meet pastor alliyah greaverPastor Alliyah was installed at St. John as our pastor on September 12, 2021. She can be reached at the church office by phone or by email. Below is more information about our new pastor.
Pastor Alliyah was ordained August 15, 2021 at her home congregation Christ the King Lutheran Church in Yankton, South Dakota. She served her internship year at St. John Lutheran of Boerne, Texas under the guidance of Pastor Eric Waters, with Associate Pastor Mariola Bergquist. She is the oldest daughter of Pastor Dani Jo Bierwagen and Pastor William Greaver. Her sister is Talitha Greaver. She received two MDiv degrees, from the North American Lutheran Seminary and Trinity School for Ministry. Pastor Alliyah also did pastoral studies at Luther Seminary and the Institute of Lutheran Theology. Her undergraduate degree is from Drake University, Des Moines, IA with a double major in Religion and Socio-Legal Studies. Before coming to St. John, Pastor Alliyah worked in Christian Education settings and at Ingham-Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp. She loves the Lord and is happy to be part of St. John and the Greenville community. She is a member of the Greater Greenville Ministerial Association. If you would like to learn more about the church, Pastor Alliyah would be happy to get connected and meet with you. |
|
Pastor Visits from Pastor Alliyah
Pastor Alliyah is working on visiting all the members of the congregation. It is her desire to get to know you better and to know the needs of the church. To facilitate these visits, please fill out the visitation form located in the Gathering Area. If you have a more immediate pastoral need or a pastoral emergency please do not hesitate to contact the church office. Pastor Alliyah can also be reached at her email: RevAlliyah@gmail.com.
Pastor’s Thoughts… (From August Newsletter)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
recently in preparing for the 170th Anniversary (coming up Sept. 11th) I was going through bulletin notes from years gone by and ran into some advice from the 1930s. The wording gave me pause and made me laugh enough to send a picture of the note to my mother, as you don’t usually run into these sorts of notes today. I’ll share it with you this month:
1. “Don’t stand in vestibules nor at rear of auditorium
2. Assist the ushers by following them to a seat promptly
3. Give your place to the visitors. They are your guests.
4. Absolute silence is requested before and during each service in the chapel
5. If you see work to be done, do it, don’t wait for someone else
6. Get acquainted with the visitors, don’t just stand and look at them
7. The success of the services depends upon you”
From my own perspective, I think an attitude of balance could be kept here. It is important to assure all who enter our doors that they are truly welcome as they are, and there should be a time for offering words of encouragement and greetings. But in this balance-making, there is also time for quiet reflection, and reverent worship in recognition of God’s holy presence. I’m thankful for the opportunity to connect before and after the service – this is a holy opportunity to be part of the body of Christ and to check in with our church family, but I also need to remember when worship begins: to set down my notes, pause the noise of my mind when our opening video begins, as we lift our voices in hymns, as the body and blood of Christ is shared.
During our regular year; worship leaders and myself will join in prayer before the service begins, this is a good opportunity to ready our hearts and pause the noise of the world. I would encourage each person to have a practice of prayer in the minutes before church begins too, and in both life and worship to look for the balance – be bold in taking the opportunity to connect, converse, and encourage your church family (even those you’ve just met!) and also be bold in your worship – committing to protecting this time apart from the world, be willing to be moved to awe, emotion, perhaps exclaims of praise, and even silent reflection. However we worship, we trust that God is present as He has promised to be. Thank you for being His ambassador as we grow and worship together.
+ Pastor Alliyah
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
recently in preparing for the 170th Anniversary (coming up Sept. 11th) I was going through bulletin notes from years gone by and ran into some advice from the 1930s. The wording gave me pause and made me laugh enough to send a picture of the note to my mother, as you don’t usually run into these sorts of notes today. I’ll share it with you this month:
1. “Don’t stand in vestibules nor at rear of auditorium
2. Assist the ushers by following them to a seat promptly
3. Give your place to the visitors. They are your guests.
4. Absolute silence is requested before and during each service in the chapel
5. If you see work to be done, do it, don’t wait for someone else
6. Get acquainted with the visitors, don’t just stand and look at them
7. The success of the services depends upon you”
- “Read and Heed!” from St. John’s bulletin, April 5, 1936
From my own perspective, I think an attitude of balance could be kept here. It is important to assure all who enter our doors that they are truly welcome as they are, and there should be a time for offering words of encouragement and greetings. But in this balance-making, there is also time for quiet reflection, and reverent worship in recognition of God’s holy presence. I’m thankful for the opportunity to connect before and after the service – this is a holy opportunity to be part of the body of Christ and to check in with our church family, but I also need to remember when worship begins: to set down my notes, pause the noise of my mind when our opening video begins, as we lift our voices in hymns, as the body and blood of Christ is shared.
During our regular year; worship leaders and myself will join in prayer before the service begins, this is a good opportunity to ready our hearts and pause the noise of the world. I would encourage each person to have a practice of prayer in the minutes before church begins too, and in both life and worship to look for the balance – be bold in taking the opportunity to connect, converse, and encourage your church family (even those you’ve just met!) and also be bold in your worship – committing to protecting this time apart from the world, be willing to be moved to awe, emotion, perhaps exclaims of praise, and even silent reflection. However we worship, we trust that God is present as He has promised to be. Thank you for being His ambassador as we grow and worship together.
+ Pastor Alliyah
Pastor Alliyah Greaver's Installation Service, September 12, 2021.
Pastor Alliyah's Installation Service at St. John Lutheran Church with Mission District Dean Pastor Paul Schultz presiding at the installation.
Pastor Alliyah's Installation Service at St. John Lutheran Church with Mission District Dean Pastor Paul Schultz presiding at the installation.
Pastor Alliyah Greaver's Ordination Service, August 15, 2021.
Pastor Alliyah's Ordination into the office of Pastoral Ministry took place at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Yankton, SD with Bishop Dan Selbo of the NALC presiding.
Pastor Alliyah's Ordination into the office of Pastoral Ministry took place at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Yankton, SD with Bishop Dan Selbo of the NALC presiding.