Feels Like Home – Meet the Bartsias Family

You’ve heard “Everyone has a story,” and that is true at Our Saviour’s. We hear often about the welcoming and warm feeling when people enter our space. The connection to people and worship can even make it feel like home. A comforting and inspiring place that is full of stories in which we treat each other well, love one another, and come to each other’s aid, all in love like Christ Jesus.

We are starting a monthly series called, “Feels like home.” Inspiring, interesting, and impactful stories from our congregation and community. Our hope and wish are that you too will enjoy getting to know others and be inspired by their stories and faith.

Three generations join OSLC and find inspiration and faith by worshipping together.

Our Saviour’s has a number of families from the area that have attended for generations. The Bartsias family (pronounced Bart-C-iss) is not one of them. Recently three generations of the Bartsias joined. “Even with the history of this congregation, everyone is so welcoming and friendly,” shared Kathy Bartsias. Kathy and her husband Jim joined in June 2022 along with their son Jay Bartsias and his wife Molly and their four children.

Kathy and Jim are retired and live in Brooklyn Park now, previously working and living in Duluth. They are the grandparents in this clan. Jim worked for Ralston-Purina and Kathy in Duluth public schools. Kathy’s faith is inspired by knowing God is always with her. “When I’ve been seeking answers, he has brought me unexplainable calm, joy, and peace while in the middle of uncertainty.”

Jay Bartsias is Kathy and Jim’s son. He is married to Molly. Jay and Molly along with their four children call Oak Grove home. “We tried to find a church close to home and felt very welcomed at Our Saviour’s. Three of our children were baptized here and have enjoyed Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. After all of the good experiences and great relationships that we and our children were forming, we knew it was time to officially become members,” said Molly Bartsias.

Together the Bartsias team enjoys professional sports, kids school activities, and family meals. The Minnesota Twins, the Minnesota Wild, and Iowa Hawkeyes are their teams. They also enjoy the NFL but are a divided household between the Packers and the Vikings! This crew does not sit still.

Jay and Molly’s favorite bible verse is Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Jay and Molly’s children are Brynn who is 11 years old, Adalyn is 10, Caydence is 6, and Brady-the only son is 4. These four are the fuel behind this family, bringing fun, energy, and the enthusiasm. The girls attend Rum River Elementary and Brady goes to pre-school. They also have a puppy and a mini doodle. Jay and Molly both work for Turck in Plymouth, a solutions for factory and process automation company, where they met over 18 years ago! Molly is a stay-at-home mom and works part time from home.

Jay and Molly share they are energized by observing others who live their faith and encourage us to be the best Christians we can be. “We are inspired by our children growing, learning, and feeling unconditional love for them. We are inspired and challenged by the sermons that allow us to question and explore more of our faith.”

The Bartsias family dove right in at Our Saviour’s, serving communion, ringing bells, and ushering. Grandma Kathy sums it up by sharing how special it is to volunteer with her granddaughters helping with altar care, “It warms your heart to all be together at Our Saviour’s,” we enjoy the friendly people, pastors, services, music-love the organ and the contemporary service.”