PH’s Page –
May will be a month of transition for all of us at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church.
First, it will be the month that sees the transition of our liturgical life from the season of Easter to the time that the church calls “ordinary.” It’s not ordinary in the sense of dull or boring, that’s for sure. The Sundays that will weave through our lives from late May until November are called “ordinary” because they are ordinal, counted off, one by one. The first Sunday after Pentecost, the second Sunday after Pentecost and so on…
And speaking of Pentecost – we won’t even get to these ordinary Sundays coming out of the Easter season without passing through the wonderful celebrations of Pentecost and Holy Trinity. Those will come on May 15th and 22nd, respectively. More transition, to be sure.
At the level of our staff at Luther Memorial, big things are up in the transition department. We’ve just brought on board a new custodian, Derek Allred, and you’ll certainly see him in and around Luther Memorial in the next weeks and months. Welcome him warmly!
On everyone’s mind, of course, is the return of our pastor, Julie Hutson. It will be wonderful to welcome her back in the month of May. She will worship with us on Sunday, May 29th and it will be a real privilege to turn the ministry of this congregation back over into her capable hands. There are bound to be some transitions to expect, anticipate, and celebrate as she returns from sabbatical and as you in the congregation get reoriented to her leadership and all the chapters of ministry that God has in story for you down the road. While our texts and season might be called “ordinary time,” there will be nothing but extraordinary ministry challenges and joys that lie ahead for all of you.
I’ll save my final goodbyes to you for a brief article in the June Messenger, but it’s never too early to say just how much I’ve enjoyed being with you for these four months and how deeply grateful I am for the many ways in which you’ve opened your lives in Christ to me.
See you in church,
Pastor Hoffman