As I sat staring at the waves rolling onto the beach last week, I couldn't help but think about how, even when we have the opportunity to slow down and "relax," the rest of life rarely does. The emails keep coming. Bills still need to be paid. Notifications buzz. Responsibilities wait for us when we return.

It made me wonder: What does it really take to reset? How long does it take to quiet our minds, reconnect with God, and find true peace? There doesn't seem to be a simple recipe.

"Let go and let God" is a common phrase, and for good reason. Yet if I'm being honest, I sometimes struggle with that. Turning off the "what if" thoughts isn't easy. Neither is replaying the interview answer you wish you'd given, the conversation you wish had gone differently, or the impatient response to your child's question. Even with strong faith, letting go can be hard.

Lord of Life has been a constant presence for most of my life, and while my relationship with this church has remained strong, it has also grown and changed. From "Bring a Friend Sunday" and junior high lock-ins to Sunday School lessons and Christmas Eve gatherings, the memories are vivid and meaningful. Through every season, this church has been a place where God continues to meet people exactly where they are.
As we sent Pastor Lowell and the Michelson family off to experience their own sabbatical, it reminded me that Sabbath is so much more than stepping away from the routine. It's about creating space to reconnect—with God, with ourselves, and with one another.

At the same time though, the work of ministry continues. We still needed an incredible team of VBS volunteers—and they showed up in amazing ways. We still need greeters, lay assistants, outdoor worship helpers, knitters, musicians, and countless others who quietly serve behind the scenes.

Perhaps that's part of the beauty of Sabbath. Life doesn't stop. The waves keep rolling in. The emails still arrive. The to-do list may still be waiting tomorrow. But Sabbath reminds us that our worth is not measured by our productivity, and that God remains at work even when we pause.

My prayer for all of us is that we find moments of Sabbath in this busy season—not necessarily by a formal sabbatical, but by making room for God's presence within our lives. Whether that's a quiet morning with coffee and Scripture, a walk in the neighborhood, worship with friends, or simply a few moments of stillness, may we be reminded that rest is not something we have to earn. It is a gift from God, offered to renew our hearts and draw us closer to Him.

Peace and rest be with you

Jillian Campbell

I’ve been researching my family history my whole life. I used microfilms at the library until I was in my twenties, and then ancestry web sites came along and information was way easier to access. Over the years, more information has been added to the online repositories. It started with a few decades of census records, and now city, county, and family histories, military records, vital records, church baptism and marriage records, and much more are all easy to search (for a fee).

I won’t bore you with the full millennium of genealogy I’ve managed to draw up, but when I go back about 250 years, I find several direct ancestors who not only fought in the American Revolution, but who also held titles from their original homes in England. They were among the original settlers who came to the American colonies based on the promises of opportunities and religious freedom, but were already mad they were being over-taxed by a government who used that money for things that didn’t benefit any of the people paying those taxes.

I’m really proud of my heritage. When I go to the symphony or a ball game, I’m the one singing the national anthem the loudest, and when people inevitably turn around to see where the giant voice is coming from, I’m always wiping tears and snot off my face. My love for this land is deep, woven into the very fabric of my identity and the stories of those who came before me.

As I reflect on the lives of those ancestors, I am reminded that patriotism has never been defined by silent, unconditional agreement. Those who founded this nation did so precisely because they believed that their primary duties—to their conscience, their families, and their God—required them to question the earthly powers of their day. For us as Lutherans, this tension is familiar. We are "simultaneously saint and sinner," living in the tension of being citizens of an earthly nation while our true home and highest loyalty belong to the Kingdom of God.

Our faith teaches us that while we honor our country, our primary guide for living must always be God’s radical, inclusive love. This love does not stop at borders and is not defined by legislative agendas. As Bishop Eaton has often reminded us, our civic engagement is not an act of partisanship, but a way to live into our baptismal covenant to serve all people and strive for justice and peace. When we use our voices in the public square, we do so not to serve a political platform, but to answer the biblical call to love our neighbor as ourselves—especially those who are most vulnerable or forgotten by human systems.

Allegiance to God often calls us to a path of holy discontent. It requires us to look at our world through the lens of the Gospel, asking whether our common life reflects the dignity God has granted to every human being. Loving our country means wanting the very best for all who reside within it, which sometimes means standing in opposition to specific paths taken by those in authority. Our patriotism is not diminished by our critique; rather, it is refined by our faith. We sing the anthem with pride, but we follow Christ with our lives, ensuring that no earthly flag ever eclipses the cross.

How does your faith play into your hopes for our country in the next 250 years?

Yours on the journey,
John Johns, Music Director

Why Pride?

Several months ago, someone asked me why we participate in Pride month and why isn’t there a heterosexual month? I appreciated their honesty and desire to understand. In these times, it is critical to continue to have dialogue about issues we might not understand or need to look at from another perspective.

Why Pride? (and more specifically, why Pride as followers of Jesus?)

As Christians, we value all life. It is not hyperbole to say that Pride has saved lives, not least of those LGBTQIA+ young people*. Seeing who you are, represented and celebrated, can change the trajectory of your life. “You are not alone” is a powerful message.

For many queer** individuals raised in or navigating Christian spaces, reconciling their faith with their identity can be a painful journey. Pride Month provides a crucial space to heal and grow for several reasons:

Many LGBTQ+ people have faced rejection, condemnation, and harmful theology from religious institutions. Pride offers a counter-narrative, affirming that they are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God.

Just as Jesus reached out to the marginalized, Pride Month provides a visible sanctuary where LGBTQ+ people can be their authentic selves without fear of judgment. For isolated individuals, visibility can be a literal lifesaver.

Lord of Life along with other progressive and affirming congregations use Pride to celebrate diversity as a beautiful reflection of God's creativity rather than a departure from it.

Why Isn't There a "Heterosexual Month"?

In a world where heterosexuality is the assumed standard, every month is essentially "straight pride" month. Heterosexual couples are universally celebrated, legally recognized, and culturally affirmed without needing to step outside societal norms.

Pride Month did not begin as a celebration of a preferred identity, but as a protest against criminalization, systemic violence, and social marginalization. Heterosexual individuals have never had to fight for the right to exist, marry, or hold hands in public safely.

What does this mean for us as followers of Jesus?

Within both secular and religious spaces, the concept of Pride is viewed differently. Some argue from a deeply traditional perspective that celebrating Pride is contrary to biblical teachings. Christian Scholars and other affirming churches like Lord of Life argue that celebrating Pride is a reflection of the radically inclusive, compassionate love that Jesus modeled.

Ultimately, Pride Month challenges both the church and the broader culture to look at marginalized groups and choose visibility, safety, and grace over fear and discrimination. Each year, as we participate in Pride events, we hear comments like, “Wow, I didn’t know there were churches that accepted someone like me?” or “I don’t know if I could ever go to church again after the rejection from my church.”

We still have work to do to overcome the hate and hurt. How can we follow in the love and compassion that Jesus modeled for ALL people? Walk with us at Cincinnati Pride (https://www.lol-lutheran.com/announcements)? Put out a Pride flag or wear your LOL tie-dye or ‘Love over Hate’ shirt? For more Biblical understanding, read John Fugelsang’s chapter on “Thou shalt not hate gays” in “Separation of Church and Hate”.
Call out prejudice or harmful language? It’s not an easy road but one worth the time and the risk. Our LGBTQIA+ neighbors are counting on us.

Living, sharing and celebrating with you in God’s love for all people,

Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation

 *LGBTQIA+ is an inclusive umbrella acronym used to describe diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and biological sex characteristics. The letters stand for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual. The "+" sign represents all other marginalized identities and expressions within the community.
**Queer: Historically a derogatory term for gays, this word is now used positively by many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and allies. It is sometimes used to describe an open, fluid sexual orientation and/or gender identity expression.

What Keeps You?

As in “holds” you.
Steadies you.
Provides structure to your days,
week or year?

My morning yoga practice “keeps” me.
For my sister, it’s her morning run.
For a dear friend and colleague,
it’s her morning cup of coffee!
When my daughter was young,
our evening ritual
of reading a book out loud before bed
“kept” us on track.
We had other rituals,
like the blessing on her forehead
before she got on the bus.

For more than 30 years
my annual pilgrimage
to Assateague Island,
where I live in a tent,
and camp with the wild ponies
for three weeks
“keeps” me.
During this time by the ocean,
I listen deeply for Spirit’s wisdom
for this particular season of my journey.

Wayne Mueller,
in his introduction
to his book, “Sabbath”, says,
“Just so, during Sabbath the Jews,
by keeping sacred rest,
could maintain their spiritual ground
wherever they were,
even in protracted exile
from their own country.
It was not Israel that kept the Sabbath,
it is said,
but the Sabbath kept Israel.”

I often weep when I read these words,
“the Sabbath kept Israel”.
It conjures the image for me
of holy holding.
Of standing in a circle of candlelight,
as the shadows try to press in around me.
The sense of being held
by Love’s embrace,
releases tears of gratitude,
and relief.

This is the gift.
But how quickly
we turn it
into a work.
A religious obligation.
A “supposed to.”
In a culture
that tells us incessantly
to stay busy,
and be productive,
stepping away from the plow,
the email,
the “to-do” list,
can be challenging.
Being given sacred permission
to stop,
to trust that Love holds
what we release,
encourages us to try.

Summer is the perfect
Sabbath season
to practice leaning into rest.
Most of our schedules shift.
They become lighter.

In the open spaces,
I encourage you to try
a sabbath practice.
It can look like
a slow walk after dinner,
a long soaking Epsom salt bath,
an afternoon puzzling,
cooking for the creative joy of it,
a nap in the hammock,
or reading instead of vacuuming.
Not because you “have to”.
But to practice saying no to the cultural demand
of busyness and productivity,
To practice saying yes to the gift of rest.
To experience what it feels like,
when “we don’t have to keep the Sabbath”,
but instead discover the gift
“of Sabbath keeping us”.

Shalom!
Pastor Mary

Thank you again for the gift of time away for rest and renewal this summer. Unfortunately, not everyone has the gift of taking a 3-month extended leave, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t also embrace some of the patterns shaping my summer of refreshment.

Rest Up
I pray that the coming months are filled with some sabbath time for you, too. God took time to rest at the end of a time of creating. Jesus regularly spent time retreating for restoration. Following those patterns, may we take time—make time—for rest and renewal. It is essential to our long-term well-being. Remember that refreshment doesn’t have to be a week at the beach. This summer, schedule a walk, embrace a lazy afternoon of reading in a comfy chair, or whatever else helps you rest up. Your heart, soul, body, and mind will thank you for it.

Fuel Up
Along the same lines as above, lean into the patterns and activities that provide rejuvenation and bring you joy. Time in nature, immersion in the arts, delicious food, time in communal worship, solitude, catching up with a friend, and all the other good things that bring you refreshment and renewal are essentials to filling your tank. Fuel up with the good things that energize and propel you.

Look Up
As you rest up and fuel up, continue to look up from your own adventures with an awareness of those around you. Paul wrote, “Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Show up for those who need a hope-filled word or a traveling companion through a hard season. Look for opportunities to serve and moments to step up and make a difference.

Speak Up
Frances R. Havergal’s powerful hymn text, “Lord, speak to us, that we may speak in living echoes of your tone,” reminds us that God uses our voices to bring hope and comfort to a world looking for a word of peace. For those who are lost and alone, speak up with a word of welcome and inclusion. Speak up with a word of encouragement. Speak up with a word of forgiveness. For those with little or no voice, speak up to those in power. Speak up against injustice. Speak up with a word of wonder and curiosity at how God might be inviting us into holy moments. In courageous and confident love, speak up.

However your summer shapes up, I pray that you can live like you expect Jesus to show up. He makes that promise in Matthew 28:20, saying, “I am with you always.” Jesus always lives up to his promises.

Leaning into God’s abundance,
Pastor Lowell Michelson

Pastor Lowell will be away June 1-September 7 for an extended time of refreshment and renewal sponsored by The Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program. Read about the application process and updated details about how he plans to spend his sabbatical at this link. www.tinyurl.com/LOLsabbatical

We welcome Pastor Mary Laymon, who will be leading worship, providing pastoral care, guiding book discussions, and more during this summer. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 215-630-1091

For all other questions and concerns, please connect with Council President Jillian Campbell. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 513-503-7754

Visit the Staff page online to connect with other staff.

I was waiting in line to check out at a store the other day and noticed the mom in front of me with two toddlers in a cart and a young elementary school child standing next to her. I remember those days of shopping with young kids. I could feel her frustration as one of the toddlers attempted to throw items out of the cart as she tried to pay. I paid for my things and headed out a few minutes after her. She hadn’t gotten far, as she was trying to show her older child how to carry the big plastic pool they purchased and the toddler, once again, threw items out of the cart in the middle of the exit doors. I offered to help her carry the pool since the wind was blowing outside, while also reassuring her that I am a mom and have been there. She declined my help even as the wind almost took the pool out of her child’s hands.

As I walked to my car, my mind immediately went to a place of frustration. I thought her refusal was coming from a place of pride. I could have made her situation so much less stressful if she had just let me help. It wasn’t until I got to my car that a different perspective hit me. She was being the protector of her precious children. She wasn’t going to allow a stranger to follow her to her car in their vulnerable state. Bam! How did I not realize this? Whatever the reason, giving grace should have been my answer.

My assumption was unfair because it made my desire to be helpful more important than her comfort and safety.

This parking lot moment was a gentle reminder to suspend judgment, and practice unconditional grace. Everyone we meet may be fighting an unseen battle, or in my case, a “seen” battle that doesn’t deserve judgment. We can’t assume we know the motives behind anyone’s choices or actions. Jesus freely gives grace to us, and we should strive to do the same for others.

Have you been in a situation lately where grace wasn’t your first response? Have you prejudged a situation or person? This time of year seems especially stressful with the flurry of end of school year activities, transitions to summer, or new stages in life. Our fuses are short.

I pray that we continue to offer a helping hand, spread empathy and offer healthy doses of grace. Sometimes there are times when we do need to say, “Yes, I need help”, and I pray we can discern these moments. I pray the Momma in the parking lot has found some respite and will soon spend hours of laughter and fun this summer with her kiddos in their little, plastic pool.

Finding comfort in God’s unconditional grace and love along with you,
Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation