Summertime is a special time to explore faith by participating in Vacation Bible School or church retreats. Pentecost brings us a familiar lectionary with favorite stories and lessons from Jesus’ ministry. It’s a time of reconnecting to Jesus: Teacher, Healer, and Friend. This summer has been an extra special summer for Holy Trinity and Imanuel as we endeavored to do two major undertakings in two short weeks. First, we engaged in our annual Vacation Bible School from July 7-10, learning how much “Jesus loves me!” This year, we realize we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of our congregations joining together for Vacation Bible School! What a remarkable history growing the faith of our children as one church family! By the effort of many individuals over the years, we have achieved this accomplishment. Thank you to all of you! This year, I especially want to thank everyone who participated in making VBS so much fun! I am grateful for the help of Bonnie and Larry Sanders, Somchai and Penny Williams, Ann and Naomi Stephen, Shirley Jackson, Jill and Hadley Larson, Ade and Tommy Monareh, their daughter, Annie, Ethmy, MacArthur, and Nico Pakasi, Abel Bororing, and Dan Scammon, as well as the Wednesday Barbecue crew, Scott and Leslie Carson, and their assistant Ethan. I am grateful for Pastor Luther and Pastor Esther, who both led us in special messages and prayer, as well as song and dance. What a gift to have your ministry here with us!
Holy Trinity and Imanuel also celebrated our third trip together to the ELCA National Youth Gathering last week in New Orleans, July 16-20, 2024. This was the first time young adults were invited to attend this event, which only meets every third year, but was canceled three years ago. The group included Lara Scammon, Stephanie Goupil, Anggiat Pandapotan, Anggrin Sihombing, Abel Bororing, Nathan Goupil, Nico Pakasi, Elianne Bororing, Kelly Mandagi, Avani Pakasi, Verabelle Pakasi, and Jeremiah Sihotang. With great spiritual and financial support from both Holy Trinity and Imanuel, and a kind sending prayer from Pastor Don Larsen, our group of twelve explored our Christian faith through interactive sessions and discussions about the kind of people God “created us to be.” Through personal testimonies and visits to booths set up to help us explore faith and learn about Lutheran service organizations, we discovered Christians who have had to be brave and remain authentic to the Christian faith in order to be free to work for the Lord’s purpose. This means remaining faithful to the Lord, even if serving Him disrupts aspects of the world which oppress people and limit their lives. We were encouraged to follow Jesus’ example to love others for who they are, to encourage people to keep going when life is difficult, and to work hard for all to be treated with dignity; as Jesus would do. Our youth packaged meals at the Second Harvest Food Bank for children in need, and our young adults painted inside the Bethlehem Lutheran church, or worked to clean up trash and serve sandwiches to the homeless. We return renewed in our resolve to live with God’s purpose leading us daily. The Lord showed us His mercy and love by sharing this trip with us and caring for our every need the whole way. This is His plan for all of us. God’s work will have its challenges, but the Lord will always be with us to complete His purpose for us.
For me this summer, these experiences have helped me renew joy in my circumstances. Jesus wants us to come to Him, spend time with Him, and learn from Him how much He loves all of us. Pastor Luther shared an important message about Jesus letting the little children come to Him at the Eucharist Service. He reminded us that the disciples thought the children should not bother Jesus, who was so busy with His important ministry. However, Jesus reminded them that the children are essential in God’s kingdom. We are all to be like a child in our faith, trusting in our loving Lord. At our baptism, we are promised by our church family to be nourished in our faith, and to be guided in our relationship with our Savior. We are all precious in His sight, and He delights in us growing closer to Him. God wants us to spend time with Him and to hear these Bible stories and lessons again and again, for they are ever new for all of us. We say “Word of God, Word of Life,” because the Lord knew we would need His Word to uplift and restore us for His purpose. These stories and lessons build my faith and trust in the Lord’s leading in my life. I pray that as you actively pursue this summertime season of Pentecost, you also will be renewed in your faith, filled with the Lord’s joy and peace, ready to trust Him in all of your circumstances. And perhaps, you also will be inspired in your own way to welcome the “little children” in your life to the Lord. May the peace of the Lord be with you! Lara Scammon
Photos of VBS 2024
Photos courtesy of Tomy Monareh and Lara Scammon
Photos from the ELCA National Youth Gathering
Photos courtesy of Lara Scammon
