Dear Beloveds,
 

This is a week when our Metro DC Synod Churches are preparing to be in Assembly tomorrow and Saturday, on Zoom. This is essentially the annual meeting of 70 plus congregations and ministries across the Synod.

 

And last year, due to the pandemic, we did not meet.

 

Our Assembly theme is “Alive: Inspired by the Holy Spirit.”

 

On the heels of Pentecost Sunday, we are invited to attend to the way the Holy Spirit is showing up among us. Words that got my attention for preaching this most recent Pentecost is describing the ways of the Holy Spirit as “sacred upheavals.”

 

Our Synod themes for ministry this year are: Cultural Competency, Transformational Leadership and Sabbath. These areas of ministry may seem ordinary, yet I notice the way they can become “sacred upheavals,” when actually practiced in congregational life. I look forward to hearing the 3 special guests addressing each of these themes.

 

A new offering, through the gift of being on-line, is that we as a congregation will participate in the closing worship of the Assembly, on Sunday morning at 10am. The preacher of the day is ELCA Bishop Yehiel Curry, who comes to us from the Chicago area.

 

Bishop Curry is a friend of Luther Place Church as we have worked with in the area of Community Organizing efforts with the ELCA. Several of us have visited the congregation that Bishop Curry served just south of the city of Chicago, and we were moved to experience the place based ministry that Curry developed over several years.

 

Every time I have been in real Curry’s presence, I have felt the stirring of the Holy Spirit. I anticipate that Bishop Curry will call us to be the church in 2021 — a time when the pandemic and more have brought enormous change before us .

 

 

And our Magnolia tree brings a teaching today around staying with things.

 

The Magnolia tree cannot help but be a tree. It has been a Magnolia tree through multiple seasons, even as its size and shape, and immediate surroundings have changed significantly over time.

 

The Magnolia tree encourages us to be the church— even though we may be different in size and shape and in how we convey the Good news of Jesus Christ.

 

May God continue to get our attention and may we respond to the call to be the church.

 

In Christ,

 

Pastor Karen Brau

Justin is taking time off and plans to return Wednesday, June 9.

Join us at an earlier time of 8:45 am for a special Adult Spiritual Formation discussion on the book Braiding Sweet Grass, written by Robin Wall Kimmerer and led by Dick Rortvedt. We will conclude in time for worship with the Synod.

Faith Formation Calendar

The attached Pentecost calendar contains resources to support your household's faith formation can be found in the calendar that contains recordings, scheduled offerings, and additional activity instructions. Look here to listen to upcoming Bedtime stories, Liturgy at Home, Saturday School, and Compline.

Saturday School

Join us for Saturday School at 10 am this Saturday, June 5th on Facebook Live. Following Trinity Sunday, we celebrate Pride as we engage the Holy Spirit, and the book of Acts. Check out last weekend’s recording here.
  Compline
Thursday - Saturday with Pastor Karen on Facebook live at 9PM EDT

Stewardship
Our next Stewardship meeting will be Wednesday, June 9th at 7 pm, continuing our discussion of facilitation techniques.
 

Ward 2 Mutual Aid Needs Drivers!

• Grocery Delivery Drivers: pick up pre-packed and labeled grocery bags from the Luther Place basement and deliver them to nearby buildings or neighborhoods. Delivery groups are by building or block, and many have a "building captain" who will call their phone tree to have people come out when you let them know you're on your way. For deliveries to a single residence, you would text or call the person when you're outside and drop off the bag to them. More than half of our deliveries are to people who speak Spanish, so if you are bilingual in Spanish and English that is a plus but not a requirement. This role takes place Friday from 3-5pm and Saturday between 11am-4pm. 
• Bulk Purchase Drivers: drive to bulk purchase groceries from Restaurant Depot or supplies from Costco (3-4 hours once or twice a month). This role is for someone with a larger vehicle for carrying bulk food, who can do a grocery run on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday afternoon/evening. If you don't have a buddy to go with you, we'll pair you with another member of Ward 2 Mutual Aid. We'll have members meet you at Luther Place to unload the car and repackage the food for storage. 

Email w2mutualaid@gmail.com to get involved! You can also view packing and delivery shifts here. 
 

Ward 2 Mutual Aid provides outreach to nearby encampments of unhoused folks. Help them secure much needed supplies through their Amazon Wish List

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ArtSmart 2021
 ArtSmart Summer Camp 2021 is our Mission of the Moment for April!
Camp Dates: July 5 - July 30
There are a few openings for children this summer. If you are interested,  please contact Vanessa.
We will share more information in the coming weeks.

Do you have a Thrivent Action grant you are willing to activate for ArtSmart Summer Camp?  We offer opportunities in purchasing a book for each child (40 children) and art supplies for multiple crafts. If you would like to participate, please reach out to Pastor Karen at seniorpastor@lutherplace.org