The Sundays after Pentecost are traditionally considered to be the season of the church. During this long season, I like to think about the church as growing its roots, the way the grass grows its roots and spreads into bare patches and thin places. This gives a little different spin to the idea of “growing the church.”

We can grow the church during this long season by reading more widely or deeply than we ordinarily do. Rather than (or at least in addition to) the usual summer potboilers, summer is a good time to read things that expand your mind. Right now I’m reading “The Reason for God” by Timothy Keller, a book that Ann Wolfgang suggested to me. Keller is a semi-famous Presbyterian pastor who seems to have taken on the mantle of C.S. Lewis as a modern apologist for faith. Give me a call and we can exchange reading ideas.

Some of us have been growing the church by doing some good (and fun!) works that help us to become known in the community. I’m very grateful to Kathy Dangin (and her wonderful family), as well as Melissa Stuart and Sherry Thompson and all the people who stepped up to lead our participation at Relay for Life. We haven’t participated in this wonderfully moving event for several years and I’m very glad that we’re back. Others of us are getting ready for Vacation Bible School. I’m very grateful for the leadership of Tierney Guido and Donna Calautti and I’m sure that this will be a great VBS.

We can also grow the church by inviting people to church and welcoming visitors. It is not well known, but churches get many of their visitors during the summer, because people move in summer and one of the first things many people do after moving is try to find a new church home. So, take the time to introduce yourself at services to people whom you don’t recognize. If I drag someone over to meet you, it’s because I think you’re a good ambassador for Christ and that’s about the best compliment I can think of.

Summer can also be a time to grow the church by trying on new habits and spiritual disciplines. For example, I’ve started getting a daily bible reading sent from the ELCA website. In the process, I’ve learned about a daily discipleship bible study that is being offered by the ELCA. I’ve mentioned that some of us are beginning discipleship groups this summer. If you’re interested in doing this, give me a call and I’ll try to set you up in a group.

For those traveling this summer, please travel safely and patiently. Travel can be stressful, traffic can be maddening, and air travel nearly beyond endurance. When I flew to Minneapolis for my preaching conference, I got pulled out of line because the tube of toothpaste in my carryon luggage was too large under the regulations (I can see the headlines now – “Lutheran pastor armed with large tube of Sensodyne commandeers 757 bound for Minneapolis – film at 11”.) So put on the mind of Christ, go with joy and patience, and come home safe and sound.

Pastor Greg