Wow! Thank you for your out-pouring of support during our recent meetings and your generous gifts at Christmas! Your connections to Laura and me through the Gospel are truly welcome and appreciated.

It is really a small world in Lutheran circles where we are all interconnected through faith. At the end of January, Vicar Peter and I attended the Tri-Synodical Theological Conference in Waco which focused on preaching. There were four presenters: The Reverend Dr. Barbara Lundblad, from Union Theological Seminary, New York; The Rev. Dr. Roger Paynter, Sr. Pastor of First Baptist Church of Austin; The Rev. Dr. Stephen Ray from Garrett Seminary, Evanston, Illinois; and The Rev. Dr. Craig Satterlee of Lutheran School of Theology of Chicago.

Three of the four presenters are indirectly connected to our congregation! For years I have participated in Doug Hester’s Family Systems Clergy Group. When I attended the Austin group several years ago, Roger Paynter was also a member of the class, so we share the same understanding of emotional dynamics in the church.

Barbara Lundblad is a professor at Union Seminary in New York where Heidi Lembke Johnston received her Master of Divinity Degree. Dr. Lundblad also happened to be the preacher for Heidi & Ben’s wedding, and sends greetings and a thank-you to Immanuel for the fine training she received here.

Craig Satterlee is homiletics professor at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago where last year’s intern Mike Matson has just graduated and is awaiting call. Dr. Satterlee told me that Mike grew and matured immensely during his year of internship at Immanuel and he credits the wonderful support and practical experience that Mike received from our congregation.

Keep up the good work you are doing in sharing our Christian faith and Lutheran heritage. Our lives are interconnected and find the source of God’s love for us all around the cross.

See you in church!