Dear Pastors and Deacons of the Pacifica Synod,

 

Thank you for the good and faithful work you have done over Holy Week and Easter. I hope you are allowing yourself to take some down time this week, as planning worship and live-streaming or prerecording it is hard work. And I know you have also been diligent in checking in on your people through phone calls, Zoom meetings, and other social media.

 

I want to help you get a little rest this week, if you'll let me. I will prepare a sermon on this Sunday's gospel lesson from John 20:19-31. The plan is for a link to the video recording of the sermon to be available by Friday. You'll receive an email from the synod telling you when it is available. I will read the gospel and preach and you can play the sermon, if you wish, as a part of your April 19 worship service.

 

Bishop Mark Holmerud of the Sierra Pacific Synod put out a  video of him reading his retelling of the Dr. Seuss Grinch story as an Easter parable. He said that if we could use it in Pacifica, we were welcome to do so. You might want to use that as a children's sermon for this Sunday.

 

God be with you as you get some rest. May the joy of Easter be yours today and always.

 

Yours in Christ,

Bishop Andy Taylor / he, him, his

Pacifica Synod of the ELCA

1801 Park Court Place, Bldg. C

Santa Ana, CA 92701

714.692.2791

www.pacificasynod.org