This message from Bishop Elizabeth Eaton was posted on livinglutheran.org on June 14, 2024

The airwaves are filled with contentious political discourse. And, as we get closer to the November election, it will undoubtedly get louder and coarser. Each side seeks to catch the other with questions that aren’t designed for clarity and dialogue but to further its own agenda. Martin Luther’s explanation of the Eighth Commandment in the Small Catechism—“We are to fear and love God, so that we do not tell lies about our neighbors, betray or slander them, or destroy their reputations. Instead we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light”—is barely visible in the rearview mirror.

But the “gotcha” question isn’t a modern invention. “Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. … Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar (the emperor) or not?” (Matthew 22:15-17). We know the answer. Jesus told them: “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (21).

This passage has been used to inform the relationship between the institutions of the state and the community of faith. In this relationship the authority of the state is real and respected—but limited. God’s authority is acknowledged as ultimate and deserving of ultimate devotion and obedience, yet it doesn’t necessitate withdrawal from or opposition to participation in civic life and its responsibilities. We Lutherans call this the doctrine of two kingdoms, and we understand that the church and the state, the spiritual and the temporal, are both established by God and are both part of God’s twofold rule. Both church and state are good gifts from God.

Lutherans have been accused of congenital quietism. Our understanding of God’s twofold rule and even the story about paying taxes in Matthew have been used to discourage participation in civic life. However, active participation in public life has been part of the Lutheran movement from its beginning. Lutherans don’t withdraw from public life. In fact, the ELCA’s constitution pledges us to “work with civil authorities in areas of mutual endeavor, maintaining institutional separation of church and state in a relation of functional interaction.”

I have been voting for 51 years. I can’t think of an election cycle more fraught and divisive than this one. People all across the political spectrum claim that life as we know it is on the line. It’s not possible to agree to disagree—one must decide and put a stake in the ground. There is the potential for violence.

But division and violence don’t have to be our inevitable future. On Nov. 5, no matter the outcome, we will still be here together. Our church, our people, our congregations will still be here and will witness that unity doesn’t mean uniformity; that what binds us together is new life in Christ; that the church—and our country—are bigger than our “tribe”; and that baptism proves that water is thicker than blood.

This is not “both side-ism.” Based on Scripture and the Confessions and forged through prayer, there are principles that aren’t debatable: love, community, sacrifice for the common good, to name a few. Instead, we are free and forgiven in Christ so that even when we disagree on deeply held convictions, we can still see the other as someone for whom Christ died.

Something that is missed when reading the story of Jesus and taxes is what he reveals about God and the world God so loves. We focus on Caesar. If Caesar’s image and title are imprinted on a base metal coin, a humanly created, literal graven image, where is God’s image to be found? Human creatures—the living beings whom God created in God’s own image, into whom God breathed the breath of life—are bearers of God’s image in the world.

Dear church, our citizenship is ultimately in heaven. But we are also citizens of this country—this flawed, fractious, unequal, imperfect union. In U.S. political history, people have yearned and given their lives for what they had hoped for—democratic life for the sake of the flourishing of all. One of the ways we serve our neighbor is to participate in civic life. Can we see Election Day as a unifying event when the whole country goes to the polls?

Vote.

Have you ever been so physically and mentally tired that all you want to do is sleep but you can’t? Usually, it’s the “to do” list whirling in my head. This month, my mind has been there but more overwhelmingly it has been all the beautiful hearts, hands, and feet that have been giving and growing in Jesus’ name. I find myself just smiling.

One of the questions we ask students in Vacation Bible School (VBS) is where they see God? Their answers are so sweet and innocent. God is in their food, in their friends, in their pets, and their swing sets.

As an adult, my God sightings this month are almost too many to count. When the ugliness in our world makes us question our faith or where God is, it gives me great peace to know that God is alive and well in the LOL community and we are working diligently to spread that message to all.

Here are just a few of my God sightings:

• I saw God in college and high school students who could be making money at summer jobs but took a week to serve alongside others with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) and in adults who took a week off work or jumped in after just retiring.
• I saw God in the courageous people who blocked hateful messages at Hamilton Pride and shared God’s unconditional love while marching and working our booth.
• I saw God in the people who serve each Sunday to create our worship services.
• I saw God in donated ice cream funds for ASP, VBS donations of snacks and craft, VBS donations piled high with underwear/socks/diapers/wipes for Butler County Children’s Services and in LOL’s gift of $1500 to ASP.
• I saw God in all our VBS leaders and helpers who smiled, encouraged, used their gifts, or stepped out of their comfort zone and gave of themselves to 70 students and each other, not to mention how they created, decorated and cleaned up like champions!
• I saw God in people who weren’t visible, but I know were holding together a busy family, or working hard to provide or care for a sick or elderly person or praying for our safety and God’s presence to be known in all we do or experience.
• I saw God in the leaders who stepped up to help organize ASP with laughter and skill when LOL staff couldn’t.
• I saw God in the Healing and Affirming Service. We acknowledged the hurt that has been caused by the church to the LGBTQ+ community and shared the life changing message of hope and love that is for all people.
• I saw God when our ASP crew shared the same daily meals as 20 people experiencing homelessness in Harlan County, KY at the Christ’s Hands facility.
•  I saw God in one of our littlest VBS students. Helpers at VBS wore Thrivent “Live Generously” shirts that had a sideways red heart. This child thought it was a chair. Her mom gently informed her that it was a heart. She said, “like Jesus sits in your heart.” She knew where we could find God!
• I saw God in the people who braved the heat during Cincinnati Pride to share the life-saving message that God loves ALL, no exceptions.

I really could go on and on. We are truly blessed with a faith community that uplifts, heals and shares as Jesus calls us to do.

Where do you see God today? What keeps you awake smiling? Praying along with you that the Holy Spirit continues to guide us to those precious moments.

Living, sharing, and celebrating God’s love in Jesus Christ with you,

Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation

Hello, my Lord of Life family! I recently joined you as we celebrated the life and love of our dear friend, Gary Glaab. It was wonderful to walk in the doors and be greeted by everyone as if I had been there every Sunday for the last few years, as opposed to someone deep in the seminary life.

It is a surreal thing to be still living so close while working in my internship for my ordination journey. I am still here, but it can at times feel like I’m a million miles away. The responsibility and time that internship asks of us does come at the cost of regular communion with the congregation that helped deliver me to the Church for candidacy in the first place.

Lord of Life is still my church and I deeply love all of you. As you may know, I showed up with my family at Lord of Life a decade ago. After a conversation with your brand-new (at the time) pastor, we started worshipping with you all. You drew us into a deeper relationship, and you made it possible for me to get more involved at LOL. I was fortunate enough to serve as a Evangelism Ministry Area Coordinator (MAC) for quite a few years, and through Pastor Lowell’s gentle nudging, and seeing our friend Corey Wagonfield navigate the challenges of seminary while maintaining a family, I eventually followed suit.

I am now serving at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mt. Healthy as a seminary intern and have been very fortunate and overjoyed to see some of my Lord of Life friends pop in to see me preach. Seeing you brightens my day! I am coming up on my first 6-month review and have been ruminating on my journey. Worshipping and celebrating with you on May 18 brought a smile to my face, even if it came at a time when we were gathered to reflect on a life well lived. Those days bring with them a wealth and range of emotions, but for Gary, it is hard to look back and not smile. He was a part of my faith journey and he makes everyone smile.

You all have supported me through this. As I write, I find myself sitting in a room at the seminary in Columbus. For us Trinity students, we travel here every now and again for week-long intensive courses. These come with times of reflection and times to connect with the Holy Spirit. It is in one of these moments I felt drawn to write to you all.

As Lord of Life prepares to say goodbye to Pastor Laura, next month and looks forward to meeting Nicole Keifer, our new seminary intern, let me grab the mic for a minute to say thank you. While my duties at my internship site keep me away from your doors, know I am always thinking about you. Lord of Life is an amazing place, filled with amazing people, and I count myself lucky to be counted as one of your number.

Through the lens of people like Gary, we see a reflection of our whole community. A community that cares for one another, uplifts one another, and supports one another. I feel your support and I love being a part of you. I love that you are a part of my journey into ordination and a call to pastoral leadership.

With Love,

Vicar Richard Ponton
Trinity Lutheran Church, Mt. Healthy

Training to be a Lutheran pastor is a four year degree with a blend of coursework while also serving and learning in the parish. We currently support our seminary student Richard Ponton with $5,000 per year toward education expenses. Thank you for your financial generosity that makes training ministry leaders a priority.

In this week’s blog post, two of the young adults on our mission trip with Appalachia Service Project (ASP) share some words about their experiences this week. You may remember Larkyn and Annabelle from last year’s ASP blog post. They’re back with more stories.

This past week on HGTV…

We can’t believe it has been five years since Lord of Life has participated in the Appalachia Service Project (ASP). ASP has been one of our favorite parts of summer and we look forward to each year. Every summer we get the honor of meeting new people, being in new environments, learning how to use new tools and construction equipment, and also growing closer as a church community.

This past week in Harlan KY, we worked with our group on removing rotting wood in several different aspects. This week has been a lot different from previous years because we are working the first week of the season. As the first-week crew, we are in charge of preparing the house for future work. It’s been a new experience since we are used to progressing significantly on a project or even revisiting a project from a previous week. But, this week we are discovering projects as we progress through the week.

We began our demolition by removing a back porch making it feel like real-life HGTV. We then moved on to removing things such as the band joist, fascia board, and soffit to prepare the house for future groups. After each layer was removed from one project, more projects were discovered, resulting in several delays. These delays are a blessing in disguise. Project delays allow us time to grow bonds with each other, the animals around us, and even the homeowners. This allows us to really get the full experience out of ASP because believe it or not, it’s not all about fixing houses.

Working with our homeowner has been a pleasure. This home was meant for our crew as there are at least 7 cats, 8 kittens, and 3 dogs. Playing with the animals is such a joy in our week and definitely helps to push through the long, heat-filled hours on the worksite. The homeowners are one of our favorite parts of ASP because it allows us to grow closer to the community and learn more about the county we are serving for the week. It also allows us to take time, reflect on our own lives, and be grateful for what we are blessed with.

Once again, we were paired with a new leader…Dean. He has supplied us with endless dad jokes, the best one so far being “Are you guys branching out or just going out on a limb” after a tree branch randomly fell right behind us. He also has an unbelievable amount of stories that he could tell for days, I don’t think there’s much he hasn’t done in life. He’s been so supportive in putting up with our uncontrollable laughter and love for pets. We couldn’t have asked for a better 5th-year leader.

At the end of the week, we couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to have been serving Central Appalachia Kentucky for half a decade now. The laughter, pets, and heart-filling repairs are something we will always look forward to each and every summer.

Larkyn Ripley and Annabelle King

ASP’s work is ongoing and inspirational. Don’t miss out on the progress and the stories throughout the summer.

To follow along with the Harlan County Projects that LOL started this week, follow the Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/ASPHarlan

Introducing ASP's Summer Blog Series!
This summer, we have two blog series by our Story Gathering Interns:

"Appalachian Honey" by Taylor Beam and "Aspire To Be" by Sarah Brassfield. These entries give a behind-the-scenes look into an ASP summer and give a glimpse into the power and magnitude of ASP's life-changing work!

Appalachian Honey Blog Series: https://asphome.org/2024/06/07/appalachian-honey-resilience/

"I hope to give y’all a taste of the honey this summer. I will work to translate the wondrous experiences, people, and quirks of Appalachia that are illuminated by a summer of service with ASP."

Aspire to Be Blog Series: https://asphome.org/2024/06/03/aspire-to-be-hellos-and-goodbyes/

"As I travel throughout Appalachia the next couple of months capturing moments and memories, I know I will hear many stories of people involved with ASP that will touch my heart and inspire me to become a better version of myself."

Recently, I’ve been meeting with Art Hupp about our plans for a new sign at our entrance on Tylersville. We’ve been talking about these plans for almost two years now, not just because designing a sign, getting permits and quotes, and building it is difficult; but because it has been so important to think about what our sign is there to do. Until a few years ago there were LED pixels displaying messages about upcoming activities. On really good days, all of those lights worked. When everything went according to plan, we counted on drivers catching as much information as they could as they sped by our campus. As the LED panels failed, the sign got more and more expensive to maintain, we resorted to putting up temporary worship times behind the yellowed plexiglass, and with the new addition on the front of the building, the old, battered sign looks especially out of date. It is time to change the way we show people we’re here.

The new sign will match the aesthetic of the front of the building. It won’t have any flashy messages or moving parts. It will serve the crucial function of marking us as Lord of Life Lutheran Church so people can see our name from the road and know they have arrived at the correct church as they pull into our parking lot. But the work of spreading our message has changed. There are a few ways this happens.

With our new addition, our building looks more like a church than it did before. When people see our 40-foot-tall new structure with a giant cross on top, they look us up online or on social media to find out who we are and more importantly, what we do. They watch our online worship, read about our outreach ministries, and often send us messages asking us what we believe about various topics. In some ways, this is the digital age equivalent of the flashing sign, and with more information than we could ever deliver before.

We spread the word in an even more meaningful way when we participate together in group outreach projects. People see us in the world being God’s hands and feet, which is a key component of our identity. They have a chance to interact with us together and individually and create relationships that offer another window into the love Lord of Life shines in the world.

As individuals, we are each influenced by God’s message we hear at church on Sunday mornings. As our hearts are changed and we’re filled with the light that recharges us, we go into the world with a renewed perspective and we share the light with everyone we meet. People notice that. Some of us are uncomfortable talking about our faith in our daily lives, but through our actions, we are being an example of God’s love, and on the off chance our faith home comes up in conversation, we are connecting more people to Lord of Life.

In last week’s blog, Pastor Lowell pointed to our rising attendance figures over the last five years. Not only has the work of spreading our message been effective, but our ability to share our light has grown exponentially. Each new face brings their own stories, gifts, viewpoints, and hearts full of and/or ready to accept and share God’s love.

What signs have you seen this week? How are you being a sign of God’s love?

Yours in Christ,
John Johns, Music Director

This June marks ten years since the Michelson family landed in West Chester and began ministry with the incredible people of Lord Of Life. What a wild ride it has been and continues to be as we live, share, and celebrate with all people in the name of Jesus!

As I reflect on this decade of love and ministry together in the 513, I could spend this blog totaling up the hours that we spent experiencing God in meaningful worship, transformational moments of serving, mind and heart-stretching learning moments, and focused prayer for one another, our community, and our world.

I could stun you with spreadsheets and data as we review the millions of dollars that you have generously given in offerings, tithes, gift cards, and fundraisers over the last ten years and highlight the hundreds of thousands of dollars we shared with dozens of ministries and community organizations that are changing the world for the better.

I could attempt to quantify the impact and joy of being a teaching parish for Lutheran seminaries. Still, there is no way to chart the mutual growth that has happened while we hosted five seminary intern pastors in our real-life ministry classroom of preaching, teaching, serving, and learning moments. We have been equally blessed by their time among us and the legacy of their love and leadership will pay dividends for generations to come here.

I could remind you of our shared vision to grow the staff, bring renewal to spaces in need of renovation and/or repurposing, and the building expansion through the Share the Light Capital Campaign, not to mention the essential leap into digital platforms when COVID unexpectedly shuttered our campus and onsite ministry.

I could thank you for the dozens of Bible and book studies, which challenged our thinking, strengthened our faith, and stirred us to greater love for God, our neighbors, and ourselves.

But rather than looking back, I want to focus on the beautiful moments unfolding around us right now!

Every single week, we experience a steady flow of people who come to see what is happening in this thriving community of faith. Since a year ago, 24 families have officially joined us in mission, serving alongside the countless others who call Lord of Life home and regularly find meaning and purpose in our life together. Worship attendance has sky-rocketed from 210 in 2019 to a weekly average of 455 so far this year! If you’ve been in worship over the last month, you may have also noticed that we have a handful of precious new little ones. Four babies have been born in our community over the past month!

Your financial generosity continues to fuel ministry here in powerful ways. Please continue to give throughout the summer months to sustain our momentum. If you haven’t given, please consider a reoccurring or one-time gift to Lord of Life. If you have questions about how or why to give, I would be thrilled to share about the countless ways your gifts strengthen the church and alter your life.

As we assembled the Lifeline newsletter for June, I was captivated by the many ways God is leveraging our gifts and energies for serving this summer. Page after page is filled with moments of us using our hands and voices to be about the work of God. Over the next few months, Lord of Life people will help make homes warmer, safer, and drier with Appalachia Service Project (ASP), share a free hot meal on Tuesday evenings with Stepping Forward, make sure hungry school kids are fed during the summer months through Summer Lunch, and senior high youth will party down in New Orleans as they sing, sweat, and serve alongside 15,000 other youth at the ELCA National Youth Gathering! This Saturday, we’ll kick off a month of Pride activities in Hamilton reminding the LGBTQIA+ community—and everyone we encounter—of their innate value as children of God.

We don't do any of these things to earn God’s favor or to brag about how incredible we are. Instead, “We love because God first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). It really is that simple. There is One who calls each of us by name and loves us with an unconditional and eternal love. How can we keep that Good News to ourselves?

I praise God for you!

Pastor Lowell