From the Pastor
One Spirit, One Mind
(Philippians 2:2)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together is one of my favorite books. The encouragement for individual members of the faith community to live in love for one another is so needed for people of every generation…but especially so today. And much of that message in Bonhoeffer’s book is captured in quotable quotes! Here is one of many: “The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.”

It's easy to identify all that is wrong with the world…where community is often based on what folks appear to hold in common or claim to have accomplished. And it’s easy to critique the church too, where everything is supposed to work differently! Yet despite our own status as sinners, God is at work not only to join us to Himself but as One who is present in and among us, to bring us into renewed relationships with one another. Bonhoeffer summarizes and distills into quotable quotes the larger message St. Paul communicates in his letter to the Philippians: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” (Phil 2:1-2).

That “one spirit, one mind” we are called to share because of Christ Jesus is our focus this month at RLC. Resurrection Lutheran School, Resurrection Lutheran Preschool, and Resurrection Lutheran Church are all using “one spirit, one mind” as our theme for the 2023-2024 school year. Moreover, Pastor Zach and I will be shining the light on that topic during our August summer series on the book of Romans and “the family of faith” that is presented in Romans 9-12. It is all in line with our congregational values focus on Christian relationships for 2023-2024: “We believe the Church is a community of believers gathered by the Spirit to live out our faith in Christ with one another.”

All of which is a nice segue to alert you to our fellowship focus for the fall. Starting September 6, we look forward to a robust schedule of Wednesday Night Workshop (WNW) offerings. RLC’s Fellowship Committee is working hard to ramp up weekly meals for all, beginning at 5 PM each WNW night. If you’d like to help too, feel free to contact the church office. Be on the lookout for meal signups/RSVPs to be published online in the weeks ahead! We also look forward to providing fellowship opportunities, meaningful group time, Bible studies, and musical ensemble rehearsal times for all members of the family. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to be a part of it all. We hope and pray that not only will you find a place to dive in yourself… you might actually bring along an interested friend or family member, too! Hope to see you there.

In peace and joy,
Pastor Jonathan