Dear partners in ministry and in mission,

Martin Luther wrote: "No one can understand scripture unless it is brought home to him or her, that is unless he or she experiences it. The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me."

 

By God's Word, all creation came into being. Each day I discover yet another way in which the scriptures and God speak to me, run after me, lay hold of me. Through God's Spirit at work, God continues to speak and God's grace and mercy, love and forgiveness, challenge and invitation, are proclaimed. Water is splashed, bread is broken, wine is poured, the words "for you..." are spoken, and you and I are reminded that faith is not simply an assent to doctrine, but living out our lives in such a way that we love and bear witness to the God who has chosen us. These core convictions and others like them give focus, direction, meaning, purpose, and value to my life.

 

As an infant, I was called by name and claimed by God in baptismal waters. Years later I reaffirmed the vows that had been made on my behalf and claimed them as my own. Even more years later, I was again called by name and invited to serve as a pastor in this church as a way to live out the call that first came to me in baptism. God is still calling you and me by name and inviting us to serve in many and various places and ways in God's name.

 

It is with joy that I partner with you in ministry, as together we seek to live out our mission statement of "Making Jesus Christ Real in the Midst of the City".

 

Grace and peace,

Pastor Adrianne Heskin