Reaffirming Our Pietist Roots

Kurt Peterson, chair of the North Park University History Department, concluded a weekend with us at Salem February 27-March 1 on"The Relevance of Historical Pietism for Today's Covenant." Beginning on Friday evening, he offered us a luminous window into his own pilgrimage of faith which he titled "Evangelical on the Småland Trail, or How the Swedish Pietists Saved My Life."

Two lectures on Saturday morning explored "What Has 21st-Century Minneapolis/St. Paul to Do with 19th Century Stockholm?" and "Constructing the Covenant: What It Means to Be Covenant in Today's World."

His sermon March 1 on the gospel text concerning Jesus' Baptism encouraged us all to remember our own baptism into his life, death, and resurrection, appropriately setting the stage for another Lenten season.

Identity is everywhere being sought these days, yet tragically seldom truly found by the masses. Too many are enticed to chase after images set by others that promise much but deliver very little. Even in Christian circles believers in Christ are being drawn to gurus of one stripe or another that point more to themselves than the rich sense of being that only Christ can offer.

Our speaker led us personally, historically, and biblically back to the root, uncovering Pietism's original intent, deeply treasured by our earliest forebears, laying it at our doorstep like the flower it is, still blooming, something gifted us by God and fragrant with his grace.

Thankfully the lectures were recorded (both audio and video) and will be available for $20 from the church as soon as the recordings are assembled. Orders will be taken at Salem Covenant Church's reception desk (651-633-9615). Our prayer is that many more outside our church will be as blessed as we were by all that was offered us in the Hagman lectures this year.

The Hagman Lectures, now being renewed after several years, is funded by the interest from a generous donation by the late Marion Hagman Estate. The first series, initiated years ago, was
offered by the late Paul Holmer, a son of the Salem congregation who went on to become a leading world philosopher and theologian, widely known and loved for his teaching at the Universities of Minnesota and Yale.