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Seeds of Hope: What’s Growing Among Us

As summer turns toward fall, our gardens remind us that growth comes in many forms. Some seeds are intentionally planted and tended, while others surprise us, like a patch of mint springing up behind the fig tree, or wildflowers that find their way into the cracks of the sidewalk. Both kinds of growth have value, both bring beauty, and both remind us that God works in ways we don’t always plan.

At our recent council meeting, we noticed the same pattern in our life together as a congregation. Some of the “seeds” we are planting are very practical: stewarding our finances carefully, preparing a balanced budget for 2026, and planning ahead for major needs, such as replacing the church roof. Other seeds look more like relationships: caring for unhoused neighbors who come to our property seeking shelter and creating resource cards that point them to community services. Still others are seeds of celebration: plans for Second Sundays, conversations about fellowship events during Advent, and new members finding their place in confirmation class.

Each of these decisions is a seed we plant together, trusting God to bring the growth. Some will sprout quickly, others may take time to bear fruit, and a few will grow in unexpected directions. But all of them are rooted in the same hope, that our life together would reflect Christ’s kingdom here and now.

Jesus once said that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed: small at first but growing into a tree where all kinds of birds can find shelter (Mark 4:30–32). May the seeds we plant as a congregation this season become places of welcome, care, and hope, for us, for our neighbors, and for all who are seeking God’s love.

Reflection for each of us:

Which “seeds” of ministry excite you most right now? Where do you see God growing something new among us?

Join us in celebrating the installation of the Rev. Stephen R. Herr as Bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod, ELCA. This joyful worship service is a time for the whole church to gather, give thanks, and pray for Bishop Herr as he begins his call to serve and lead our synod.

Saturday, October 25, 2025
2:00 p.m.; Prelude begins at 1:30 p.m.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 30 West Chestnut St., Hanover, PA 17331

ELCA Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry will preach and preside.
A reception will follow the service.All are welcome to attend as we share in fellowship and celebration.

For more details click here.

Faith, Freedom, and the Challenge of Christian Nationalism

It is no secret that we live in a time when faith and politics are tangled in complicated ways. Some voices claim that being a “true Christian” means aligning with a certain political party, holding one narrow set of beliefs, or drawing boundaries about who is “in” and who is “out.” This movement, often called Christian Nationalism, insists that our nation must be defined primarily by one particular brand of Christianity, and it often uses fear to divide neighbor from neighbor.

As people of faith, we are called to pause and ask: is this the way of Jesus?

The Jesus we meet in scripture constantly unsettled systems of domination and exclusion. He healed those who had been cast aside, ate with those who were considered impure, and told stories that expanded our imagination of God’s kingdom. His life shows us that the reign of God is not about seizing power, but about setting people free. When faith is fused with nationalism, it distorts that vision. turning religion into a weapon rather than a source of healing, justice, and peace.

Here in Lancaster County, we know the stakes of this conversation. Our community has seen both the beauty of people of faith working together for the common good and the harm that comes when religion is wielded as a tool of exclusion. Christian Nationalism is not just a problem “out there” in Washington or on cable news; it is a temptation that can show up in our own backyards, shaping how we talk about belonging, who we welcome, and what we expect of one another.

That is why I am so grateful that this fall, we will have the chance to engage this issue together through the Democracy, Faith & Power Seminar: Exploring Christian Nationalism Across Communities and Continents.

This free, nonpartisan forum will take place on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 6:30–8:30 PM at Elizabethtown College’s Gibble Auditorium (One Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown, PA). The evening will feature two renowned scholars offering local, national, and global perspectives:

· Dr. Andrew Ward (Tulane University), whose work on religious nationalism and development policy spans over 40 countries and is completing a book on Dominionist power in the U.S.

· Dr. Greg Carey (Moravian University), Associate Dean for the Lancaster Campus, who has published widely on New Testament interpretation and frequently speaks on Christian nationalism’s threat to both democracy and Christianity. He will speak on how Christian Nationalism impacts us here in Lancaster County.

This event is not about assigning blame or deepening divides. It is about learning, reflecting, and discerning how we as Christians can be a faithful witness in our own time. It is about finding ways to say, with our lives, that our hope is not in seizing control but in following Jesus, the one who breaks down walls, who welcomes the stranger, who tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Registration is required.  Please look in future Ministry Minute emails for the link.

I hope you will join us for this important conversation. Bring your questions, your concerns, and your faith. Together, we can seek a better way: a way that holds fast to love, builds bridges instead of barriers, and bears witness to the God whose kingdom is larger, freer, and more beautiful than any ideology.

We are thrilled to announce a special homecoming on Sunday, September 7th—Bishop-elect Rev. Stephen Robert Herr will be joining us at Holy Spirit for worship on his very first Sunday serving as bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

This moment is especially meaningful for our congregation because Bishop-elect Herr began his journey of faith right here at Holy Spirit. He is a son of this congregation, and as far as we know, the only member to have answered the call to ordained ministry. We celebrate his new role with deep joy and a shared sense of pride.

Rev. Herr was ordained on July 2, 1994, and brings with him over thirty years of leadership experience in parish ministry, campus ministry, and broader church governance. He currently serves as pastor of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gettysburg.

His leadership within the ELCA has included service on the ELCA Church Council, Executive Committee, and as chair of the Legal and Constitutional Review Committee. He has also contributed to the Future Directions Task Force and served on Synod Councils in both the Lower Susquehanna and Southwestern Pennsylvania Synods. Locally, he has served as Dean and Secretary of the Gettysburg Conference and is a dedicated supporter of outdoor ministry through the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania.

We can’t think of a more fitting place for Bishop-elect Herr to begin his new ministry than here, among the congregation where the first seeds of his faith were sown.

So mark your calendars and plan to join us on Sunday, September 7th, for a service of worship and celebration. Stay afterward for a time of fellowship, as we welcome our new bishop and longtime friend back home.

Muscle Memory for the Soul

“God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.”

That’s a phrase I’ve been hearing a lot lately. My friends from Tanzania were the first to introduce it to me. I remember standing in front of their congregation, and the exchange went like this:

Pastor: “God is good,”
Congregation: “All the time,”
Pastor: “All the time,”
Congregation: “God is good.”

There’s something so powerful about hearing an entire room of people declare God’s goodness together. But what about when we’re not surrounded by a crowd? What are we declaring then?

When the chips are down, when the fever spikes in the middle of the night, or when the bills outlast the money, that’s when what we really believe comes to the surface. In those moments, we don’t rely on feelings, but on the deeper knowing we’ve cultivated over time. That’s when we need to choose to say it out loud, with purpose, “God is good.”

There is a holy light in naming God’s goodness while sitting in the pit of despair. And there is wisdom in saying it on the best of days too. That practice, spoken in joy, helps create the spiritual muscle memory we will need when life feels like H. E. double hockey sticks.

It reminds me of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, 5th-century monastic Christians who prayed ceaselessly using the Jesus Prayer: “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” They prayed it so consistently that, over time, the prayer became part of them. They were no longer simply saying the words, they became the prayer—fully known, fully loved, fully held in grace.

I see a similar hunger in many of you. A desire to grow that deep spiritual memory. Worship is a beautiful place to begin. Before worship starts, or during communion, try centering yourself with the Jesus Prayer or simply whisper, “God is good, all the time.”

These prayers are tools, small but powerful. You can pray them while you drive, do chores, or sit quietly. You can use them to interrupt negative thoughts or to help re-center in difficult moments.

They are more than words. They are reminders to your wonderfully complex brain that no matter what happens, you are deeply loved by God. Nothing—no hardship, no pain, no darkness—can separate you from that love.

If you’re ready to explore more ways to build this kind of spiritual muscle memory, we’d love for you to join us:

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Wednesdays at the Church
Prayer and Meditation at 10:00 a.m.
Come breathe deeply, rest in stillness, and open to God’s presence.

Bible Study at 11:00 a.m.
Join us for a rich conversation around scripture and daily life.