Pastoral Ponderings 

The Soil and the Seed Project

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               I was recently asked to serve on the board for something called The Soil and the Seed Project. Some in the church may be aware of the project or its founders, who are also members of the Walking Roots Band, but this ministry has at the very least influenced the music here at Linville Creek. I have introduced several musical numbers that are part of this project for the purpose of congregational singing.

               The project in a nutshell is an effort to provide families with a tool to pursue faith formation at home to supplement their faith formation at church. This project began in the Mennonite community but has quickly expanded to be used by individuals across the faith spectrum. The resource provides liturgies, discussion questions, and a CD with music that are meant to provide a weekly devotion time for families.

               When I return from Sabbatical it is my hope to introduce this resource more fully and that several of our families will consider exploring faith formation at home. The resource is also on my mind as I was discerning how I could keep faith part of my family’s life when we are away from the church this summer. This is a season of travel for many families, church attendance is naturally lower in the summer; creating a practice of exploring faith together at home is powerful and important during these seasons.

               Our family will be exploring the most recent offering from The Soil and the Seed Project which takes you through the Sermon on the Mount. I have provided examples of some of the projects previous works in the Narthex for anyone wanting to borrow and use the materials during the summer. You can also explore the project in depth at the website thesoilandtheseedproject.org and all the resources are available online.

               Even if you don’t end up using this resource at home, consider ways that you can foster your faith with your family and loved ones. This will not only be a blessing to you but will impact the ministry of Linville Creek in wonderful ways. We are meant to ponder and explore our faith, never assuming we have arrived. I look forward to exploring faith with you when I return from Sabbatical. Have a blessed and safe summer.

- Pastor Nathan