Partly Cloudy with Chance of Gratitude

I just came in from enjoying a cup of coffee on the deck and feeling the lovely Friday morning breeze. Beth and I were marveling at how many shades of green we could see from our deck, and we realized that the word ‘green’ doesn’t really begin to truly describe Mother Nature’s summer wardrobe on all the trees, bushes and lawns. Our discussion prompted me to ponder how fun it is for Minnesotans to make small talk about the weather. We never seem to tire of chatting about it, complaining about it, predicting it, fearing it, or loving it.

Flower Power

Have you noticed lately that the flower arrangements on the altar on Sundays have been looking larger and more full? That’s because we’ve changed flower providers, which allowed us to lower the cost of sponsoring flowers. But I’m under the impression that not too many people at church know much about our flower ministry, or who does it, or how to become a sponsor for a week’s arrangement.

What goes around…gets new life!

Stuff. We’ve all got too much of it. I know I do. My cup (and drawers, and cabinets, and closets) runneth over. I’m always happy to learn of a place that will take items I no longer use to rescue, reuse, and recycle them – so that they might receive new life. Echoes of Jesus: “I have come that you may have new life, and have it abundantly.”

From Tijuana to Timbuktu

Last weekend, our synod met in its annual assembly, and there were about 480 delegates in attendance. FoC was represented by two pastors and four lay leaders. And even though a few of the sessions got kind of long, and we squirmed in our seats, it was still a very good gathering with lots of interesting music and two terrific speakers. One of the highlights for me was that two new congregations took to the stage to be officially welcomed into existence as organized ELCA churches within our Minneapolis Area Synod.