January 2021
It’s finally ended.
While it seems as though every year in recent memory has made its own pitch for being the worst, 2020 has certainly made a strong case for itself in our lives. Frankly, I really hope it takes the cake. But one of the blessings and curses about time is that it’s beyond our control. As the Teacher writes in the Book of Ecclesiastes “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” We have been given 2020. We leave it to the ages and trust that it never returns.
There are lessons we have learned from 2020 - about resilience and the gift of solitude, but we have also learned the cost of loneliness, isolation, and intransigence among people who could make our lives easier. We’ve learned about our loved ones - both from afar and in quarantine. We’ve tightened our belts. We’ve found ways to support our neighbors. We’ve been clueless, too. We’ve tried to worship. We’ve lost loved ones without being able to properly say good-bye. And Lord knows we’ve learned more about Zoom and YouTube than we had known before. There’s so much we’ve learned, but how do we make sense of it?
I think what it comes down to is that a blessed life doesn’t mean an easy life. A blessed life means a life where the way of God is revealed in contrast to the way of sin. As I’ve led worship services and funeral services in ways I’ve never anticipated, as I’ve been disappointed by myself and the world around me, as I’ve attended protests and have done everything in my power to do so safely, as I’ve been yelled at and shamed for wearing mask - I have known God’s presence. I’ve seen myself as a sinner in need of grace, and I’ve prayed that lasting good has been done in word and deed. Which is also to say I’ve doubted myself, but I’ve trusted the real and present God.
And I believe that God has been present in this. Which isn’t to say that faith has kept me from catching Covid-19 or has prevented bad things from happening to me (this error is what Jesus describes as “putting God to the test” when Satan tells him to put himself in harm’s way in order to prove God’s love). It’s to say that I’ve seen the love of God at work in our life together. God doesn’t keep us out of our messes, God gets us out of messes - as the Psalmist famously writes: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. For you are with me, your rod and your staff comfort me.” And God will be here in 2021 as well.
And so as we look into 2021, with vaccines and reopening, let us learn from 2020. Let us not take one another for granted. Let us value one another’s lives. Let us put our wants behind the needs of people we might not always know we’re effecting. Let us honor day-to-day work done by those who are on the front line of the public health crisis. And above all, let us know that God has come in Christ - to overturn the power of sin and welcome us into the way of eternal life in these days. Let us follow Jesus into 2021 and learn from him. Because there’s always more to learn, and growth to be had.
Amen.
Pastor Kaegler
It’s finally ended.
While it seems as though every year in recent memory has made its own pitch for being the worst, 2020 has certainly made a strong case for itself in our lives. Frankly, I really hope it takes the cake. But one of the blessings and curses about time is that it’s beyond our control. As the Teacher writes in the Book of Ecclesiastes “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” We have been given 2020. We leave it to the ages and trust that it never returns.
There are lessons we have learned from 2020 - about resilience and the gift of solitude, but we have also learned the cost of loneliness, isolation, and intransigence among people who could make our lives easier. We’ve learned about our loved ones - both from afar and in quarantine. We’ve tightened our belts. We’ve found ways to support our neighbors. We’ve been clueless, too. We’ve tried to worship. We’ve lost loved ones without being able to properly say good-bye. And Lord knows we’ve learned more about Zoom and YouTube than we had known before. There’s so much we’ve learned, but how do we make sense of it?
I think what it comes down to is that a blessed life doesn’t mean an easy life. A blessed life means a life where the way of God is revealed in contrast to the way of sin. As I’ve led worship services and funeral services in ways I’ve never anticipated, as I’ve been disappointed by myself and the world around me, as I’ve attended protests and have done everything in my power to do so safely, as I’ve been yelled at and shamed for wearing mask - I have known God’s presence. I’ve seen myself as a sinner in need of grace, and I’ve prayed that lasting good has been done in word and deed. Which is also to say I’ve doubted myself, but I’ve trusted the real and present God.
And I believe that God has been present in this. Which isn’t to say that faith has kept me from catching Covid-19 or has prevented bad things from happening to me (this error is what Jesus describes as “putting God to the test” when Satan tells him to put himself in harm’s way in order to prove God’s love). It’s to say that I’ve seen the love of God at work in our life together. God doesn’t keep us out of our messes, God gets us out of messes - as the Psalmist famously writes: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. For you are with me, your rod and your staff comfort me.” And God will be here in 2021 as well.
And so as we look into 2021, with vaccines and reopening, let us learn from 2020. Let us not take one another for granted. Let us value one another’s lives. Let us put our wants behind the needs of people we might not always know we’re effecting. Let us honor day-to-day work done by those who are on the front line of the public health crisis. And above all, let us know that God has come in Christ - to overturn the power of sin and welcome us into the way of eternal life in these days. Let us follow Jesus into 2021 and learn from him. Because there’s always more to learn, and growth to be had.
Amen.
Pastor Kaegler
Promises yet unseen - December 2020
As we approach Christmas this year, so much remains in the air. The Covid-19 rates are rising. National politics remain tumultuous. Households struggle. Our life as a congregation also has its challenges - as we try to find ways to support one another communally and spiritually. So much seems up in the air, and so many traditions have had to be changed. But our ministry continues, and our mission continues. Not for ourselves as individuals, but for the world that God has called us to love. We remain disciples in strange times.
This means that we’re still training, and teaching discipleship. On one of the more poignant All Saints’ Days in memory, Christian Mory made his Confirmation - taking the baptismal vows his family made for him onto himself. The following week, right after Election Day - the current confirmation students of St. John’s and Trinity gathered together for a campfire under God’s sky and looked at the stars. We’re doing a hybrid model - on the first Wednesday of the month we gather in person (depending on the COVID numbers) and each following Wednesday we meet on Zoom. This year is our Bible year - where we hope to give our students a good, overarching understanding of the Bible - which is a mighty task for any Christian. I hope we all take the Scriptures so seriously! But our kids are good, and they’re learning.
Our subject for that week was on Abraham and Sarah - while they were still known as Abram and Sarai. And we focused in particular on the Abrahamic Covenant - God’s instruction and promise that Abram and Sarai should travel west, far from his home, and that their descendants would outnumber the stars they could see.
Abram and Sarai left their homeland, and everything they knew, to pursue God’s Word. But through their lives they struggled, and they doubted, and they were each over 100 years old before the two of them had even a single child - Isaac, whose name means “laughter,” because Sarah could only laugh at the very idea that she could be a mother at her age.
We stared at the same stars that Abraham and Sarah did, only a few thousand years later. The light of some of those stars have died away. And the lights of new ones have burst anew, filled with new inspiration, wonder, and power. And the light we saw from them is quite ancient, since those same stars are lightyears away. As I looked at them, I considered the mystery of how old God’s promises are - from the Word that formed the universe to the promise made to each of these children in baptism. Trusting that promise means hoping for something yet unseen - but mysteriously already at work.
What is God working in these days? Which stars are being born beyond our vision? Our lives are full of promise, and our God has made us a promise. One rooted in the same Word that created us, that sent Abraham and Sarah, that comforted the abandoned Hagar and Ishmael, and that was made flesh in Jesus Christ. We follow that Word, and worship in that light - whenever and wherever it comes.
Here’s what I hope our young disciples are learning in this period of time: promises can take time, and hope can be hidden. In our messy world, to our own misfortune, we can fall short of trusting this promise. But the promise is still good - come what may, and it can surprise us. And so in the meantime while the promise remains unseen, we act in the faith that Christ is coming. I hope you are learning the same. And I hope I never stop learning it as well. Because we never stop practicing and training in discipleship.
In Christ,
Pastor Kaegler
As we approach Christmas this year, so much remains in the air. The Covid-19 rates are rising. National politics remain tumultuous. Households struggle. Our life as a congregation also has its challenges - as we try to find ways to support one another communally and spiritually. So much seems up in the air, and so many traditions have had to be changed. But our ministry continues, and our mission continues. Not for ourselves as individuals, but for the world that God has called us to love. We remain disciples in strange times.
This means that we’re still training, and teaching discipleship. On one of the more poignant All Saints’ Days in memory, Christian Mory made his Confirmation - taking the baptismal vows his family made for him onto himself. The following week, right after Election Day - the current confirmation students of St. John’s and Trinity gathered together for a campfire under God’s sky and looked at the stars. We’re doing a hybrid model - on the first Wednesday of the month we gather in person (depending on the COVID numbers) and each following Wednesday we meet on Zoom. This year is our Bible year - where we hope to give our students a good, overarching understanding of the Bible - which is a mighty task for any Christian. I hope we all take the Scriptures so seriously! But our kids are good, and they’re learning.
Our subject for that week was on Abraham and Sarah - while they were still known as Abram and Sarai. And we focused in particular on the Abrahamic Covenant - God’s instruction and promise that Abram and Sarai should travel west, far from his home, and that their descendants would outnumber the stars they could see.
Abram and Sarai left their homeland, and everything they knew, to pursue God’s Word. But through their lives they struggled, and they doubted, and they were each over 100 years old before the two of them had even a single child - Isaac, whose name means “laughter,” because Sarah could only laugh at the very idea that she could be a mother at her age.
We stared at the same stars that Abraham and Sarah did, only a few thousand years later. The light of some of those stars have died away. And the lights of new ones have burst anew, filled with new inspiration, wonder, and power. And the light we saw from them is quite ancient, since those same stars are lightyears away. As I looked at them, I considered the mystery of how old God’s promises are - from the Word that formed the universe to the promise made to each of these children in baptism. Trusting that promise means hoping for something yet unseen - but mysteriously already at work.
What is God working in these days? Which stars are being born beyond our vision? Our lives are full of promise, and our God has made us a promise. One rooted in the same Word that created us, that sent Abraham and Sarah, that comforted the abandoned Hagar and Ishmael, and that was made flesh in Jesus Christ. We follow that Word, and worship in that light - whenever and wherever it comes.
Here’s what I hope our young disciples are learning in this period of time: promises can take time, and hope can be hidden. In our messy world, to our own misfortune, we can fall short of trusting this promise. But the promise is still good - come what may, and it can surprise us. And so in the meantime while the promise remains unseen, we act in the faith that Christ is coming. I hope you are learning the same. And I hope I never stop learning it as well. Because we never stop practicing and training in discipleship.
In Christ,
Pastor Kaegler
November 2020
Greetings St. John’s!
Who else is exhausted?
Between the pandemic, the tensions in our society, and the election, on top of our regular daily struggles, it seems as though this year has had enough stress to fill five years. And the stressfulness around us seems to show no sign of letting up. I wish I could tell you that the worst was over. But the election being over probably won’t relieve the most important tensions in our country. The cases of Covid-19 and the disinformation surrounding it will likely not go away - but may indeed rise for some time based on how our nation has responded to these things. The many traumas our country has undergone under our watch has left and will continue to leave lasting scars. The friends we and so many have lost during the pandemic - be it of this dreaded disease or of some other sorrow, rest in God’s hands.
The truth is - there are some things that are too big for you and me to have control of. The Book of Revelation - more than some book of distant and world-ending prophecy - teaches us this. There are struggles that we suffer. There are fights that hurt. There are disappointments. And there are betrayals, even among those whom we trust.
It is for times such as this that Jesus Christ came for us. And it is for times like this that Jesus Christ’s call to us matters most. Not simply for the Spring and Summer - but for the darker periods of Autumn, when the leaves have fallen, but we don’t even have the beauty of the snow (or the burden either!). Since we know Jesus Christ calls us, it stands to reason that you and I are called to a time such as this.
This isn’t to say that we look upon the world with rose-colored lenses, as though nothing is really wrong. Nor do we look upon the world with jade-tinted glasses as though everything is garbage and hopeless (which I just learned today is apparently the opposite term, Thanks, Wikipedia! citation needed!). But instead, as many faithful Christians have observed before - we look upon the world with Cross-Shaped lenses. Not optimism, not pessimism, not even the so-called “realism.” We look at things through Christ who died for us. Indeed, as he died for us, so too, he died for the world.
You, and I, and our whole world is so deeply loved by God. And it is hurting. And we can even hurt each other. We have a tremendous capacity for love, and a tremendous capacity for destruction. We take part in God’s way by using these things well! Using this capacity for faithful, loving and godly ends. To give hope to the hopeless, comfort to the despairing, guidance for the lost, and friendship to the rejected all while remaining confident that Jesus was right about who God is, and who we are: struggling but beloved.
We can’t control the world, but we can grow in faith, hope, and love. Rest, be kind to yourselves, and wake up ready. There is good to be done. And so I conclude with lyrics from a beloved hymn: “This is my Father’s world; oh let me not forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world; why should my heart be sad? The Lord is king, let heavens ring; God reigns, let the earth be glad!”
In Christ,
Pastor Kaegler
Greetings St. John’s!
Who else is exhausted?
Between the pandemic, the tensions in our society, and the election, on top of our regular daily struggles, it seems as though this year has had enough stress to fill five years. And the stressfulness around us seems to show no sign of letting up. I wish I could tell you that the worst was over. But the election being over probably won’t relieve the most important tensions in our country. The cases of Covid-19 and the disinformation surrounding it will likely not go away - but may indeed rise for some time based on how our nation has responded to these things. The many traumas our country has undergone under our watch has left and will continue to leave lasting scars. The friends we and so many have lost during the pandemic - be it of this dreaded disease or of some other sorrow, rest in God’s hands.
The truth is - there are some things that are too big for you and me to have control of. The Book of Revelation - more than some book of distant and world-ending prophecy - teaches us this. There are struggles that we suffer. There are fights that hurt. There are disappointments. And there are betrayals, even among those whom we trust.
It is for times such as this that Jesus Christ came for us. And it is for times like this that Jesus Christ’s call to us matters most. Not simply for the Spring and Summer - but for the darker periods of Autumn, when the leaves have fallen, but we don’t even have the beauty of the snow (or the burden either!). Since we know Jesus Christ calls us, it stands to reason that you and I are called to a time such as this.
This isn’t to say that we look upon the world with rose-colored lenses, as though nothing is really wrong. Nor do we look upon the world with jade-tinted glasses as though everything is garbage and hopeless (which I just learned today is apparently the opposite term, Thanks, Wikipedia! citation needed!). But instead, as many faithful Christians have observed before - we look upon the world with Cross-Shaped lenses. Not optimism, not pessimism, not even the so-called “realism.” We look at things through Christ who died for us. Indeed, as he died for us, so too, he died for the world.
You, and I, and our whole world is so deeply loved by God. And it is hurting. And we can even hurt each other. We have a tremendous capacity for love, and a tremendous capacity for destruction. We take part in God’s way by using these things well! Using this capacity for faithful, loving and godly ends. To give hope to the hopeless, comfort to the despairing, guidance for the lost, and friendship to the rejected all while remaining confident that Jesus was right about who God is, and who we are: struggling but beloved.
We can’t control the world, but we can grow in faith, hope, and love. Rest, be kind to yourselves, and wake up ready. There is good to be done. And so I conclude with lyrics from a beloved hymn: “This is my Father’s world; oh let me not forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world; why should my heart be sad? The Lord is king, let heavens ring; God reigns, let the earth be glad!”
In Christ,
Pastor Kaegler
October 2020
Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther wrote his first major writing on political theory and the Church - entitled To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation. In an open letter to Emperor Charles V and the many territorial dukes and princes of the German lands, Luther began developing two important theological principles that were pertinent to political action: 1.) the nature of the common priesthood, and 2.) the distinction between the State and the Church. I think that it’s really interesting that Luther ties these two things together as he speaks on his contemporary political situation. I even think his insights bear fruit for us today as we engage in the ever-rancorous political divide that characterizes the time God has called us to.
To begin with - Luther observed (in contradiction to Rome), that under God there is no distinction between the priest and the laity before God. This means that spiritual authority is not “higher” than temporal authority, but is equal. While it is true that pastors/priests are called to a “higher standard” in conduct (as per 1 Timothy), this is a product of their task at hand and not some conferred eternal status. All Christians are called to one common walk of life: baptism. There is no higher or holier treasure or status than the baptism we all receive. This means that there is no such thing as “super-Christians” or extra-Christians who are holier than you. Not your pastor, not the pope, and not the saints of old. All believers are instead called to a common priesthood, indeed a royal priesthood under Christ - as the Bible teaches in the Letter to the Hebrews.
We are likewise given a common kingship under God. That kingship is in the image and form of Christ’s time on earth - with the Cross as our holy throne. This is of course very different from what we would naturally associate with rulership. Our authority is that of servanthood not of lordship- as Jesus points out when he says “Those who wish to be first among you must become slave to all” in Mark 10. Luther develops this line of thinking in his more famous work The Freedom of a Christian just months later where he states “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant, subject to all.” What stands is that we are all one in Christ - and it is sinful when one group enacts or fosters supremacy over another.
The second theme Luther developed is the relationship between the Church and the State. Luther’s gist goes like this: Since we are all one and share one baptism and aren’t “holier” than one another - the Bishop of Rome does not have the ability to claim legal authority by divine right - as though he had been given a higher job than the Emperor. Bishops have enough on their plates without trying to be rulers on top of it. Pastors and bishops certainly have the authority to teach, guide, call to repentance, forgive, and give the sacraments. But they specifically don’t have the job to wage wars, imprison people, or create and enforce laws and taxes as though they were God’s chosen ruler. They are also, importantly, not above earthly laws - meaning priests can’t commit crimes under the Pope and have it be okay. Likewise: governments don’t have the authority to make theological proclamations, mandate the style of teaching and preaching, excommunicate, enforce matters of the soul, or forbid people from hearing God’s word. And they are certainly not above God’s judgment. Believers are called, and they are equal under Christ.
We must pray for one another in our offices, and be trustworthy in our offices. We can only call one another to responsibility and to the care of our neighbors, and hold one another accountable - either to temporal responsibility or God’s eternal word. We are likewise called to reform the things that hurt the vulnerable. Princes are called to act as Christians as much as Clergy are subject to laws. With these things in mind we must bear in mind the way we interact with the political world. Listen closely to what authorities - be they temporal or spiritual - are calling you to. In all things, as Christians we act in prayer, discernment, and concern for those who need help. Because we are loved. And we love in return. Live and engage with the world accordingly.
In Christ,
Pastor Kaegler
Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther wrote his first major writing on political theory and the Church - entitled To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation. In an open letter to Emperor Charles V and the many territorial dukes and princes of the German lands, Luther began developing two important theological principles that were pertinent to political action: 1.) the nature of the common priesthood, and 2.) the distinction between the State and the Church. I think that it’s really interesting that Luther ties these two things together as he speaks on his contemporary political situation. I even think his insights bear fruit for us today as we engage in the ever-rancorous political divide that characterizes the time God has called us to.
To begin with - Luther observed (in contradiction to Rome), that under God there is no distinction between the priest and the laity before God. This means that spiritual authority is not “higher” than temporal authority, but is equal. While it is true that pastors/priests are called to a “higher standard” in conduct (as per 1 Timothy), this is a product of their task at hand and not some conferred eternal status. All Christians are called to one common walk of life: baptism. There is no higher or holier treasure or status than the baptism we all receive. This means that there is no such thing as “super-Christians” or extra-Christians who are holier than you. Not your pastor, not the pope, and not the saints of old. All believers are instead called to a common priesthood, indeed a royal priesthood under Christ - as the Bible teaches in the Letter to the Hebrews.
We are likewise given a common kingship under God. That kingship is in the image and form of Christ’s time on earth - with the Cross as our holy throne. This is of course very different from what we would naturally associate with rulership. Our authority is that of servanthood not of lordship- as Jesus points out when he says “Those who wish to be first among you must become slave to all” in Mark 10. Luther develops this line of thinking in his more famous work The Freedom of a Christian just months later where he states “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant, subject to all.” What stands is that we are all one in Christ - and it is sinful when one group enacts or fosters supremacy over another.
The second theme Luther developed is the relationship between the Church and the State. Luther’s gist goes like this: Since we are all one and share one baptism and aren’t “holier” than one another - the Bishop of Rome does not have the ability to claim legal authority by divine right - as though he had been given a higher job than the Emperor. Bishops have enough on their plates without trying to be rulers on top of it. Pastors and bishops certainly have the authority to teach, guide, call to repentance, forgive, and give the sacraments. But they specifically don’t have the job to wage wars, imprison people, or create and enforce laws and taxes as though they were God’s chosen ruler. They are also, importantly, not above earthly laws - meaning priests can’t commit crimes under the Pope and have it be okay. Likewise: governments don’t have the authority to make theological proclamations, mandate the style of teaching and preaching, excommunicate, enforce matters of the soul, or forbid people from hearing God’s word. And they are certainly not above God’s judgment. Believers are called, and they are equal under Christ.
We must pray for one another in our offices, and be trustworthy in our offices. We can only call one another to responsibility and to the care of our neighbors, and hold one another accountable - either to temporal responsibility or God’s eternal word. We are likewise called to reform the things that hurt the vulnerable. Princes are called to act as Christians as much as Clergy are subject to laws. With these things in mind we must bear in mind the way we interact with the political world. Listen closely to what authorities - be they temporal or spiritual - are calling you to. In all things, as Christians we act in prayer, discernment, and concern for those who need help. Because we are loved. And we love in return. Live and engage with the world accordingly.
In Christ,
Pastor Kaegler
September - For the Kids
This article is going out mostly for the kids. I’m sure you adults will find something good for yourselves in it too, because reading God stuff is good for everyone. But St. John’s kids - this one is going out for you.
School is starting soon. Every year brings about new and exciting things, and different challenges. Because of the pandemic - this year is unlike any year we’ve had before. Lots of people have gotten sick, even my big brother (he is healthy now, though)! That can be scary to a lot of us - even the people who we think are almost never scared: our parents, our teachers, even our principals! But in spite of it all, I want you to know that I am so proud of you all.
When I hear your parents talk about you, I’m proud of you. When your parents share pictures of your family vacations and sporting events, I’m proud of you. When I imagine all the good things God may have in store for you, I’m joyful. I am so glad for a world that has you as part of it. I’m so proud of the ways that you turn away from what’s wrong, and run towards what’s right (remember my favorite children’s sermon - where we run up and down the aisle at Church?).
Do you want to know why I’m so proud of you and so joyful over you? Because I think that however the schools open - God has prepared a way ahead for you that is full of blessings. And you will have the opportunity to be God’s people and do the good stuff of God no matter what. I’d like to think I’ve gotten to know you all well over the years. I am confident that God has made you and all that you are and all that you have on purpose. God has made you to be a blessing, to turn away from bad stuff, to be part of God’s family, and to bring the world more grace and more love. Because even when things are scary, God is here with us and is leading us by that same grace and love. There’s a book of the Bible that teaches us about this - it’s called Ephesians, and it’s one of my favorites.
I’ve heard that a couple of you kids are worried that the pandemic might be a punishment from God. I don’t think so, but whether that’s true or whether it’s false is actually besides the point. Jesus went through tough stuff. Some of the toughest stuff ever. So we know that when the going gets tough, that doesn’t mean that God is angry with us. In fact, Jesus has called you to be part of God’s family through it all. The good and the bad. That’s the most important thing.
You are loved. You are important - to God, to your parents, to your friends, your family, and to me, your Pastor. You have been given gifts, and you are growing in intelligence and in wisdom. God has made you to be part of the solution - not part of the problem. Your sins are forgiven. Your future is ahead of you with Jesus, who’s been through it all. That’s love.
Because of this we don’t need to be afraid. It will be important for us to listen carefully, and learn right from wrong. We’ll need to listen to our parents and our teachers when they tell us how to be safe. We’ll need to listen to our bodies when we’re feeling sick. And we’ll need to pray, and read our Bibles to remind ourselves of God’s promises when things get frustrating or scary.
And I want you to know that I’m here for you and your parents. If you need someone to listen to you, or talk with you, I’m here for you. Talking can help troubled hearts and minds, so it’s important to talk with people who you can trust. Even though this year will be tough, I am confident that we are in God’s hands. I know that there are blessings ahead.
In Christ,
Pastor Kaegler
This article is going out mostly for the kids. I’m sure you adults will find something good for yourselves in it too, because reading God stuff is good for everyone. But St. John’s kids - this one is going out for you.
School is starting soon. Every year brings about new and exciting things, and different challenges. Because of the pandemic - this year is unlike any year we’ve had before. Lots of people have gotten sick, even my big brother (he is healthy now, though)! That can be scary to a lot of us - even the people who we think are almost never scared: our parents, our teachers, even our principals! But in spite of it all, I want you to know that I am so proud of you all.
When I hear your parents talk about you, I’m proud of you. When your parents share pictures of your family vacations and sporting events, I’m proud of you. When I imagine all the good things God may have in store for you, I’m joyful. I am so glad for a world that has you as part of it. I’m so proud of the ways that you turn away from what’s wrong, and run towards what’s right (remember my favorite children’s sermon - where we run up and down the aisle at Church?).
Do you want to know why I’m so proud of you and so joyful over you? Because I think that however the schools open - God has prepared a way ahead for you that is full of blessings. And you will have the opportunity to be God’s people and do the good stuff of God no matter what. I’d like to think I’ve gotten to know you all well over the years. I am confident that God has made you and all that you are and all that you have on purpose. God has made you to be a blessing, to turn away from bad stuff, to be part of God’s family, and to bring the world more grace and more love. Because even when things are scary, God is here with us and is leading us by that same grace and love. There’s a book of the Bible that teaches us about this - it’s called Ephesians, and it’s one of my favorites.
I’ve heard that a couple of you kids are worried that the pandemic might be a punishment from God. I don’t think so, but whether that’s true or whether it’s false is actually besides the point. Jesus went through tough stuff. Some of the toughest stuff ever. So we know that when the going gets tough, that doesn’t mean that God is angry with us. In fact, Jesus has called you to be part of God’s family through it all. The good and the bad. That’s the most important thing.
You are loved. You are important - to God, to your parents, to your friends, your family, and to me, your Pastor. You have been given gifts, and you are growing in intelligence and in wisdom. God has made you to be part of the solution - not part of the problem. Your sins are forgiven. Your future is ahead of you with Jesus, who’s been through it all. That’s love.
Because of this we don’t need to be afraid. It will be important for us to listen carefully, and learn right from wrong. We’ll need to listen to our parents and our teachers when they tell us how to be safe. We’ll need to listen to our bodies when we’re feeling sick. And we’ll need to pray, and read our Bibles to remind ourselves of God’s promises when things get frustrating or scary.
And I want you to know that I’m here for you and your parents. If you need someone to listen to you, or talk with you, I’m here for you. Talking can help troubled hearts and minds, so it’s important to talk with people who you can trust. Even though this year will be tough, I am confident that we are in God’s hands. I know that there are blessings ahead.
In Christ,
Pastor Kaegler
August 2020
Greetings St. John’s,
I’m glad to say that our last couple of Sundays we’ve been able to meet outside for worship together in person. These have been our first gatherings since the beginning of the pandemic. We’ve been blessed to have clement weather on both weeks as of my writing this, and have worshiped together in a safe, responsible, distanced way. It bears repeating - we gather for worship on Sundays in the grove when the heat-index is below 90°, the grove hasn’t been rained on overnight, and there’s no inclement weather forecast during worship and set-up. We make the call based on the weather forecast by noon on Saturday. We’ll be continuing to meet for in-person worship in this way for the foreseeable future.
That we move from worshiping in the Church building to worshiping in the grove each year is meaningful to me. Nature is God’s creation. It’s worthy of respect, and should be treated with dignity as a sign of affection for its creator. Nature can be beautiful, but it can also be dangerous. In scripture, there are incredible miracles that happen outside within nature, but also terrible and terrifying events. In more palpable terms, a perfect morning or evening in our Church’s grove is profoundly restful. A terrible storm that knocks down trees in our Church’s grove and nearly destroys the cars in the parking lot is quite the opposite. The bacteria in your gut that helps you get extra energy from food is natural, but so is Covid-19. Nature can be both awesome, and awful. Awe is important, but awe alone does not have the power to create lasting hope. We believe that lasting hope comes from promises, and that God makes and intends to keep promises.
In baptism we are given a promise that even though we can die, God can make us alive. Even if we lose, God can make us restored. Even though we are nothing on our own, God can give us everything. In the resurrection of Christ we know that God prefers life over death and weal over woe. We can’t really get that from nature on its own, but only nature with the Word of God applied to it. Through this promise, we can look at what’s awful and life-ending as something to defy and what’s beautiful and life-giving as something to uphold.
When we worship in the grove together, wearing our masks, hearing God’s word, and sharing God’s peace in creation, or when we worship from afar over the internet - we act in accordance with God’s word. We uplift what is good, and we defy what is bad. We show care for our neighbors, and receive hope for ourselves. So however you worship with us this season around the circumstances of nature - see this world as belonging to God, and see it with eyes full of hope.
See you Sunday,
Pastor Kaegler
Greetings St. John’s,
I’m glad to say that our last couple of Sundays we’ve been able to meet outside for worship together in person. These have been our first gatherings since the beginning of the pandemic. We’ve been blessed to have clement weather on both weeks as of my writing this, and have worshiped together in a safe, responsible, distanced way. It bears repeating - we gather for worship on Sundays in the grove when the heat-index is below 90°, the grove hasn’t been rained on overnight, and there’s no inclement weather forecast during worship and set-up. We make the call based on the weather forecast by noon on Saturday. We’ll be continuing to meet for in-person worship in this way for the foreseeable future.
That we move from worshiping in the Church building to worshiping in the grove each year is meaningful to me. Nature is God’s creation. It’s worthy of respect, and should be treated with dignity as a sign of affection for its creator. Nature can be beautiful, but it can also be dangerous. In scripture, there are incredible miracles that happen outside within nature, but also terrible and terrifying events. In more palpable terms, a perfect morning or evening in our Church’s grove is profoundly restful. A terrible storm that knocks down trees in our Church’s grove and nearly destroys the cars in the parking lot is quite the opposite. The bacteria in your gut that helps you get extra energy from food is natural, but so is Covid-19. Nature can be both awesome, and awful. Awe is important, but awe alone does not have the power to create lasting hope. We believe that lasting hope comes from promises, and that God makes and intends to keep promises.
In baptism we are given a promise that even though we can die, God can make us alive. Even if we lose, God can make us restored. Even though we are nothing on our own, God can give us everything. In the resurrection of Christ we know that God prefers life over death and weal over woe. We can’t really get that from nature on its own, but only nature with the Word of God applied to it. Through this promise, we can look at what’s awful and life-ending as something to defy and what’s beautiful and life-giving as something to uphold.
When we worship in the grove together, wearing our masks, hearing God’s word, and sharing God’s peace in creation, or when we worship from afar over the internet - we act in accordance with God’s word. We uplift what is good, and we defy what is bad. We show care for our neighbors, and receive hope for ourselves. So however you worship with us this season around the circumstances of nature - see this world as belonging to God, and see it with eyes full of hope.
See you Sunday,
Pastor Kaegler
July 2020
Greetings, St. John’s!
As I write this article to you, I pray that you are all staying well and healthy in the quarantine. By my calendar, the 100th day of Quarantine will (has as you’re reading this) passed on June 23rd. It has been a strange time to be God’s people in the world! I pray that in your quarantines you have developed a deeper appreciation of your ability to handle stress. I pray that you’ve grown closer to your families and have come to treasure the things we’ve all missed over these months. And I pray that you have spent time with God, deepening your faith, learning from God’s Word, and trusting that in spite of all that seems out of control in this world, that God’s got this.
As we move to reopening - I just want to leave you with a few reminders for now (it’s the middle of June while I’m writing this). First: We’re focusing exclusively on online and outdoor worship for the summer. That means when it’s projected to be too hot out, or too wet out, we’ll be staying at home. We’ll be making that call in the early afternoon on Saturdays.
Second: Online services are continuing one way or the other. We know from our conversations that a lot of us are being cautious about returning to church. We want to provide as much access to worship as we can for each of you. Online services have also helped members who are at a distance who wouldn’t otherwise go to church, and have provided us some outreach to folks beyond our congregational community. We want to keep encouraging that.
Third: Worship will be a little different for us when we start reopening. For now, it’s still not safe to engage in congregational singing, to pass the peace, or to distribute Holy Communion. So these things are all on hold for the time being. We will still have music, confession and forgiveness, prayer, and of course the Word of God.
Fourth: Set up is going to take work. Worship and Music is getting together for worship rehearsals on the 24th of June, just so we can do a walk-through of a few set-ups and find out which ways work best for now. Once those are done, we’ll know more about what help we may need. But what we know already is that we’ll need your good-faith efforts from home to take your temperature, keep watch for symptoms, and bring your masks, your hand-sanitizer, and whatever else you’d need to spend this holy time together. And of course, as always, pray for us as we figure this all out!
We’re all so excited to see you again. Be well and keep your ears open for our first reopened services!
In Christ,
Pastor Kaegler
Greetings, St. John’s!
As I write this article to you, I pray that you are all staying well and healthy in the quarantine. By my calendar, the 100th day of Quarantine will (has as you’re reading this) passed on June 23rd. It has been a strange time to be God’s people in the world! I pray that in your quarantines you have developed a deeper appreciation of your ability to handle stress. I pray that you’ve grown closer to your families and have come to treasure the things we’ve all missed over these months. And I pray that you have spent time with God, deepening your faith, learning from God’s Word, and trusting that in spite of all that seems out of control in this world, that God’s got this.
As we move to reopening - I just want to leave you with a few reminders for now (it’s the middle of June while I’m writing this). First: We’re focusing exclusively on online and outdoor worship for the summer. That means when it’s projected to be too hot out, or too wet out, we’ll be staying at home. We’ll be making that call in the early afternoon on Saturdays.
Second: Online services are continuing one way or the other. We know from our conversations that a lot of us are being cautious about returning to church. We want to provide as much access to worship as we can for each of you. Online services have also helped members who are at a distance who wouldn’t otherwise go to church, and have provided us some outreach to folks beyond our congregational community. We want to keep encouraging that.
Third: Worship will be a little different for us when we start reopening. For now, it’s still not safe to engage in congregational singing, to pass the peace, or to distribute Holy Communion. So these things are all on hold for the time being. We will still have music, confession and forgiveness, prayer, and of course the Word of God.
Fourth: Set up is going to take work. Worship and Music is getting together for worship rehearsals on the 24th of June, just so we can do a walk-through of a few set-ups and find out which ways work best for now. Once those are done, we’ll know more about what help we may need. But what we know already is that we’ll need your good-faith efforts from home to take your temperature, keep watch for symptoms, and bring your masks, your hand-sanitizer, and whatever else you’d need to spend this holy time together. And of course, as always, pray for us as we figure this all out!
We’re all so excited to see you again. Be well and keep your ears open for our first reopened services!
In Christ,
Pastor Kaegler