June 2025

From The Pastor:

Summer truly is a gift from God. However, living at the beach frequently feels as if we experience summer throughout the year. 

In our liturgical tradition, the word “Pentecost” reminds us of the coming of the Holy Spirit. In a more practical sense, it also reminds us that summer is here. Further, as we focus on the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we also come to understand that summer offers a number of spiritual opportunities

  1. Most obviously, summer is a time to renew and reshape our spiritual lives. Leisure is really the experience of free time. With the longer days of summer, we can use this time to reflect on the wonders of God’s creation and on God’s gifts impact our lives.
  2. Summer may also be a time to reflect on our response to God’s gifts. Using our time to serve is one way to consider how leisure shapes our lives. However, we can also take the opportunity to give to the causes that concern us the most even if we are away from home.
  3. Summer is certainly a time for relationships. If you remember your own life, you probably remember spending summer hours with relatives and friends who live in different places.
  4. Travel during the summer months widens our horizons and enables us to gain greater empathy for those who live in different circumstances.
  5. As our world view develops, we may come to make new friends or to renew old acquaintances.
  6. Summer activities also provide time for exercise and a focus on appropriate dietary issues. Often this means that neglected aspects of our lives become more important as we focus our time on these activities.
  7. Worship is also an important part of our lives throughout the year. During summer, our worship experiences gain a tone of informality as we celebrate ways the Spirit works to shape our lives.

Obviously, this list could extend far beyond the E-News, but if you have read this far, you understand the point—summer is a time for renewal and for furthering the patterns of the Spirit that have already shaped our lives. As we begin the month of June, we renew our hopes and dreams for St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. May God be with us as we live in God’s blessings and as we share those blessings with others!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Scott