News of St. John's Lutheran Church
From the Pastor...
Dear beloved in Christ,
Happy anniversary! As mentioned at the annual meeting, we have reached the one year mark in our ministry together. I am so grateful God has called me to be part of St. John’s ministry and serve Christ in partnership with you. You are such a gift to Mendota and the world, and I am blessed to be part of what God has done, is doing, and will do through our ministry. Given the numerous executive orders and government changes this past week, I would like to share with you some of the principles and values that I hold. I am a pastor to all God’s people, and in particular, those whom God has placed in front of me on a daily basis – you! I have said since (and even before) the start of my ministry here that I believe we are bound to one another in Christ by virtue of our Baptism into Christ. This means that even if we disagree or have differences on something, I still value you. I believe that everyone is shaped by their context, how and where they were raised and by whom, family and friends, study of Scripture, history, news, and commentary. All these things shape who we are and how we see the world, and so we will not see eye to eye on all things. That does not change how I regard you as a child of God. I am a pastor whose call is to proclaim Christ and his gospel in word and deed. His word comes to us as both law and gospel. That means sometimes we hear good news and sometimes what we hear convicts us. I do my best to proclaim the Word, being faithful to Christ and the promptings of the Holy Spirit each week as I preach. God’s Word in Christ gives us a moral compass to guide our behaviors and our actions. When moral issues become political hot potatoes, we need to pause and consider what is at the heart of the matter for us. How does our faith shape our understanding of the issue. Simply put no matter what, the gospel of Jesus has political implications for us. I also believe there is a difference between what is political and what is partisan. The gospel has political implications for how we vote, advocate, and live in the public sphere. But the gospel is not partisan. No one party can ever hold fully to what our Christian values and the gospel of Jesus demand of us. So while something I preach may sound political, it should not be partisan. I am always open to conversation – about anything. Especially if you think what I have preached is inconsistent with the Gospel of Jesus and its biblical foundation, please talk to me. I am here to serve with you and among you. Living in community with one another requires honesty and integrity. We are accountable to one another in our life in Christ. I also believe that the Christian tradition has a wide spectrum of beliefs and practices. There is no one monolithic Christian dogma or practice. As people of the Lutheran tradition however, we do have certain theological understandings about the gospel of Jesus and how we live. In our polity of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we have bishops whose role is to help us (pastors and deacons and congregations) stay accountable to the gospel of Jesus as we best understand it. This past week, Presiding Bishop Eaton of the ELCA and the three bishops in the Illinois synods put out pastoral messages on the executive orders. You can find them online at these sites https://nisynod.org/news and https://tinyurl.com/msyycah9. There are also hard copies available in the church office. People are dealing with a lot these days, personally and in grappling with rapid changes in our public landscape. I am here as a shepherd and guide, and as one who journeys with you in joys and griefs and challenges of all kinds, one who witnesses to God’s love and grace for you. If you or someone you know needs support or a confidential ear, I am available. Yours in Christ, Pastor Elise Winter Weather Closures
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Church Office Hours
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