April 10, 2024
Sara Wilson
Submitted by Sara Wilson
As the clock ticked to 1:15 am and as day dawned on March 26, 2023, I completed my 40th trip around the sun. On the day prior, I took a “Sara day” to visit some new-to-me places in the L.A. area (Descanso Gardens, Lost Books, and Star Cafe) and to reflect on the things that were meaningful to me in my 30s and begin to set intentions for my fourth decade.
One thing that has been a big part of my life the last decade is my call to serve Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary as a pastor in specialized ministry. When I turned 30, I was graduating from seminary and said “yes” to a call which has brought me some of the greatest joys in my life; travels around the Western United States, international travel to the Holy Land, Rwanda, and Honduras on behalf of the church, moving the seminary into Downtown Berkeley and organizing a four mile walk down “the hill”, finally getting ordained in 2020 and directing the worship life of the seminary, and most recently, raising funds to launch our newest program, the Center for Climate Justice & Faith (CCJF) with a goal of $1.5 million by end of May.
For my 40th birthday today, I am inviting friends and family to celebrate with me by making a gift to the PLTS Center for Climate Justice & Faith because I love PLTS and am really excited about this Center that is expanding beyond Berkeley, California, the United States and into churches beyond the ELCA as even into spiritual communities not affiliated with a church. For me, the CCJF is a program that is all the things the church says it wants to be: a space and place to gather spiritual leaders to share love and grace with people throughout God’s kingdom who are working together to make the world a better place for all.
Thank you for being a part of my life and for considering a gift to the PLTS Center for Climate Justice & Faith in honor of my birthday!