On a brisk winter afternoon in 1980, my family, including my grandma, my parents, and two family friends, gathered around the font of a small neo-gothic Catholic church for a brief private baptism. The family friends would become my godparents, but I have no memory of them having any role in my life. I’m not even sure if my parents knew them well, or if they were acquaintances who were part of the parish and therefore met the requirements to put their name on my certificate. Looking back, so many parts of my Roman Catholic upbringing felt like a list of checkboxes to be crossed off, and this was the first:

If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you’ll know I struggled with my faith, largely due to what I felt were inconsistencies between my childhood church’s teachings and Jesus’s call to love each other. I won’t rehash all of that here, but to sum it up, I’m pretty sure it was my ancestral Protestant heritage breaking through. In the case of baptism, the Lutheran practice feels more authentic to me because, rather than checking off boxes, baptism is a two-way commitment between us (or our families speaking for us) and the community in which we are baptized. It is the beginning of a faith journey in which we choose to learn and grow, and the community who stood with us at our baptism chooses to be part of that formation of our faith.

Now that I’m older, I’m able to appreciate some of the finer details of being part of a community that is willing to walk this path with each other. Volunteers spend countless hours leading programs that form our learning, outreach, and worship. Their individual commitments range from every week to once in a while, and that is the beauty of being part of a faith community. You don’t have to do the work of figuring out what it means to live into our baptismal covenant alone.

You might be thinking, “but sometimes kids are baptized here and then go somewhere else. And they almost always grow up and leave us. If this is supposed to be a life-long commitment, how are we supposed to be responsible for them?” Here is how I think about it:

I am blessed to work with a lot of adult musicians who learned and grew from other music teachers and music directors at other churches. I also teach young musicians who I am devastated to lose as soon as they leave for college. When my students leave, I know that someone else is picking up their music education journey, just like I’ve taken over at least part of the music formation of the adults I work with from wherever they started their music journey.

We do the same thing with our baptismal covenant to walk with each other in faith. Our commitment isn’t just to the individual being baptized. Every time we repeat those vows (and we’ve been saying them a lot lately), we renew our commitment to support each other - all of us - wherever we are on our paths. 

Who are some of the people who have walked along your faith formation journey with you?

What opportunities do you have to help others along their path of faith?

On the journey with you,

John

I’m watching the Olympics in complete awe of the endurance, strength, mental fortitude, teamwork or individual grit, and the incredible amount of time devoted to becoming an elite athlete. The stories of training routines and overcoming adversities are impressive and heartwarming. Win or lose, it’s evident their community of supporting family and friends is key to their well-being.

I admit, I love the idea of being an athlete, but the reality is that I don’t like to sweat or breathe heavily in front of people. I was in sports when I was younger and always felt the pull that I should take up running, swimming, or tennis as I was getting older. I tried some running programs, swam laps for a few weeks, and bought a tennis rack. However, with faith, community, and the gift of time, the more okay I am with who I am. I was created to be a walker. A walker that finds support in walking with friends or alone, is happy to stop to chat with a neighbor or linger to admire nature. I’m still moving my body but in a way that gives me peace and acceptance.

At the ELCA Youth Gathering this summer, the daily themes were “Created to be… Brave, Authentic, Free, Disruptive, Disciples.” I was so proud of our youth who were stretching themselves to find who they were created to be and also digging into who they have already been created to be. They mustered the courage to sing and dance in public, passed out our rainbow LOL love stickers to strangers, and drew from their innate goodness in sharing hugs, laughter, and empathy. The community in NOLA that was grounded in the teachings of Jesus gave them strength and courage.

Those of us with age and experience on our side know how difficult it is to figure out who we are created to be and it can change depending on life circumstances. They are just beginning their journey. What a gift it is to be able to walk with our youth and children in our Lord of Life community. 

Who are you created to be? Who are we created to be together? It feels like a really big question, but what if we broke it down to being a child of God? Psalm 139 says, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” When we trust in this, it is the foundation for growing in our ability to be brave, authentic, free, disruptive, disciples with Jesus lighting our way.

While I might be walking the path of who I was created to be instead of running like an Olympian, it gives me joy to admire others that have chosen different paths that draw on their own unique abilities and journey. I am continually grateful for the colorful variety that we are created to be and the community that surrounds us and reaches out into the world in God’s love.

In Christ’s love,

Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation

“Now, we send you, Laura. We encourage you to continue to receive and share God's gifts in Kentucky and the world, united with us in the body of Christ and the mission we share.”

Our celebrations for Pastor Laura last weekend were mingled with joy and heartbreak as we bid farewell to a central member of our ministry team. Many thanks for all the ways you surrounded her with love and encouragement over the last year of serving and learning with us. It is exciting to think about how her time with us will continue to shape her ministry for years to come and impact lives wherever she serves.

In the coming weeks, we’ll welcome Pastor Nicole Kiefer and embrace her for two years of formation among us. I’m already thinking about the beautiful ways that she will be molded by the Lord of Life community and how we’ll be transformed by her gifts and leadership.

As I think about these two student pastors, I am exceedingly grateful for the investment you make in our seminary interns. We are the living classroom where most of their book learning is put into practice and they begin to discover their voice as preacher, teacher, chaplain, worship leader, and presence of God in the community. Internship provides the most extensive opportunity for practical application of theological studies in a ministry context.

Often, when we think of investing, we think about committing money with the expectation of achieving a profit or material result. God’s economy operates in a different way. When we put money in the offering plate or give a gift online, we don’t expect a cash dividend or payout. Instead, we contribute to Lord of Life with the confidence that our dollars help fuel God’s mission as we seek to live, share, and celebrate the love of Jesus with all people.

Something else happens, too. When you share your talents, energy, finances, time, and prayers, it not only makes a difference in your own communal life now, but it is an investment in the future. Your gift creates a lasting legacy of grace and hope.

The apostle Paul speaks about how crucial this care for and investment in one another is in Romans 12:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves…Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.”

I am eager to see what this renewing mindset looks like among us. Where is God leading us? How are we being shaped for greater love and care for one another? How is the Spirit of God equipping us to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer? How will we strive to live in harmony with one another?

I pray that every moment in worship, learning, serving, and conversation will be a vibrant catalyst, not only for our own growth and edification, but also for Spirit-filled occasions that empower others in powerful and mighty ways.

Thank you again for the intentional ways you contribute to ministry at Lord of Life. Each one of your gifts make a difference. As our Southern Ohio Synod mission says, “We are better and stronger together: joining Jesus in the restoration of the world.”

In hope and expectation!

Pastor Lowell Michelson

It’s hard to believe I am wrapping up my internship already and yet here we are. It has been such an honor to serve among you doing God’s work in the world. Thank you for all the love and support and wisdom you have poured into me this past year. You have helped shape me as a minister and I will forever be grateful to you. 

Teaching parishes are becoming harder to find and it is even more rare to find one as thriving and healthy as you have built Lord of Life to be. You have worked to create a loving and encouraging support system in this place that is there for each other through the ups and downs of life. I love that you have made it your mission to help teach me and provide me with experiences that will forever serve as the foundation of my future life as a pastor.

As a thank you gift for the congregation, I created a painting of Lord of Life with a rainbow over it titled “You are Loved.” “You are loved” was one of the first things I learned about Lord of Life’s culture. Before I even began my internship, Cara asked me what colors I wanted my “You are loved” shirt to be tie-dyed. We needed them for the Cincinnati Pride parade, Appalachia Service Project (ASP) trip, and just as a wardrobe staple here. It seems like almost every Sunday, someone is wearing their “You are loved” shirt. And really, it’s more than just a motto or a cool shirt. It’s about who we are as a church. It’s how we love our community and ourselves and it’s what I love about us. 

Rainbows represent God’s promises to us, especially that we are loved by God. God promises to always care for us and be with us. Through the reminder of the rainbow, we can see that God is still with us even through the midst of the rainy days in our lives. Another promise God has for us is that through communion, we are joined together with all the saints of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. No matter where we are, no matter what we’re going through, when we eat the bread and drink the wine, we are nourished and sent into the world together. So even though this is a farewell, every time we celebrate communion, we are together. 

The next Lord of Life seminary intern Nicole Kiefer will be starting her internship mid-August and will get to be with you for two years. I know over this time you will love her and support her as you have loved and supported me. May God continue to bless you as the teaching congregation God has created you to be. 

Thank you, Lord of Life. You are loved.

Peace,

Pastor Laura

God is at Work In & Through the Lives of LOL’s Teens
By Tera Michelson, Youth Volunteer

Greetings from New Orleans, Louisiana! Fifteen of us from Lord of Life—eleven young adults and four adult chaperones—are among the 16,000 Lutherans gathered for the ELCA National Youth Gathering in the Crescent City this week. To date, we’ve tasted gator and enjoyed beignets at Café Du Monde, overlooked the Mississippi River, learned to pronounce Tchoupitoulas Street, been spoiled by New Orleans’ topnotch hospitality, and taken an airboat ride in the Louisiana bayou. We’ve explored this magnificent city on foot, walking from our hotel on Canal Street to the French Quarter, down to the Convention Center and over to the Smoothie King Center, sweating in our matching t-shirts. But this trip is more than a vacation—it’s a hot and holy reminder that God is at work in and through the lives of our teens.

The opportunity to gather like this only comes around every three years, and due to Covid interruptions, it has been six since the last one. As our youth encounter other youth groups from across the country on the streets of New Orleans, they trade LOL rainbow stickers for bracelets, pins, and a variety of creative giveaways. We gather for service, learning, fellowship, and nightly worship including inspiring speakers, musicians, and dancers. For many of our young people, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime faith experience.

Here's what our teens shared about this life-changing trip so far:
• “Seeing homeless people sleeping on the streets honestly makes you so grateful for everything you have.”
• “I have become closer with those around me and been able to get out of my comfort zone, whether it's with talking to people, worshiping in new ways, or just trying new foods while having fun.”
• “New Orleans has wonderful people and we have connected with many of those people. It is very hot and sweaty, but the music is impeccable!”
• “We are all connected through this one thing, and seeing the crowds of people in matching shirts walk through the streets is really cool—to see that we're all here celebrating our faith together.”
• “This is a real cool way for people to learn, have fun, and spread love everywhere.”
• “The New Orleans vibe makes us feel so connected.”
• “When we leave the church to do an activity, it helps students connect to the Lord. It reminds me that the whole world can be a place of worship and not just at church.”
• “There are WAY more street critters here than in Cincy!”
• “I have learned about myself as well as my new friends. I have also learned about how lucky I am to be in the position I am.”
• “People are happy to hear about your day and your faith. It’s beautiful.”
• “The singing, dancing, food, and late-night family time is so much fun. I will never forget this!”

Please continue to pray for us in New Orleans as we continue to study the theme of “Created to Be” for the remainder of the 2024 National Youth Gathering, through this Friday. We’ll be home soon to share more stories of our adventures in faith!

God’s love and peace to you!

Tera

I see you, but I can’t get to you fast enough. At the end of worship, I play a postlude or some sort of musical tag and by the time I’ve finished, most of you have gotten to your cars. I never get to say hi! I realized as I looked out at the pews on Sunday morning I have never interacted with 30% of the people who were at our 10 am worship. It is really exciting to see so many new faces, but super frustrating to never know who you are. So if you’ve never chatted with me, make your way over to the piano/keyboard after worship and say hi! I promise I won’t try to pressure you into joining a choir. 

For those of you who already know me or have been at Lord of Life for a little while: if you happen to notice faces you don’t recognize, introduce yourselves to each other. It is amazing to see our community growing and evolving and there are countless opportunities to learn from each other and celebrate the new life that is growing here.

Hoping to meet you soon!

John