Bringing Our Time Together to a Close

Bringing Our Time Together to a Close

Dear Salt House,

I want to share that my last Sunday with you will be August 30th, as we welcome Pastor Sara back and to celebrate her return. These next two Sundays will be my final ones with you as your sabbatical supply pastor.

Since arriving in May, my time among you has been a meaningful and enriching season for me. Getting to know this beautiful community has been a gift. I've loved listening to so many of your journeys and life experiences, and I've been struck again and again by the honest wrestling with church and faith in such authentic terms. It has been a unique experience, with a unique faith community, and I'm deeply grateful to have been welcomed so warmly into your life together. I'm also thankful for the chance to work alongside the Salt House staff each week, grounding our time in Word, prayer, and preparation together.

Preaching through the book of Acts with you this summer has been a personal blessing, giving moments to attend more explicitly to the Holy Spirit, than is often the case, especially for Lutherans, and offering space to be curious about the Spirit's movement through Word and world. You have brought the Holy Spirit alive to me through many conversations I’ve been blessed to share over the summer.

This Sunday, we continue that journey with Acts 17 and Paul's remarkable encounter in the Athenian marketplace, and we'll bring our summer series to completion together over these final two weeks.

I'll be working closely with Pastor Sara to ensure as smooth a return as possible, and I'll remain present through her return the week of August 31st to offer transition assistance as needed. I am especially grateful for pastor Sara entrusted me with this time to steward the Spirit among you during her sabbatical rest. Thank you as well, Salt House, for the trust you've placed in me and for allowing me to journey with this special community of faith. The creative, life-giving movement of the Spirit is clearly stirring in this place. It has been an honor to bear witness to Her.

Peace,
Pastor David Hahn