Dear Green Blades Rising Readers,

Nature's work is largely hidden from us. So is the work that creates these Green Blades Rising newsletters and other messages. For over two and half years, Rachel Wyffels has edited Green Blades Rising as the EcoFaith Network Communication Coordinator, a position created by the Northeastern Minnesota Synod's EcoFaith Network in collaboration with the Saint Paul Area Synod's Care for Creation. Even as a full time seminary student, Rachel has brought EcoFaith communication to a new level, producing Green Blades Rising, creating the website ecofaithnetwork.org, posting consistently on our Facebook page and generating publicity for the annual EcoFaith Summit. In addition, she has been an active participant in leadership teams in both synods, registrar and participant in EcoFaith Summits and EcoFaith leadership retreats. Her energy, vision, and creativity contributed to the early stages of the NE MN Synod's Pollinator Project. She also co-hosted the 2022 zoom workshop series on caring for creation in your congregation. She has also been a writer for the Green Blades Preaching Roundtable. Rachel has left the communication coordinator position in order to focus fully on her final semester at Luther Seminary as she completes her M. Div. and looks ahead to internship. For Rachel's many gifts shared with us, her commitment to EcoFaith and Word and Sacrament ministry, we give thanks! You will continue as one of our companions.

And now, we are excited to welcome Pastor Beth Pottratz as our new EcoFaith Network Communication Coordinator. The role is growing, and Pastor Beth is bringing her own set of remarkable gifts to this work. Having served two congregations, she approaches this role not just as a set of tasks, but as a ministry. She knows that EcoFaith communication takes place in order to nurture communities of faith in care for Creation, and to strengthen us is the knowledge that we are not alone in responding to this calling. She has jumped into attending the meetings of NE MN Synod EcoFaith, SPAS Care of Creation, and the EcoFaith Summit planning team. Beth is already putting her fluency with digital communication into action on behalf of the EcoFaith Network. She has set up registration for the EcoFaith Summit and begun publicity for it. while still learning the basics of the role. She is a font of new ideas for helping us be in better contact with congregations, camps, and campuses and their communities. Beth, we are delighted to have you in this growing role amid the challenges of this time!

In the Spirit of green blades rising,

Pastor Kristin Foster and Pastor Dave Carlson

Co-chairs of the NE MN Synod EcoFaith Network

Pastor Bob Lehner

Chair of the Saint Paul Area Synod Care of Creation Work Group

A Note from Rachel Wyffels:

It’s been a great privilege to work with all of you for the last 2 1/2 years as Communication Coordinator. I am grateful for all the relationships we built being in community to serve the whole creation. I am so glad to hear that Beth is taking on this role as I concentrate on classes at seminary, and I know you have a strong future with her. 

Thank you all!

Warmly, 

Rachel

A Note from Rev. Beth Pottratz:

Grace and peace be with you! My name is Rev. Beth Pottratz. I am so blessed to be serving you as the Communication Coordinator for the EcoFaith Network. Since being ordained in 2016, I have served in various capacities in the Northeastern MN Synod as a called pastor, contract pastor, pulpit supply, and as a hospice and hospital chaplain. I grew up in North St. Paul, MN, earned my undergrad degree in teaching from Winona State, and earned my Masters of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary. Before starting ministry, I worked as a Spanish teacher in a high school in the west Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis.

I live with my husband and our 4 daughters (ages 15, 12, 1.5, and 3mo), 3 dogs (two gordon setters), and 15 chickens in Motley, MN. In this season of life, my primary calling is to stay at home mom, to which I am grateful to also add EcoFaith ministry. When both babies nap at the same time and the house is in (relative) order, I enjoy handicraft hobbies like knitting, spinning, pine needle basket making, and hardanger and hand embroidery.