Bonfire
A New Way Home
In January, ten parishioner from St. James Lutheran Church joined our congregational neighbors from First Lutheran and House of Hope Lutheran churches through a transformation workshop. With Matthew 2:1-12 as the biblical basis for our time together, we followed the Bethlehem star, like the three wise men, and were assured that we would find a new way home.
We left the training with an assignment to plot out ten geographic areas around St. James. Each of us was to walk or drive around our assigned area to look, observe, and document what we see. When I began my observational journey, I noticed several changes in my neighborhood during the last few years. Among them were the additions of a Hispanic food store, an Afghani restaurant, an African hair supply store.
Then I lost track of my assigned boundaries. How far east was I supposed to go? Was it west to … where? Just when I began to wonder if I had messed up my assignment, I remembered Matthew 2: 1-12, the scripture exercise during our transformational training. There was no linear roadmap that showed the wise men where to stop, turn, and back up. No GPS. Just a star.
When I let go of my geographical hang ups, I began to see my community differently. I retraced my route and drove by the Hispanic food store, the Afghani restaurant, and the African hair supply store. This time each seemed to have their place. The community seemed more round, more global, more connected. I began to see each piece of this diverse community as a body of God’s work. They became the hand of God feeding the community, responding to the need, reaching out to nourish the community.
Have I responded God’s call? Has St. James been the leaven to the community? What is our collective gold, frankincense, and myrrh? While the walls of St. James will always be sacred to me, I realize the real work of God is within each of us. I feel reassured that God is patient as I delight in the navigation of the new way home.
Melodie Hanson
Member of St. James Lutheran Church
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him” Matthew 2: 1-2).
Summer Worship
Sunday: 9:30 a.m.
Education Hour
Adult Education
Resumes in the fall
First Lutheran Church of Crystal
7708 - 62nd Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428
(763) 537-4576 (phone)
(763) 537-0372 (fax)
