Let's talk

Welcome to the Pine Knot News Faith and Religion page. The point of it (as I understand it) is to offer reasonable and coherent access to the faith God brought to life, and to be in conversation about how faith can be real and matter in today’s world.

I imagine the faith leaders who submit their prayerfully shaped meditations will bring their own faith traditions and perspectives to the ideas we will share here each time. Many of us will come with these thoughts rooted in the way Jesus brought faith to life, but I hope other faithful traditions will find voice here as well.

It is delightful to be the first to renew yet another tradition from the “old” Pine Knot: a place where we can discuss how faith matters in the face of the world around us, without promoting or advertising one community over another. These articles will be on this page with “ministry” ads for church services, etc., but these words will hopefully promote respectful thought and discussion, and prove encouraging.

It is also a delight for me to have the opportunity to share a few thoughts of hope and life God delivers to all people.

That delight flows because I believe in God who is radically inclusive, and I pray we can live in that inclusion. I believe in God who desperately loves every facet of the universe, and I pray we can live in that love. I believe in God who is already defeating evil of every kind, and I pray we can live in that strength. I believe in God who soothes every fear, and I pray we live in that comfort.

I pray these things for us because the world around us is trying to sell us exclusion, hate, defeat and fear. I pray these things for us because too many leaders, institutions, businesses and social forces are trying to manipulate us to vote and buy and sometimes even pray divisions between us, mistrust among us, scarcity through us, anger in the midst of us.

I pray these things for us because God is strength in the face of every weakness. I pray these things for us so that together we can live hope, practice community service, offer inclusive family, ample joy and practical love; gifts from a Loving Creator, abundantly delivered. I pray these things because I believe connecting to the Divine awakens the Godly gifts already at work in our lives; I believe prayer matters.

If this page can promote such an attitude we will have done a good and Godly thing together. My final prayer this time around is that I have begun that journey with all of you.

Pastor Chris Hill is the Senior Pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Cloquet.

– New faces at Our Savior’s –

Two new staff members were installed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on September 21st. Jessica Pedersen was installed as the Children, Youth and Family Director by Pastors Chris Hill and Karen Linne. Rev. Karen Linne was installed as Associate Pastor by Deacon Brenda Tibbetts, Assistant to the Bishop Tom Aitken of the Northeast Minnesota Synod,

Jessica hails from Austin, Minnesota and is a recent graduate of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, with a religion major. This congregation will be Jessica’s first official position in lay ministry. Jessica lives in Duluth.

Pastor Karen is a graduate of Bemidji State University and received her Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul. She has served congregations in Mahtowa and Pike Lake, Minnesota and served in specialized ministry as a chaplain at Essentia St. Mary’s Hospital and Augustana Health Care Center in Moose Lake, Minn. Pastor Karen lives in Duluth.

Both Jessica and Pastor Karen look forward to sharing in ministry with Sr. Pastor Chris Hill and the

congregation of Our Savior’s Lutheran.

Attention area churches!

Support the monthly Faith and Religion page and share your information with community members at the same time. Contact Rose at Pine Knot News, 218-213-1231, or come by the office to set up a monthly church listing with all your essential information.