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Beloved Community,
For the past three days I have been at the Bishop's Convocation of the NW Washington Synod. Pastors and deacons who serve from Blaine, WA to the Renton area gathered with our synodical bishop, Kirby Unti, for our annual time of reflection, renewal, and fellowship. Our guest this year was the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Elizabeth Eaton (pictured above). This faithful woman speaks at a breakneck pace about the church she loves, the God she follows, and about "our Lord" as she calls Jesus. She is a highly intelligent person with a wicked sense of humor. I have several pages of notes from her sessions.
One of the things she said was this: "Lutherans are the most likely to talk about grace and the least likely to accept any of it." I think it is true that many of us tend to be stoic and soldier on in the hardest possible circumstances, without granting grace to ourselves or receiving it well from others.
I decided that I was in need of a Sunday away last Sunday. It was time for some renewal and it was time to re-fill my spiritual tank. I was grateful for Pastor Linda Roddis as she stepped in to be with you all. She so enjoyed her time with you . Thank you for welcoming her in true LMLC fashion!
I look forward to being back with you this Sunday....filled with the grace you have shown me, in so many ways...but more than that....filled with the grace that comes from the God who loves us and calls us beloved children.
See you in church,
Pastor Julie+
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