Shepherd's Heart 4/17/26
Earlier this week someone asked me, “What’s your favorite part of your job?”
It took me a minute, but I think my honest answer right now is teaching the sacraments.
I knew I was a Lutheran pastor because of my growing appreciation for baptism and communion. I often tell people that the sacraments wrap us up into the story of God. God claims us as his own in the waters of baptism and reminds us of that identity every time we eat the bread and wine. The sacraments don’t allow us to sit back and observe the resurrection and applaud. They draw us in, declare the truth of God over us, and send us out to participate in God’s mission of living out the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
We are in a season right now where the sacraments seem to be at the forefront. Our sermon series through Eastertide is going to remind us what baptism accomplishes in us. I have led three baptism classes for teenagers in the last month. As I write this, we have seven baptisms on the schedule between Easter and Pentecost. And that’s not counting all that will occurring during our Claimed by God celebration on May 24! We did a small communion class for four students who have been asking to learn more about this worship practice. And we have thirty-three high schoolers who are affirming their baptisms through Confirmation this Sunday at 10:45am!
Each one of these young people are being wrapped into the Story of God through baptisms and communion. They are not just learning about Jesus, they are experiencing the grace of God that he perpetually offers us. They are experiencing being buried with Christ and being raised to new life. They are standing in confidence that they are free from sin. They are being clothed with Christ and recognizing that Christ’s death was for them, specifically…for them too!
I love declaring this over the young people in our congregation. I love teaching about God’s great story of love and forgiveness and redemption. I love answering random questions and hearing how freshmen process the Trinity. I love when middle schoolers say to their parents, “I think I want to get baptized.”
What gift it is to receive the love and presence of Christ in communion! What beauty it is to watch God’s family grow in baptism! What joy it is to witness the stirring of the Spirit in those who affirm their baptism!
I love my job! And I am so excited to be the church together that has so much to celebrate in the weeks ahead!
- Pastor Elisabeth
It took me a minute, but I think my honest answer right now is teaching the sacraments.
I knew I was a Lutheran pastor because of my growing appreciation for baptism and communion. I often tell people that the sacraments wrap us up into the story of God. God claims us as his own in the waters of baptism and reminds us of that identity every time we eat the bread and wine. The sacraments don’t allow us to sit back and observe the resurrection and applaud. They draw us in, declare the truth of God over us, and send us out to participate in God’s mission of living out the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
We are in a season right now where the sacraments seem to be at the forefront. Our sermon series through Eastertide is going to remind us what baptism accomplishes in us. I have led three baptism classes for teenagers in the last month. As I write this, we have seven baptisms on the schedule between Easter and Pentecost. And that’s not counting all that will occurring during our Claimed by God celebration on May 24! We did a small communion class for four students who have been asking to learn more about this worship practice. And we have thirty-three high schoolers who are affirming their baptisms through Confirmation this Sunday at 10:45am!
Each one of these young people are being wrapped into the Story of God through baptisms and communion. They are not just learning about Jesus, they are experiencing the grace of God that he perpetually offers us. They are experiencing being buried with Christ and being raised to new life. They are standing in confidence that they are free from sin. They are being clothed with Christ and recognizing that Christ’s death was for them, specifically…for them too!
I love declaring this over the young people in our congregation. I love teaching about God’s great story of love and forgiveness and redemption. I love answering random questions and hearing how freshmen process the Trinity. I love when middle schoolers say to their parents, “I think I want to get baptized.”
What gift it is to receive the love and presence of Christ in communion! What beauty it is to watch God’s family grow in baptism! What joy it is to witness the stirring of the Spirit in those who affirm their baptism!
I love my job! And I am so excited to be the church together that has so much to celebrate in the weeks ahead!
- Pastor Elisabeth