Alleluia!

My understanding of Mardi Gras is wild and crazy, and the last of the Alleluias for a while. I chose an outrageous photo in the hopes you would read on. Must say, I am gleeful that my friends, Pastor Violeta and Father Malcolm, have agreed to join me as guest bloggers. We are almost there. Once we have you, our dear readers, on board we’ll be ready for wherever God takes us next.

Introducing Malcolm: After 20+ years working for the Episcopal church in the areas of children, youth, and young adult ministry as well as college chaplaincy, Malcolm recently finished seminary at The University of the South School of Theology. As an ordained priest, he now serves at Holy Cross Episcopal in Redmond, WA.

Introducing Violeta: Violeta has served as a pastor for the Lutheran Church (ELCA) for 20+ years at Farmers Branch in Walnut Hill, Texas. She was recently called to new ministry as the Interim Director of Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest, employed through Wartburg Theological Seminary. Given her love of people, Violeta is finishing her Psychology degree at the University of Texas in Arlington.

I was grateful to worship with and get to know Violeta at Holden Village, a Lutheran Retreat Center in Chelan, WA and Malcolm when he worked at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral before seminary.

We want to get to know each other better as we express our hearts in response to the daily Lectionary. We know our Lectionary verses transcend the differences of our Lutheran and Episcopal denominations. Between us, we represent several other attributes:  Black, Brown and White; clergy and lay; Spanish and English; woman and man. In this soon-to-be-post-pandemic world, we know it is more important than ever before to connect across these differences. Of course, there are many characteristics we share: love of family, appreciation for creativity through writing and photography, as well as a deep belief in God’s baptismal covenant. We intend to show how creative sharing and prayer enhance connections and deepen friendships.