Anchoring St. Olaf

  Professionally, it was the most important day of my life.   Hands down.   It was also a very important day for the church.   There I was on August 8, 2009 kneeling at the Communion rail at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheridan, Wyoming.     I had just made a vow in the presence of God to assume the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament; to preach and teach in accordance with the holy scriptures, the creeds, and our Lutheran confessions; that I would pray for God’s people; and that I would proclaim the goodness of Jesus to the world.   Then, after a series of prayers, a stole was placed around my neck by Bishop Huck Usgaard and I was a pastor.   Never before had a small piece of fabric weighed so much.   The stole, the colorful piece worn over the pastor’s robe is a yoke, it is a sign of the office of pastor, and reminds you of the promises made.   And it was heavy. It remains heavy.   Ordination is a big deal and ...

I have a lot of favorite things about being a pastor at St. Olaf Lutheran Church (I say this a lot!) but as a pastor whose primary role is faith formation, close to the top of my “favorites” list is when Wednesday night programming begins in the fall. It’s so good to be back to regularity and fills my emotional bucket to reconnect in church with students and parents who are journeying together in faith. Beginning in September, Wednesdays are going to look a bit more…regular! (Am I jinxing us by saying that?!) This year will look more like what St. Olaf was used to before the pandemic happened. As we’re getting closer to September and as the staff of St. Olaf are dreaming of what Wednesdays will look like, we, of course, wanted to fill everyone in on the plan. Children’s choir and Wednesday night worship will both will start again in September! These are two integral parts of Wednesday nights we’ve been missing over the past two years. Now that St. Olaf has Brian Williams, our phenome...

As I mentioned in the previous blog entry, I had a blog a dozen years ago.   Again, don’t go find it, I was REALLY whiney back then.   Having a blog now is hard because, let’s be honest, I’m not that interesting.  Since that first blog a dozen years ago, I have been tempted to write more but after one or two drafts were finished, I was out of things to say.  I had not more thoughtful things to share and I found myself jealous of those I follow who have insightful things to say each week.   I do believe, however, that even the act of writing can be fruitful.  Even though it is hard, it is an exercise I need to do more often.  Maybe if I do, it will get easier.  I will hope that is the case.   Starting something new is tough though, I get that.  I was always that kid growing up that needed routine; change did not come easily for me.  Firm boundaries of what to do and when were necessary.  If those routines broke, I st...