My colleagues,
In times of joy and in times of crisis, we need a strong community. The beautiful mystery is that in Christ, we are siblings, children of a loving God, and Christ unites us in ways we don’t even know.
Sometimes God gives us a tangible way to live into that unity.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen is inviting us to unite in support of the Rev. Melissa Melnick, pastor of Tapestry, a synodically-authorized worshiping community that gathers at Oak Grove Lutheran in Richfield. Tragedy struck Melissa’s family, and Bishop Ann envisions a way that we can communally support her by taking away some of the anxiety related to serving a start-up community of people who gather at the margins.
Please watch this five-minute video to hear Pastor Melissa’s story and Bishop Ann’s invitation. If you already have a strong sense of the Tapestry community, you can start the video at 2:43. But for a full understanding of the ministry and the need, you can watch the entire video.
Feel free to share this in worship or with the appropriate group within your congregation. It may lead to deeper conversations about how we are church together.
If you are moved to contribute financially, please follow the instructions at the end of the video (or below). And, please keep Pastor Melissa’s ministry in your prayer.
United in Christ,
Rev. Deb Stehlin
Director of Evangelical Ministry
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA
To send a donation:
Minneapolis Area Synod
ATTN: Tapestry Support
122 West Franklin Avenue, suite 600
Minneapolis, MN 55406
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