September Chimes
September 2024
Dear siblings in Christ,
As our calendars turn towards fall once again, I’m excited for the start of another program year at St. Paul’s. We’ll be kicking things off on Rally Day, September 8, with worship at 10:00, followed by service projects and a church picnic. Sunday School begins on September 15, and Families with Young Children and Youth Groups all have fun events planned for the fall.
I’m especially excited about one initiative which I’d like to share a little bit more about: our adult education series on the ELCA’s draft social statement on civic life. The ELCA has long been committed to exploring how our faith intersects with the broader world, and our churchwide assembly regularly approves social statements—documents that outline theological positions and approaches to various issues.
The statement on civic life is still a draft—it will come before churchwide assembly in the summer or 2025 for a vote. This statement invites us to consider our role as Christians in the public sphere: how do we engage with issues of justice, democracy, and community in a way that reflects our values and beliefs.
Our upcoming adult education series will delve into this draft statement, offering us a chance to explore its themes and implications together. In a time when public discourse is often polarized and divisive, we’ll be reflecting on how we as Christians can be active, informed, and compassionate participants in our communities and society.
The series will take place over six weeks, during education hour on Sunday morning from 9:00-9:45. Each session will include study of a biblical passage, a video from a theologian working in this field, and time for discussion and reflection, allowing us to share our thoughts and perspectives in a supportive and respectful environment. There are also resources provided for further reading and reflection.
The dates and topics for the series are below, and I hope you can join us for some, if not all, of the sessions. As we embark on this journey together, let us pray for guidance and wisdom. May our discussions be fruitful, and may we emerge from this series with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of our call to be God’s presence in the world.
In Christ,
Pastor Laura
9/22: How is God’s Invitation to Discipleship Lived Out in a Democracy?
9/29: How Do Christians Talk Together about Controversial Issues?
10/6: What are Lutheran Views on Civic Life?
10/13: What are Our Objectives in American Democracy?
10/20: What’s Faith-Based Living Got to do with Civic Life?
10/27: How Do We Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord in Civic Life?