Two months out


Phil Hibbard and Lissa Kahl, a pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Waverly, Iowa,


didn’t realize how Lenten emails would become strength bard,


for Gehrig’s Disease. Hib- diagnosed with Lou


sky filled with a sunrise like I’ve never seen—gold and red and blue and orange. It was the first time that nature moved me to tears. I sat there looking at the sun and heard two voices. One was my friend saying, ‘Choose joy’ and the other more of a whisper from God, ‘Your sadness is finished,’ and it was,” he wrote.


Beth Stevens wrote about a surprise angel who appeared


as her 19-year-old daughter was wheeled into heart surgery. Stevens’ fears and anxiety bubbled to the surface. “Tearfully, I rushed into the nearest restroom, but a clean-


Members use email to share faith stories


A


s Lent approached last year, Lissa Kahl, a pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Waverly, Iowa, invited members to share faith stories about a “life teacher”


who had been important to them. They would do so by email, and their stories would help bring to life the Lenten theme, she said. “Sign up for a date to share your story,” urged Kahl


(pastorlissa@redeemerwaverly.org). But there was no rush to the sign-up list. These Iowa Lutherans, although mission- driven and normally eager to volunteer, didn’t talk about faith. Carla Janssen remembers Kahl urging, “Give it a try. God will provide inspiration and words to make it meaningful.” Kahl wrote the first story, and a former congregation


president then courageously shared how God meets him in nature. Redeemer’s other pastor, Dan Kahl, wrote about the teacher who changed his life. Stories began arriving slowly, but they arrived—allowing


members to look into the heart of those who sit next to them in the pew. For those who weren’t computer savvy, the email string was also available in print at Lenten soup suppers. Will Rutledge wrote about a time when he felt like Job:


“My dear friend passed away from a long illness at age 38. This was the breaking point for me; I sat in my usual spot one Sunday morning, back row, middle section, and while the kids were in Sunday school, I wept. I sat silently and asked, ‘What, God? What more do you want?’ ” Later, on a motorcycle ride in a downpour, Rutledge pulled


ing lady was in there. … She welcomed me in. She asked who was in surgery. As I filled her in—and cried—she listened. Then she surprised me by asking, ‘Would you like me to pray with you?’ I blinked and nodded. … She put her arm around my shoulder and just prayed her heart out for our young daughter she’d never met, for this needy family she did not know.” Stevens thanked her for being her angel, and the woman


answered, “You’re welcome. You are my ministry today.” Stevens continued: “She impacted my faith in a profound


way that morning. To be present. To be aware of another’s suffering. To give a hug and a heartfelt prayer.” Kahl said, “Writing helped members verbalize their faith.


They formed new connections and relationships.” For Phil Hibbard, the emails were a reminder that he


and his family aren’t alone on his/their journey with amyo- trophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease: “There are and will be many ‘hugs and heartfelt prayers.’ And we need both of these.” 


Elaine Main


Main has been The Lutheran’s Northeastern Iowa Synod correspondent and a synod publications editor.


Good one! Card creations


over and sat facing east and the rains quickly ceased. “The Send congregational stories—both those for a specifi c month/holiday or your best timeless idea—to julie.sevig@thelutheran.org.


42 www.thelutheran.org


St. Luke Lutheran Church, Park Ridge, Ill., makes and sells handmade greeting cards for a variety of occasions. By September the church (which asks for a $5 donation) had sold 239 cards and donated all proceeds ($1,196) to ELCA World Hunger (www.elca.org/hunger).


STEPHEN MAIN


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