"Start being brave about everything. Drive out
darkness and spread light. Don’t look at your
weaknesses. Realize instead that in Christ
crucified you can do everything."
-- St. Catherine of Siena

​We can do everything in Christ who strengthens us in the long run. In the meantime, we can focus on the things that we can do well. We all had plans for what 2020 would look like (pun fully intended). You see, that’s the thing about 20/20 vision, once you can see things perfectly, you can see everything clearly, and not all of it is pleasant. Here’s the good news: we don’t have to save the world as that’s already been done for us. We can, however, do our part in making the world that we live in a better place. We have some exciting things in store for the end the year, but as to not overwhelm you, I will observe the Rule of 3’s:
1. Remember “Inspired” by Rachel Held Evans? Well, we’re restarting our weekly meetings on Thursdays at 6:00 PM. If you forgot what chapter we were on, then here’s some more good news: when I said we’re restarting, I meant that we’re restarting everything. Please read chapter 1 by November 12th. We’ll open group for dinner at 6:00 PM before continuing on at 6:30 PM for discussions.
2. I think that’s amazing how we as a congregation encourage our members to prepare a Children’s Talk before the sermon. The Lockdown allowed us to become creative with this ministry to our children of age and heart. Hopefully, the Children’s Talk will accompany our upcoming Children’s Chapel beginning this Advent Season.
3. Calling all Thrivent Members! We need Action Grants. We at Apostles Lutheran are ending the year “in the red”, meaning that giving has recently been way down. Thrivent Action Grants are a helpful way for us to continue serving our community. Each Thrivent Member is able to apply for two Action Grants per fiscal year. Here’s even more good news: there’s still time to apply for both if you haven’t done so this year. Visit https://www.thrivent.com/ to apply, and please feel free to contact me if you need help. I’ve already applied for one concerning Operation Advent.

In God’s Abiding Love,
Pastor Jeniffer Tillman, M.D.

Once Upon A Time, a princess packed all of her worldly belongs into a carriage to live in a kingdom by the Bay. She traveled down the coast and settled in a village within the kingdom that was both rich and stained with history. She dwelt in a castle within the court and learned of the village’s customs and traditions, which she soon made her own. Then suddenly, a terrible curse befell the land, forcing all to flee to the safety of their homes. This totally bummed everyone out as they had to figure out life together while apart until the curse could be broken. The princess and her knights held meetings at the royal roundtable to determine how to keep the villagers safe as they weathered the storm.
​If you hadn’t noticed, my dear Congregation, I love a good fairytale. However, most of the fairytales I’ve read resolve in some semblance of a happy ending. Life, however, isn’t a Disney inspired story filled with singing furniture and helpful animals that guide our way. I mean, I know that God is always with us, but I can’t help wonder “what the Hell is going on?” It’s been exactly one year since I left Upstate New York behind in my rearview mirror to embrace a new Call here in Gloucester, Virginia. I was excited to embark on this new adventure with you all as our future together looked very bright. Unfortunately, none of my Seminary courses prepared my class for what seems to be the end of the world with fires raging, storms destroying, and civil unrest ripping across our nation. Add on a Pandemic, we’ve got ourselves a hot mess of a year, and our vision for 2020 isn’t looking as clear. Still, life goes on, and we endure with care for ourselves and our community as we wait for the curse to be broken. Perhaps this Call didn’t start out the way any of us thought it would; that seems the be the theme of this new decade. Take heart and gird your loins, because life doesn’t stand still even for a moment. We’ll make it through this; here are some events to look forward to this October.
We will have our Animal Worship on Sunday, October 4th, so make sure to include your dogs, cats, iguanas, and parakeets that morning. Our Council will be meeting with Pastor John Wertz on October 10th for our first Council Retreat. I will be attending the Gathering of the Ministerium via Zoom from October 12th to October 13th. We will be celebrating Reformation Sunday with a collaborative sermon between myself and Pastor Adam Schultz, and October 31st is my Ordination Anniversary. Please email me the pictures and names of your deceased loved ones for our All Saints Sunday video that I will be making by Wednesday, October 28th. I will resume Pastoral Care at the Pink House when I return from my Staycation on October 4th. In the meantime, stay well and remember that our God loves us all now and forever.

In God’s Abiding Love,
Pastor Jeniffer Tillman, M.D.

Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. ~Luke 5:14-16

My Dear Congregation,

I’d like to say that we’re on the home stretch of things, but the truth is that I don’t know when this pandemic will end. Seminary discouraged Divination training for us novices based on principle; what are you going to do? It would be around this time that I would craft my newsletter to tell you that I will be traveling to Georgia in order to visit my parents, but that’s no longer an option, and least not for me and my family.

Still, I have made the very necessary decision to take two weeks off just to reorient myself so that I can better serve this community. The Worship and Music Team will be taking over in my absence, with Zoom worship at 9:30 AM Sunday mornings. There was conversation around experimenting with outdoor worship, but the Worship Team, Taskforce, and Council all concluded that this is not the time to reinvent the wheel.

The Council will have it’s first retreat when I return in October, which will define our new chapter together as a community of faith. Our theme is as follows: “How to faithfully serve Jesus in the 21st Century as the Church ages”. . . it sounds like a radio play, right? Feel free to write one up using this premise; I’d love to perform it with a group, but I digress. Thanks to those of you who have been participating in the Conversation Cafés, I have been given plenty of Staycation ideas to occupy my two weeks off since I cannot go away. I can explore Colonial Williamsburg and search for Mermaids in Norfolk all without leaving Gloucester for more than a day. I hope that you all have the opportunity to reorient yourselves during this Pandemic. July and August offered some significant milestones in ministry as I was able to officiate my first wedding with Dr. Lilly Frost and Mr. John Mayer, presided over the funeral of Ms. Higgins, baptized August Belle Crocker, and celebrated the vow renewal of the Mr. and Mrs. Crocker. That’s like the full gamut of external Pastoral services rendered from the office in less than two weeks, which is pretty cool. I will be taking my Staycation from September 20th until October 3rd with the intention of kickstarting my return with a Blessing of the Animals/ Worship with our pets at home on Sunday, October 4th. My porch is always open to those who schedule an appointment to meet with me at the Pink House, but until then, I look forward to writing to you in October from beyond the page.

In God’s Abiding Love,
Pastor Jeniffer Tillman, M.D. 

“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.
The sun might shine, or the clouds might lour: but nothing could appear to me
as it had done the day before.”
― Mary Shelley



​It would be an understatement to say that we’ve been experiencing rapid changes this year. All of us have been forced to make uncomfortable yet necessary decisions as to maximize the safety of our homes and communities. One of those most pervasive extremities has been the way in which we worship. Several innovative and willing members of our community have stepped up to embrace virtual and now digital worship services online, and we cannot thank them enough for their contributions. Liturgy is the work of the people, and we will always need volunteers to offer their voice to our worship. In equal measure, I thank the leadership of our elected Council Members, who have worked hard to keep our Congregation together. Thank you for your phone calls to those assigned to your Phone Tree. Thank you for the letters that you have sent out. Thank you for late-night conversations on Zoom every Wednesday Night. The Council looks forward to meeting with Pastor John Wertz, the Assistant to the Bishop of the Virginia Synod. He will discuss options for our first Council Retreat, which will help us navigate our future together as a Church. We will be using Digital Worship via Zoom during August. Please join us for Worship and Music if you are interested in being a Servant Leader. We thank Mrs. Margaret Grimes for her faithful service as the WAM Chairperson, and we look forward to embracing the leadership of a new Chairperson.
I am still hosting Pastoral Care on the Pink House Porch for anyone seeking conversation,
painting, and musical fellowship (we can’t sing, but I have been practicing on my Ukuleles!) Whatever you do to keep yourselves and our Community safe, be of good courage, for God is still with us. Take up an online painting class, learn Gaelic on YouTube, or compile recipes from old cookbooks to create a scrapbook including pictures. You can even call up your old band to a strike up a cacophony via FaceTime. Now is the time to try it at home if we’re all going to be there for a couple more months. Take care, and I look forward to writing you soon from beyond the page.

In God’s Abiding Love,
Pastor Jeniffer Tillman, M.D.

​For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
~Ephesians 2:10
​(NIV)

Take a deep breath, and repeat after me. Okay?
In and out:

‘I am beautiful – inside and out. I am glorious at my core. I have been created and created well. I can love me and love all.’

Did it work? I think one of the hardest things we can do is inward reflection of ourselves.
Unfortunately, these past five months have left plenty of room for introspection because, well, most of us non-essential workers been given the time to do so. Some parts of the Lockdown have indeed been beautiful, such as the clearing of air pollution and water being some of them. Other parts have been nightmarish, as with the climbing death rate and historic job loss in the United States alone. It is here that we Lutherans can embrace the cosmic nature of paradox, light and dark, good and evil, saint and sinner. In the time that we’ve been away from our beloved building, our Church has found new and innovative ways to worship, fellowship, and live in this, God’s Kingdom. In that time, I have been reflecting upon my Ordination and Installation promises to the Church, particularly this affirmation: “Do you believe that your call to this Congregation is a part of God’s call in your life? I do, and I ask God to help me.”
July marks the beginning of Phase 3 here in Virginia. COVID-19 is still at large, and there is neither a vaccination nor cure. God’s love endures forever. All three of these statements is true, so how are we, the Church, called to respond?
If there is anything that I as a Novice Pastor have taken away from these five months of Lockdown and separation, it is the fact that God’s Mission finds a way. I am especially proud of our Worship Leaders, who have risen to the occasion via Virtual Worship. It had been amazing to reflect upon the genesis of our attempts from March 15th service to Pentecost. We, the Council and Taskforce, have even discerned the possibility of Live Streaming our Worship Services. Our shared Worship with St. Mark’s in Yorktown will serve as a litmus test to determine if this should be our next step. There are other possibilities that we as a community can explore, including but not limited to, returning to our building. For example, we can worship on our lawn, or at the beach in open air, as advisories have stated is a much safer practice than sitting in a Sanctuary for a hour. I am curious to know what you all are thinking and willing to try in these next couple of months. Just remember that we are all called to care for ourselves and each other, and God is always making us new.

​‘I am beautiful – inside and out. I am glorious at my core. I have been created and created well. I can love me and love all.’

See, I have made all things new; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
~Isaiah 43:19
~Mantra from Sacred Space COVID-19
‘Isolation’ Retreat by Brendan McManus SJ and Jim Deeds

In God’s Abiding Love,
Pastor Jeniffer Tillman, M.D.

“See, I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the wasteland. - Isaiah 43:19

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! May has finally arrived, and Jesus Christ has left the tomb. However, many of us are still confined to our houses for fear of COVID-19. It doesn’t feel like Easter when the weather is still fluctuating between rain and sunshine, public spaces are empty, and the simple task of grocery shopping feels like an Olympic level sport in keeping up with the “6-Feet Apart” Rule. It doesn’t help that future plans have been severely altered if not cancelled all together. No, the Year 2020 was supposed to provide a clarity of vision, not all of this grey obscurity.

Regardless of these uncertainties that have inconvenienced us, there is hope bursting forth in this new decade. We are all discovering new and innovative ways to stay connected with our families via Skype, Zoom, and other platforms of Video Chat. Many of us are reconnecting with old ways of staying grounded, such as reading books, gardening, and letter writing. We’re all probably walking more and trying out new and time-faithful recipes. I’m not at all surprised that there are those among us that have discovered talents that we would have never unlocked had it not been for this pandemic. I can personally attest that the Church has been propelled into the 21st century and forever changed because of COVID-19. Since we are still getting to know each other, I think this is a wonderful opportunity to start a Virtual Time Capsule. I encourage each of you to make a home video of yourselves and your loved ones that archives what you’ve been doing in the wake of Social Distancing. The pandemic will end, and I think that it would be cathartic to talk about what we’ve all been through. Perhaps, we’ll make a Movie Night of watching ourselves on the Silver Screen a year or so from now. I’ll be making a video talking about this and posting it on our website. God always finds a way, so God’s Church will be just fine. See, something new has been made, and we are always being made new.

In God’s Abiding Love,
Pastor Jeniffer Tillman, MD

“See, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” ~2 Corinthians 5: 17

So, here’s an honest pastor moment, Lent was not my favorite season growing up. My parents, who dictated my faith formation, always had me and my siblings abstain from luxuries like candy, soda, and television. I’m sure if I grew up a child of the 2010’s, my tablet would be put away for this 40-day sentence of Christ centered love. In truth, I didn’t feel any closer to Jesus during Lent than I did any other liturgical season, so I saw Lent as something to be endured until Easter relinquished me from the bonds of my first world problems. You’re probably thinking that as I embraced adulthood and my call to the Office of Ordination, God Almighty bestowed upon me an epiphany that transformed the errors of my youthful heterodoxy. Alas, such epiphany never came as
I resent fasting now more than ever now that I am older. The stakes of my problems and
appreciations have increased with my age. I’ve come to realize that if fasting wasn’t bringing me closer to God, then it was useless, and I shouldn’t conform to it simply because my religion tells me it’s the proper thing to do. Instead, the fast I choose is taking on consideration for others by actually listening to what they need, even if I cannot provide what I want to give them, or worse, feel they should need. I think that was the point of the Meet the Pastor sessions I held over the past few months. I wanted to meet people on 1-on-1 basis in a controlled environment, and what many of you need is flexibility. So, instead of taking the easy route of abstaining from vices of subjugation, such as gummy bears and too many hours on YouTube, the fast I choose is communal empathy. I do want to get to know you, my dear Church, only this time, I promise to do so on your terms. Mistakes will be made and misunderstanding will ensue, but all will be well so long as Christ is at the center. Perhaps, this season, you’ll choose to give something toxic up, like alcohol and Facebook message boards. Perhaps you’ll take something positive on, like volunteer work or walking recreationally with a friend. Whatever you choose, I pray that it brings you closer to Jesus. He’s a pretty great guy who wants you to do well. I sincerely thank everyone who took the time to participate in the Meet the Pastor sessions. I have enjoyed getting to know you using this particular forum, but I think it’s run its course. I am always available for conversation either at the Church office or some other avenue. May God bless you all during this Lenten Season.

            May the road rise to meet you,
            May the wind be always at your back.
            May the sun shine warm on your face,
            The rains fall soft upon your fields.
            And until we meet again,
            May the God who loves us all hold you in the palm of His hand.

                                                             An Old Irish Blessing
​
In God’s Abiding Love,
The Reverend Jeniffer Tillman, M.D.

"Ah, yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it...or learn from it.” ― Rafiki

Here we are, blessed with both a new year and decade to go with it. It’s strange to think that our generation is experiencing the “New 20’s”, perhaps with less glamour and style as our predecessors but with just as much promise. This is the time when resolutions are made with the intention of follow through, and why should we make them when our intentions are noble? I'll admit that I've broken my fair share of resolutions consistently since I was old enough to understand what I was getting into. However, the one resolution that I have never made is the promise to become a better neighbor. Perhaps I’ve avoided making it because I don’t want to break this resolution as I have with so many of them in the past. Still, our God constantly makes things new, for it is written in the Book of Isaiah:
​
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him,
    the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the spirit of counsel and might,
    the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

Perhaps this is the year that I should do it? With my installation just around the corner, perhaps I can lean into things, not of my own understanding, but because God compels me to do so for no other reason than grace as my guiding post.

Being a "Good Neighbor" is but one of the may fruits given to us as a means of grace. It's a long and bumpy road far less traveled than that of blissful solitude. Still, the rewards are far greater if we listen to who God is calling us to be. Jesus teaches us that many will join the path but few will continue on the journey. In the meantime, here are a few tools that I learned from my time as a Mission Developer that have been helpful in understanding the art of neighboring.

        5 Reasons Why People Might Leave Their Church Family
                                      AKA: R.R.A.D.D.
1. Relocation - Someone is unable to continue his or her services to the community because he or she has decided to move to a new location. Example: Phoebe, who lives in New York, got a better job offer in Hawaii.
2. Recuperation - Someone is unable to continue his or her services to the community because he or she wishes to retreat and recover. Example: Daryl, after years of hosting parties at his abode, decided to attend them at someone else’s house.
3. Avoidance - Someone is unable to continue his or her services to the community because he or she has withdrawn and cut off 2 Communication due to the way someone or something made them feel. Example: Starbucks stopped decorating their cups for Christmas, so now Jack buys his coffee at WaWa.
4. Dismissal - Someone is unable to continue his or her services to the community because he or she has acted in an appropriate manner, which has created an unsafe environment for others. Example: Harper was fired because she was arrested for peeing in public and a registered Sex Offender.
5. Death - Someone is unable to continue his or her services to the community because he or she has died. Example: Yoseph won the lottery and died the next day.

Sounds so dire!!! Still, God does not abandon us, even if it seems as though we have been wandering around in circles for the past 40 years.

        5 Ways to Accompany As A Church Family
                          A.K.A. M.I.V.E.S.
​1. Mutually - All of us have gifts to support God’s mission. There is no mission to, only mission with and among.
2. Inclusively - We seek to build relationships across boundaries that exclude and divide.
3. Vulnerably - Just as Jesus became vulnerable to us; we open ourselves to others.
4. Empowering - We seek to identify and correct imbalances of power, which may mean recognizing and letting go of our own.
5. Sustain-ably - To ensure local ministries last a long time, we seek to embed mission in ongoing relationships and communities. It’s a little scary, but I’m excited to see what God has envisioned for our future together. Let’s do this!

In God's Abiding Love,
​
Pastor Jeniffer Tillman, MD

Advent is one of my favorite times of the Church Year, which is helpful given my odium for bitterly cold weather. It's during this period of waiting that I witness the most generosity and warmth amidst the chaos of holiday cheer. I am especially fascinated to see the various traditions that families share when they come together. I still don't get why some will put a pickle in the tree while others buy fruitcake that no one wants to eat, but if it brings people joy, then I won't judge it. Traditions keep us grounded as a community. Theologically speaking, traditions are a doctrine believed to have divine authority though not in Scriptures. We Christians believe that they are derived from the oral teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. Our Jewish siblings believe that they are ordinances orally given to Moses from God that were not written in Torah, and our Muslim siblings believe that they are sayings or acts given to the Prophet Muhammad that were not written in the Quran. Perhaps we do not share the same traditions and beliefs as other denominations, but we are all connected through the tradition of having faith. Martin Luther writes that “Faith is not what some people think it is. Their human dream is a delusion. Because they observe that faith is not followed by good works or a better life, they fall into error, even though they speak and hear much about faith. “Faith is not enough,” they say, “You must do good works, you must be pious to be saved.”... Instead, faith is God’s work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly.” In other words, faith is something that we work on over the course of a lifetime that transpire in a series of epiphanies or seeing the face of God in the dirt. Maybe your faith has been shaken and shattered, I know that mine has, but beyond my own abilities, Jesus is there to pick up the broken pieces and create something new. We Lutherans have living traditions, so that God can breathe new life into our dry bones. Whether you are celebrating the same traditions for years or are making new traditions with the people you love, do not be afraid to share the tradition of your faith. If it's important to you, then others will benefit to know about it. There are many opportunities to give here at Apostles Lutheran. I have been told that a few of you practice the art of Alternative Giving, or monetary gifts in honor of someone, at Christmas. Alternative Giving can include and is not limited to giving to the youth so that they can purchase gifts for our two Salvation Army families, or giving to LIRS, an organization that purchases gifts for children in corrective detentions. Other gifts can be given to organizations such as Bread for Life, the Free Clinic, Lutheran Family Services. If you’re in the neighborhood for something sweet, our Youth's bake sale is on December 15th. They will use the money to purchase groceries and prepare a meal for our local homeless shelter. Every-where in the world, there are people who need help. Apostles has created a monetary service apart from our budget known as the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund, aka the PDF. This separate account has been set up solely to assist people in dire times of crisis. If a fire has ravaged someone’s home before Christmas, the PDF is here to ease some of that burden. If someone requires assistance in paying for a funeral, the PDF can be used to help lighten the load. We rely on members to replenish this fund every year in order to continue this ministry to our community. If you would like to give to any of these ministries, then please contact our Treasurer, Tina Britt for further assistance.
The Holidays can be a wonderful and stressful time of year, and while seasons of feast and famine will alternate from year to year, the love of our God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will never change. I pray that you have a blessed Advent and Merry Christmas. I will be writing to you from beyond the page in the coming new year.

​In God's Abiding Love,

Pastor Jeniffer Tillman, MD