“Are you breathing?” Someone asked me a couple of Sundays ago. I confess, the summer has been a whirlwind of quick, gasping breaths and long, deep restorative moments of breathing as the days have flown by. When the last shout of “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” had been lifted, I looked to the summer schedule and thought to myself, “how did I let this happen?’ My wife would tell you that I loved every minute of it. Perhaps. But I did get a bit tired of living out of a suitcase and/or backpack a time or two. From Adventure Camp to Pastor Tony’s send-off to the CRASH mission trip to a youth gathering meeting to Tanzania to vacation to a concert at US Bank Stadium to experience the host building for the youth gathering to the visit of a college friend to the last final weeks of August to prepare for the Fall. The summer was fuller than usual.
In a moment of pure joy, our delegation to Tanzania, experienced the beautiful gift of hospitality and love of our siblings at our sister churches – Samaria, Neema, Galilaya, and Kijenge.
Fall at Ascension brings about the sights and sounds of a community alive and fully returning to routines and schedules around the school year. The sanctuaries fill in the rest of the way and the joyful noise of children praising the Lord come in every decibel. It is a time for invitations to friends and neighbors who might be looking for a spiritual home. The gift of talented musicians and livestreams and communion offered every Sunday in both English and Spanish languages offers so much to the community around us.
September at Ascension is pure joy and all life to the glory of God. Worship returns to our program year schedule on September 13th, with worship in English at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. and worship in Spanish at 10:45 a.m. JAM, BLAST, JUMP, JOLT, and CRASH all return the week of September 13th. And if you are unsure of one or more of the acronyms for ministry among our children and junior and senior high school students – keep reading – all is explained later in this newsletter. What a gift it is to share in the leadership of this church as one of your pastors!
Claim your seat. Find your place to serve. Bring your worship to the sanctuaries of Ascension and let your voice join others to the glory of God. September is shaping up to be all that we would expect Ascension to be. We will gather in worship with choirs and bands and instruments tuned. Handbells will ring and children’s sermons will go too long (at least until Pastor Tony returns). We will serve God through organizations like the Waukesha Food Pantry, Healing Hearts, Family Promise. Ministries among our young people will relaunch with all of the energy and enthusiasm we expect to be on hand. If you need help finding your place in this ministry, ask a pastor – we will happily help connect you to a place to service to the glory of God.
Last month, I wrote about the experience Sheri Greger and I had on our trip to North Carolina with the high school students. At first, our experience was uncomfortable, but in the end, it was a blessing. God was always actively present to reveal something new to us. God was actively present with the delegation that visited Tanzania last month. Those moments of interaction with the communities revealed something new to us about the Kingdom of God.
Before the trip to Tanzania, I was nervous. Not about the moments we were going to experience with the communities, but about the 13-hour flights. So many hours in the air. The good thing was that on the long flights to and from the country, the seat next to me was empty the whole time. Thank God! I had more room to move around! My wife, who was visiting Tanzania for the third time, had warned me about this. The hardest part of the trip is the flying, but the moments with the people make up for everything.
I believed my wife and saw it for myself. There are two things I would like to share with you about my experience in Tanzania. The first is about hospitality. Many of them don’t have three meals a day; some wake up and go to sleep without eating at all. Yet their hospitality is immense. Every community we visited welcomed us with tea. What we learned was that the tea was accompanied by a full meal! I honestly felt guilty, and I imagine everyone in the delegation did too. But someone from the community reminded us that it would be a great offense not to eat the food they had so painstakingly prepared for our group. Well, even though we had all eaten an hour earlier, we still had to enjoy the delicious tea! If you are ever part of a delegation visiting Tanzania, remember this: Breakfast-Tea-Lunch-Tea-Dinner (or more) – at least five meals a day!
The second thing we noticed was their faithfulness to Jesus. The scarcity of water, food, their housing, and their limited access to electricity and healthcare are not distractions. The daily struggles they face are not a reason to take their eyes off Jesus. Seeing their great faithfulness to Jesus reminded me of the episode of Jesus walking on water. Jesus invites Peter to do the same. Peter was doing very well, until Peter “saw the strong wind and was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘man of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:30-31)
We all experience episodes in our lives that can lead us to take our eyes off Jesus. Many storms and distractions appear on our journey without warning: the sudden loss of a loved one, the diagnosis of a chronic illness, the loss of a job, uncertainty about the physical and emotional well-being of ourselves and our family. This is all chaos for us, but in the midst of that chaos, Jesus walks with us to extend a hand and strengthen us. Jesus is also with us when we joyfully walk on water, when we rejoice in our children’s successes, when we rejoice in the birth of a son, grandson, or nephew, when we have successful surgery, when we have good results in medical treatments, when we get a job or a new job, when we received a promotion.
Brothers and sisters, many of us experienced some of these moments this past summer. Wherever you were, Jesus was with you the whole time. John 14:18 says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” As we close one door and open the door to a new season, I pray that each of us may feel the holy presence of Jesus, who promised never to leave us alone, wherever we are in our lives.
Young at Heart will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at noon for a potluck lunch followed by cards, games and fellowship! Please come and bring a friend! If you don’t feel like cooking, come anyway!
The Young at Heart October 25 trip to the Schauer Center to hear the “Tribute to the Everley Brothers” is full with a waitlist. The money needs to be turned in by Sunday, Sept. 13, so we know how many people can be moved from the waitlist to the bus!
Women’s Gathering at the Pizza Farm
We will be hosting a get-together for women of all ages on Friday, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m. at Grassway Organics Pizza Farm, W2716 Friemoth Road, East Troy. Sign-up is not required. The cost is $15 paid upon arrival, which covers your pizza meal. You will be responsible for purchasing your own beverages. Please let us know ahead of time if you have any food allergies. Tables are provided onsite, but you will need to bring your own chair. Please keep in mind that the event is entirely outdoors with a slightly rugged environment, so be sure to dress comfortably for the weather. In case of rain, watch the church Facebook page for cancellation. Due to limited parking at the farm, carpooling is highly recommended. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ileen Marien or Sarah Aparicio.
AMEN Book Study
AMEN, Ascension’s men’s ministry, will be starting a study this fall on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book titled “Life Together,” the classic exploration of Christian in community. This group of AMEN generally meets biweekly Tuesdays at 10: 30 a.m. However, the study starts Thursday, Sept. 24, at 10:30 a.m. It’s a short, four-chapter book but packed with lots of wisdom. The book can be ordered on Amazon for under $10.Please contact Steve Boyer through the church office if you’re interested in joining us.
October Book Discussion
Join us for a book study of “An Altar in the World” by Barbara Brown Taylor. Led by Teri Quam, this discussion group will read and think about how practices help us walk with God and others on our journey of life. We will meet in the Hearth Room on Mondays in October from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Books are available on Amazon or Half-Price books. The library might also have a copy. Please contact Teri with questions.
BLAST (Believing, Learning, And Sharing Together,5K – 3rd grade)
JUMP (Jesus Understands Me Perfectly, 4th & 5th grade)
We are excited to begin Children’s Ministry at Ascension where we will have family events and children specific activities to grow family faith formation this year. We will share all of this information at our kick-off on Sunday, Sept. 13! Please complete the Google registration form, if you haven’t yet, so we know who will be joining us for all the fun.
JOLT (6th-8th grade)
JOLT, our Confirmation ministry at Ascension, begins on Thursday, Sept. 17 with a student/parent kick-off event from 6-7:30 p.m. We will fill-out/update registration forms, pay fees, take pictures, and share the schedule for the year along with a couple of games to test our knowledge and win some prizes. If there are schedule conflicts, reach out to Pastor Chris. JOLT meets Thursday nights, 6-7:30 p.m., in September and October, no JOLT Oct. 22.
We begin with large group games, break into small groups, and end with communion worship from 7:15 -7:30 p.m. If you need a little lift in your week, anyone is welcome to join us for communion.
CRASH (9th-12th grade)
We have our kick-off meeting on Sunday, Sept. 13, after the second service. Parents and students are invited to the meeting. We will provide you with all the information about the program. And also, we will share information about the ELCA Youth Gathering 2027 from June 28-July 2. We will have a light lunch for you. Our second meeting in September will be on Sunday, Sept. 20, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.Hope to see you all! We are very eager to begin a new journey as Christians Reaching and Sharing Hope!Questions? Contact Pastor Edwin.
Ascension Choir and Ringers Resume Sept. 9
The Ascension Choir, ages high school and adults, begins rehearsals on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at a new time, 7 to 8:15 p.m. This choir provides musical leadership in worship approximately three Sundays per month, primarily at the 8:30 service (occasionally at 10:45), and at special evening worship services.
Ascension Ringers, our handbell choir, resumes Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the new time of 5:45 – 7 p.m. The handbell choir, for high school through adults, provides music in worship once per month, primarily at the 8:30 service (occasionally at 10:45), and at special services. Joining the Ascension Ringers does not call for previous experience with handbells but some level of music literacy is helpful. Reading music is an acquired skill and those interested in learning to read music with the goal of joining the handbell choir are encouraged to contact Vicki Taylor.
In the middle of July as we were still preparing for the CRASH mission trip to North Carolina, something wonderful was beginning to take shape. Pastor Edwin and I discussed whether or not it was smart to schedule a bilingual worship with BBQ and potluck immediately following our return from North Carolina. I asked Pastor Edwin if he thought we could pull it off. “Of course,” he said. And then Pastor Edwin went to work – talking to Mark about bringing together men from Amen to coordinate the kitchen work and BBQ and then a conversation with Lino about minding the Blackstone and another conversation with Maria about to where to buy the meat for tacos. All of a sudden, we had the basics planned and confirmed, all within the span of a couple of hours. Pastor Edwin was a man possessed.
On the 19th – the kitchen came alive with voices and smells of hamburgers and taco meat and brats and baked beans and warm desserts and salads aplenty. The gift of gathering for the BBQ potluck after worship was about so much more than food. I sometimes get nervous when I think we will run out of space – when we have not planned enough seating for the hoped-for crowd to be comfortable. Worship was glorious that Sunday. 8:30 was rich with the sound of voices raised in praise of our God – handbells ringing praise – piano and organ brought to life by Vicki’s talented hands and feet. (I still do not understand how she makes the hands do one thing and the feet do another. A story for another time.) And at 10am worship, the Praise Band took up the entire altar area. Nine musicians coming together to lead worship – well, 10 if you count Pastor Tony back by the palms – though he was kind of a silent partner. Music in English and Spanish, preaching to share God’s Word in two languages, communion for all, and then on to a feast where we, of course, ran out of seats. And as is always true at Ascension, people figured it out. New members sat next to long-time members. English speakers sat at tables with Spanish speakers. Introductions happened. Connections were made. And when the seating ran out in West Hall, people spilled into the narthex and into the Hearth Room and there was laughter ringing from many corners of the church that day. It was glorious and all to the glory of God.
There is so much that happens behind the scenes to bring about such moments in ministry at Ascension. It might be one of the high privileges of the pastors to be able to see the behind-the-scenes planning and preparation that brings such events to life. Outside the church, some might call it luck. Inside the church, we give credit to the work of the Holy Spirit and celebrate the faithfulness of individuals who work to strengthen our community of faith and tend their own relationship with God and with fellow Christians.
We have much to be thank God for at Ascension. Holy moments of ministry happen when we least expect the Holy Spirit to be at work. August will be no different. Backpack blessings are coming at the end of August. September will usher in our last outdoor worship experience and the fall kick-off to programming and a welcome home for all who have traveled over the summer and we will gather to celebrate God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday on Sept. 13 as well with a “Newborn Supply Pack” where the entire congregation can participate at every age to prepare newborn kits to be assembled and packed and then gathered in Minneapolis and packed to be sent to countries like Tanzania where our companion synod might receive some of the kits and also parts of Central and South America where our friends in El Salvador might receive some of the kits as well. More information will find its way to your inbox and bulletins and newsletter as we move through August. Keep watch. We will invite you to join us on the journey of faith and to the glory of God behind the scenes and sometime neck deep in the preparations right alongside each other members at Ascension and new friends wondering if this might place might become their spiritual home. So much to be grateful for as we look to the days ahead.
Stepping out of your comfort zone is rarely pleasant. It creates anxiety, uncertainty, and frustration. Yet, it is often in those exact moments of discomfort that profound growth occurs.
Last month, CRASH leader Sheri Greger and I traveled to North Carolina with a group of high school students for summer camp. Right from the start, the camp set high expectations, both for the students and the leaders accompanying them. The students were not allowed to have phones, and we, as leaders, were not in charge of the daily activities.
For the students, the phone policy was a huge surprise. You could see the concern written across their faces as they realized they were about to step far outside their comfort zones and spend an entire week in the North Carolina mountains completely disconnected from technology. Remarkably, their discomfort lasted only one day. By the second day, they had practically forgotten they even owned phones, fully immersing themselves in the world around them.
However, the students weren’t the only ones pushed past their familiar boundaries; we, the leaders who attended, also experienced the unfamiliar. Our original plans included participating right alongside the students in all their activities—wanting to join them, hike together, and share in every moment is a core part of our Ascension culture. We always try our best to practice our foundational values: Together we rise, together we walk, together we participate, together we worship, together we serve and more…
At this camp, though, the experience for us was fundamentally different. We didn’t participate in most of the daytime activities, nor could we join them for their morning and evening devotions. Throughout the day, Sheri and I felt deeply uncomfortable. We felt as though we were failing to fulfill our roles as Ascension leaders, and there were several moments when we honestly felt useless.
As we approached the end of the week, however, clarity set in. We realized that this uncomfortable setting was actually a blessing. It wasn’t just the students who needed to step outside their comfort zones; we leaders needed to navigate unfamiliar territory, too.
This realization prompted me to reflect on the many ways Jesus exemplified going beyond comfort zones throughout His ministry:
Jesus left the glory of His home in heaven to come to earth. As Philippians 2:7 reminds us, He “made Himself of no reputation, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
He deliberately entered harsh conditions, spending 40 days and 40 nights fasting in the desert.
He showed His disciples the importance of stepping outside cultural norms by speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well, inviting His followers into Samaria rather than avoiding it.
Many of us have experienced moments like these in our own lives. They are often difficult and disorienting. Yet, in these challenging, unfamiliar places, God is actively present, waiting to reveal something new about His kingdom. At the end of the camp, we asked them if they would participate in another similar camp. They replied, “Yes, because it was a unique experience.” As leaders, we achieved our goal of providing the students and ourselves with an unique experience high in the mountains of North Carolina. When we are about to get out of our comfort zone, we simply need to release our desire for control and trust in God’s guidance, just as the disciples did when they stepped into the unknown to proclaim the Good News.
Beyond the Bike: How We Found Our Place With Outreach for Hope
Our journey with Outreach for Hope (OFH) began with a simple, but profound conviction: we are all uniquely gifted by God, and we are built to serve!
When OFH was conceived by a group of Ascension members 19 years ago, we were attracted to its mission to raise funds to strengthen ministries in economically challenged areas of our synod. Unfortunately, at the time, we could not see a place to serve because it originally was only a fundraiser for bike riders. We were not bike riders.
God surprisingly handed us the opportunity to launch a tailor-made business. It was the perfect calling. It allowed us to move beyond simple sales and use our gifts to better people’s lives. We reminded ourselves each day our business work was “God’s work.” It was then we found a place to participate in OFH. We could use the financial resources of our business to become a corporate sponsor. Each year, we were thrilled to see our business doing God’s work!
The OFH leadership encouraged us to take a more active role in the fundraiser. It was then that we assumed the yearly volunteer duties responsible for registration check in. It was exciting to feel the energy of OFH firsthand each year at the annual fundraiser.
From there, our role with OFH continued to grow. Outside of the yearly fundraising event, we began working closely with OFH leadership throughout the year utilizing skills and talents we honed from running and growing our own business. It has been gratifying seeing the measurable impact we personally have had supporting OFH throughout the year as well as seeing the look of hope in the eyes of its benefactors. It is intoxicating!
Our prayer is for each of you to explore your talents and gifts and find a place where you might use those to contribute to the annual OFH ride run and walk fundraising event coming up Saturday, Sept. 26, hosted at the E.B. Shurts building here in Waukesha.
Stop in the narthex to see the sign and to consider participating as a walker, runner or rider. If you are not able to participate, there are multiple ways to volunteer and to contribute financially. Beth Hoffmann, or Steve or Carol Spieker will be happy to share the story of Outreach For Hope and help you find ways to participate or volunteer. To sign-up online for the fundraiser, whether to donate, volunteer, ride, run, or walk, visit the OFH website, ofhrrw.org.
Steve and Carol Spieker
Habitat for Humanity Invite
Join us for a community celebration at Domenica Park as we dedicate this vibrant new neighborhood and celebrate the transformation of a once-vacant city block into a place 20 families now call home.
The dedication of Domenica Park, 402 N. Greenfield Ave., Waukesha, is on Thursday, Aug. 20, 4 to 6 p.m. Habitat, with the help of volunteers and future homeowners, continues to make Waukesha a better place. This event is family-friendly and will include bounce houses and food trucks. Please park on any surrounding street (please note that the block of Ellis St in between Oakland and Greenfield will be blocked off). Dress is casual. Sign-up online at habitatwjr.org/events. For more information, call 262-729-3971, ext. 217.
Watch announcements for the date and location of Ascension’s next build day in early fall. Habitat is one of our community partners and we take a day each year to participate in some aspect of the construction. All levels of skill are welcome.
Safari Stories—A Night of Food and Fellowship
The word safari means “journey” in Swahili and our trip to Tanzania is a journey of faith, carrying us across the world to connect and grow as we walk alongside our sister parish, Samaria.
When our delegation returns from our trip to our sister parish in Tanzania, we will share the joy, faith, and hospitality we experienced with all of Ascension. Join us on Sunday, Aug. 23, at 5:30 p.m. for a special evening of fellowship, food, and story-sharing as we look back on our journey across the globe.Whether you’ve supported this partnership for years or are learning about our sister parish for the first time, all are welcome at the table. Bring a dish, bring a friend, and enjoy an evening of armchair travel!
El Salvador Travel Opportunities
While Ascension prepares to send a delegation to our sister parish in Tanzania, those feeling inspired to embark on their own journey of faith won’t have to wait long. In 2027, our congregation will have two unique opportunities to travel to our companion synod in El Salvador, connecting with brothers and sisters in Christ through solidarity, worship, and community.
The year begins with an invitation open to the entire Greater Milwaukee Synod for Discover El Salvador: A Journey of Faith and Solidarity, taking place from January 8 to 15, 2027. Designed as an overview of the highlights of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church and its vibrant culture, this delegation offers participants a chance to visit several sister parishes across the country while immersing themselves in local history, food, and culture. Travelers will be guided by two exceptional leaders: Tim Muth, a human rights lawyer who divides his time between El Salvador and Milwaukee and has chronicled Salvadoran life for over twenty years, and our very own Pastor Edwin.
Later in the year, as summer draws to a close in late July and early August, Ascension members will gather for a dedicated trip centered entirely on our ongoing partnership with Milagro de Dios in San Jorge. This trip focuses on spending meaningful time alongside the people of San Jorge, continuing to nurture the deep bonds of fellowship between our churches. To round out the experience, the group will also visit the National Church in San Salvador and take a couple of days to explore and enjoy the natural beauty and local sights of El Salvador together. After all, supporting the local economy is important too! Contact Pastor Edwin or Sarah Aparicio if you are interested in either experience.
Hope Center Green Power Garden Volunteers Needed
Help supply fresh, nutritious produce for guests at the Hope Center! If you enjoy working outside and getting your hands dirty, gardening for a cause is a wonderful way to serve our community. Volunteers of all skill levels, individuals, and small groups are welcome to come when you can and leave when you must. The garden is located at S53W24747 Glendale Road, Waukesha.
The Green Power Garden is an approved project of the UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Waukesha and Milwaukee Counties. For helpful gardening tips, visit hort.extension.wisc.edu.
Happy August! Hope you are enjoying the last month of summer! We will be offering family events and children specific activities to grow family faith formation this year. We will share all of this information at our kick-off on Sunday, Sept. 13!
In the middle of June, I shared these words: “No, it is no longer true, if it has ever been true, that the summer seasons of Ascension are a slower pace – after several summers – the anticipation tells us that there is great adventure for the people of God – it just comes to us in different forms and rhythms in these summer months.”
As I write this article for the July newsletter, those words are even more true. Our JOLT students were swimmers, climbers, water-sliders, zip-liners, card players, and all-around good humans and faithful Christians as they were “challenged by choice” at Adventure Camp. At the same time, in the Wisconsin Dells, our Young at Heart crew was tackling their own fear and faith by trusting boat captains and bus drivers and the cooks at Cracker Barrel as they made their way through the waterways of the Wisconsin Dells. A glorious week.
World Refugee Day was June 20th. Our first “Walk in Solidarity” was a wonderful moment of learning and accompaniment with refugees across the world. Ascension has a long history of supporting, sponsoring, tending, and celebrating refugees. I am glad to see this ministry find new moments of life and faithfulness to the glory of God. We, so often, take for granted this country, our freedoms, and the sacrifice of countless individuals in this country for the rights we enjoy. As we look to the celebrations of the semiquincentennial of our country, we are excited to share our plans for Sunday, July 5th.
On the first Sunday of July, we will gather for worship at our usual times of 8:30 and 10 a.m. Our English services are being led by an ensemble of Jazz musicians with our Director of Music Ministry tending the planning. The services are exactly the same providing the opportunity for you to adjust your schedule to time instead of musical style. In an effort to lift up the unique character of Jazz music, born in this country, we have crafted worship in way that brings glory to God and shares a different feel for the joy of praising God. It will be a wonderful celebration.
Finally, as you read this article, Pastor Tony will have just stepped foot into his sabbatical. This is your reminder that he steps away from Ascension and this community of believers he treasures. It is practice on sabbatical to not reply to emails, voicemails, or text messages. You will note the presence of Pastor Tony’s stole on the baptismal font throughout the three months of his sabbatical. A reminder that he is still under call at Ascension, but in the midst of a restful and purposeful time away. We give thanks to God for his ministry among us and the gift of sabbatical.
Friends, let summer be a time of shift in your rhythms if only for a brief time each day. Sunday, July 19, will be our only outdoor worship in July at 10 a.m. with a potluck BBQ to follow at 11 a.m. And then our mission delegation leaves for Tanzania to renew our friendships and partnership with our siblings at Samaria Parish in Usa River, Tanzania and Samaria’s preaching points of Neema, Galilaya, and Kijenge. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated.
At the end of May, Ascension had the honor of hosting Bishop Guadalupe and Pastor Christian Chavarría from the Salvadoran Lutheran Church. It was a privilege to hear Bishop Guadalupe share the Word with our congregation, and it gave us a strong start to a day of deep spiritual reflection.
In the afternoon, we moved into a time of creative fellowship as Pastor Christian led a community art event. Pastor Christian balances his pastoral work with a busy ministry as an artist. He specializes in painting detailed, colorful crosses in a traditional Salvadoran folk style. His crosses can be found all over the world.
The event was a great success, bringing together more than 160 people from over 20 churches across the Greater Milwaukee area. When Pastor Christian saw the large number of chairs and tables set up for the event, he quietly shared that he was feeling a little nervous, since he had never led an art event for such a large group before. We were able to reassure him that Ascension has hosted many events like this one, making it a great place for cross-cultural connection.
In the end, the whole day was a wonderful success. Both Bishop Guadalupe and Pastor Christian had a great experience at Ascension. There was a real exchange of wisdom and community, where visitors and hosts both learned a lot from each other.
This meaningful visit was a living example of the Covenant Partnership that connects our ministries. Built on intentional relationship, this partnership stands on six key pillars:
Accompaniment — We agree to walk with each other and Jesus as we develop relationships based on mutuality, vulnerability, empowerment, inclusivity, and sustainability.
Prayer — We agree to pray for each other on a regular basis, including our weekly worship services.
Communication — We agree to communicate regularly with our companions, sharing stories from the life of our congregations and ministries.
Visits — We agree to exchange visits by members and leaders of our congregations and ministries as frequently as possible.
Education — We agree to seek out information about each other’s country, history, life, and ministry.
Support — We agree to inform each other about projects within our ministry plan and to invite mutual participation in our mission.
The church is called to walk and learn together, crossing religious, social, and cultural differences. At Synod Assembly devotion that same weekend, Bishop Kitoi of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania spoke to this spirit of unity by asking a powerful question from Amos 3:3: “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” His message was about the importance of looking for unity without asking everyone to live in uniformity.
The visit of our Salvadoran siblings gives us a strong answer: we absolutely can walk together, even when we don’t believe exactly the same things. True fellowship does not require us all to be identical. Instead, coming together across our differences is what makes us stronger — and it gives us a richer, fuller view of God’s diverse kingdom.
