Midsummer Son

Pastor’s Epistle—May, A.D. 2018 B

Our life adheres to seasonal rhythms, and the Church is no exception. Much like the school across the street, we take a hiatus from most of our educational ministries during the summer months. Confirmation, Sunday School, Pub Theology, and Adult Formation do not meet in June, July, and August. Folks are traveling, hitting the lakes, taking vacations while the kids have summer break.

But that doesn’t mean things come to a halt. This year, working with our Music and Worship Committee as well as your responses to our congregational Time and Talents survey, we’re trying a new summer schedule.

During Ordinary Time—that is, the long summer season between Pentecost and Advent—we go back to communing on odd Sundays of the month rather than every week. On even Sundays, then, and by popular demand, we’ll be bringing back the Folk Service liturgy, a favorite of local congregations. St Peter’s will celebrate the Folk Service on non-communion Sundays June through August.

For years now, the people of St Peter’s Lutheran have gathered for midweek Vespers during the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Lent. This June we’ll gather for summer Vespers as well. Vespers are a lovely service of evening prayer and song well beloved by our community, and will offer an additional worship opportunity for those traveling on the weekends. Summer Vespers commence at 6:30, Wednesday nights in June. Weather permitting, we may spend a few of those nights gathered around the fire pit.

Everyone needs a break, especially all of you who so generously volunteer so much of your time, talents, and treasures to the people of St Peter’s throughout our academic year. Let this summer worship be for us all a time of sublime rejuvenation for the healing and heartening of our souls, basking in the Light of Christ as surely as we do in the bright warm rays of the midsummer sun.

Soon the graduates will have graduated, the confirmands will have been confirmed, and we can all breathe a sigh of well-earned and accomplished relief. Let us gather then in worship throughout these long summer days to find rest and renewal for our souls.

In in Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.