A Wing and a Prayer: Island-hopping pastor Beth Purdum preaches in the San Juans

SO HERE SHE IS once more, standing before her flock in the full Lutheran plumage, bargaining with the Holy Spirit.

To be sure, for the Rev. Elizabeth Nancy Purdum, this particular negotiation qualifies as a minor one. It involves the gist of the Sunday sermon she planned to deliver to the Lutheran faithful — once, twice, then a third time — on Lopez, San Juan and Orcas islands.