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October 2026, Salem Lutheran Church

“Shame on you?

By Pastor JonAlden Pedersen

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked?”

The last section of what is considered the creation account ends with an odd detail, and it’s not their lack of clothes; it’s the fact that in the beginning the man and woman were completely absent of shame (Gen 2:25). You would think that since what follows in Genesis is the account that holds us all via inheritance guilty (original sin), the end of the creation account might say that they felt no guilt. Well, what’s the difference between guilt and shame anyways? The Encyclopedia of Social Psychology says, “The crux of the difference between these two emotions centers on the focus of one’s negative evaluation. When people feel guilt, they feel badly about a specific behavior—about something they’ve done. When people feel shame, they feel badly about themselves.” The fear that caused Adam and Eve to hide seems to have been a result of both negative emotions, but the fact that they felt the need to make coverings over themselves before the Lord would see them seems to expand more on the shame afflicting their consciences. Their self-image suddenly mattered more than their relationship with their Creator. A natural result of the evil they had just communed in.

What follows Adam and Eve’s lack of admission of guilt and obvious shame comes the reassuring promise of the Everlasting Father to remove their guilt and the disciplinary punishments laid on man and woman as a result of their action, but what about their shame? “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them (3:21).”

On top of his promise of grace that covers their guilt comes the first act of grace to cover their shame, “he clothed them.” The LORD didn’t tell them they were naked, the LORD didn’t make himself big and mean and say “Shame on you!” He covered them with a garment of his own design.

Who told you, who are clothed in the robes of Christ, that your sin is too big for the LORD God? “Both the One who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family, so Jesus is not ashamed(Heb 2:11).” In Christ, it’s never “Shame on you!” It’s always, “Grace and peace to you.”

Expanse and Freedom

Rest, Forgiveness, and Freedom in Christ’s Finished Work

Rachel Lonetti

Shame. Hiding. “Doing”. Burdened. Anxious.

The result of disobedience from the beginning was a combination of many things, but something that never stood out to me until recently was the “doing” aspect.

Adam and Eve didn’t just hide. They “did” something about it. They tried to cover and then hide themselves. And in the process, became entangled in the mess that shame makes. The desire to do more, to prove oneself to be worthy.

Somehow, along the history of mankind, we’ve continuously been obsessed with doing. Doing enough to please God. But the point of the law was to show – we never can. To show that we need Help – we need a perfect substitute to do what we never could.

Yet, even in modern-day Christendom, there’s a continuous obsession with doing enough. I find that in my background of Reformed theology, this bondage was prevalent. For over 14 years, almost every Sunday, I was met with a strong feeling of anxiety stepping into the church building each Sunday. I couldn’t figure out why. Instead of reveling in the glorious freedom Christ won through His perfect sacrifice, there was a profound reminder of how awful I am. How much more I needed to “do”. How much more I needed to “serve”.

But serving was really just serving the service – keeping the church business machine rolling. Little to no pastoral care, but lots of emphasis on the free labor I needed to continue to roll out to apparently please God.

Yet, much like Cain’s sacrifice, that isn’t what God has required! I love the simple lyrics of this hymn:

“What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.”

Jesus’ yoke is easy; His burden is light! He doesn’t require more nursery service. More involvement in the music team. Teaching Sunday School. Consistent attendance at every Wednesday night women’s study. Attending every single church event. Because the commitment isn’t to a church organization. The commitment is to Christ Himself. As we grow in our relationship with the Triune God, He expands our spiritual walk through our increasingly closer relationship with Himself. We go through various life seasons where we can be His hands and feet in different ways – but those expressions of love are never to be confined within the four walls of a building.

After so many years of feeling anxiety and burden when walking into church, I remember the feeling of calm and internal openness as I walked into a Lutheran church for the first time for Sunday worship, exploring with an open heart what liturgical worship services entailed. Running to what I’d been encouraged to avoid because of “bad doctrine” much of my life. Yet, I found openness. I found joy. I found respite, and ultimately – freedom. I found reminders in the worship service, the liturgy, and the eucharist that Christ accomplished it all at the cross. For the first time, I was able to partake in communion without anxiety over whether or not I’d remembered to confess every single one of my sins. The focus of communion wasn’t on whether or not I had sinned against another person in thought, word, or deed – but the recognition that Christ fulfilled the work I never could. I could rest in the fact that there is therefore no condemnation through Jesus. I could be comforted by the true presence of Christ, received at His table. No more worry, no more shame, no more “doing”.

That same calm followed me into the Episcopal church. After being astounded that I could literally feel openness yet again, I mentioned this seemingly “odd” sensation to a friend. And she gave me the encouragement, “When you think of enslavement, it always involves bondage and confinement. Yet, salvation is openness. Freedom. Expansiveness.”

When it comes to churches, 2 Corinthians 3:17 rings true. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Is the Spirit of the Lord present in your church? In your home? In your life? There is joy in the freedom He offers! No more need to hide. No more need to cover up. No more need to “do” anything more than accept. It’s a beautiful, expansive truth that I’m aiming to revel in daily.

He offers forgiveness, and ultimately – freedom.

In Our Salem Family

Life milestones we’re celebrating this month

Built on the Rock

Sunday Mornings at Salem: Community, Study, and Growth

Pastor Ryan Wolfe

This year’s Sunday adult studies began with sessions connected to our “Beyond Temple Walls” worship series. In a world that doesn’t get what church membership really means, we’re blessed to recognize God’s gifts of community, meaning, self, and environment. Starting October 18th we’ll dive into Scripture’s deeper mysteries as we look at Angels & Demons. Where did they come from? What do they do? And importantly, what do they mean for my hopes and fears in daily life now?

Remember too, that while we’re growing in grace and knowledge downstairs, our teens are deepening their faith in their own gathering and study time in the youth room. Youth group leader Nicole Shopbell lead the devotion our first week. Gideon, along with Michael Thompson and McKenna Goplen and a dozen or so others attended last summer’s youth rally in Ohio. Our teens came back eager to “flip the model” and have youth group be a ministry done BY them and not just FOR them. Sunday’s gatherings are the heart of that effort.

Finally, Sunday morning growth is for preschoolers and young elementary children too as they meet for Sunday JAM in the school rooms. Learning Scripture’s biggest stories through lays a foundation for lifelong faith. I remember my Sunday school teachers from 30 years ago. Maybe not every lesson they taught, but certainly that they took time and care to teach it. God bless our teachers!

Salem is a church built on the rock of God’s Word. All are invited to join us as we grow stronger together!

Looking Ahead

Three things worth putting on your calendar this month

Jump In: Compline Evening Worship

Join us for Compline on Tuesday, October 27th at 7:00 PM, a gentle and contemplative evening service. Compline is the traditional nighttime prayer of the Church, a quiet liturgy of psalms, hymns, and prayers that marks the end of the day and seeks God’s peace and protection through the night. All are invited to come rest in God’s presence and prepare for sleep in stillness and grace.

News & Notes

• The caring committee is excited to have a big box of supplies for the Zambia Medical Mission. We loved the cute handmade baby caps & matching booties made it a joy to pack since we know how the moms & dads will appreciate them. Your financial donations will help keep the clinic running & improving. Thank you!

• Salem ladies, thank you for supporting the LWMS fall rally mission collection. We collected $275 and sent it to the St. Croix Circuit LWMS treasurer. This year’s collections support the home mission, Hmong Outreach, and the world mission in Ukraine. Thank you to everyone who donated.