Love – the primary virtue

On Holy Cross Day (Sunday, September 14) I was warmly welcomed by pastors and members, and visitors of St. John Lutheran Church, which was one of our four “case study” congregations. Invited in 2019 to be part of the study because of a strong adult faith formation process introduced by the Rev. Dr. Scott Bruzek (pictured with me in the banner photo) and refined by him over 20 years, Pastor Bruzek said YES to the invitation because of connection between us dating back to the 1980s (photo, right).

I was delighted to see Val Gaede (photo, left), a Lutheran classroom teacher who served her entire ministry at St. John, her first call upon graduation from Concordia, Seward. Our interview was invaluable for understanding some of St. John’s history; and it was great fun to get to know this fellow church worker, hearing about her varied ministry roles at St. John over four decades. From my interview with Val, I heard her perspective on training the new catechumens, who help with the stripping of the altar on Maundy Thursday. She begins her instruction by reminding the catechumens that the ritual is “all about Jesus.”

The word “love” permeated many of my interviews, a clear indication that Pastor Bruzek’s statement, “At St. John, love is the primary virtue,” is truly part of the congregation’s ethos.  Like many of the people I interviewed, I was welcomed on this day and, as I signed books and chatted with folks, I heard over and over that St. John is a “special” congregation.

Pastor Bruzek had suggested I bring 20 copies of the book to sell; in a moment of optimism, I packed 2 boxes with a total of 45 books. We brought one box into the church to start, and my marketing assistant (and beloved husband) Mark had to return to car for the second box after the 8:30 service. Before the 11:00 service—well the photo says it all!