Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
William Embree, Interim Pastor
“What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?” Romans 8:31-32
Well, what shall we say to all these things? I am writing this in anticipation that you will have, on July 31, taken the step to call your next pastor. Which has resulted in my move out of my service to LCGS and I am no longer with you. I am also aware that you might not vote to call, or that the majority needed to issue a call might be so slight that you are uncertain of the support for the candidate and have decided not to call until there is more support. So it is an uncertain moment for me.
Yet, I do have some things to say about these things, whichever way they go. (You can’t be surprised about that. I’m an old pastor with 37 years of preaching. We always have something to say.)
First, if you have not called a new pastor by the time you read this, I will continue to serve you until you do. If you have, I pray God’s riches blessings for this congregation. You each and all are terrific and have imprinted yourselves on me and such a rich, exciting future is open to you.
Next, whether or not you call a pastor now, or later, we are at the place in your journey where you should make plans and decisions about how you will greet and welcome whomever you choose. It is a matter of hospitality and graciousness on one hand, and practical good sense on the other.
There is entirely not enough hospitality and grace shown to others, even in churches, these days. Nor is it a matter of being hypocritical; “I don’t know if I will like them so I won’t commit myself until I know. I don’t want to seem like I like the person if I really don’t,” we might say as an excuse to not greet and take the time to get to know another. We leave each other to each one’s “own devises” so often, demanding the other make the first move of contact and greeting. Yes, you could wait for the new pastor, whomever that is, to “visit” sometime, but that is a waste of time. It is also not hospitable and is ungracious. The new pastor will want to get involved and familiar as soon as possible. You will want that, too.
I know – Lutherans tend to be shy. Don’t be. Break the mold, at least this time. Isn’t the church the place to practice being bold and polite and hospitable? Isn’t this the place to “do to others what you wish to be done to you?” Besides, most pastors don’t bite. Those who do are pretty much all retired, anyway.
I would suggest small dinner groups, with 5 or so couples at a time, once a week for 6 months. Invite the pastor and family (if they wish) and spend the evening enjoying each other. Let everyone talk about themselves. Ask questions of the pastor and of each other. Make a chart of the first 6 months of the pastor’s service and put the dinner dates on it.
Don’t do dinner or go out at night? After Sunday worship or during a weekday, invite the pastor for coffee (or tea, or lemonade, etc.) and conversation. Get the invite on the pastor’s calendar. Do it the first month – even if it needs to be 3 months away.
Be creative – barbeque at the park, ride the bay trail, visit the aquarium or the Steinbeck museum.
Here are some important bits of information you should be sure the pastor knows:
It is bad manners to require the pastor “find out for themselves” what you do and why and so forth. It is a waste of time, too.
Make plans now. God, as Paul notes, wants to “give us everything else”. So get ready to open yourself up to receive – the new pastor – whenever they come.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Embree