Turning the Page
An Open Letter from the Parish Administrator
Have you ever looked back at old pictures of the children in your life or even yourself and wondered where the time has gone? When I look at baby pictures of my oldest granddaughter Callie, it stirs in me so much nostalgia. Her personality unfolded before us. Sometimes it feels like that little toddler never really existed as I look at the pre-teen she is now. Yet when I watch her, I see in her, every stage she has grown through. I can clearly hear her voice at each age, and how she would pronounce each word. I watched as she developed self-esteem as she learned to walk, ride a bike, do cartwheels, and learn to read.
Watching her grow has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Likewise, I can recall how she cried as an infant. I remember distinctly when she fell and damaged her front teeth, how she went years with a gap in her smile I can clearly remember the day she suffered some sort of palsy that left her with crossed eyes. I remember her fear, my daughter's fear, and my fear as I watched them both. Powerlessly, we trusted that the physicians who were assigned to her case would find out the cause and fix it. It took over a year. She did have surgery and now you would never know her eye was crossed. Just like her front teeth. Every time she smiled for 3 years, I was reminded of the day I took my eyes off her for 5 seconds and she fell. But eventually, her permanent teeth came in and if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t know that it ever happened.
I am feeling similarly about Christ the Lord Lutheran Church. I have been a member here since the late 80s. I have watched the church grow from having a gravel parking lot to a paved parking lot, to an additional parking lot to now, really needing a new parking lot. I was here when where my office is currently, was half of the fellowship hall. What is now the Pastor's office was the kitchen. When I was on staff from 1995-1997, I worked in the space that is now the main men’s room. The congregation grew by leaps and bounds as the community around us developed. I watched the building go through two major expansions. As the congregation grew we went from one service to four and now back to two.From only an organ for music to the beautiful piano we have now.
The fingerprints of past members, Disciples Made by Disciples are all over this place. I often “walk the building” to check for unlocked doors, lights left on, etc. Signs of the past can be seen everywhere you look. As I stroll, I pray gratitude for this place. I am reminded of former members who have moved away or to the church triumphant. I can recall stories and events that took place here; both great celebrations and times of mourning.
I can remember the day I was baptized here, a single mom of a 4-year-old. For the first time, I felt loved unconditionally by your God of Grace. I believed He could be mine as well.
A lot of love, angst, joy, sorrow, laughter, and tears have built this place. This community of faith has been unfolding for over 40 years. The hand of God has been slowly and steadily transforming this place. Transforming the children of God who have walked in and also out of the doors.
The building has changed; the logo has changed; the Pastor has changed; the people have changed; the liturgy has changed; the style of worship has changed; leadership has changed, staff has changed, and I can go on and on. The great news is that we serve the same God. God of Jacob, God of Moses, God of Noah, God of David, God of Mary and Joseph. We are led by the same God of the original Disciples. We serve the God of Pastor Quail, Pastor Mitchell, and the God of Pastor Edison.
So here we are at yet another turning point. There is a lot of excitement around here. The promise that comes with a new Pastor. There are new families visiting and joining. We are unfolding yet again. “Caring People, Caring for People”
As I have said to many people over and over throughout the last few years, this is God’s church. We didn’t know what would happen in the life of the church, but God did. He meets us where we are. We have had absolutely everything we have needed at every turn. He is the same God that led his people to the promised land. He is the same God that led Mary and Joseph to bring forth a savior. He is the same God that led Christ to the cross. And yet He is the same God that brought Jesus out of the grave. As the poem from S.M. Lockridge says, “But it’s Friday--it is only Friday--Sunday is a-comin’.”
I was asked during the call process what I envisioned for the next Pastor. My answer? “I pray for a servant leader who will come alongside us to walk the path God has prepared before us.” So let’s gather in this place to welcome Pastor Brad as he walks dusty beside us into the next phase of God's church. May we continue to be the welcoming loving people that we have been raised to be. We are a sum total of everyone one who has ever served and worshipped here. Just like my granddaughter. She is who she is because of every experience she has had in her life. With a nod to those who brought us this far, let us remember the passage Hebrews “Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith”
May the Peace of God Be With you always… and also with me.
In Humble Service
Janice Aldridge
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