Good Morning Neighbors –

I’m greeting you as neighbors this morning as I share a story that has transformed my faith journey over this past year. Many of you know our congregation has been a part of the Riverside Innovation Hub led by Augsburg for over a year now, and we’re continuing into our 2nd year.

Over this time, we’ve been discovering what it means to truly be neighbor in our world, and what it means to be a church focused outwardly on the neighbor rather than inwardly on ourselves. We’ve discovered that we’re already doing so much of Jesus’ Gospel work of being neighbor –

• Serving and being seated at the table with folks from all walks of life through Shobi’s Table.
• Advocating for justice through ISAIAH connections and Lutheran Advocacy housed here in our building.
• Some of us volunteer with or financially support Daily Work, lifting up and walking alongside those who are seeking living wage jobs.
• Partnering with Cherish All Children to raise healthy generations free from sexual exploitation.
• Hosting “Good Neighbor” meetings to gather local neighborhood business leaders, non-profit leaders, neighbors here in Frogtown, police, city planners – all coming together to collaborate on how we can make this area safer for all.
• Being a light in the lives of so many of us who need to know there is a God of hope and a loving community supporting us through all our daily challenges.

These are the things we are doing so well, and we sometimes just can’t believe there aren’t more people joining us here to engage with us. But clearly our work carrying out the Gospel isn’t just happening here on Sunday mornings. I support Christ on Capitol Hill financially because I believe it is all the things we are doing in our lives and as a congregation to be Christ in the world – every day of the week. So if I can help pay to keep the lights on, the heat going, the staff compensated, and support our outreach ministries, I am grateful to do so.

Now to that story I mentioned at the beginning:

I had struggled for a long time trying to figure out how to honor and recognize the many folks I pass at intersections holding up signs requesting money. Look at them with a nod and smile? That felt uncomfortable through my closed window. Give them a couple dollars? I donate many places, will these $2-3 handouts really matter?

Then it struck me – with all our focus on connecting with neighbors through our innovation work – these are my neighbors. So I’ve started opening my window, greeting folks with “hello neighbor” and handing them a Shobi’s Table card along with a few dollars and inviting them to join for a lunch sometime. I’ve met some really wonderful people in these 30-second interactions and would love to share a couple stories with you another time. I hope you’ll join me in supporting our work here at Christ on Capitol Hill, in whatever capacity you’re able. And invite a friend to join us!

On October 27, Erik Wohlrabe shared this message:

People of Christ, Good Morning!

Today is the day! Today is the day when we commit the gifts we plan to offer up for this congregation’s continued ministry in 2025. My name is Erik Wohlrabe and I serve as Stewardship Chair. I’m also the Team Leader for our Vitality Team, who are part of the Riverside Innovation Hub, a 2 year program from Augsburg University and the Minneapolis Synod. I believe the work we are doing as part of this cohort is important to the life and stewardship of our own congregation. When we think of stewardship, the financial component of it is at the forefront of our minds, and it’s indeed important. We need the financial gifts of this congregation’s members to fund the vital ministry we do. But stewardship isn’t just about money, it’s about stewarding the congregation as a whole, finding and tapping into the gifts and service our members can offer for the life of the community. 

Our work at Riverside is grounded in several important questions. First, who is my neighbor? This could be the person sitting next to you in the pew, a longtime friend or a new face. It could be the people we see living and working here with us in the Capitol Rice area. And it could also be someone we’ve yet to meet, but who is yearning to connect. At Riverside we also ask “How are we part of our neighborhood?” “How can we connect with our neighbors and be in community together with them?” Big questions, and ones with no simple answers. So far, we have passed through seasons of accompaniment and interpretation, walking side by side with our neighbors and listening to what they have to say. We are now moving into a season of discernment. This is a time of taking stock, getting our bearings, and sitting with our thoughts about the process. 

How appropriate it is that this season coincides with our own season of change at Christ on Capitol Hill. As we prepare to say goodbye to Pastor Joy and look ahead to our next season of ministry in this congregation, I’m sure many of us feel uncertain about what the future holds. Last week we also received the exciting news that we were one of 24 congregations from around the country to receive a grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places, money we will be able to use to make much needed repairs and improvements to this space. But these funds are just one component of the gifts we will need to tap into to complete the full project. Yes, all the changes afoot are leading to a lot of questions at Christ on Capitol Hill. 

But the one I want you to take away is this:
“Lord, what are you preparing us for?”

“What does our hopeful future look like?”

During the offering we will be collecting intent cards. Providing our financial team with statements of intended giving helps our finance and exec team, as well as the council, in preparing the budget for the coming year. Our congregation has set a goal of new and increased offerings of $60,000.00 for 2025. It’s an ambitious goal, but one I believe we can meet. If you do not have a card, we’ll have some available for you. If you would prefer to share this information electronically, you can reach out to the office, to Pastor Joy, our President Kevin Bullock, or myself, and we will make sure the information gets to those who need it. 

Yesterday, members of our Vitality Team were at Augsburg for Riverside’s Discernment Learning Event. And one of the phrases we heard early on has resonated with me is a way of considering community.  

Community as a common unity. 

Each of the other congregations we walk with in this work is facing its own unique set of challenges, but as we each spoke of these roadblocks, a lot of commonalities emerged, and a lot of wisdom was shared and felt resonant for our own community. Council and members of Riverside will be sharing some of these stories at our quarterly update meeting in November, so please join us for that conversation. Christ on Capitol Hill has a story to tell, and that story is still unfolding. We’re moving into a new chapter. Our continued stewardship of the beloved community, both financial and spiritual, helps us keep telling that story. I invite each of you to join us as we turn to the next page.