If you know me, you won’t be shocked to know that sometimes I get my tasks done at the very last minute. It isn’t always because I didn’t plan ahead. Sometimes Pastor Lowell and I have a last-minute idea about worship and we find ourselves rushing to pull it off. Sometimes I overestimate my ability to get something done in the ample time I have. And sometimes I have done my best to plan and execute a project and forces outside my control work against me. Rush.

This weekend, I’m really excited to be in Denver with Brian playing for the wedding of Olivia Seiller, Angie’s daughter, and her soon-to-be husband, Jack. If you’ve planned, helped to plan, or been involved with a wedding, you know how much thought and preparation goes into it. I’m only responsible for the music, and I can tell you that my own planning had to start months ago. Since I’m not on my home turf, I had to contact the venue to see if they had a piano. They didn’t. I found a place to rent a keyboard for the weekend. Do I need my own amplification? I contacted the DJ to see if we could share. Can Brian travel with his violin? Do I own dress shoes? You might think I’m kidding on that last one…Rush.

Those are just my tasks. And my best efforts aside, I still found myself panicking because I hadn’t heard from the piano rental place in a while, learning new music at the last minute because I decided I liked a song I just heard, getting things ready for other people to lead worship on Sunday, writing a blog (the one you’re reading now), and… throwing a pair of Brian’s shoes in the suitcase for me to wear because no, I don’t own a pair of dress shoes. Seriously. Rush.

I can only imagine how much work other people have put into their own parts of this event that will be so special for Olivia and Jack. Rush.

Yet at some point before the prelude starts, all of that frantic energy has to give way.

In music, there’s an essential moment before anyone enters the sanctuary: tuning the space. You sit down in an unfamiliar room, place your hands on the keys, and play a chord or two to hear the sound. You aren’t performing; you’re simply listening to how the sound carries, finding the room's resonance, and settling into the stillness.

It’s a gentle reminder of where our focus actually belongs. In life—and in church life—it’s easy to get consumed by logistics, schedules, and checklists. But worship, like a wedding, isn't about orchestrating a flawless production. It’s about receiving God’s grace, which is already present long before we show up.

Before the chatter begins and the processional starts, that holy pause resets everything. The scramble to travel, the borrowed shoes, and the rental keyboards fade into the background. All that truly matters is the sacred promise Olivia and Jack are about to make before God and their community.

Whether we’re gathered on Sunday morning back home or in Denver this weekend, the invitation is the same: stop rushing, take a breath, and let the room be still. God is already here.

Yours in the stillness,

John

This is the time of year that, as I put out a fresh batch of hummingbird sugar-water, I wonder if it will be the last time for the season. I want to be sure to leave the fuel that sustains them on their journey out for as long as they need it. The hummingbirds will travel on their 1500 - 2000 mile journey through America, across the Gulf to Mexico and South America. They drink as much as they can to double their size to travel the distance. The sweet nectar is their lifeline.

A hummingbird doesn’t look at a map, and it doesn’t wait for signs in the sky to tell it that winter is coming. It responds to an internal, instinctual pull to migrate. These little creatures, that weigh less than a nickel, embark on an incredible journey.

Faith can operate on a similar internal compass. It is the quiet, persistent nudge that tells us there is more to our existence than the immediate horizon. We cannot see our destination, and we certainly can’t see the path across the expanse of our lives, yet we are pulled towards hope and purpose in Jesus even when the journey is difficult.

One of the amazing parts of a hummingbird’s journey is its endurance. They cross the ocean against headwinds and cresting waves. Their little wings beat 80 times per second as they skim across the water.

When our faith is wavering and the waves are crashing, we often assume we are doing something wrong because it feels difficult. We wonder why we are tired, why we have doubts, and why progress feels slow. Fighting the headwinds doesn’t mean you are failing, it means you are moving forward, even if it’s hard. It is completely natural to have struggles and doubts when it comes to our faith. Like the hummingbird, each little beat of its wing moves them forward, God is continually with us in our steps forward on our faith journey.

We are never flying alone. If God’s hand is steady enough to guide a tiny bird to the far side of the sea, God will hold us through our transitions and carry us further than our own strength ever could.

What fuel do you need to move forward in hope and purpose in Jesus? Quiet time for prayer, Sunday morning worship, a conversation over coffee with a friend, sweet chocolate 😊, a daily devotion, time outdoors or with music, stepping into a Bible or Book study, etc. Just one little step forward…

As Psalm 139:9-10 reminds us:

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."

Journeying with you in faith,
Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation

My family has been going to the shores of Anna Maria Island in Florida for over 30 years. My sweetie Tera and I wrapped up my final days of sabbatical recently with another week in the blazing sun on the white sand beaches there. Nestled on the edge of the Southwest Channel connecting Tampa Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, Anna Maria is a slice of paradise far away from the high rise condos and traffic bustle of other coastal communities.

If you’ve been there, you know the beauty and various personalities of Anna Maria, Holmes, Manatee, Bradenton, Cortez, and Coquina beaches. Each one is lovely in their own distinct way. Each time we go, I am eager to explore these familiar places and also discover how the island has changed.

One of my deep joys includes seeing how the tides and winds have reshaped the island since my last trip. While so much remains the same, there are always shifts in dunes and shorelines. This was especially noticeable on this visit since I hadn’t been there for several years.

You may remember that October 2024 brought back-to-back hurricanes which devastated the area. Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton handed Anna Maria and western Florida a lethal blow from which they are still recovering. Billions of dollars in damage and loss of lives are fresh wounds in the community. Several businesses and homes are still under repair, while other plots of land have been wiped clean for a fresh start. Through it all, the waves of the Gulf continue to roll ashore in their life-giving cycle of ebb and flow.

My return to Lord of Life has me filled with excitement. Not only am I thrilled for our moments of reunion and connection, but September brings anticipation as we lean into familiar rhythms of autumn life together. Sure, there are favorite places to land with people and patterns we love, but there are also a variety of new places and patterns for us to discover together. I invite you to consider:

How are the winds of creation and the breath of God reshaping you?
How is the constant ebb and flow of baptismal promises bringing you renewal?
How do the storms of life reshape your heart, mind, and life?
If they’ve destroyed you, how is God working in you to build for the next season?

Thank you again for the gift of time away for rest and renewal. It was a tremendous blessing that filled and fueled me. I’m excited to explore and discover the landscape of our lives in Christ with you this year.

Please be sure to join me on Sunday, September 20, 5:30 - 7:30 pm for a Summer Sabbatical Celebration. We’ll share a meal together and then settle in for a sabbatical recap. Please RSVP by emailing Jillian (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Being shaped by God’s love,

Pastor Lowell

I had planned to write on another subject but my world, along with our country, was devastated to learn of the death of Dolly Parton this week. When we look for modern examples of love, joy, and kindness in action, few figures shine as brightly as Dolly Parton. While she is globally celebrated as a music icon, her true legacy is rooted in how she lived her life. It’s like Dolly picked all nine of the Fruit of the Spirit stars from the basket and the Holy Spirit immediately began working. She modeled love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—creating a profound impact on millions of lives worldwide.

It feels like there are so few people that can bring everyone together in this broken world, but Dolly could. My heart is heavy from this loss. Yet, what a challenge to continue her legacy of unconditional love for humanity. She used her platform to unite rather than divide, consciously choosing to spread harmony.

I’ll admit that when I was younger, I judged Dolly on her appearance and didn’t give her the time of day. I couldn’t understand how she could dress that way while women had worked so hard to overcome stereotypes and to be judged for our accomplishments, not our looks. Thankfully, I have learned that we need to celebrate our differences and you certainly can’t judge someone by their looks. She was incredibly smart, a master of marketing and business savvy. She was also the epitome of championing women and lifting them up.

She dressed how she thought was beautiful. I love her style inspiration story of the woman in town who had yellow hair piled on her head, red nails, and high heeled shoes. Dolly thought she was the prettiest thing she had ever seen. She would say to her Momma, “she’s so pretty”, and her mom would say, “she’s just trash” and Dolly thought to herself, “that’s what I want to be when I grow up!” Always her authentic self, she constantly demonstrated that she loved and cared for all no matter their appearance or their life circumstances.

We could easily spend hours talking about the way she embraced everyone, her quick wit, infectious laugh, unmatched grace, and her life changing generosity of not only her spirit and time but financially too.

Dolly may be gone but we can continue her legacy of living and loving like Jesus. Dolly’s faith was always central to who she was and she shared that freely. WWJD (What would Jesus do?) became a massive merchandising phenomenon in the 1990s, driven heavily by colored bracelets that were to remind us to think about this before we acted. For these coming weeks, we can add to WWJD, WWDD (What would Dolly do?) because I’m sure they would mirror each other.

While we may not share her musical talent, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can strive to embody the Fruit of the Spirit that we so dearly loved seeing in her. Let’s make her proud and be an active force of love, uplifting the vulnerable and giving every child a fair start in life. She reminds us that no matter what our background, our greatest calling is simply to love our neighbors well.

Yours in Christ,
Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation

*If you wish to honor Dolly by continuing her legacy, please visit https://imaginationlibrary.com/ to donate to her cause or to sign your child up for Imagination Library where they will recieve a free book a month until they turn 5 years old. 

Gratitude and generosity are not just polite responses; they are the very baseline of our life together in Christ. Today, as a ministry staff, we find ourselves in a unique moment of transition. We are living in the holy space between the restorative pause of a sabbatical and the daily, faithful work of keeping this congregation moving forward.

Philippians 1:3-5

"I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now."

Reflecting on Paul's words to the Philippians, we are reminded that God always provides exactly who and what the church needs for the journey. When Pastor Lowell stepped away for a season of renewal, God brought us a leader who stepped into the gap with an open heart. Over these past several weeks, Mary didn't just fill a seat or watch the clock. She shared the gospel, carried our daily burdens, celebrated our joys, and offered us her full presence. That is true gospel generosity—giving of oneself freely for the sake of the neighbor.

Saying goodbye is a natural, bittersweet part of our Lutheran tradition of call and ministry. It serves as a healthy reminder that we are all stewards, not owners, of God’s church. Mary’s time with us was a deliberate gift, and our response to that gift is deep, profound gratitude. We are inherently richer for the ministry we shared, even in this brief season.

Prayer

Gracious God, we praise you for your constant faithfulness to this staff and congregation. Thank you for sending Mary to walk with us, lead us, and ease our anxieties during this season of sabbatical and growth. We are immensely grateful for her wisdom, her steady leadership, and the generosity of spirit she showed our community every single day. As she leaves this place, bless her next steps, her family, and her ongoing ministry. Keep us generous in our own work, and prepare our hearts to welcome Pastor Lowell back from sabbatical with joy. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Thank you Pastor Mary!

With gratitude from the LOL Council, Staff, and Congregation

Do you remember a few weeks ago I wrote about the sweater I was working on? I’m still working on it. I’d love to say it has gone swimmingly. When I started working on it, I was asking advice from Jen, my good friend who knits. The response Jen gave me the most was “there is no wrong way to knit.”

Not long after my last post, having completed dozens of what should have been identical rows, I decided to count my stitches to make sure I was still on the right track. I discovered I had several stitches too many on one arm. I put the sweater down for a moment and really thought about my options. It would have been impractical to try to count every stitch in every row until I figured out where the stitches got added. I was too far along to pull everything out and start over. I decided to just keep going, decreasing my stitches over the next few rows until I was back to the right number.

I texted Jen and said “remember when you told me there was no wrong way to knit? Challenge accepted. Here’s what happened …” Her first response was “LOL.” Then after a few moments of typing bubbles at the bottom of my messages, she sent, “you didn’t knit wrong. You Leveled Up. That is exactly what a knitter who has knitted for years would have done.”

Whoa. The sense of relief I felt was palpable. I had accepted that, while I was going to finish the sweater, it was going to be unwearable. But Jen helped me realize it was never going to be perfect. Accepting the mistakes and working to move forward from them is just part of the process.

Have you ever felt that same panic when you realized you made a mistake? We worry that our flaws—our impatience, our hasty words, or the times we’ve simply "gotten it wrong"—render ourselves “unwearable.” We try to live perfectly, fearing that extra stitch (or stitches) will be the only thing anyone sees.

But the truth of our faith is much like Jen’s advice: there is no “wrong” way to be a child of God. We are not expected to be perfect patterns; we are created to be loved in the midst of our complexity. God doesn't wait for us to unravel our mistakes and start over before extending grace. Instead, God takes our dropped stitches, our knots, and our uneven rows, and weaves them into something complete, whole, and beautiful. Our quirks are not defects; they are the unique textures of a life lived in faith. When we stumble, we aren’t failing—we are leveling up. We are learning that grace is not about the absence of mistakes, but the courage to keep knitting forward, trusting that we are held, loved, and redeemed exactly as we are.

Yours in the Journey,
John Johns, Music Director