Laughter, Singing, & Glorious Water Splashing
We had a joyful Easter morning! — Laughter, singing, and a glorious splashing of water as we re-membered our baptismal promises. We re-membered our commitments to walk in the way of Jesus, as water sprayed around and ran over our hands and faces. One of my favorite liturgical reminders that we are baptized not once, but daily, into fulfilling Jesus’ promises, helping to build the kindom that God creates here on earth.
Speaking of baptismal waters and building kindoms, the poet Rumi once said, “Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.” I wonder if this isn’t part of the shape of resurrection — learning to listen carefully, shedding the tears that need to be shed, and stepping bravely into new life, however unfamiliar or even empty it may feel.
In that spirit, about 25 of us gathered at the end of April with Evan Moilan, our GSB consultant, and soon-to-be Gulf Coast Bishop Emeritus Mike Rhinehart, for a community listening session in Charter Hall. Thank you to each of you who participated — you showed up with open hearts and honest words, sharing your hopes, worries, and dreams for Faith Lutheran. We thought deeply about our strengths and needs, where we shine, where we ache, and where the Spirit might be waving for us to come and play along.
The Strategic Planning Committee is hard at work. We will meet again in early May to review the results of our congregational survey and a summary of everything we shared in our listening session. The next steps will bring us into conversation with community leaders, as we learn more about the real gaps and opportunities around us. As always, we’ll keep you posted and invite your prayers as we continue this journey of discernment.
Finally, I’m considering starting a little regular gathering I’d like to call the Co-Creator’s Collective — Maybe an hour or two every other week for anyone who wants to dabble in art, sip a cup of something good, share a snack, and simply enjoy one another’s company to come together. No skills required, just a willingness to have some fun and love one another. If this sounds like something your heart might need, let me know. I’d love to get this going and gather with you.
with joy,
– Intern Pastor Sam
Lent Continues, Easter Approaches
Hello Faith Friends!
Over the past weeks, we’ve stepped beyond our familiar walls and into the wider community, gathering with neighbors, listening, learning, and opening our hearts to their needs, hopes, and stories. And what a rich and meaningful journey it has been.
We’ve still got two more chances to gather:
• April 2 at VIDAS, where we’ll learn about their vital work with immigrants and underserved communities.
• April 9 at First Congregational UCC on Humboldt Ave, where we’ll celebrate beauty together in a creative and moving way.
As we approach Holy Week, we’ll step even deeper into the story of Christ’s love. On Holy Thursday, we’ll gather at Christ Church on Yulupa Ave at 6:30 pm for a service reflecting on Jesus’ mandate to love one another as he loved us. We’re expecting a large turnout, so please RSVP to make sure there’s room for everyone. You can sign up on the clipboard in the church narthex or use the link in one of my emails. We’ll close RSVPs on Friday, April 11.
At the beginning of Lent, I shared with you Martin Luther’s image of incurvatus in se—the human tendency to turn inward on ourselves. It’s easy to shrink our world into a small place of self-focus or self-preservation, clinging to familiar comforts or old versions of ourselves. But throughout this season, we have worked to stretch beyond self. With curiosity and compassion, we’ve worked to turn outward—listening and leaning into the beauty and struggle of the world around us. We’ve discerned with the Holy Spirit, witnessing God’s presence in surprising places—from our shared Ash Wednesday service to local ministries like The Living Room and Flat Rock Park, where we heard stories of resilience and hope from people whose lives look very different from our own, yet whose needs are very much the same as our own.
And now, as we prepare to step into Easter’s season of renewal and growth, we are called to do so with this same open, discerning posture. Easter isn’t just a celebration of what God has done—it’s an invitation to re-immerse ourselves into what God is still doing. The hard truth is that there is no resurrection without the painful death on the cross. The beautiful truth is that resurrection is real—Jesus showed us that death is not final. It is simply a threshold into God’s larger vision for all of us.
It’s fitting, then, that our Lenten pilgrimage flows directly into the work of our Strategic Planning Committee. Just as we’ve spent Lent opening our hearts to the community around us, the committee is guiding us in opening ourselves to God’s vision for Faith Lutheran. Their work in this phase is focused on discovering and clarifying our mission, vision, and identity—the foundation that will shape our plans, decisions, and ministries moving forward.
And friends, you have a vital role in this renewal process:
• Survey: If you haven’t filled out the strategic planning survey (March 30 – April 13), please take a few minutes to share your voice. Nothing is set in stone—the items in this survey are just ideas and musings for imagination purposes. This is the time to breathe deeply, imagine with God, and sense where the Spirit is moving.
• Listening Session: On April 27, right after worship, we’ll gather for a Community Listening Session. This will be a creative, collaborative time of dreaming and discerning together, guided by our consultant Evan Moilan, and Bishop Mike Rinehart.
The same Spirit that drew us beyond ourselves in Lent is still at work, calling us to stretch, grow, and trust God’s future for us. So, let’s keep turning outward with hope—believing that new life is already breaking in, ready to surprise us with promise, purpose, and joy.
With impending Easter joy and gratitude for all that you are in this world,
– Intern Pr. Sam
Finding Wholeness in Our Shared Needs: A Sacred Lenten Journey
Hello Faith Friends!
March means Lent is nearly here. Over the last couple of months, I’ve been in touch with a few of our ecumenical partners to try and develop a joint Lenten devotional series. (Ecumenical partner is fancy church speak, it just means these are different Christian groups that the ELCA works with and shares resources with, even if we have slightly different traditions or beliefs). Lent is among my favorite seasons of the liturgical year, and I am extra excited about what Pr. Lindsey of Christ Church, Pr. Diana of First Congregational and I have put together for our three parishes! We have some really wonderful opportunities for fellowship and building important relationships throughout Santa Rosa this year.
This year’s Lenten series is a journey of connection and discernment. We’re calling it All Our Needs. Each Wednesday we’ll come together at a unique location throughout Santa Rosa where we’ll meet local organizations and explore our community’s needs, hopes, and challenges. At its core, this is more than a devotional series—it is a sacred opportunity to open our hearts to God’s calling, to listen deeply to ourselves and our neighbors, and to experience the kind of wholeness that only emerges when we honor the intersecting needs of all God’s creation.
Martin Luther spoke of the human condition as incurvatus in se, being “curved inward on oneself.” It’s a powerful image of how fear and sin can shrink our world, pulling us into a narrow place of self-focus. But this Lenten season calls us to consider a different posture—one of turning outwards to openness, curiosity, and compassion. God meets us powerfully in the places of struggle and pain- whether our own, or that of our fellow humans. It is precisely in these raw and vulnerable spaces that new life is possible. You’re invited to stretch your heart out wide, to listen and learn about lives of others, and to let the stories of your community do transformative work among us.
Over the time I’ve been here, between reading council meeting minutes to learn about Faith’s history and listening to the many stories you’ve all told me, it’s been very clear that Faith Lutheran has seen its strongest and most vibrant days when deeply connected to our broader community. The All Our Needs project is an invitation to re-root ourselves, to find new strength by intertwining our lives with those around us. It is a chance to show up fully and to witness the beauty of God’s presence in the most ordinary places.
This journey also helps all of us prepare our own hearts for our upcoming strategic planning process. By exploring the community surrounding us and learning about the lives of our neighbors, we gain real insights into the needs of our area and help ourselves discern what it is God envisions for Faith Lutheran to best serve, love, and live out the Gospel.
I hope you’ll join me, Pr. Lindsey, and Pr. Diana in this sacred little tour we’ve set up for ourselves this season. As we open ourselves to the needs of others, we are drawn closer to the wholeness God desires for us all.
We begin by gathering at Faith on Ash Wednesday (March 5) for a 7 pm service. Imposition of Ashes and communion will be offered. All three choirs are invited to participate in a joint choral effort. Pr. Lindsey, Pr. Diana, and I will all be working together as presidents.
The schedule for each Wednesday of Lent (including where we’ll be visiting) is below this little article (and will be emailed to you, and also in your worship aid each week).
Finally, we’ll end our communal journey together by gathering together at Christ Church on Yulupa for Holy Thursday, focusing on the mandatum (Jesus’ command to “love one another, as I have loved you”). This will be a special day with opportunity to spend some time at Elisha’s pantry getting people groceries, as well as gathering for a collective shared meal and Holy Thursday service in the evening. There will be more specifics about this day and timing for various activities in the first two weeks of March.
Like I said at the beginning of this letter— Lent is among my favorite liturgical seasons. It’s a truly special time to come close to one another and God. So, let’s gather, and go together—seeking justice, offering love, and finding new life together along the way.
with joy and gratitude for the gift that is you,
– Intern Pr. Sam
