Pastor's Message- Wonderful Wednesdays
/Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
“If anyone is thirsty, let them come to me and drink.”
I can't wait for WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS this Summer! As we look forward to 'Splashing' into God's Kingdom with people of ALL ages on Wednesday evenings, I want to share with you why I am so excited for this wonderful adventure!
As a continuation of Faith Formation during the school year, we will SPLASH into the summer with gusto. God has compelled the Faith Formation Team, to re-think how we do Vacation Bible School during the summer and they have had the innovative spirit to dream about something for ALL AGES! YAHOO!
This summer we will designate five Wednesday evenings to learning across the generations. Cross-generational Faith Formation (AKA- faithful biblical learning for ALL AGES!) is not some strange idea out of the blue, this is the pedagogy of theological education. This approach is the vital way of faith formation across the board and across the Church universal. With this move toward innovative faith formation, we are thrilled to invite our congregation and community of faith to reach out, invite your friends and engage in a summer of fun with water themed biblical learning. This opportunity will create community, offer faithful learning and conversation for people from birth on up.
There will always be a service component to our time together. This year, as the need for clean water and justice is still very real for our sisters and brothers in Flint, we will be collecting water bottles, money and we will me making cards of care for our family in Flint at Salem Lutheran Church. This congregation has become the center of caring for the community and we have promised to help too. So we will! What better way to celebrate the gift of water, by giving the water to those who desperately need it!
We will gather all together to enjoy a meal, then engage cross-generations in reading the same biblical story together, then we will break out into various age groups for age-designed experiences. Young ones will enjoy Art, Science and Games to really dive into the biblical stories. With help from our older youth and young adults we will create fun relationships and creative ways to engage the Bible! Adults will be invited to join me for faithful Bible Study and conversation around the biblical narrative.
Here is what we will gather to enjoy together...
THE CREATION STORY
MOSES AND THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA
WOMAN AT THE WELL
BAPTISM OF JESUS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST- WATER FUN DAY!
CALMING OF THE STORMS: JONAH & JESUS
As we gather back together in the Sanctuary, at 7:30pm, we will enjoy a relaxed, family-friendly, interactive worship experience with engaging 'camp-style' songs. You will be encouraged to dance, play and be free as God wishes us to be! We will share communion in new and creative ways that keep our focus on God's presence in the Holy Eucharist and we will pray and experience the Holy Spirit in amazing ways. This worship experience will offer a midweek opportunity to reinvigorate your faith and fill you with the Holy Spirit as you finish out the week. I hope you will ALL join us as we SPLASH into God's Kingdom this summer and celebrate the gift of water with WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS - WATER & THE WORD!
Peace +
Pastor Greer