On Saturday, people gathered to lay hands on me and pray for the Holy Spirit to fill me with the Spirit-power I need to serve as pastor and teacher in the United Church of Christ. I do feel different now. Love transforms us. Love changed me when I saw so many faces shining with joy and people moved to the point of tears by the service. I am well-loved.  May this knowledge empower me to love well.

This coming Sunday we will be talking about the priesthood of all believers, a phrase from 1 Peter. I may now be an ordained minister of the Word and sacrament, but I preach to a roomful of priests. As priests, how should we relate to God and to the world around us? What does it mean to be the one in between? And where does the author of Mark give a little wink to this doctrine of the priesthood of all believers?

May you be ever aware of God’s presence with you, never departing from you in your greatest joy or most intense sorrow. May you know that God dwells with us, and may this give you peace.

Pastor Laura

P.S. Some written version of Sunday’s sermon is posted to my blog each Wednesday. You can find my blog at https://laurakae.substack.com/. If you become a subscriber, an email will be delivered to you on Wednesday morning with the entire blog post in it, and you will no longer have to revisit the website after you subscribe.