Messiah Lutheran Church

Dear siblings in Christ,

Not be a tattletale, but Mr. Doug made me cry last weekend!

To be fair though, they were tears of joy and connection. Last Sunday afternoon had to be one of the most beautiful moments of my pastoral career. Mr. Doug had the idea to show up with his portable piano joined by a huge number of you at the Bodes for a “pick-up choir presentation” of happy birthday, patriotic songs and hymns. I pray we didn’t scare Paul and Allison’s friends with the “vigor” of our singing!

This is exactly what community in Christ at its best looks like, even amidst deeply hard times in our country.

Just yesterday, nearly 450,000 of our fellow New Yorkers, including members and dear friends of our Spirit filled congregation, lost their health insurance coverage due to devastating cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act from our federal government alongside a lack of action from our state government. This in turn is hurting the ability of rural and small town hospitals like our local Ellis Hospital from making the numbers work and continue providing our neighbors with the care they need.

All of this in one of the wealthiest states in the wealthiest country in the history of the world.

As followers of Jesus Christ, who healed a whole lot of folks and never asked them for a co-pay, we must name such things as the sin it is.

We do live in deeply troubled times friends, but here’s the thing… our faith also teaches us that it is out of death and pain and brokenness that God makes resurrection and new life possible! And that new life takes root when we show up as the best of who we are as both Christians and Americans, just like so many of you did in the Bodes’ home this past Sunday afternoon.

Join us this Sunday friends, for a very special 250th Anniversary Semiquincentennial Mass, as we give thanks to God for the best of who were are as Americans and prayerfully discern how God is calling each and every single one of us to engage in the hard, slow but sacred work of making this country look more like what Jesus called the Reign of God.

In hope,
Pastor Dustin

PS: Sign up those kids, grand-kids and great-grand-kids for Vacation Bible School taking place from August 3rd - August 7th today at https://bit.ly/mlcvbs! We currently have seven kiddos and counting for a week of very affordable childcare this summer!

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 The Weekly Update: America at 250 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Life together in our Spirit filled congregation grounded in Jesus Christ.