This morning I was with the saints of Grace Lutheran, Mountain Home, Idaho. Grace is the eastern most congregation in the Treasure Valley Cluster so I knew several people there through various cluster events the past twelve years. (they have a new floor since I was last there pre-pandemic!) They have been served faithfully for almost the last three years by interim retired Pastor Caryl Miller. Mountain Home is home to Mountain Home Air Force Base and the majority of the congregation served in the Air Force sometime. After worship I spoke with the call committee about possibilities for their future. I listened to them explain why they think Grace’s presence is important: they are a caring church–caring for people both within the church community and beyond. For many years they hosted a huge monthly food distribution in partnership with the Idaho Food Bank. An older membership made them give up this labor intensive ministry, but they are pivoting to a free monthly lunch for their neighbors. When you look across the street, you see that their current neighbors are construction workers building a new credit union, car wash, and a few other businesses. The church sits near one of the Mountain Home exists and the two buildings (sanctuary and kitchen in one and former food bank building) were originally Boise National Forest administrative offices. It was wonderful to be with the people of Grace, even for a few hours.