A Pastor Looks At 30

A Pastor Looks at 30 (with a nod to Jimmy Buffet)

On July 14, 1996, I was installed as the pastor at GoodShepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church in Novi, Michigan.  Who knew that I would serve here as a pastor for thirty years?  There are unlimited memories from the past three decades.  Trying to detail them will be impossible.

July 14, 1996

As you can see from the photo on the right, we arrived with two children.  While here, God blessed us with five more, although the youngest of the five was stillborn.  Isaac is interred at Glen Eden Memorial Park in Livonia, awaiting the resurrection.

Our children were all blessed to receive a solid Christian education at St. Peter's Lutheran School in Plymouth and at St. Paul's Lutheran School in Livonia.  Good Shepherd members generously provided amazing assistance with tuition which made this education possible.  I had wondered if they would grow tired of this generous gift after a year or two, but they came through every year.  Our gratitude goes beyond words.

Easter 2026

We are also grateful that our children attended MichiganLutheran Seminary to further their Christian education there.  (Peter has one year to go.)  They have proven to remain faithful beyond their years at MLS and have settled in to Lutheran congregations in their new homes.  I am reminded of the words of the blessed apostle John who wrote, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 4).  I don't feel like I have praised my children enough.  They are a true source of pride.

I would be remiss if I did not single out my dear wife, Laura, who has been a wonderful blessing as a wife, and particularly as a pastor's wife.  She has been an encourager, a sounding-board, an unofficial secretary, and stress-reliever for me.  I wish I could have been helpful to her at church as she had to manage, at one point, five children ages 7 and under.  A few times one of our children was able to escape her grasp and ran up to me during the service.  Unfortunately, I had to return the child to his or her mother and let the juggling continue.  As you can see in the photo above, she managed them well.  Their manners and integrity are to be credited to her.

While I could name so many people who have crossed our paths over these past thirty years, I am sure that I would regret failing to mention someone later.  Some have been here for my entire ministry.  Some for many years.  Some for only a short stay.  All were dear to me.  You entrusted me with your burdens, concerns, and fears.  You might have feared that I would think less of you by confiding in me with your struggles.  On the contrary, I prayed more for you out of a deep compassion for you.  You welcomed me into your homes.  You invited me to share in some of the most joyful and sorrowful moments of your life.  You willingly gave of your time, your money, your skills, and your devotion to God's kingdom, and you were glad to work with me in doing so.  What a blessing!  I prayed for each of you by name every week.

I was grateful that Good Shepherd was so receptive to efforts which enhanced the reverence of our Divine Services.  We now have holy communion every Sunday.  We have a processional crucifix (a gift from John & Amy Warner), used in the festival portion of the Church year.  We employed the Gospel procession for the high festivals (Christmas, Easter, Pentecost).  We welcomed chanting the liturgy.  We gained an appreciation for the Triduum in Holy Week.  We recently added a very ornate Gospel book (a gift from Mark & Carol Casmer) and chasubles (a gift from Pastor & Susan Gibbons) which help to hide the person of the pastor and to accentuate the office.  After all, the pastors may change, but the vestments will not.

I could not tell you how many baptisms, marriages, funerals, or confirmations I performed.  And I would not feel bad if people did not remember that I had performed any of these rites for them.  I want them to remember the divine promises that are everlasting.  That is what matters.

Something few people would know is that I taped a Bible verse to the pulpit.  It is intended only for the preacher to see.  It states, "Sir, we want to see Jesus" (John 12:21).  It reminds me of the duty of a pastor, and I pray that I have been faithful to that calling.  Before every sermon, I pray, "Send your Holy Spirit with this sermon so that it might be worth something to those who hear it."  I trust God has heard my prayer and blessed the sermons accordingly.

Thirty years have not been perfect.  While Good Shepherd's members may not know or remember my mistakes, there are many conversations or actions I wish that I could have back.  The pastor's daily prayer includes this petition: "Fill my heart with a passion for souls and with skillfulness to give unto each and every sheep or lamb entrusted to my care what is due unto it at the proper time. Give me at all times sound advice and just works; and wherever I overlook something or in the weakness of my flesh speak or act wrongly, do Thou set it aright, and help that no one may through me suffer harm to his soul."  I rely on the Lord's mercy and forgiveness for the wrongs I have done in making bad assumptions or in speaking or acting rashly.  I pray that God would still work out his purposes despite my flaws and failings.  And I am equally grateful that the people of Good Shepherd have patiently borne with my weaknesses.  I continue to pray to do better.

I have been overwhelmed by the attention, the gratitude, and the generosity (although not surprised by the generosity) of the people here as I am making my way to St. John's Lutheran Church in Lake City, MN.  It has been such a joy to serve at Good Shepherd.  The people here have been wonderful, and the people in the congregations in the area around us have been wonderfully supportive as well.

I had told a few people, "Only a stupid person would leave as the pastor of Good Shepherd in Novi."  Well, guilty, I guess.

God bless Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church of Novi, Michigan.   And God bless St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lake City, Minnesota.  I look forward to more joys and blessings there.