Beloved Alpine community,
Happy July! We are now more than halfway through the 2026 calendar year and have so many wonderful things happening here and around us. I want to thank you all for your participation in the congregational conversations that we have been having. We are very excited about the ideas that you all have and where and how you feel the Holy Spirit working in this space. I want to encourage you all to keep thinking about the questions asked as well as your answers. We specifically talked about “Who we are” and “Who do we want to be” in our last conversations. These are difficult questions to ask and answer. It begs us to take an introspective look at ourselves. It invites us to be honest and creative about our relationship to one another and our broader community. These questions put us in a time of discernment. For some, this may be difficult. It may be hard to look back at the life and legacy of Alpine Lutheran Church and see how many things are no longer happening. It may be hard to look back at what was and compare to what is now. I understand. Change is hard, really hard. If I may, I would like us to try and reframe our thoughts when we feel discouraged and disappointed in the now versus what was once. I invite us to lean into the excitement of new life. Through Jesus Christ, we are welcomed into the new life and the new waters of baptism. We are made new, day after day after day. God is not done with us yet! The harvest is plentiful and we are encouraged to say “send us!” wherever it is that we are being called. May we be gracious to ourselves and one another in this time of newness and transition. Wonderful things are happening here and all around us.
One wonderful thing that is new to us is our partnership with the YMCA. After many months of conversations and meetings, we feel we have truly found a great way to connect to our greater community and serve God’s children. Alpine will be the hub spot for four schools in the immediate area for an after school program. Starting this school year, we will have children bussed to Alpine and present in our building from 2pm to 6pm Monday through Friday. The YMCA is thrilled about this partnership as well. In fact, because we are the hub spot, one school gets to offer the after school program for the first time. Cherryvalley has not been able to have an after school program for their students until now. This is incredible! This will help so many families and children in our surrounding neighborhoods. I am overjoyed at the possibilities of further relationship and connection.
There will not be any committee meetings or council meetings in July. All meetings will pick back up in August.
If you have any questions or concerns about anything happening in our community, please reach out to me. I am in the office Tuesday after the noon hour, Wednesday through Friday at 9am. You may also reach me by phone or email.
Peace, Pastor Rachel Perkins-Gama