Painting by Sam. R. LaDue, 2024 | “The songs of the guardians of silence are the most powerful– they are the most rare” Joy Harjo, Singing Everything
October was Pastor Appreciation Month, and I am so touched by the heartfelt messages you wrote in cards for pastors who have supported faith. It reminds me of what makes Faith Lutheran so special: your boundless love. Thank you for taking the time to recognize all the pastors who have served and continue to serve our community.
In the last month, I have noticed Galatians 5:6 coming to mind, often. Do you know the verse? It concludes with, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” When I think about Faith Lutheran, I see a congregation dedicated to expressing that kind of love. I wonder, how do you perceive our community? Do you see yourselves as embodying this message? I’d love to hear your thoughts, stories, and experiences. After all, our journeys are richer when we share them with one another.
Connecting and Caring: New Ways to Reach Out
Speaking of expressing faith through love, I’m excited to share a new way to connect. It’s taken me a couple beats to be able to get my calendar straightened out and accessible. But- I am finally all organized and ready to go. Whether you’d like a visit, need someone to bring communion, or just want to talk about God and spiritual stuff, you can now easily schedule time with me. Just head to calendly.com/InternPastorSam and choose a time that works for you.
Book Reading Adventure: “Our Unforming”
On a different note, the Lay Internship Committee and I are embarking on a book-reading adventure! Our first pick is Cindy S. Lee’s Our Unforming: De-Westernizing Spiritual Formation. If the idea of exploring this book intrigues you, let me know! We plan to schedule discussion times by early November. And if you can’t join this round, no worries—I’ve got at least four other books lined up for the year. There will be more opportunities to dive into thoughtful conversations together!
Advent: A New Way to Gather
Looking ahead, Advent is right around the corner, and we have some exciting plans. This year, we’re trying something a little different with midweek gatherings. Starting December 4, we’ll be meeting at my place for dinner and fellowship at 5:30 pm each Wednesday. For those in the choir, rehearsals will be held at 4:30 pm, followed by dinner together. Afterward, you can join us for Holden Evening Prayer at 7 pm at Bethlehem Lutheran, just a short walk away. This collaboration with Pastor Tyler will offer a lovely opportunity to enjoy music, worship, and community.
Post-Vote Vigil: November 6
On a different note, there’s an upcoming event I’d like to invite you to. On November 6, at 6 pm, a post-vote Vigil will be held at Thanksgiving/Knox. I’ve been working with Pastor Janet Blair, Pastor Lindsey Bell-Kerr at Christ Church UMC, North Bay Organizing Project, and Deep Democracy to create this special time. It’s a time for us to exhale, recenter, and connect with one another and the Divine. Everyone is welcome, and I encourage you to join us for this important gathering.
Reflections on the Season: Finding Stillness
Lastly, in my last reflection, I shared how much I love the “thinness” of this time of year. And that still holds true. There’s something special about the changing colors and the quiet moments that invite us to pause before the busyness of the holiday season. I often turn to poetry during these times, and there’s one by Indigenous poet Joy Harjo that I’d like to share with you. Her poem Singing Everything helps me center myself each morning this time of year. I hope it brings you the same sense of peace and reflection:
Once there were songs for everything,
Songs for planting, for growing, for harvesting,
For eating, getting drunk, falling asleep,
For sunrise, birth, mind-break, and war.
For death (those are the heaviest songs and they
have to be pried from the earth with shovels of grief)
Now all we hear are falling-in-love songs and
Falling apart after falling in love songs.
The earth is leaning sideways
And a song is emerging from the floods
And fires. Urgent tendrils lift toward the sun.
You must be friends with silence to hear.
The songs of the guardians of silence are the most powerful—
They are the most rare.
As we move through this beautiful, ever-changing season, may we embrace its invitation to pause, reflect, and be present. I look forward to continuing our journey together, growing in faith and love.
with joy,
Intern Pr. Sam