Reflecting the Memory of  Christ

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First and foremost: thank you to the many, many hands who helped make this year’s garage sale work. It takes so much time and energy to not only collect donations through the year, but then the big push in the week leading up to set up tables and tents, to organize everything into a way people can see it as they come through the space.

As with most hospitality work, this labor often goes unseen and under-appreciated. Like fellowship, it’s not only the event itself, it’s the work that goes into making sure there’s enough of the basic stuff: plates and napkins, water, coffee, dish soap.

Or altar guild: changing the paraments, cleaning them when they get dirty, setting up the altar, vacuuming the space, opening the windows or turning on the air, baking the bread.

Then there’s the outside welcoming appearance: tending the yard, weeding, mowing, gardening, maintaining the pride flag, keeping the play area up to safety standards, changing the banner when there are events.

And lest we forget, the website and Facebook pages, where folks who might be in from out of town or who might have church hurt and want to make sure they’ll really be welcome can take a look from the comfort of their phone or computer and see what we’re about (hello!).

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Do you know how many people are involved in each of these ministries of hospitality? We are such an active church, it can be easy to take these things for granted if we’re not immediately hands-on with them.

And that’s not even beginning to consider how we represent the church in the wider community through the hospitality of our homes, and friendships, our schools and jobs. Of course, when we’re talking about representing 'the church,' it’s not just Saint Andrew, it’s representing how we remember Jesus Christ’s life and work among us. Each of the ways we offer care is a way to reflect the memory of Christ, whether that be through getting to know the stranger we pass on the street, or standing up to protect the neighbor who is being hurt, or making a simple meal stretch so that more people can come to the table.

In the ELCA we call this: God’s Work. Our Hands.

Thank you.

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​Grace and Peace,

Pastor Andrew Tobias Nelson