Pastor Lisa Borrell's Message for June 2025

newjerlc
Jun 3
3 min read

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NEW JERUSALEM EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH SENDS

OUR BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

FOR A HAPPY, SAFE, AND A HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

In case of a pastoral emergency, please contact Pastor Lisa Borrell

at 610-838-0731 or or email MizLKB@aol.com.

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Pastor Lisa will be holding office hours at the church on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Please give me a call ahead of time if possible so that we can arrange for a time to meet and speak. To note … Hershey kisses are always available on my desk if you, like I, have a need for chocolate! I can also be reached via text messages to my cell phone, Facebook Messenger, or email (MizLKB@aol.com). Please understand if sometimes I cannot answer a call promptly. Kindly leave me a voice message and I will contact you as soon as I am able. ~ Pastor Lisa

Some of you are aware that I recently took a mystery trip with my BFF from

seminary which was planned through an online company called Journee. After

filling out a questionnaire which inquires about all sorts of things like desired activity level, preferred weather and time of the year to travel, budget, etc., Journee comes up with a proposal for a secret overseas destination, complete with excursions, restaurant suggestions, and a fun itinerary. I think it took all of one minute for Jennifer and I to agree that we wanted to take them up on their offer. So, on May 8th , we headed to JFK airport where we opened up our “reveal envelope” and found out that we’d be heading to Northern Puglia in Italy! Appropriate excitement ensued.

Though we had received several clues about our destination in the months prior

to our trip, we could only offer one another guesses about where we’d be traveling. Spain? Croatia? Montenegro? Italy? There is somewhat of a fear factor involved in the “not knowing.” How do we pack? What kind of currency do we need? How will we be able to navigate our travels once we arrive? Though the company gave us a lot of guidance in all those instances (and were very good about answering questions once we arrived), it still was a bit intimidating because we didn’t know things for sure. We had to trust that Journee had our best interests at heart and would provide support when we needed it the most.

Now let’s shift gears to the Pentecost story which was taking place after Jesus’

death and resurrection. The disciples were now on their own and quite rightly, were frightened about what to do now that their Master was no longer with them in person. For three intensive years, He had taught them and prepared them the best that He could for carrying out His mission. The band of brothers had witnessed for themselves all the miracles and signs, but now it was THEIR turn to go out into the world … a world of uncertainty … a world where they could only give their best guess as to where the work of God’s kingdom would take them.

And then -- amidst their fears -- the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to them as their Advocate, as their guide, so that they could face that unknown future with courage. God had not abandoned them; rather, God had provided for them in the

midst of their uncertainty.

And so it is with us as we face challenges or walk down paths to which the endings remain unknown … we, too, have someone who walks beside us, granting

assurance of love, grace, presence, and empowerment. May we find our peace and

power in that very promise.

Pastor Lisa Borrell

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Please consider giving a financial donation to one of the following

organizations to help with relief efforts in California:

ELCA Disaster Response

c/o ELCA

P.O. Box 1809

Merrifield, VA 22116-8009

Lutheran World Relief

700 Light Street