Pentecost weekend was a powerful time of worship, renewal of promises, and affirmation of discipleship. Saturday I was honored to again preach and preside with Pastor Moises Carrasquillo for First Communions and Confirmations at First Sagrada Familia Lutheran in Garland. It was a blessed day of worship en ingles y en espanol as we celebrated the commitment of these young people and their parents and godparents (padrina/o). Grateful for this annual opportunity.
Across the synod we also celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit while also bidding godspeed to faithful leaders. At Holy Trinity Lutheran, Irving the Rev. Gus Vinajeras concluded his service to the people of Santa Maria in Exile who have become part of the bi-lingual community of Holy Trinity/Santísima Trinidad. A new thing birthed out of painful schism. We have now recovered the Santa Maria community to the ELCA and we rejoice that from this schism has come ministry multiplication. We will miss Pastor Gus and his leadership.
Finally on Sunday morning also I had the honor of presenting my oldest for Affirmation of Baptism at her congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Worth. She affirmed her faith along with her fellow confirmands, with godparents and family alongside her. A significant milestone for her and for our family. Also I was blessed to witness a double baptism of siblings whose parents connected to the congregation during Covid because of their online presence. It was a day of joy and I thank her pastors, the Rev. Will Foster and the Rev. Kendra Mohn, and the volunteers who prepared the day and the festivities.
Joy and spirit upon us. Tonight the Conference of Bishops meets to do difficult discernment and conversation. I will report more on that and the situation in the Sierra Pacific Synod on Tuesday in our weekly news. #NTNL #InMissionTogether