An introductory note from Pastor Brian:  Many of you, as well as many from our community, have had the occasion to interact over these last 3 1/2 years with our Office Manager, Meisha Sible.  We all have benefited from her gracious disposition, expansive skill-set, and warm embrace of our congregation’s mission!  While she does not yet have a hard timeline for her upcoming departure, we are going to miss her!  Be blessed now, as you read her faith reflection “penned” upon her travels of a week ago while on a preliminary exploration trip to the Northwest.

Good words for us all to live by!
Pastor Brian

Welcome to the Brave New World!  It certainly seems like everything will be different from this point forward, I often hear the words “the new normal”.  A few weeks ago I found myself preparing for a new normal personally.  My husband has accepted a new position in Washington state and we are preparing to move west.  These circumstances come with their own set of new activities and experiences.  New town, new home, and hopefully new friends.

I was prepared for this change in theory and had the nerve to encourage Mike to explore new job opportunities that were not in the Midwest, but for some reason, I didn’t really anticipate that I would find myself moving far away from home.  I suppose that we can never really measure our mettle until we are truly faced with circumstances that require courage.

Driving across 5 states and over 2,000 miles I am confronted with the thought that this one act of courage may have many long term and even permanent consequences.  It is perhaps easy to separate each act into small steps and have the courage to accomplish the task, but what about the courage to live with the consequences.  Do I have the courage to live with those?

As I laid in the dark this morning 3 hours before dawn (finding myself in pacific coast time) contemplating courage, I wondered about Jesus and his ability to allow himself to be betrayed, knowing that there would definitely be some permanent consequences.  How easy would it have been for him to run away or have the disciples sequestered so that no one would be able to do the traitorous deed?

Each and every one of us, each and every morning must wake up and fearlessly face the new day, as my mother would say, “Get up, dress up and show up!”  We need to hold on to our courage, be brave and meet this new world with the knowledge that God is with us, loving and encouraging us to be the best that we can be in these new circumstances in this brave new world.

“Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you are.”   – Joshua 1:9

Church office phone: 515-462-4270
Church office email: StPaulLutheranChurch@hotmail.com
Pastor Brian Mortenson email: StPaulPastor1941@gmail.com
Pastoral Emergencies: 605-351-0867