Get to Know Rev. Jamielee Demske

Part 4

Hello from our new home in Fort Collins! I can’t believe we’re finally here. When we haven’t been buried in boxes, we’ve been settling in to our new home and exploring the beautiful open spaces and parks all around us. It’s been an incredible touch point in all the chaos of transition, to be able to get outside and be in God’s first good news, creation. So many of my passions, both in my ministry and my wider life have been guided by that love of the outdoors and the wisdom they contain.

Nature invites us to remember our deep connection with the earth, with humanity and with the holy spirit. I love cultivating those connections in community. Whether it’s through deep conversation, shared service, or the quiet joy of mutual prayer, I believe that ministry begins and ends with that loving connection. That connection can appear in the most unexpected places: whether I’m laughing with preschoolers in chapel, serving alongside youth in mission or sitting with those in prison or hospice. These encounters have taught me that there is no place outside of God’s reach and no person is ever outside of God’s love. Our interconnected nature is undeniable, both in the natural world and the sacred world. I believe that church can be a transparent, purpose-led and compassionate place where all people have a role to play—a part in the ecosystem of our community.

Nature doesn’t just inspire my passions in ministry, it inspires my personal passions. In addition to enjoying nature through hiking, walking and swimming, I also love enjoying the bounty of nature. I love to garden and get my hands dirty for tulip bulbs or tomato vines, and I love to spend time in the kitchen creating something delicious with whatever comes out of the garden. (I also love making desserts, but I haven’t figured out how to grow chocolate yet. I’ll let you know how that goes.)

If you can’t find me outside or in the kitchen, I’m probably spending time with the kids, trying to gently encourage them to also love things that I love, so we can enjoy them together. Thankfully I haven’t had to try too hard. I love books and libraries, and we love reading and visiting our local libraries as a family. While Josh still thinks books are at least partially edible, June loves books of all shapes and sizes, especially anything about fairies, unicorns, or engineering. Jordan and I have wide and varied tastes but love a good audiobook for when we’re running around doing chores or driving. We believe one of the perks of being an itinerate pastor’s family is being able to collect as many library cards as you can. Gotta catch ‘em all!

When we’re not outside or in a book, we love art and music of all sorts. If the weather happens to be bad on a Friday, we’ll have a Family Fine Art Friday, where we gather around paints and all sorts of art supplies to make something. Not necessarily something good, but since when has that been the point of art, anyways? Sometimes it’s painting on canvases, sometimes it’s Paw Patrol coloring books and my ongoing crochet projects, but either way we enjoy the prospect of creating something interesting for the day.

 I can’t wait to meet you all in person and learn all about your favorite things as well—I never turn down a cup of coffee or good conversation.

See you soon!

                                -Rev. Jamielee

If you missed part 3 of the “Get To Know Rev. Jamielee” series, click here.