(God's) Love Stories Blog

Introduction

Welcome to Prince of Peace's "(God's) Love Stories Blog"! This is a place where we will share stories of how we see and experience God's love in our daily work and lives. If you have a (God's) Love Story to share, please send it to libbyh@popluth.org.

Post 1 - March 2026: I Love to Tell the Story

by Pastor Kathy Ingbritsen

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest… (Hymn #661 - I Love to Tell the Story)

I'm Pastor Kathy...

Hi. I am retired Pastor Kathy Ingbritsen, and in these later years of my part-time ministry an invitation was made to me to join in the ministry of Prince of Peace as a visitation pastor for a few hours a week.  It has been a great experience – the work is mostly on my own time, and I also enjoy being an “informal” part of the staff, and being welcome to take part in congregational life at POP. Visiting members in all my former congregations was a wonderful task - meeting them, learning about their lives, praying and sharing the sacraments with them; but never had enough time to do it well.  Now it is my only official task. 

Homebound folks matter!

In this phase of my life (the “third third” or “last quarter,” only God knows, right?) I find that the people I visit have more in common with me and I with them than I did in earlier years! And in the visits, it may well be that their lives have taken a difficult turn, and perhaps their home situation or other circumstances have been upended. It is often a time when “those who know it (Jesus’ story) best” are indeed hungering and thirsting for it in a new way.  They are looking for comfort, for strength, for courage, and especially to know that they are still a part of the community of faith at a time when often they can’t be physically at church.

Everyone needs to feel connected

This awareness is at the center of my work.  You have probably seen me go up front to take photos during worship of the visual beauty of the sanctuary and those leading the worship (something I never appreciated as one of those up front leading!).  But I do that in order to bring the photos on my phone or tablet during visitations, or print them in seasonal cards we send, so they can see and feel part of their church family at worship for those moments.

Good News for All

I had a family situation when I was a young adult with older relatives for whom the visiting ministry of their long-beloved congregation had gone dormant, and they were upset and grieving the break in that connection.  With a phone call and some insistence on my part, that changed, and they were reconnected. It doesn’t have to be a pastor who makes that connection and reminds members of Jesus’ grace and love and their still belonging; but an intentional visitation ministry by a pastor and/or fellow members takes work to keep active. That’s my work among you, and I feel so privileged to help to “tell the story” that has sustained me for almost “threescore years and ten” to others who may know it well, or may not.  The story of Jesus’ love is good news for everyone!

Thanks for reading!

Come back for more next month - when we post a new (God's) Love Story, we will put a link to it in our weekly e-update. You can subscribe to e-updates by emailing michellet@popluth.org and saying you would like to be added to the Wednesday email update list.