It Takes a Village

I awoke to the phrase, “It takes a village….” It’s a phrase most likely not uncommon to you, that has been used in a variety of ways throughout time and place. It’s origin a mystery, but its meaning shared throughout the rich continent of Africa, among native peoples here in America and for me, experienced personally in Native Hawaiian culture and society.  It’s a phrase that challenges the rugged individualism and “I can” spirit of North American life we have valued for so long--a viewpoint that often bleeds into our faith perspectives and congregational living.


However, individualism is repeatedly challenged by Jesus and Christian scripture as we currently are seeing in the gospel of Luke and Paul’s writings to the Corinthians about the Body of Christ (or, the Church).  Paul writes, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” ( 1 Cor. 12: 12-13. NIV)


Too often we can keep our deepest struggles to ourselves and want to show only the ‘good stuff’ or our happy face in public, including within our faith communities, bearing burdens alone.  It’s often only as we share our struggles that the load is lightened. It’s true too of our joy--when shared and celebrated, it expands. What better place to experience this than the celebration of life for a loved one who has died. The greater the love between people, the more it hurts to say goodbye; but when the experience is shared, the stories that can uplift and the support offered to one another embodies the hope of resurrection, not only for the dead, but for the living--those who must go on without the beloved one.


Yahweh, the Beloved who speaks the Word of life, love, grace; who comes to us as the Word made flesh, Jesus the Christ; who sustains us in holy wisdom and the very breath of YHWH, the Holy Spirit is a God who embodies relationship!!  The God we worship is fully engaged within and around every aspect of creation. It is this One who calls us into being as community, to walk alongside each other, and grow in our faith and mission. It is in the knowing of another and being known that makes it possible for us to truly be the Body of Christ.  That’s what this season after Epiphany is all about. It’s what this month will embody as we install Pastor Sue B. Holland as our new Associate Pastor and clergy partner in ministry for Coastside Lutheran Church.


There’s much to be excited about here.  God is evident, present, and at work in our lives, our congregation, and our community at large.  If you are feeling down and out, or doubt your purpose, your call, or if you are in transition, wondering what next might be in store for you, maybe it’s to become part of something more, maybe something here.  We’re excited about many opportunities. Some are ongoing, like Sunday Worship at 8:30 and 10 am, Tuesday Centering Prayer, 6-6:45 pm, Thursday Choir practice, 7:30-9 pm, our Community Breakfast Wednesday & Thursday, 7-9 am, or the Daytime Women’s Bible study every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 2-3:30 pm. Others are new, like our quarterly book study meeting next on Thursday, March 28 @ Caffe Mezzaluna, 12 noon-1:30 pm to discuss The Diaries of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain.  We are starting a new group called Living Grace--to discuss current movies, shows, stories that  impacting our faith as Christians today, expanding our understanding of self and others so we may live more fully into the grace of Jesus Christ. 2 gatherings are planned for Sunday March 10, noon at Hop Dogma Brewing Company to share our experience of the Michael Strelo-Smith concert on the night before and Sunday, March 31, noon at Hop Dogma Brewing Company to discuss other current stories that broaden our understanding of the issues for LGBTQIA community.


I know I want to grow more deeply in my love of God, self and others.  I want to root in the love that God has for me and for all creation, so that I may live more fully and freely in love and grace each day of my life.  And, I want to be in relationship and community with others who share this desire with me. It’s why I got involved in this work long ago and continue to want to serve as your pastor.  I don’t want to do it alone! “It takes a village,” and for that, I am ever grateful!!

​In humility and Christ, Pastor Dawn Teuthorn