Greetings Beloved Ones, my name is John Saraka, for the past 10 years I have served as the

pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Staten Island, NY, and I am entering into my 30 th year of

ordained ministry. I am excited to be able to return to the Lutheran Gathering at Silver Bay this

year with my family, Shannon, my partner of 21 years, and our 8-year-old son, Abraham.

Although we have only been a part of this special place for one year, we realized how amazing

an experience the Lutheran Gathering is, and we are delighted to return. This year, I have the

honor of serving as the worship leader/chaplain for this year’s gathering at Silver Bay. Our theme is Hope in our Time, in an age of anxiety, and over my lifetime I have realized how grounding and beneficial my worship life has been to my life, as Paul writes it is where I find, ‘a peace that surpasses all understanding’. The biblical story comes to life for us in worship as the Spirit provides a foundation of faith that helps us to navigate a challenging world with hope, courage, and love. Through song, meditation, prayer, and a variety of spiritual practices, we will gather to find strength and connection with each other through God, as the communal aspect of worship helps us remember we are never alone. You add that we get to do this in one of the most beautiful settings in all of New York State at Silver Bay on Lake George, and this empowers us to look forward to a renewing, relaxing, and invigorating time together. I look forward to seeing some familiar faces while meeting new people this year as we gather at Silver

Bay. Til then, blessings to you all.