Beloved of God,

Seeds are remarkable things. In recent weeks a variety of them have been sown in little containers on the south-facing window sill above our kitchen table.  As we gather for each meal we mark their progress, watching in wonder as the little green shoots poke their way up through the soil and begun taking on characteristics that reveal their inner selves.

Science can explain how it happens, of course; can map out the unique architecture of their DNA, predict the growth cycle, describe the soil medium that best encourages growth, graph the timeframe from seed to harvest.  Yet, it remains, in my mind, a miracle that something which will produce fruit prolific enough to feed and nurture our family comes in such a small, unpretentious package.

There are several important “seed” projects have been growing in our congregation, nurtured and tended by small groups of leaders.  This month, one of those is being brought out for all of us to see.  The Church Safety Committee has been hard at work developing a policy which will help ensure the personal safety and well being of vulnerable members of our community.  You all have received a letter regarding this, and are invited to participate in forums following worship on each of the four Sundays in June.  I urge you to come.  The issues raised by this topic touch each one of our lives.  I’m grateful for the work Janet Taylor, Nicole Klinemeier, Margot Massey, Marcia Olson, and Bob Wightman have done in preparing this conversation.

Another seed project is the ongoing development of our presence on the World Wide Web.

A core group has begun working with web designer Erik Steen on developing a Web presence that will enable our outreach and interface with the growing community of internet users.  Bob and Lindie Wightman began this journey on our behalf 5+ years ago, and it’s exciting to be embarking on a next generation process with the help of Steve Bernd, Joey DiJulio, Sonja Outlaw, Dustin Smith, and Dave Ward.  Look for new fruit toward the end of summer.

A third project I want to mention has its origins beyond our congregation, but within the larger church communion of which we are part.  It’s called Tour de Revs. In a nutshell, Tour de Revs is a seed sown by the Spirit that found fertile soil in the minds and hearts of three ELCA pastors, all friends, and has grown into an incredible odyssey:  From May 13 – August 20^th these three pastors are traveling 13,000 miles over 3 months on a costume built bamboo bike built for three (a “triplet” custom made by Craig Calfee: www.calfeedesign.com ), with a goal of raising 5 million for the ELCA Hunger program.  Their route takes them into each one of the 65 synods of the ELCA.  They will be in Seattle on July 2nd and Peace Lutheran will be serving as host for a public gathering that evening. We’re hoping to tap into Seattle’s cycling community with this event, as well as area churches and other interested folks.  More details will be forthcoming—but I encourage you to put this on your calendar.  For more background information on this amazing tour, go to: www.tourderevs.org.

The Spirit of God is afoot in the world, scattering Good News like seed into our lives, and who knows that will come of it? Sometimes we witness that seed being flung from God’s hand and finding fertile soil; and we do our best to tend the seed, support the conditions that will enable its growth.  But, as Jesus’ parable suggests, at times we simply marvel, dumbfounded, at  how the Spirit is working to bring about a harvest which will nourish the world.

Let’s keep our eyes open for seeds of the Spirit within and beyond our community this summer!

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Erik