Month: March 2020

Monday evening brought tragic news to our family.  A beloved family member died, and we are all feeling so very, very sad.  Our loved one will be so deeply missed.  And of course – everything feels so much more complicated when you can’t wrap your arms around each other – when you can’t gather together as an extended family.  When you can’t do what we are used to doing during times like these.

The new normal feels anything, but normal . . .

We will do all of these things eventually – but for now – we have to make phone calls, send texts, pray for one another, and wait.    And we will probably have to wait some more.

And so today I was very deeply in need of reminders of God’s presence in my life – in all of our lives. 

It is amazing to me how our Lord always provides reminders of his presence when I allow myself to seek him – when I open my eyes and my heart to his presence in my life.

I know God is with us always.  I believe God is with us.  And William and I were in hot pursuit of reminders of God’s presence.  And we quickly found reminders of God’s presence all around us. 

Rainbows! 

Rainbows – rainbows – rainbows. . .

Rainbows are everywhere these days. 

And Genesis (chapter 9) tells us that rainbows are a reminder to God and to all of us of the covenant God first made with Noah following the flood. 

Rainbows can remind us that even in tragedy God is present. 

We are not alone.

⁸ Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ⁹‘As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, ¹⁰and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. ¹¹I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ ¹²God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: ¹³I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, ¹⁵I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’ ¹⁷God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.’ – Genesis 9:8-17

How are you seeking God’s presence in your life? 

Where have you seen God’s presence?

Saturday was another absolutely gorgeous spring day. So beautiful in fact – that Jason and I decided that we simply couldn’t stay home (inside) all day. 

I am guessing that the McFarland sons may not have agreed with us, but our household is not always a democracy.  Frankly – the old peoples’ votes often carry a lot more sway in our household – especially when it comes to things like fresh air, exercise, and nutrition.   And the medical experts are all on television backing us up right now. 

Those brilliant doctors keep telling us to get enough sleep, to eat really nutritious meals, and to get plenty of exercise – so on Saturday the McFarlands did just that.

Bright and early Saturday morning – we were in the truck and headed for Perryville, Kentucky to the Civil War Battlefield for some seriously awesome hiking.  We also snuck in a little learning too.  (Jason and I are sneaky like that . . .)

The museum and gift shop are closed, but all of the 10 glorious miles of trails at Perryville are open for hiking.  Don’t worry – we didn’t make the boys hike all 10 miles on Saturday.  We just did 5 miles.

Perryville is only about 1 and 1/2 hours from our house and worth every minute spent in the car to get there. Plus – Jason always drives so I just get in more knitting time – bonus!

Views like this and wide open spaces – felt amazing. It definitely was where I needed to be for a few hours.

William learned a little Civil War history. And Jason was the family historian.

(Wow – that’s a head scratcher . . . )

We spotted fast running deer!

We spotted slow crawling caterpillars.

We spotted rare teenagers in trees . . .

We spotted less rare seven year olds in trees.

We were reminded that spring has arrived in Kentucky. God is indeed with us. In fact – God is making his presence abundantly clear all around us. We are not alone in this world.

You are in my heart and prayers.

In Christ and with Love –

Pastor Kerri

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

² a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

³ a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

⁵ a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Audio Links

• Readings for March 29, 2020
• Sermon for March 29, 2020

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When I was a teenager – I remember thinking that absolutely – positively no one else on the entire planet could understand what I was going through. I was convinced no one understood me. For a several years I was the poster child of teenage angst.

I wrote really, really incredibly, awful poetry. I rhymed words like sad and nomad and hark and disembark. And sometimes my poetry was so beautiful – it even moved me to tears!

I listened to melodramatic music about being misunderstood by the rest of the world. I read books that were so bleak and depressing – they could have made Pollyanna feel blue. I sighed heavily and often. I worked very hard at looking bored and miserable all of the time. I wore a lot of flannel and denim. And generally felt sorry for my misunderstood self.

On occasion a loving – compassionate adult would try to explain to me – that she might just have some small understanding of what I was going through. That she loved me and she could remember what it was like to be my age. That she had been where I was and survived it. But I just didn’t believe her.

There was simply no way – my youth group leader or my teacher or my boss from the library with her grown-up – pulled together life – could understand what it was like to have seriously bad hair or mean friends or too much homework. There was no way she could understand the pain caused by bossy teachers and clueless boys. And I doubted she had ever found French, Chemistry, or Geometry dumbfounding like I so often did.

I spent years firmly believing that no one could understand me – except perhaps – the Indigo Girls – Charles Dickens and Dylan Thomas.

Have you ever felt misunderstood? Have you ever felt like no one understood what you were thinking and feeling? That no one else got it?

I think there are times in all of our lives when we find ourselves feeling like this.

There are times when we wish our heartless math teacher could understand just how completely and utterly confusing math can be for some people.

There are times when you desperately wish your demanding boss would finally understand you are a dedicated employee and you do work really hard.

There are days when you wish that your landlord would understand you really are trying to get him all of this month’s rent – but you have been laid off like so many other folks right now. You are trying desperately to make ends meet with a lot less income.

Or perhaps you may find yourself wishing your mom would actually get that you aren’t wasting your life watching You-Tube videos or gaming. Or that your Dad would finally get that texting your friends is honestly incredibly important – especially now that you don’t get to see each other at school (SOCIAL DISTANCING)!

Or you might wish that your husband would understand that when he teases you about social distancing it hurts you – because you believe taking the doctors’ advice seriously is the right thing to do.

There are times in all of our lives when we all find ourselves wishing that other folks could walk a mile or two hundred in our shoes. We long for empathy, and just to be understood by someone else.

Well – let me assure you – someone else does get it. Someone understands. Someone really does care. Someone else has walked a mile in your shoes. Your Lord and Savior understands. Jesus gets it. Jesus knows how you feel – and what you are going through. Jesus has been there and felt that. Jesus has walked in your very human shoes.

In our Gospel reading for this week Jesus began his week by learning that his beloved friend Lazarus is ill. Then just 48 hours later – the news arrives that Lazarus has died.

Lazarus is dead.

Lazarus had been a young man. His death came suddenly. Almost out of the blue. After a short illness. With so little warning and very little time for his beloved friends and family prepare themselves. Lazarus’ death was a horrible – devastating blow to his loved ones. They were left reeling.

Jesus was devastated too. Lazarus had been a special friend to Jesus. Lazarus and his sisters – Mary and Martha – had welcomed Jesus into their home. Jesus had eaten meals with Lazarus. Jesus had slept under his roof. They had enjoyed great theological discussions and good food together. Lazarus’ home had been a safe haven for Jesus in an often harsh world. Lazarus’ friendship and support had been a comfort and a joy to Jesus.

And now – Lazarus is dead. Cut down by illness in the prime of his life.

As soon as – Jesus learns Lazarus has died – Jesus and the disciples set off for Bethany.

As they draw close to Bethany – Lazarus’ sisters Martha and Mary hurry out to meet Jesus. Their hearts are broken – because they loved their brother so deeply. When Jesus sees his beloved friends’ grief and their tears – Jesus is overtaken by his own grief and he begins to weep.

Jesus wept. Jesus – who is God. Jesus – who is our Lord and Savior – weeps when his beloved friend dies. Jesus did not pretend to cry like an actor does in a movie. Jesus did not preach a sermon about how no one should be sad because death isn’t eternal for those who believe that Jesus is their Lord and Savior. Jesus didn’t tell the assembled mourners to put on happy faces and keep the faith. Rather – our Lord and Savior – cried.

Jesus wept because his beloved friend was dead. Jesus cried because death is sad. Jesus wept because grief makes us feel like crying. Jesus cried because he is a human being just like us and his friend’s death caused his heart to ache.

Jesus Christ was really and truly a human being. He wasn’t just pretending to be a human being.

Jesus Christ is both God and human – and because of this Jesus understands what you are going through. Jesus knows what it is like to be one of us.

Jesus knows what it is like to be hungry and tired. Because he got tired and hungry too.

Jesus knows what it is like to be misunderstood. Think of all of the times that the disciples just didn’t understand what Jesus was telling them.

Jesus knows what it is like to have people criticize you and judge you and to say hurtful things about you. Think of how badly the Pharisees treated Jesus.

He knows what it is like to be sad or frustrated or happy or grieving or anxious. Jesus has felt all of these emotions too.

Jesus knows what it is like to be tempted.

Jesus knows what it is like to stub his toe.

Jesus knows what it is like to get sick and feel rotten.

Jesus also knows the fun of spending time with friends and family. And he knows what it is like to miss those same friends when life separates you for a while.

Jesus knows what it means to love and he knows what it means to mourn when loved ones die.

Jesus even knows what it is like to feel afraid and alone in the world. Think of how the disciples all abandoned him as he died on the cross.

Jesus really and truly does know what it is like to be a human being. Jesus has walked a mile in your shoes. In fact Jesus has walked thousands of miles in your shoes.
Our Lord and Savior understands your joys and your trials and tribulations. Jesus doesn’t just imagine what you are going through. Jesus actually knows what it is like. Jesus understands and Jesus cares.

So when you feel all alone – know this – your Lord and Savior really and truly does understand. Jesus gets it. Jesus cares and Jesus loves you. Truly this is Good News. AMEN.

Audio Links

• Readings for March 29, 2020
• Sermon for March 29, 2020

Ezekiel 37:1-14

¹The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ²He led me all round them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. ³He said to me, ‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know.’ ⁴Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. ⁵Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. ⁶I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.’

⁷So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. ⁸I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. ⁹Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.’ ¹⁰I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

¹¹Then he said to me, ‘Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” ¹²Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. ¹⁴I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.’

Psalm 130

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
²   Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
   to the voice of my supplications!
³ If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
   Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But there is forgiveness with you,
   so that you may be revered.
⁵ I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
   and in his word I hope;
⁶ my soul waits for the Lord
   more than those who watch for the morning,
   more than those who watch for the morning.
⁷ O Israel, hope in the Lord!
   For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
   and with him is great power to redeem.
⁸ It is he who will redeem Israel
   from all its iniquities.

Romans 8:6-11

⁶To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, ⁸and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

The Holy Gospel according to Saint John 11:1-45

¹Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ²Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. ³So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ ⁴But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ ⁵Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, ⁶after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

⁷ Then after this he said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again.’ ⁸The disciples said to him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?’ ⁹Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. ¹⁰But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.’ ¹¹After saying this, he told them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.’ ¹²The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.’ ¹³Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. ¹⁴Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’ ¹⁶Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’

¹⁷ When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. ¹⁸Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, ¹⁹and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. ²⁰When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. ²¹Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ ²³Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ ²⁴Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ ²⁵Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, ²⁶and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ²⁷She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’

²⁸ When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’ ²⁹And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. ³⁰Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. ³¹The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. ³²When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ ³³When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. ³⁴He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ ³⁵Jesus began to weep. ³⁶So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ ³⁷But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’

³⁸ Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. ³⁹Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’ ⁴⁰Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ ⁴¹So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me. ⁴²I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.’ ⁴³When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ ⁴⁴The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’

⁴⁵ Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

William and I had a few things we needed to get done at the church this afternoon.  We needed to check the mail, because our faithful postal workers keep bringing the mail every day (except Sunday – of course).  We also thought we should make sure there weren’t any important phone messages on the church voicemail, and I needed to make some photocopies. 

Most importantly we wanted to look for signs of spring around the church to share with all of you.  Since we can’t gather for worship at Saint Stephen right now – almost everyone has been missing out on just how beautiful it is at the church these days.  And I must say that Saint Stephen is looking particularly lovely right now.  Everything is looking so colorful and lush and green.  It is just plain gorgeous.

Our founding mothers and fathers chose very wisely when they picked this land along Bardstown Road.  It is just plain lovely – especially in the spring.  Especially when the flowering trees are blooming. . .

After I read this sign to Will, he asked why our church was named Saint Stephen.  I explained that our church was named after a really neat man from the Bible who did great things for God (Acts 7:54-60). 

Will thought about it for a moment, and then he asked why the church wasn’t named after me. 

I smiled and said “that is so nice honey – but churches are usually named after people who were alive during Bible times.” 

To which my sweet William responded – “I always thought you were alive then too . . .” 

Carry that with you for today folks.  My seven year old thinks that I am at least 2,000 years old!

You are in my heart, thoughts, and prayers.

In Christ and With Love –

Pastor Kerri

A PASTORAL LETTER FROM BISHOP WILLIAM O. GAFKJEN REGARDING COVID-19 (MARCH 26, 2020)

A Pastoral Letter from Bishop William O. Gafkjen

To the People and Communities of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod

Regarding Extended Life Together at a Distance

I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them. (Isa. 42:16)

My previous pastoral letter to the synod as a whole was written on March 6. Twenty days seems like a lifetime ago. Of course, I have communicated via email, Zoom, and phone with scores and scores of individuals and groups and I sent a pastoral letter to our rostered ministers (pastors and deacons) during these last 20 days. It is clear that the world has changed in this short time and it keeps changing as we wander together through this coronavirus wilderness toward God’s unfolding future. These are fear-filled, anxiety-provoking, tragic, and confusing times, dear people of God.

Nevertheless, God is with us. God is guiding us. God promises to stay with us and to lead us by paths we have not known. “These are the things I will do,” says the Lord, “and I will not forsake them.”

Entrusting ourselves to that promise, we are finding ways to walk together on this new path, even at a physical distance from one another. We pray with and for one another, for those who are most vulnerable and marginalized during this time, and for all whose lives are touched directly by COVID-19. Even at a distance, we encourage one another, we remind one another of the powerful presence of the crucified and risen Jesus with us and in the world, and we entrust ourselves and our world to the promises of new, abundant, and lasting life that are as true now as they were a month ago. Together, we turn our attention to serving the neighbor, every neighbor, especially those who may be overlooked or set aside by others, with the cross-formed love we see and know in Jesus.

Thank you, people of God, for your willingness to put your trust in God and to walk together through this wilderness. Thank you for your openness to trying new things, for embracing new-to-you technologies and ways of being together. Thank you for being willing to experiment and fail, and for your grace with and support of one another and of those who seek to lead us forward.

And thank you, deacons, pastors, and other ministers and leaders who serve across this Indiana-Kentucky Synod and on synod staff. Every one of you stands in a long line of leaders who have accompanied and guided God’s people through intense, confusing, threatening wilderness wanderings through the centuries, reaching all the way back to Genesis. You are leading us through this particular coronavirus-induced wilderness with grit and grace, commitment and creativity, and deep, abiding trust in God’s presence in the midst of it and God’s promise to get us through it, the promise embodied in and now walking the wilderness with us in the crucified and risen Christ. Thank you. Please make sure to take care of yourselves and those who are close to you along the way.

Here are some things that are important for you to know and tend to as we continue this wilderness journey together:

• Given the CDC’s continuing recommendation that meetings of more than ten people be suspended through at least May 10th in order to continue slowing and staving the spread of the coronavirus, the Synod Executive Committee and I strongly recommend that all in-person worship and other congregational or ministry activities be suspended through the middle of May. I am aware, of course, that this pushes us through Easter Sunday toward the 6th Sunday of Easter (May 17th). The weekend of March 28, I will send a communication to our pastors and deacons (through our conference deans) offering some guidance for making decisions about worship, including Holy Communion, during this extended time of physical distancing. That letter will also be made available more generally through the synod’s website (www.iksynod.org) and social media. Should you decide to have an in-person gathering of ten or less people, it is crucial for the sake of the participants and for the common good that all appropriate COVID-19 protocols be observed, such as no touching, maintaining 6’ distance, use of sanitizing methods for hands and surfaces, etc.

• Please continue to share your offerings with your congregation and your congregational mission support with the synod in any way that you can. Gospel ministry continues during this time. In fact, local and synodical ministries have intensified and many of us are actually growing ministries in service to our neighbors. If your congregation has not yet set up electronic giving, check out this website for a couple of “preferred vendors” which offer discounts for congregations of the ELCA: https://elca.org/preferredvendors. The synod uses Tithe.ly.

• In alignment with Indiana Governor Holcomb’s “stay at home” order, the synod office will remain closed at least through April 7, and possibly longer. All staff are working from home. We gather for prayer via Zoom on Wednesdays. Essential staff go into the office on Wednesday just long enough to take care of paying bills, making deposits, and other essential tasks. We have also suspended staff travel and canceled or postponed synod events/gatherings through the month of April. The best way to contact staff, including me, is via email.

• The 2020 Synod Assembly has been canceled. Per the synod’s governing documents, the Synod Council will do the business work that would have come to the Assembly (including synod council membership and budget, for example). We will also work toward planning three regional one-day worship/fellowship/information sharing events in the fall, or whenever we are able to host large meetings again.

• Synod staff members are providing video sermons for Sundays through mid-May. The sermons are available for download via the synod’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE5dD18sLTN2rJ2a5Za7h2w), Vimeo, and other sources each week. Deacon Cory Driver is also offering a short video lectionary reflection each Thursday, also accessible through the YouTube channel.

• If you do not follow synod ministry on social media, now would be a good time to do so. By way of these media we offer links to resources for congregations and their leaders, prayers, and accompaniment and support for the people of this synod. Search for Indiana-Kentucky Synod and Bishop Bill Gafkjen on social media platforms and you should find us. Many of these resources can also be found on the synod’s website (www.iksynod.org/covid-19-resources/). Also, if you do not receive the weekly eNews, please email Assistant to the Bishop Pastor Dan Fugate (dfugate@iksynod.org) to be added to the mailing list.

It is clear that we’ve still got some distance to go through this wilderness, dear people of God. It is also clear that we, the church, and the world will all be different on the other side of this. It is so important that we go the way together, that we be gracious and gentle with one another as we each deal with the situation differently, and that we do all that we can to keep the common good and love for and service to our neighbor near the center of our commitments, right alongside our trust in the steadfast love, presence, and promise of God that we see and know in Jesus. For thus says the Lord, “By paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them.”

Peace be with you,

The Rev. Dr. William O. Gafkjen, Bishop

After keeping me company at the office for most of the day, William was ready for some outside time and some adventure when we got home.  I could not blame him at all.  Yesterday may have been gray and rainy, but today has been all sunshine, singing birds, and blue skies.  It is just plain gorgeous out there – a perfectly lovely spring day!

Almost as soon as we walked through the front door of our house Will requested to be given permission to go on another scavenger hunt adventure with Jack.  It was music to my ears.  I tried to play it cool, but let’s be honest I don’t do “cool” very well (never have – probably never will – sigh).  They knew right away I was giddy at the prospect of them heading outside for vitamin D and exercise.  (I am their mom.  They have met me…)

I had paper and a Sharpie marker in my hand as fast as I could find them (and in our house craft supplies are always close by).  I was already mentally prepared, because I had been brainstorming new scavenger hunt ideas on my drive home from work at the church.  After all, I would much rather be thinking about things like this than worrying about global pandemics, hand sanitizer, and TP shortages. 

Less than two minutes after I had finished writing out their next scavenger hunt, the McFarland sons were off on their next adventure together – and they were EXCITED (parenting victory)!

1) Find a yellow bush.

2) Find a purple flower.

3) Find a huge rabbit.

4) Find an interesting stick.

5) Find something totally disgusting!

6) Find something pink-ish.

7) Find something funny.

8) Find something you made (it has to be outside).

9) Find a cloud.

10) Find an impressive rock.

Reminders of our God’s presence truly are all around us – even now during these truly unprecedented times. I encourage you to keep your eyes and your hearts open.

In Christ and with Love –

Pastor Kerri

William has asked to have a go at blogging. So here is a post about one of Will’s greatest passions in this life – ships. Will loves ships. (Will is particularly fascinated with naval disasters.) Will has many, many, many models of ships. Some of his ships he has made from Legos. Some Jason has constructed using glue and a kit from the hobby store. Some Will has made using wood, nails, and glue (William wants you to know that these were a lot of work to construct). Others Will and Jack have devised using origami, paper, and markers.

Will is sharing some of his favorite ships with you today in the hopes of spreading some joy during these difficult times!

William is always planning new ships and new ship designs. He will keep you posted!

Stay safe out there sailors.

Love –

William and Pastor Kerri

Jason and I are (and probably always will be) “those” parents.  We believe quite passionately that daily fresh air and exercise are essential to living healthy, balanced lives.  We even practice what we preach.  Each evening before supper – Jason and I go for a walk outside unless it is really cold or raining.  If the weather is unacceptable then we head to the basement treadmill for a walk.  These “weather rules” are rules I have created, because I hate being either wet or cold.  (You may have noticed all of the wool hats and scarves!) Jason seems to be impervious to both!

We have always encouraged (sometimes cruelly demanded that) our beloved sons get outside every single day too – unless the weather is just really, really rotten. 

We try to make outside time as fun as possible.  Jack and Will own bikes, scooters, and an assortment of skateboards.  They have swings and their very own shed in our backyard that is all theirs.  (It is a very nice shed!)  The shed contains all sorts of cool boy items in it from chalk to weaponry to nails and hammers and the items needed for constructing a fort that I could have only dreamed of constructing as a kid.  They spend a fair bit of time outside scootering, skateboarding, kicking balls, shooting arrows, pounding nails, and tackling each other.  They can be “old school” boys.

This morning before I left for the church I left them with an extra special mission.  It was a scavenger hunt. (I did NOT call it a God Sighting Hunt – even though that may have been what it was . . .) Jack and Will did it this afternoon and Jason and I will do it this evening during our walk (if the rain holds off long enough.)

I love seeing the world from their perspective. 

1. Find a person. (I appreciated how seriously they took social distancing!)

2. Find a yellow flower.

3. Find something really weird! (Jack)

3. Find something really weird! (Will)

4. Find something you could eat (but you don’t have to eat it)!

5. Find some water.

6. Find a really cool tree.

7. Find something dangerous.

8. Find something green (not grass).

9. Find something beautiful.

10. Find something surprising.

I know these are incredibly challenging and even frightening times.  I know our world has been turned upside down and inside out.  We don’t know when things will get back to normal or how long it is going to take to flatten the curve. 

I encourage you to take some time today and every single day to notice the beauty of God’s world too. Maybe you will want to join us in these scavenger hunts. We plan on doing several over the next coming weeks.

In spite of all of the scary news – our world is still an awfully lovely place. The world in which we live is full of reminders of God’s love and God’s constant presence with us.

You are truly all in my heart, thoughts, and prayers.

In Christ and With Love –

Pastor Kerri

Sunday wasn’t the easiest day for me.   In spite of getting to spend the day with my beloved and truly amazingly awesome and shockingly patient and loving nuclear family – I was not where I wanted to be. 

I wanted to be at Saint Stephen.  But I didn’t just want to be at the church.  I wanted to be surrounded by and immersed in our vibrant Christian community.

I wanted to be matching wits with my Sunday school class.  I wanted to be passing the peace.  I wanted to be singing God’s praises with my sisters and brothers in Christ.  I wanted to sit with the children of our Christian community for the children’s sermon.  I wanted to share the Good News of God’s grace, love, and mercy with you.  I wanted to officiate Holy Communion.   I wanted to receive Holy Communion.  I wanted to hang out with everyone in the fellowship hall after worship just so we could talk and be together.  I wanted to be with my people, and I really wanted to hear how you are all doing!  

Quite simply – I wanted to be with all of you – really – really badly.

In spite of being at home.  I realized that I was feeling seriously homesick!

I wanted my life – our lives – to be carrying on like they have for over nine years now.  (I am one of those people who stink at change.  I am “change averse.”  I go the bed at the same time 7 days a week.  I have literally knit the same washcloth pattern over 1,000 times.)

I was restless and just plain not very happy.  I am sure that the McFarland men found me rather annoying.  (Thankfully – for the future happiness and continued success of – what I hope will be our ongoing relationships – they refrained from telling me just how annoying I was!)  

So – we played games like Yahtzee and Scrabble.  (Jack and Will skunked me!)  We did some yard work.  I played on the swing set in our back yard with Will.  (I have to say – adults should probably go swinging more often – it feels great!)  Will and I played “Simon Says.”  Jason and I read.  Jack and Will did not read.  Will made Lego ships.  Jack made art.  I did some knitting.

And then we went to Broad Run Park later in the afternoon.  The paved trails there mean that Jack and Will can absolutely fly on their skateboard and scooter.  Sadly – the paved trails don’t make me any faster.  I remain a middle aged pastor, but hey you can’t win them all!  

We walked, scootered, and skateboarded for a bit and then we headed to the river to look for river glass.  I have had a thing for looking for sea glass or river glass or lake glass since I was a kid, and I have converted/convinced/brainwashed my family that this is a cool pastime. 

It was just what I needed to soothe my tattered soul.  Wandering along the muddy, rocky shore of the river I soon I felt much more peaceful and centered.  I noticed the signs of spring literally springing up all around me.  I heard the birds singing.  I heard the distant voices of other families getting some fresh air.  I watched the muddy water flowing in the river.  I observed my sons and my husband and was reminded of what incredible blessings from God they truly are (just don’t tell them I told you that!).   I found broken, busted up pieces of glass that had been smoothed by the tumbling river water.  I remembered that God was with me all of the time. 

I know it is cliché – but I found myself singing softly to myself “when peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, it is well with my soul . . . “ 

“When Peace Like a River” has always been one of my favorite hymns.  And as I was singing it to myself – I realized I could hear my sisters and brothers in Christ singing it right along with me.  I could hear Brenda playing.  I could hear Matt and Lori right behind me in church singing.  I could hear Bill and Fred singing and Charlie and Phyllis too.  I could hear Pat, Paul, Rod, Cheryl, Bobby, Clint, and Rita joining in from the other side of the sanctuary along with Marilyn and Steve and Karen and Glenn.  I could hear Buddy and Peggy and Elaine and Marcia from my side of the church . . . I could hear ALL of you (I miss you all so much I thought about listing all of you – but then decided that maybe I was getting a little weird).  I could hear all of you – because I have literally worshipped with you 100’s of times and we have sung 1,000’s of hymns together. 

We are a vibrant, loving, blessed Christian community.  I truly do give God thanks for each and every single one of you.  I am thinking of you and I am praying for you.  You are in my heart.

We will gather together in person for worship again.  In the meantime – I truly do pray that it is well with your souls.  And remember – our loving Lord is with us always – holding us in the palm of his hand.

In Christ and with Love –

Pastor Kerri