Let’s focus on passions and dreams. A great opportunity that is afforded during Interim time is to look on the bright side of things, what has gone well, what the best memories are, and, to even go one step further to ask, “what can we make even better?” With an eye to Appreciation, a church can ask, “If you could fulfill three dreams for your church, what would they be?” Be as creative and as free flowing as you wish.

We all have passions and dreams inside of us. A marathon runner has the drive to get ready for and to finish strong with a 26.2-mile race that they are about to run. This doesn’t happen overnight. The marathon runner lays out a 6-month training regimen that builds to the race. This is passion. Think about the passion of those who settled in Hudson a long time ago, those who braved the elements to seek out a life here in the St. Croix Valley. Along came this group of people who chartered the Bethel Lutheran Church. We all share this history, 150 years of it; faithfulness, grit, hard work, and passion. Think of the communal work that went into building Jerusalem’s city wall in Old Testament times during the days of Nehemiah.

Many of us will think of the passion that we have for loved ones this month, the love we share, the partnership, the friendship, our hearts, and our homes.

On winter break our Grandchildren shared in three afternoons of snow sledding. They were all there. It was so much fun. I know that they will hold onto this
memory at Grandma and Grandpa's place for many years to come. At each run with the sleds, they tried to go further than the last. They took on the bumps and jumps in the hill. Sometimes they fell right off. Other times they took to the air and landed rather hard. This reminded me of the time that I spent with a cousin on his farm in the country when I was growing up. My Uncle took his tractor out and we rode on innertubes which were tied to the back of the tractor. After that, we slid down the hills of the farm with feed sacks and cardboard. I’ll never forget that outing.

Can we think of Interim as these kids’ special outings set into play? The Bethel Intentional Interim Transition Planning Team has thoroughly launched its work. We held faith filled story gathering Round Table conversations during the month of January. We shared a Deep Leadership Baseline Survey and Healthy Church Indicator with leaders of the church. During February now, the Interim Team will passionately sift through the data, while looking for what the passions that God may be calling forth at Bethel. Thank you for your excitement. God be with you as we all celebrate passion this month.

Blessings,
Intentional Interim Senior Pastor, Randy Fett