Notes on Beloved Community

Martin Luther was passionate about the book of Scripture we call 1 Peter, which we are hearing during this Easter season. First Peter 2 says, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” This is where the Lutheran doctrine of the priesthood of all believers comes from.

I love holding the shepherd’s staff that Davorka brings in from her sheep-raising days. But as your pastor, I am not your shepherd in any kind of “authority figure” sense. We all share ONE shepherd over us, and that is Christ. Since we are equals in our baptism, we share the responsibility to be priests and shepherds for each other - to speak to each other with God’s voice, which is the voice of love.

It takes time to slow down and really feel the love we bear our fellow humans, the real people right around us; and then it takes an effort of vulnerability to express that love, to translate it into a kind word, touch, or look. These are small things love asks of us, but they cost much because we are self-involved humans. But with that cost, comes great reward. We call this reward “the beloved community.”

with love, Pastor Chelsea