September 2023 Newsletter
Hello! The Carver County Moravians had a great time at the Minnesota Twins Game on Sunday! However, I was reminded I am afraid of heights. We sat comfortably in the shade, but waaayyy up high. Section 305. Up narrow and steep steps. Some of us found some open seats closer in 205, avoiding the steps. I sat up high and visited with people crawling from row to row while clinging to the railings. Realistically, I understand that I would have had to fling my body purposely forward to really be in any danger of falling and if I did do that about 50 Moravians would have caught me. Pastor Charlie arranged the trip, he was a great chaperone for us, but obviously has no fear of heights.
Trips to ball games, County and State Fairs, the opening of the Renaissance Festival all are summer adventures. Summer is winding down now and we are heading into fall. My son and husband have returned to the classroom. Students and teachers in Waconia are enjoying their first day of school as I write this. Josephine, my daughter, has returned from Chicago for her yearly dose of the State Fair.
In less than a week I head to Unity Synod is South Africa. They are in their transition from winter to spring now. It will be in the 60s there. Unity Synod is a lot of work. It is hard to remain unified as a global denomination when we come from so many different cultures. We have different values, different interpretations of the Bible, different expectations and understandings of what it means to be a church. Yet, we believe we are one family of God; we have a shared history. But we are fragile and complicated unity and it is very important that we remain a Unity. It will be a witness to the world, of how to focus on our shared essential of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, while granting
liberty in the non-essentials as we seek to share love for each other through it all.
In a couple months there will be another transition. I will transition from a presbyter to a bishop. I was not expecting that transition. It will be November 5th. I look forward to people gathering for the consecration, church members, colleagues, friends, family. It will be winter here.
Seasons and transitions. New chapters and life changes. There is a certain uneasiness in it. Like the uneasiness I felt from sitting up so very high in a huge baseball park. There is also excitement and reassurance. I know that even if I fall, make a misstep in my new bishopness, there will be more than 50 Moravians to catch me. There will be an entire UNITY. It is good, so good, to be a church together!