FROM DEACONESS JESSICA’S  DESK:

Salem Lutheran Church…where friends become family…

     When we first heard of Salem and I saw this phrase on the website my cynical-self thought, “Where we want our friends to become our family.”  You see…in the four churches I had the privilege of being part of in the past…this was not the reality.  It may have been the desire, but not the reality…but Salem Lutheran Church is different, and the longer we are here, the more amazed I am by this loving family of ours.

     To the church…I mean it absolutely should happen, but it is not a natural characteristic…and yet…I bet most people would say they feel welcome at our congregation.  I have to admit this is something I am still working on getting better at…but you are all great examples.

     Never before have I been part of a church where people are eager to help make things happen.  We needed someone to be in charge of VBS…done.  We needed someone to be in charge of Sunday School and teachers too…yep.  We needed a couple of groups of people to help with youth programming…got it.  We need some people to help with landscaping…ok.  What about someone to stain the ark…finished.  I could go on forever…the people in the nursery, elders, board members, trustees, Bible Study leaders, money counters, our finance committee who take care of the books (to me this would be dreadful), or those who keep our kitchen stocked…the list goes on forever.  

     Never before have I been part of a church where people actually welcomed people who they don’t know Never before have I been to a church where people just didn’t have enough time to visit between services…and also didn’t mind kid’s being kids.  And the hugs that happen in the narthex and gym…Unbelievable!  It is like we didn’t actually see each other the week before.  It makes my heart happy.

     Never before have I seen people give the pastor knucks after a particularly good service, or pray over him when he was ready to have surgery.  And never have we had so many people offer to help us though tough times like our family here does.

     I guess what I want to say is that our church family brings me joyful tears.  Are we sinners…absolutely!  Do we and will we continue to do things wrong?  Yep…but don’t all families have that?  We are an amazing group of broken and sinful Jesus-loving people who are trying to do our best to live according to His standards and who are super thankful for Christ’s gift of forgiveness because we know we do fail.  

     And you know what…this beautiful church family of ours…it would not be what it is without you!  God made each of us different and gave each of us a set of skills to further his kingdom.  We need each and every one of your gifts and talents to make this church what it is…and God knew that!  His plan is good and we are blessed by it!  

     Thank you for being the amazing family that you are.  I pray that God would continue to bring more people to Him through our church family…because we are nothing without HIM and we want nothing more than for others to love Him more each and every day.  

Dear Lord, please continue to bless our church family and all who enter here, that we would know you better and love you more each and every day.  Amen

With great gratitude to our Lord for our church family!

Deaconess Jessica Feldmann