Pastor Kae Evensen

Join us in welcoming our new pastor, Kae Evensen.  Here is a little information about her.

I am so grateful you have called me to be your pastor. It is a deep honor to be invited into the Siloa and Salem communities. I look forward to worshipping with you, praying with you, visiting with you, laughing with you, bearing one another’s burdens, andsharing our joys. I look forward to our lives together.

I was born in Tucson, Arizona, just west of the Santa Catalina mountains. I lived here and there in Arizona and Texas until I was four years old when I moved to Thousand Oaks, California, just north of Los Angeles. It was here that my dad was asked to start the geology department at California Lutheran and it was here I spent my school years. During the summers my family livednear my grandparents in Mayer, Arizona where my father furthered his research and I hung out with my brother, cattle, horned lizards, Nancy Drew, and apricots.

I graduated from California Lutheran University in 1982 with a degree in Liberal Arts/Botany. Some of my best friends are still the small plants growing in the clefts and crevices in the southwest. At 29 years old, my family moved St Paul where I attended Luther Seminary and graduated in 1995 with my Master of Divinity degree.

My first call was on the Eastside of St. Paul at a three-point parish at Bethany, Messiah, and Memorial Lutheran churches. After leaving St Paul, I worked as a development editor in adult education at Augsburg Fortress, publishers. My next call was at Lutheran Church of Peace in south Maplewood, and my lastcall was at Mercy Seat Lutheran Church in NE Mpls.\

I am married to Martin Marty (who goes by Marty). We have two adult children, Jimmy and Emily. Our son Jimmy and his wife Katie live in Vadnais Heights with our two grandchildren, Zoe and Logan. Our daughter Emily and her partner Sam live in St Paul. I adore these folks of mine. Currently, we own two goofy dogs, Bertie and Brian, and a cat named Pat.

Finally, I am thankful for the people who taught me about Jesus. I am grateful to my mom Helen and my father Jim (who died on Christmas Eve in 1988), for dragging me to church even when I didn’t want to go. I learned from them that God has made a decision about us: We are chosen. We are heirs of Christ’s promises. And God will never leave or fail us.
Beloveds in Christ, I’m excited to celebrate with you God’s decision for us!

Pastor Kae651.497.8084PastorKaeE@gmail.com

A message from Pastor Kae

What Does the Gathering Portion of the Worship Service Mean?

The Gathering

This Section of the Liturgy serves as the opening act of worship, uniting the congregation in a
shared spirit of reverence and praise. This section is integral in preparing worshippers’ hearts and
minds for the entire liturgical experience, setting the tone for the service through song, prayer,
and communal interaction.

Depending on the time of the church year, the beginning rite can be simple or more elaborate.
During more certain times such as Advent, Lent, and Pentecost a more modest opening would be
appropriate whereas the ‘major’ seasons such as Easter and Christmas call for a larger
celebratory opening.

The Gathering or Entrance hymn, resonates with the liturgical season, the theme of the day, or
the readings that will follow. This hymn acts as a call to worship, inviting the congregation to lift
their voices in unified praise. The act of singing together not only fosters a sense of community
but also signals the transition from everyday life into the sacred space of worship. The Gathering
hymn helps align the congregation’s focus, drawing them into a collective mindset ready to
engage with the divine.

The Gathering section concludes with the Salutation and the Collect of the Day. The Salutation,
a brief exchange between the pastor and the congregation—“The Lord be with you,” followed by
“And also with you”—symbolizes the mutual support and presence of God within the
worshipping community. It serves as a moment of connection, uniting the leader of the service
with the congregation in a shared purpose.

Next month: The role of the Gospel and sermon

Adapted from Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elizabethtown, PA and ELCA.org websites.

 Blessings to you, 
Pastor Kae 