St. Paul Congregational UCC
  • Home
  • A Word with Pastor
  • Worship
  • Music
  • About
  • Calendar
  • Contact
  • LGBTQ+ Resources
  • Building Use Policy

A Word with Pastor

You Can do big things!

7/27/2022

 
Picture
Dear Friends,
 
I, like so many of you, am taking the time to enjoy some R&R this summer. This week I hope to--amongst other things--practice unplugging and being present as a means to renew and replenish my mind, body, and spirit. Thank you for all that you are doing this week to make my time away possible. 
 
In my absence, however, I didn't want to leave you empty handed in this week's ePistle. Rather, I wanted to share with you an inspiring story out of Faith UCC in Iowa City. Faith UCC is a small church, with 20-30 in worship every week. But they have worked to do a REALLY BIG THING. They didn't do it through isolation or separation from their community...they did it WITH their community. Be sure to read the article below to learn more about the BIG THING Faith UCC has done.
 
St. Paul is doing BIG things too (Suds of Love, to name one). And we are able to do these BIG things (and BIGGER still) when we remember that we are not alone. We are not on an island in the middle of gently rolling hills filled with corn, we are part of a community. And when we work from a space of UNITY with our community, we are truly able to do more than we could ever ask or imagine. We are truly able to help draw the kin-dom of God nearer still. 
 
So please, in this era of mega-churches and mega-budgets, do not underestimate the power and the reach of our little community of faith. Do not underestimate the love and justice that can be born from 2 or 3 people gathered together in Jesus' name. Do not underestimate what faith can do when faith works with others.
 
You are ALL in my prayers regularly, and especially this week. 
Pr. Melissa

(Click the picture to read the article.)


Comments are closed.
    Picture of Pastor Melissa enjoying time on her hammock.
    Pastor Melissa enjoying time on her hammock.

    Rev. Melissa Sternhagen

    Rev. Melissa Sternhagen was called as the pastor of St. Paul Congregational UCC in June of 2020. Prior to her call to St. Paul, Pr. Melissa worked as a hospice chaplain in the Ames, IA area, following pastorates at rural churches in Central Iowa and Southern Illinois. Pr. Melissa is a second-career pastor with a background in agribusiness and production & supply operations. She received her M.Div. from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO, and holds a MA Ed. in Adult Education and Training, and a BA in Organizational Communications. 

    Pr. Melissa is a passionate advocate for social justice. She has marched and advocated for LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive justice, justice and equality for the communities of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. She has also spoken at rallies for DACA, to end police violence against Black people, to end violence against the Trans* community, and to end gun violence. 

    An Iowa native, Pr. Melissa enjoys being outside at all times of the year, gardening, tinkering in the garage, walking, hiking, kayaking, lying in her hammock, removing snow, repurposing old/found objects, and tackling projects she saw on YouTube that she was "sure" she could do. Pr. Melissa shares a home with her spouse, their two dogs, and SO MANY plants. 

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022

    Categories

    All
    Grief

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • A Word with Pastor
  • Worship
  • Music
  • About
  • Calendar
  • Contact
  • LGBTQ+ Resources
  • Building Use Policy