Dear Friends in Christ,

            The Good News of Jesus Christ is that God loves sinners.  We are made right with God, forgiven of our sins, by a wonderful gift of God’s grace that comes to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  That is good news indeed, for you, me and all people.  We accept this wonderful gift of forgiveness by trusting in God’s promises and love – that is what we call faith.

            Although I was raised in the church, this wonderful gift of God’s grace found me in my mid-thirties.  Like many of my generation, I dropped away from the church in my twenties.  My husband and I had wonderful and exciting careers in the U.S. Air Force, serving around the world.  It wasn’t until we landed in Arizona that we joined a Lutheran church (for all the normal reasons: we liked the pastor, good youth program for our son, yada-yada-yada).  It was then that this wonderful gift of grace opened up my life to Christ. 

            When I retired from the Air Force, I began professional ministry as a lay youth director and later heard the call to ordained ministry.  Again this meant another wonder-filled journey; my family moved to Berkeley, California where I studied at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and was ordained a pastor in January 2001.  I have spent more of my life working in the world than the church, sitting in the pews than standing in the pulpit, and I understand that faith journeys are oftentimes not straightforward, but God’s love sustains us throughout all our journeys.  Thanks be to God!

            I pray that here at St Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church you will be filled with the gift of God’s grace and love.  May you be sustained on your journey of a grace-filled life and sent out for ministry in our hurting world.  All are welcome in this place!

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Geri