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 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. |
Pastoral Emergencies or Pastoral Needs
If you would like to visit with Pastor, please contact the church office to schedule a time to visit. If you have a more immediate pastoral need or a pastoral emergency please do not hesitate to contact the church office or call Pastor's cell number. Pastor Alliyah can also be reached at her email: RevAlliyah@gmail.com. |
]Pastor’s Thoughts… (from February Newsletter)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Lent is early this year – beginning on February 14th with Ash Wednesday. Now when I first noticed the calendar coincidence of Ash Wednesday falling on St. Valentine’s Day, I thought it was an ironic mis-match of themes. Candy hearts and boxes of chocolates, don’t quite say, “from dust you came, and from dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). However, as I considered the true themes of both days a little more, what could be a more fitting way to remember the greatest love story ever told than by remembering the truth that “God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). God loved us enough to die for us, because we could not save ourselves, and were caught in our sin. Those ashes upon our foreheads, are not just a reminder of our sin and mortality, but they are a sign of love, because they are marked in the sign of the cross – the symbol of God’s sacrifice, and our salvation.
This Lenten Season, we will be reflecting on the very real, reality of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Like our last previous years I am coordinating with my mother to put together a Lenten Series for us, this year on the theme of The Arma Christi – The Weapons of Christ and Objects of the Crucifixion. For centuries, the Church has meditated upon the various instruments of the Passion; such as the Cross, the Spear, the Coins given to Judas. We will spend every Sunday, and every Wednesday in Lent, reflecting on a different object of the crucifixion, and dwelling in the reality of the crucifixion – how Jesus suffered humiliation, betrayal, pain, injustice, and death, and ultimately turned these weapons of suffering into the instruments of our redemption.
Reflecting on the objects of the crucifixion this year will remind us that the death of God’s son is not just a metaphor, or fairy tale, it is a reality that changes our reality. Through focusing on these physical objects of the Crucifixion we are grounded in the truth that Jesus Christ, God in flesh, died for sinners, such as us. We will also see how the weapons used against Him, became weapons which He used to accomplish a victory over the forces of evil, death, and the devil. In a way that only our God could, Jesus used death to defeat death. The weapons used against Christ become His own weapons which He uses to defeat the wicked one and secure for us, victory.
I would encourage you to make a commitment to join us every Wednesday and Sunday in Lent, starting February 14, at 6:30 PM for this series of contemplation and devotion. I would also encourage you to pray about what spiritual disciplines might encourage you to seek Christ more closely this Lenten Season – whether that is daily devotions, a practice of gratitude, or giving up something that distracts. Lent is such a powerful season for the church because it re-orients our hearts and lives on Christ.
May the truth of God’s love, and Christ’s sacrifice truly transform our lives during this Holy season.
+ Pastor Alliyah Greaver
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Lent is early this year – beginning on February 14th with Ash Wednesday. Now when I first noticed the calendar coincidence of Ash Wednesday falling on St. Valentine’s Day, I thought it was an ironic mis-match of themes. Candy hearts and boxes of chocolates, don’t quite say, “from dust you came, and from dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). However, as I considered the true themes of both days a little more, what could be a more fitting way to remember the greatest love story ever told than by remembering the truth that “God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). God loved us enough to die for us, because we could not save ourselves, and were caught in our sin. Those ashes upon our foreheads, are not just a reminder of our sin and mortality, but they are a sign of love, because they are marked in the sign of the cross – the symbol of God’s sacrifice, and our salvation.
This Lenten Season, we will be reflecting on the very real, reality of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Like our last previous years I am coordinating with my mother to put together a Lenten Series for us, this year on the theme of The Arma Christi – The Weapons of Christ and Objects of the Crucifixion. For centuries, the Church has meditated upon the various instruments of the Passion; such as the Cross, the Spear, the Coins given to Judas. We will spend every Sunday, and every Wednesday in Lent, reflecting on a different object of the crucifixion, and dwelling in the reality of the crucifixion – how Jesus suffered humiliation, betrayal, pain, injustice, and death, and ultimately turned these weapons of suffering into the instruments of our redemption.
Reflecting on the objects of the crucifixion this year will remind us that the death of God’s son is not just a metaphor, or fairy tale, it is a reality that changes our reality. Through focusing on these physical objects of the Crucifixion we are grounded in the truth that Jesus Christ, God in flesh, died for sinners, such as us. We will also see how the weapons used against Him, became weapons which He used to accomplish a victory over the forces of evil, death, and the devil. In a way that only our God could, Jesus used death to defeat death. The weapons used against Christ become His own weapons which He uses to defeat the wicked one and secure for us, victory.
I would encourage you to make a commitment to join us every Wednesday and Sunday in Lent, starting February 14, at 6:30 PM for this series of contemplation and devotion. I would also encourage you to pray about what spiritual disciplines might encourage you to seek Christ more closely this Lenten Season – whether that is daily devotions, a practice of gratitude, or giving up something that distracts. Lent is such a powerful season for the church because it re-orients our hearts and lives on Christ.
May the truth of God’s love, and Christ’s sacrifice truly transform our lives during this Holy season.
+ Pastor Alliyah Greaver
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.