Post date: Feb 2, 2014 12:08:48 AM
From the pastor…
I have long had a fondness and a place in my heart for Bethel and you, its people. Through the years I have been a colleague in ministry with Pastors Charles Gustafson, Norman Gauch, and Adam Miller-Stubbendick. I had become acquainted with many of you through joint Lenten services, Saturday worship, and occasional visits as a neighbor. Pastor Gauch designated me as his pastor, so I shared Bethel’s grief at his death.
Now I have become your intentional interim pastor, as of September 1, 2013. During this time I have served you in ministry. I have shared your struggles at this time in the life of this congregation, including the uncertainties of our future mission and ongoing life. Bethel has made considerable changes in our budget to reduce the pattern of financial shortfalls. At the same time, I share in Bethel’s work in shaping our future.
I applaud the efforts of our council as they deliberate and assess our strengths and needs.
I have participated in the Together in Mission Team of Jamestown’s Lutheran congregations.
I encourage Bethel’s participation and leadership in seeking ways that our ministry can be shared and fostered in our relationship with our partner congregations.
As I write this, your council is preparing to recommend a course of action for Bethel. I invite you to read the report by our council president, Gregg Davis, in this document, and to participate in the deliberations of our annual meeting to help make Bethel’s course be one in which we walk with Christ as our guide.
As a child, I used to hear a brief daily radio or TV message by our pastor, Reuben Youngdahl. He always closed the broadcast with these words: “Yesterday is gone, tomorrow does not yet belong to us, so live today.” My prayer for Bethel is that we together may live today while heading to our future with a charted course.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Alan Anderson