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It is no secret that we live in a time when faith and politics are tangled in complicated ways. Some voices claim that being a “true Christian” means aligning with a certain political party, holding one narrow set of beliefs, or drawing boundaries about who is “in” and who is “out.” This movement, often called Christian Nationalism, insists that our nation must be defined primarily by one particular brand of Christianity, and it often uses fear to divide neighbor from neighbor.

As people of faith, we are called to pause and ask: is this the way of Jesus?

The Jesus we meet in scripture constantly unsettled systems of domination and exclusion. He healed those who had been cast aside, ate with those who were considered impure, and told stories that expanded our imagination of God’s kingdom. His life shows us that the reign of God is not about seizing power, but about setting people free. When faith is fused with nationalism, it distorts that vision. turning religion into a weapon rather than a source of healing, justice, and peace.

Here in Lancaster County, we know the stakes of this conversation. Our community has seen both the beauty of people of faith working together for the common good and the harm that comes when religion is wielded as a tool of exclusion. Christian Nationalism is not just a problem “out there” in Washington or on cable news; it is a temptation that can show up in our own backyards, shaping how we talk about belonging, who we welcome, and what we expect of one another.

That is why I am so grateful that this fall, we will have the chance to engage this issue together through the Democracy, Faith & Power Seminar: Exploring Christian Nationalism Across Communities and Continents.

This free, nonpartisan forum will take place on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 6:30–8:30 PM at Elizabethtown College’s Gibble Auditorium (One Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown, PA). The evening will feature two renowned scholars offering local, national, and global perspectives:

· Dr. Andrew Ward (Tulane University), whose work on religious nationalism and development policy spans over 40 countries and is completing a book on Dominionist power in the U.S.

· Dr. Greg Carey (Moravian University), Associate Dean for the Lancaster Campus, who has published widely on New Testament interpretation and frequently speaks on Christian nationalism’s threat to both democracy and Christianity. He will speak on how Christian Nationalism impacts us here in Lancaster County.

This event is not about assigning blame or deepening divides. It is about learning, reflecting, and discerning how we as Christians can be a faithful witness in our own time. It is about finding ways to say, with our lives, that our hope is not in seizing control but in following Jesus, the one who breaks down walls, who welcomes the stranger, who tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Registration is required.  Please look in future Ministry Minute emails for the link.

I hope you will join us for this important conversation. Bring your questions, your concerns, and your faith. Together, we can seek a better way: a way that holds fast to love, builds bridges instead of barriers, and bears witness to the God whose kingdom is larger, freer, and more beautiful than any ideology.

We are thrilled to announce a special homecoming on Sunday, September 7th—Bishop-elect Rev. Stephen Robert Herr will be joining us at Holy Spirit for worship on his very first Sunday serving as bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

This moment is especially meaningful for our congregation because Bishop-elect Herr began his journey of faith right here at Holy Spirit. He is a son of this congregation, and as far as we know, the only member to have answered the call to ordained ministry. We celebrate his new role with deep joy and a shared sense of pride.

Rev. Herr was ordained on July 2, 1994, and brings with him over thirty years of leadership experience in parish ministry, campus ministry, and broader church governance. He currently serves as pastor of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gettysburg.

His leadership within the ELCA has included service on the ELCA Church Council, Executive Committee, and as chair of the Legal and Constitutional Review Committee. He has also contributed to the Future Directions Task Force and served on Synod Councils in both the Lower Susquehanna and Southwestern Pennsylvania Synods. Locally, he has served as Dean and Secretary of the Gettysburg Conference and is a dedicated supporter of outdoor ministry through the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania.

We can’t think of a more fitting place for Bishop-elect Herr to begin his new ministry than here, among the congregation where the first seeds of his faith were sown.

So mark your calendars and plan to join us on Sunday, September 7th, for a service of worship and celebration. Stay afterward for a time of fellowship, as we welcome our new bishop and longtime friend back home.

Muscle Memory for the Soul

“God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.”

That’s a phrase I’ve been hearing a lot lately. My friends from Tanzania were the first to introduce it to me. I remember standing in front of their congregation, and the exchange went like this:

Pastor: “God is good,”
Congregation: “All the time,”
Pastor: “All the time,”
Congregation: “God is good.”

There’s something so powerful about hearing an entire room of people declare God’s goodness together. But what about when we’re not surrounded by a crowd? What are we declaring then?

When the chips are down, when the fever spikes in the middle of the night, or when the bills outlast the money, that’s when what we really believe comes to the surface. In those moments, we don’t rely on feelings, but on the deeper knowing we’ve cultivated over time. That’s when we need to choose to say it out loud, with purpose, “God is good.”

There is a holy light in naming God’s goodness while sitting in the pit of despair. And there is wisdom in saying it on the best of days too. That practice, spoken in joy, helps create the spiritual muscle memory we will need when life feels like H. E. double hockey sticks.

It reminds me of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, 5th-century monastic Christians who prayed ceaselessly using the Jesus Prayer: “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” They prayed it so consistently that, over time, the prayer became part of them. They were no longer simply saying the words, they became the prayer—fully known, fully loved, fully held in grace.

I see a similar hunger in many of you. A desire to grow that deep spiritual memory. Worship is a beautiful place to begin. Before worship starts, or during communion, try centering yourself with the Jesus Prayer or simply whisper, “God is good, all the time.”

These prayers are tools, small but powerful. You can pray them while you drive, do chores, or sit quietly. You can use them to interrupt negative thoughts or to help re-center in difficult moments.

They are more than words. They are reminders to your wonderfully complex brain that no matter what happens, you are deeply loved by God. Nothing—no hardship, no pain, no darkness—can separate you from that love.

If you’re ready to explore more ways to build this kind of spiritual muscle memory, we’d love for you to join us:

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Wednesdays at the Church
Prayer and Meditation at 10:00 a.m.
Come breathe deeply, rest in stillness, and open to God’s presence.

Bible Study at 11:00 a.m.
Join us for a rich conversation around scripture and daily life.

Join us for a Mini Church Picnic Sunday, July 13 following worship. Hot dogs, chips and drink will be provided. Bring a dish to share if you wish. Sign up at the ministry table!

We will be playing Bingo and having a Cake Walk! If you would like to provide a treat for the Cake Walk, please sign up at the ministry table. (Cakes, brownies, cupcakes, pies are all welcome!)

The Gift of Showing Up Together

A reflection for the Holy Spirit Lutheran Church Newsletter

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9

If you’ve ever served on a committee, you know it’s not always glamorous. Decisions take time. Coffee gets cold. And sometimes, we have the same conversation for the third time because someone missed the last meeting.

And yet, through all of this wonderfully human mess, God shows up.

The Church doesn’t always move quickly, but it does move faithfully. And that’s exactly what we saw at our recent congregational meeting. In the face of a significant budget shortfall, this community didn’t flinch or flee. You leaned in. You listened deeply. You asked thoughtful questions. And above all—you showed up. That is no small thing.

This congregation reminded me of that familiar proverb:

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

We are in this for the long haul. Not just to keep the lights on or the bulletins printed, but to be a community that blesses the world beyond our walls. As Archbishop William Temple once said:

“The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.”

That’s who we are. That’s what we do.

So thank you, for your faithfulness, your hopefulness, your generosity, and your presence. Whether you’re on a committee, just joined the congregation, or have been here since pews had ashtrays (yes, that was a thing in some places), your presence matters.

Let’s keep showing up. Let’s keep the humor alive and the coffee warm. Let’s keep listening for the Spirit’s whisper, sometimes in spreadsheets, sometimes in silence, and often in one another.

Because two, ten, fifty, or a whole congregation are always better than one.

In gratitude and hope,
Pastor Gretchen