Both St Johns and America face rough roads and difficult times ahead. When you TH*NK about it, Pastors and Presidents face similar tasks and challenges. Our little congregation like the US is experiencing aging demographic changes. We have as many members who are seventy and older as we do who are thirty years and younger. We are looking for growth and diversity as most of our small congregation is still related by blood or inter-marriage. Those who are not so connected are bonded together by the sharing of good times (births, baptisms, confirmations, and marriages) and difficult times (illnesses, deaths, and divorces). Almost all are of Scandinavian ancestry with the minorities tracing their roots to Germany, the UK, and Canada. We are hardly diverse in the path that the Evangelical Lutheran Church (the ELCA) has set for goals in this new 21st Century.

The ELCA, like America, is attempting to remake and re-TH*NK itself – trying to adapt to the challenges being thrust upon them by the wider evolving/ devolving morals and mores of a wider secular society. It has not as yet come to grips with “the Concordat of Understanding” or quasi-merger with the US Episcopal Church. Then too, there are the subjects of diversity, non-traditional or dysfunctional families, and GASP – human sexuality. Many would argue that there is no reason to adapt or change in our outreach because… “We like us the way we ‘is’…” This is also a core soul searching impacting all denominations and this country – regardless of ethnicity, race, or creed.

The core of founder Martin Luther’s Christianity can be reduced to a mere ten words: “by the Grace of GOD you are saved thru FAITH.” Faith is critical, central, and essential. Pastors and Presidents function as both CFO’s (Chief Faith Officers) and CEO’s (Chief Evangelical Officers). They are shepherds, cheerleaders, moral counselors, and cruise directors. It is not an easy job to fill.

In his last message from the pulpit, Pastor Rasmussen talked not about retiring, but about re-firing. While he won’t accept a call to serve as Pastor to yet another congregation, he fully intends to keep actively involved with food pantry volunteerism, hospital and nursing home outreach, and hospice counseling activities. He wisely has chosen to re-locate to a new home that he purchased in Belvedere which is both close enough and “far away” enough from his former area congregations. He challenged all of us to re-fire ourselves for our future and our new pastor – whoever that may be. This is sound and sage advice for the wider America as well. If only Pastor Dave were a candidate for President of the US, the choice would be so simple and we could be in no better hands, trust me!

For those of you so inclined (even those of you not so inclined) please pray for St Johns/ us and US/ us as we begin the replacement process/ search for a new Pastor and President respectively. Best of wishes and luck to you Pastor Rasmussen as you begin this newest phase of your life’s passage. Thanks be to the ALMIGHTY that your life has touched ours… even if it was for but a brief five years. “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.” (Genesis 31:49) I’m Fred Cederholm and I’ve been thinking. You should be thinking, too.
 

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