From the Pastor

July 2009

When I was a child, I went through a period of time (as we all do) which could best be categorized by the words "growing pains."

While I do recall some achiness as bones lengthened and muscles became more dense, what I recall more vividly was the sense that I had that things were changing in significant ways. Life was becoming busier, I was processing more information, forming new relationships, learning new things, and trying to figure out how it all went together to shape me into the person I would become.

While this was necessary and the outcome ultimately beneficial, it was still a somewhat difficult process. Change and growth are always stressful.

It occurs to me that Holy Redeemer is in just such a period right now. The building has grown in size. We have new and different people stepping into ministry and leadership roles, and with them come fresh ideas and new ways of going about things. Our opportunities for ministry and fellowship continue to grow ... and we are trying to figure out how it all will come together to shape us into the community of faith we will become. In order to do this, we must first acknowledge that growing pains can be tough, but they are temporary and they do serve a purpose.

For the second month in a row, you will find some "reminders" in the newsletter about our life together. I ask you to read them carefully and accept them for what they are intended to be—aids to this process of growth. I hope that they will be useful, and will help us grow together to and for Christ.

**Interestingly, I had already written this before heading to our Synod Assembly. In his sermon at the opening worship service, Bishop Burk spoke about growing pains. He spoke about this with regard to the issues facing the ELCA and the Church in our contemporary times, and reminded us all that growing pains are nothing new. He said, “Somehow the Church has changed. Somehow the Church is the same.” True for the whole Church; true for the ELCA; true for Holy Redeemer; and true for each one of us as individual members of the body of Christ.**

In Christ,
Pastor Brenda