My son and daughter and I sat at Starbucks near Linfield College in McMinnville. Ken and Marian E. came through the door and we made room for them at our table. Ken had been cleaning out his office in the English Department at Linfield College where he taught for forty-four years. He told us about the retirement parties and his last lecture and the good wishes of students, faculty and friends. We had a delightful conversation and I congratulated Ken and wish him God's blessings.

John H. retires this month after thirty-nine years in Corrections. He was Director of Community Corrections for Washington County for twenty of those thirty-nine years. He gave me a tour of the Community Corrections building once, and I was impressed by the way the program which he designed and the very architecture of the building offered respect and empowerment to those in custody there. Both Ken and John, in their own faithful and creative ways, have touched thousands of lives with God's life-giving hope and love. We wish them both God's deep congratulations!

I think about the wonderful and creative ways you all live out God's love in the world. You are all "little Christs," as Luther would say, and you make a positive impact on the lives of those around you. I wish you all God's deep congratulations. The Greek word "makarios" from Matthew 5 is translated, "Blessed are you", "Happy are you", or could be translated, "Good for you!" an expression of God's deep congratulations.

By the time you read this, we will have celebrated the Affirmation of Baptism of six Calvary youth: Marlo E, Katrina H, Tylar D-S, Logan M, Nathan P and Walker R. They have spent three years studying the Bible and the Catechism and are ready to claim the faith in God who has claimed them and enter into full participation in the life of the church. Makarios! Good for You! God's deep congratulations!

Andrew B graduates from High School this year. He plans to go to the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klammoth Falls. He hopes to major in Engineering in their Alternative Energy program. Makarios! Blessed are you! Way to go! There may be other graduations I am unaware of, and there are other transitions I know going on in the life of the church, new leadership on Council, new talents and vision.

Marta B, Bartt B, Cleo L and Shari Y have gone off Church Council. Terri B, Kelly H and Dave R have come on. Dave R has stepped up to be our new president. Ermine T will serve as Vice President, and Nancy K continues as Secretary. We give God thanks for the good leadership we have consistently had at Calvary and we say "makarios!" blessed are you!

We recently welcomed three new members to Calvary, and on June 6 we will welcome some more: Becky B, Virginia E, Cory G and Lyman G, and Celeste V. Welcome! Makarios! Blessed are you!

With every new member we become changed. Calvary congregation is not the same as it was before, and we continue to be blessed by the changes. There are also those we haven't seen in a while and we miss them and want to welcome them back and bless them wherever they are. Not all transitions are easy and there are those hurting and struggling through various life transitions. I pray that they will know God's presence and be blessed. Jesus said, "Makarios!" to the poor and the hungry and those seeking God. "Blessed are you!" even when life is hard.

Jesus said, "I am with you always." On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, and empowered them to speak in many languages of God's wondrous deeds of power. That same Spirit is with you today giving you power to speak and to hear God's Word in your lives, and to carry that Word into the world. Know God is with you! Receive God's blessing, God's deep congratulations in all your transitions and circumstances in your lives. Makarios! Congratulations! Blessed are you!

Pastor Matthew