How would you be known?
By Pastor Stephanie
When people speak of you, how do you want to be known? This is a simple, but profound question of legacy, identity, values, and priorities. We may ask ourselves that question when we contemplate our families or the end of our lives. We also may ask that question when we are considering a change in career or when we retire or make another big change. This is also a question that we’re considering as a community of faith at St. Barnabas. When we entered the year 2024, we were gifted with the glorious relief of our mortgage debt while, simultaneously, we began to consider in earnest what the departure of our Lead Pastor would mean for us. At that time, we discussed the fact that we needed to slow down, do some discernment, and address that question: “How do we want to be known?”
We’ve begun exploring that question in a few different ways. This summer, we undertook a sermon series that delved into our Mission, Vision, and Values, connecting them with the stories of the Church of Acts. We became more familiar with these statements, and considered how they might apply to us individually and communally. Our informal survey showed a growth in understanding- in June only 18% of those surveyed were able to name elements of our Mission, Vision, or Values. That increased to 68% of those surveyed in September! That’s a great first step. Our next step is to connect our knowledge of those statements to our choices and behavior. Our Listening Posts are seeking to understand how we connect our personal values and actions to what we experience and do at St. Barnabas. This will help us explore further how we as a congregation could be known in our community in an authentic and meaningful way.
I am finding hope in a few glimpses I am catching of our impact in the community. As a Lutheran, I hold firmly to the theology that says we are each called to a unique Christian vocation. Our calling, as children of God, is to live out the greatest commandments to love God and to love our neighbor as fully as we can in every moment of our lives. In other words, we are to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good works and glorify God, in heaven (Matthew 5:16.) Our light is shining and, even better, it is shining on others!
There have been two newspaper articles printed in the past few weeks that reflect on St. Barnabas and how we’re known in the community. On August 26th, the Star Tribune published an article entitled, “How the Minnesota Council of Churches is Bridging Divides this Election Year.” It covered the first of the Respectful Conversations events, and named upcoming events. Some people registered for our event as a direct result of this, and more than half of those who attended were not St. Barnabas members! Those who attended described a meaningful event that helped them build empathy for their neighbors. Then, on September 16th, an AP News article was published entitled, “Lutherans in Walz’s Minnesota put potlucks before politics during divisive election season.” One of the congregations featured is our partner San Pablo/St. Paul’s, and the article mentions their new “quilt club.” How incredible is it that a ministry that we helped begin and continue to support is being lifted up as an example of the inclusive ministry being offered by ELCA congregations in Minnesota?
These two examples demonstrate what is important to our greater community, and lift us up as a congregation that uplifts others and provides needed support. Being a faith community that shines a light on others is one of the best ways to show our love of neighbor, and to live out the Apostle Paul’s instructions to “in humility regard others as better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3.) If the answer to the question, “How would you be known?” is “For lifting others up and pointing toward God,” we can be satisfied that we’re living out our vocation as Christians and as a congregation.