Messiah Lutheran Church, Knoxville TN

After a long day of air travel delays, I finally arrived in the Twin Cities at 1:30am Monday and got checked into my hotel, only to collapse on the bed to grab a bit of sleep. 

Today, Monday is all about settling in, getting registered for the Assembly and greeting all kinds of folks, friends and acquaintances, from throughout the years.

That’s part of the fun, you know. The Lutheran church is a close-knit community and whenever it gathers it is like a big, family reunion.  Come to an event like this and it doesn’t take long to find connections with folks you meet. For example, at lunch today, I sat next to the Bishop of Upstate New York. Her and her husband, also a pastor, knew Pastor Carl Olin very well. Of course, Pastor Olin is the beloved former transition Pastor at Messiah. Last night I sat on the airport shuttle next to the pastor from Oregon whose story was shared via the Goodsoil video, which I showed at Messiah. I’ve also already bumped into a few Southern Seminary alums, the former Assistant to the Bishop from the Southeastern Synod, and of course, most of the voting members from the Southeastern Synod. All of these encounters elicit conversations like, “Oh you’re from ___________, do you know _____________?” Or, “Long time no see. How are you? How’s your family. Have you seen so and so lately.”

There’s something beautiful about a big family. It is full of so much history, shared experiences, love for each other, and yes, often times, conflict. But, at the end of the day, family is family. A family loves, forgives, and seeks always to stay united.

May this big ELCA family reunion in Minneapolis seek nothing less.