The Pastor’s Pen
It is with a spirit of deep gratitude that I return from my sabbatical and enter once again into the daily life and ministry of St. Andrew. The three-month leave granted by the congregation for rest, study and renewal has been a wonderful gift. In September I’ll be sharing with the church council a report of how my sabbatical was spent, but for now I can simply say that it was everything I had hoped it would be.
I’m especially grateful to Pastor Bob Hereth for preaching and helping to lead worship on the Sundays when I was gone, and to Anita Pahlman for handling all of the church office responsibilities and so much more. Knowing that the two of them were on top of things made it much easier for me to step away!
I’m also grateful to the many members of the congregation who played an active role in the congregation’s ministry during the time of my leave. It was a joy to know that Vacation Bible School, our annual work camp trip, and many other ministries were continuing stronger than ever. It confirms what I’ve known for a long time, namely that St. Andrew is a healthy congregation whose ministries are the result of its many faithful and dedicated members.
On a more personal note, I also need to express my thanks for the cards, gifts and prayer support my family and I received following the death of my father. Your thoughtfulness and caring have been a real source of comfort and strength during our grief.
As we look ahead to the fall schedule and the programs and activities of the coming year, I am, more than anything, grateful to God. God is the one who has brought us together as a community of faith. God is the one who has given us the mission of sharing Christ. And God is the one who empowers us so that we can give that mission our best. May God bless us, as pastor and congregation, so that our life together would faithfully bear witness to him.
Thank you for my time away. And thank you for your continued partnership in ministry.
Pastor Selbo
