teaching, offering pastoral care, leading worship, and guiding the spiritual life of the congregation. But also listed is this phrase, “to speak for justice in behalf of the poor and oppressed…and guide us in proclaiming God’s love through word and deed.”
Seeing this charge in print is a helpful reminder that it’s this congregation’s expectation that I lead them into relationship with the poor as a way of living our shared faith. And that the work God has established will be made possible through the Spirit’s effort and activity. So on “those days” Peter, remember to let the Spirit lead the way.
A few weeks ago, I shared in a devotion of how Valerie Roy had come to relocate her school bus shelter onto our campus this summer. Becoming neighbors with Valerie has proven to be a real delight. Through Valerie, I’ve also become acquainted with the co-founders of Settled, an organization that is serving people experiencing chronic homelessness by developing tiny home communities in partnership with area churches. They just launched their first “Sacred Settlement” along with Mosaic Christian Community on Wheelock Parkway in St. Paul. What they are accomplishing is truly inspiring.
Unfortunately, the Mosaic Sacred Settlement isn’t large enough to accommodate a home for Valerie but she is confident that she’ll be invited to become a resident of the next settlement when it’s established, hopefully in the year ahead. But what about now, how does Valerie find safe, supportive, and warm accommodation in the meantime? She has placed her bus into storage for the winter and has a mini-van that is her new shelter. As I’ve been wondering how we might offer additional support for Valerie’s welfare, the Holy Spirit it seems was already at work.
The folks at Settled have approached us with a proposal to temporarily locate an available tiny home on our campus for Valerie to occupy along with a second home for a resource family to provide some additional support as they wait for the next sacred settlement to be built. I’ve shared this proposal with our leadership and bounced it off the members of our Affordable Housing Team. They’ve asked great questions and ultimately have determined this is a great fit with our values.
Our leaders also want the congregation to learn more before we finalize the arrangements. You can read a recap of the council’s deliberation here. Congregation President Michael Stetzler will also be sharing more of this story during worship on Sunday. I hope you’ll be present or will tune in to the livestream to hear Michael’s take on how the Spirit has led us into this beautiful relationship and just what it might mean for our church. For me, I know that I’ll get to live out the calling that you have entrusted me with.
May God’s hope embrace you this day. -Pastor Peter
Let us pray… Gracious God, you have charged us with caring for your world and your Spirit empowers us to act. Open our hearts and minds to be a source of safety, support, and warmth for those whose care you have entrusted to us. Give us the courage to follow where you lead. Amen.