Yesterday I was scrolling through Facebook and I saw a notice that the Lutheran World Federation was “live” with a time of prayer.
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the Lutheran World Federation is made up of Lutheran church bodies around the world (that much is probably obvious from its name). In theory, I understood that participants would be from various parts of the globe. But as I took part in the prayer time, I was struck by how diverse we Lutherans are!
Yesterday I was in prayer with Ranjit, a Lutheran from Bangladesh; with Clinton from Botswana; with Siza from Swaziland; with Mulos from Congo Kinshasa; and with Isaac who was taking part from the Minawao Refugee Camp in Cameroon.
Whenever we connect with people who have had different life experiences from our own, we have the opportunity to gain perspective, to gain empathy, to grow beyond ourselves and learn to love our neighbors a little better.
On September 12, we have the opportunity to grow together with our neighbors from Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence!
We already have much in common as Lutherans – but we are sure to learn more about what it means to live Lutheran in the Merrimack Valley as we eat, pray, sing and talk together.
I hope you’ll join us at a potluck on September 12 at Noon at Redeemer Lutheran, 163 E Haverhill St, Lawrence, MA. There is plenty of street parking. Bring a dish to share and if you can, write the ingredients on an index card/piece of paper for the benefit of those with food sensitivities. (Rain date is September 19.)
Please RSVP here so we know how many to prepare for (but don’t let the lack of an RSVP prevent you from coming!) https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0f4eafa823a02-redeemer
Let us grow together!
In Christ,
Pastor Jen