Weekly News and Events

Orcas Island – Last month we were invited by our Episcopal Friends to put up the Lutheran flag on the Emmanuel church property. Even with some light wind gusts, long time girl scout, campfire and church camp alumnae came together for a brief flag ceremony and raising of the ELCA flag!  
We sang the paperless tune:  “God Welcomes All, Strangers and friends, God’s Love is Strong and it never ends!” as we raised the flag.  
The spirit was surely with us in our laughter in our joy and in our sense of shared community! 

Pastor’s Note  Inviting people to experience God’s love is a beautiful part of following Jesus and is something that each of us has a unique ability to do! In this week’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks of the church’s mission with images drawn from daily life. Something that we are encouraged to do in our own lives. The harvest is already plentiful, he says, but laborers are needed for work in the fields of daily life. What are we to do? We are to do that to which our worship invites us: Let our conversation be shaped by the good news, extend God’s peace & love wherever we find ourselves, and share our bread with those that are hungry. Expanding God’s welcome is exactly what Jesus came to do and as a Reconciling in Christ Congregation, we too seek to be open to ALL who may journey with us in the Lutheran Church in San Juans! Please take a moment to read our new Reconciling in Christ Statement – updated 2026. 

As a Reconciling in Christ Congregation, we are committed to racial equity and, just as Christ welcomed all people unconditionally, we welcome people of all races, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, ages, cultures, languages, abilities, and political views.  
We seek to be a diverse ELCA community rooted in God’s gracious love.

In addition to updating our Reconciling statement, a donation will be made to Reconciling Works, the resource arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America that has been tirelessly working for full participation for all of God’s children in the church. Our Church Council also suggested taking a good will offering for Echoes, the church that I also lead that meets Monday evenings, and began at Bellingham Pride in 2013. We will be taking offerings for Echoes as it relies heavily on donations and grants from the ELCA. Echoes is often a place that people who have been harmed by past churches come to find healing and hope. You can learn more about Echoes on our website, https://echoesbellingham.org/  
in person or by asking myself, the Pastor/Mission Developer. Thank you to everyone who has supported, encouraged and prayed for Echoes and its community work while I have been with you, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. 
 
Blessings,  Pastor Emma 

A Blessing for Pride 

Beloved, there is only love. 
In you, only love. 
Around you, only love. 

Not a touchy-feely, pop song kind of love. 
But a love that knows every secret corner 
of your fragile, fabulous being and says, “Yes!”  

“Yes!” to your desire. 
“Yes!” to your difference. 
“Yes!” to your diversity. 

Whoever you are, 
whatever beautiful spirit 
God created you to be, 
shine fearlessly and courageously. 

We need you 
and the divine light within you 
to sparkle through the prism of your body 
and brighten the world 
with a glorious rainbow. 
 
Never forget you are loved. 
Fiercely and forever. 
 
-Rev. Sam Lundquist 

WRITING CHECKS: Checks to be deposited to the church’s bank account should be made payable to “Lutheran Church in the San Juans”. If you would like to designate your gift in any way, please note that in the memo line. Thank you! From your Financial Secretary.

Email changes: Please contact Corky Searls  to make changes to the email distribution list for these notes. Please also contact Jonna, the parish administrator so that address and email changes may be saved for the church directory.