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pilgrim lutheran lents

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Ask the Pastor a Question

If you could ask any question about God, Christianity, religion, faith, spirituality,the Bible, different churches, history, theology (theo=God, ology=study) what would you ask?

As a clergy type, I have an undergraduate degree in Social Work (BSW), from the University of Montana, Missoula and a 4 year (full time 12cr/sem) Masters of Divinity (MDIV) from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Although I have all these letters behind my name, I don't consider myself to be very academic, especially since I was also a high school drop out and didn't figure out that I might be smart until I had to learn Greek at the Seminary (my first class -- yikes!). I did fairly well at the Seminary, however, I still can't spell to save my life, and I will never remember the names of all the old dead philosephers and theologians that I was suppose to have learned about.

So with that in mind I invite you to ask your questions. I will do my best to answer, and/or find the answers you seek. Although, I must also warn you that often times there is no concrete answer to be had, rather the answers we seek or need reveal themselves when we are willing to openly and honestly explore the questions.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Open Invitation

Pilgrim Lutheran located at 4244 SE 91st is found in the Lents neighborhood one block north of Holgate off of 92nd. One block north of Lents Park.

Sunday Worship: 10:00 am
Sunday Bible Study:
'No experience Necessary' : 8:45 am

We welcome ALL and invite you to participate in the creation of a new way of being church. God is calling us to be church in community and we need your help in shaping our future in Lents.

Pilgrim Lutheran Launches Website

Pilgrim Lutheran Launches Website

Pilgrim Lutheran located at 4244 SE 91st is found in the Lents neighborhood one block north of Holgate off of 92nd. One block north of Lents Park.

Sunday Worship: 10:00 am Sunday Bible Study: 'No experience Necessary' : 8:45 am

Mission Statement: Our mission in this ever-changing community is to proclaim and live the promise of Jesus Christ our Lord, inviting all to be nourished with the hope of the Gospel of God's love for them and creation.

"Pilgrim Proclaims, Lives, Hopes, and Invites ALL For the sake of the Good News"

What does this mean you ask!? It means that because of our faith in Jesus Christ, Pilgrim lives it's faith publicly and in community. We live in the reality of lifes challenges with the hope that comes from God's promise in Jesus.

We believe:

Jesus is Lord source of Life & Love

God meets ALL -- as they are in suffering & joy to give hope of life full & free

Due to this Love -- joy comes not in prosperity of wealth rather prosperity of healthy relationships & community

Faith is Lived Publicly - not as judges of personal morality or keepers of "Christian law" - rather as workers in God's Kingdom of Love, Justice, and Mercy for ALL

As Workers -- we are also called to be stewards (caretakers/managers) of the Earth and all her resources.

Pastor Jeana-marie L. Fiumefreddo

Not raised in church she is not your average pastor type. Life has been tough for her, from experiencing violence & poverty as a youth & young adult; being Married for 19yrs; raising an increadable young woman of 19; and suffering daily with fibromialgia & chronic fatigue. God's grace seems to hold her and turns even moments of suffering into a blessing.

Pastor Jeana-marie seems to "ooze" a faith based on God's love. She will tell you her faith is God's gift, even as she will tell you that at times it is hard to believe, so we believe for each other. She preaches living in reality with the hope that comes from God's love & grace revealed in Jesus. She acts like a normal person, not pretending to be holier than anybody else (she is called the "cussing tatood pastor" by the local teens).

She seems to enjoy exploring life's questions with people, and will openly share her opinions as well as life experiences. Pastor Jeana-marie is also an advocate for the less fortunate and those who we might call weak, even challenging social & church "norms." She is orthodox in lutheran theology (that is she seems to agree with Martin Luther's[1500's] teaching as well as St. Paul[of the new testament], but politically she seems libral even leaning toward socialism. She thinks poverty is the greatest injustice & evil of our time, and says "No one, no matter their ability, willingness or lack there of, should have to go without food, shelter, or medical care, especially in a country as rich as ours."

Pastor will tell you the truth about the church, even if it isn't pretty. She teaches that the function of church is not to be the morality police or judge (God is Judge), rather the church's job is to witness to and live out of God's love as revealed in Jesus -- i.e. "Love your neighbor as yourself". Pastor will often say God isn't concerned about our behavior when it comes to God's love, but that we can't help but to respond to the experiencing of God's love, a love powerful enough to change us. She believes that religious guilt trips don't change anybody or anything. Pastor Jeana-marie has a gift of empathy and compassion, encouraging all of us to look to God and to our own weaknesses, and challenges to find the empathy needed to encourage, lift up, and love others -- even those we are uncomfortable with, would not agree with, like or who are different. It is in this way that we are able to build up a diverse and healthy community.

August 2006