Pastor Lucy's Message

Dear God’s Beloved,

During June 7-9, the elected voting members from Bethany and East Lemonweir will join other voting members from area congregations at La Crosse Area Synod’s Synod Assembly. If you are not familiar with Synod Assembly, think of it as an Annual Meeting (like our congregations have or even a cooperative business). We will discuss business items (like the synod’s mission support budget and compensation guidelines for rostered leaders, and various resolutions about the ministry we do together as a synod), participate in worship, and learn together through workshops.

All of this work will be centered around the theme, “Rooted in God’s Love.” This theme comes from the second half of the La Crosse Area Synod’s mission statement:

Cultivating Life-Giving Relationships Rooted in God’s Love.”

Ephesians 3:17 will be the guiding verse for the weekend supported by the Parable of the Sower from Mark 4:1-9.

As I’ve begun to prepare and pray for Synod Assembly—I have often found myself thinking about what it means to be rooted in God’s love. How do I stay rooted? How does being rooted in God’s love call me to treat creation, my community, strangers, family, and friends? How does being rooted in God’s love empower me to learn and serve?

Roots are important. A plant’s root system is a fragile yet strong system of tendrils that all come from a single center root. It not only provides a foundation and stability for plants—but also gathers nutrients. Roots are ever trying to grow deeper and farther in search of the nutrients they need.

Although we humans don’t have physical or literal roots, we do have figurative roots. A goal for many of us is to find a place where we can put down roots. We long for a place where we can be nourished and grow–where we can be fed and supported.

We can find those physical places like community and our homes—yet another place where we can find nourishment to grow is God’s love. When we dwell or abide in God’s love—trusting in the grace and forgiveness God gives us—we are filled with the Holy Spirit to discover, learn, serve, and journey. It is as Paul writes in Ephesians 3:14-21…

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,[a] 15 from whom every family[b] in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and[c] in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

God’s peace be with you,

Pastor Lucy