I started my call here at Bethlehem on my birthday. It has become an easy way for me to mark my “anniversaries” here.
I just celebrated another birthday so it marks another year as your pastor. I have been here five years now. That feels like a milestone to me. Perhaps it is time to reflect a little. When I came to Bethlehem five years ago, my impressions were:
- This was a healthy congregation that had been blessed with good pastors who stayed here a long time. That is usually a good sign.
- Good and creative ministry was being done here: the 9 Health Fair, the Nicaragua Project, Stephen Ministry, the quilters, rotational Sunday School, Living Nativity, bluegrass worship, and national youth gatherings, to name a few.
- The members at Bethlehem were very involved in the ministry. That was another good sign.
- The congregation indicated that they were open and ready for change. I liked that challenge.
And so, one of my goals was to maintain those strengths, but also to introduce changes that would enhance and grow the ministry here.
So here are some of those “changes” that have happened in the last five years.
- We welcomed Light of Christ to share our facility and to share ministry with.
- We welcomed Cornerstone Preschool into our facility as well.
- After Pastor Matthew took a new call, we put together a different staffing structure with Dawn Reed as our Education Coordinator and Deaconess Kristen Baltrum as our Youth and Household Ministry Coordinator.
- We entered into the ELCA intern program and were blessed with two outstanding intern pastors. We soon welcome our third.
- We introduced the new hymnal, the ELW.
- We introduced a new liturgy, setting 6, out of that hymnal.
- We started doing Jazz services twice a year, at Pentecost and All Saints.
- We introduced sanctuary art into our worship space (banners, paper cut out angels, Spirit birds).
- We began offering healing services and healing prayer as a part of our worship life.
- We hosted the first community ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve communion service, and continue to participate in those with our full communion partners.
- We started going down to New Orleans on mission trips for Katrina Relief. We have made four such trips with members from LOC.
- We began the volunteer outreach to Spangler Elementary.
- We began participating in the community Sharefest outreach.
- Our youth started working at the Network Coffeehouse, a ministry to the homeless in Denver.
- We started doing Fair Trade Fairs in conjunction with LOC.
- We started doing Household Ministry.
- Bible Sundays have now reached out to our youth of all ages.
- We introduced the “Book of Faith” initiative/Bible study.
- We started sharing “Splash” packets with the newly baptized and their parents.
- We started a Milestone Ministry, doing milestones around confirmation, first communion and driver’s licenses. More are planned.
- We began the “Learn by Heart” program.
- We started a mentoring program for our confirmands.
- We changed our communion policy making it welcoming to all ages.
- We organized the Neighborhood Ministry, with our Care Shepherds and Fellowship Shepherds and Calling Shepherds.
- We started going to Faith Day at the Rockies.
- We entered into the Natural Church Development process and Passionate Spirituality began to be lived out in our ministry in a number of ways.
- We revamped the Star, the church newsletter.
- We added a new choir, Revelation, to help lead worship at second service on the fourth Sunday of the month.
Some final observations about all of the above:
- I used “we” intentionally in listing those changes. I hope we have created an atmosphere here at Bethlehem where members can feel free to suggest and start new ministries. I think of Dave Hooley offering to start the “Learn by Heart” program and Ray Leake asking if he could put together a jazz service. Many of the above “changes” were started by members. I think having a very involved laity is still one of our strengths.
- We have a gifted church staff. Kristen was the one who led us into Household Ministry. Dawn came up with the idea for expanding Bible Sunday. Each intern has brought fresh energy and ideas to Bethlehem. Pastor Lili led the Discovery Bible study. Pastor Sarah started an online Bible study.
- We have grown our outreach. I firmly believe in the phrase “God’s Work, Our Hands.” We are called to be the body of Christ serving in our world.
- We have been blessed by the relationship with Light of Christ. It continues to grow.
- I feel the Spirit’s presence and leadership in what is happening here at Bethlehem. And I know the Spirit has much more in store for us.
I feel very blessed to be your pastor. I look forward to our next five years of ministry together.
Blessings,
Pastor Peterson
Welcome to our New Intern, Kirsten Sauey
Kirsten Sauey is going to be our new intern pastor for 2010-2011. She is a student at the Pacific Lutheran Theological School in Berkeley, California. Like Pastor Sarah, this will be Kirsten’s third year of school/training. Following her intern year with us, she will return to PLTS for her final year of seminary.
Kirsten will “hit the ground running.” Her first day on the job, August 1, will be a Sunday morning service. (No…we won’t be asking her to preach!) Her main goal on the first Sunday will be to meet many of you. So please plan to join us on that Sunday as we give her a warm Bethlehem welcome.
As part of that welcome we would love to give Kirsten a fistful of gift cards. We invite you to purchase gift cards at King Soopers, Safeway, Target, Wal-Mart, etc. She can then use those cards to stock her pantry, bathroom, etc.
The intern program has been such a blessing to both Bethlehem and our interns. Pastor Lili is now leading her own congregation in Denver, Highlands Lutheran. We saw the amazing growth that happened in Pastor Sarah this past year. They are both so thankful for the chance to learn and do ministry here at Bethlehem. We look forward to another Spirit-filled year with Pastor Kirsten.
Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Sarah
