Change and the Gift of a New Pastor

A message for our Lord of Life Lutheran Church brothers and sisters in Christ.

Image Source: Pinecrest.

My wife Kathy and I have been around a few years, more than a few, really. My career caused many transfers both in state and across state lines. From our 1964 wedding day in an ALC congregation in Lombard, Illinois, we began our family ‘s nomadic life. We belonged to two congregations in the Chicago area, three different churches in Michigan, one in Iowa, and two in Pennsylvania, and even a three-pastor church in New Jersey. We walked alongside many faithful communities. Over time we have witnessed transitions, celebrations, challenges, and the loss of beloved pastors. Through it all, we have also seen God’s steady faithfulness. With that long view in mind, I would like to share the following reflection as our Lord of Life congregation enters a new chapter.

Change can have a way of unsettling us, especially in the church, where traditions, relationships, and routines carry deep meaning. When a new pastor finally arrives, it can feel as though the ground shifts beneath our feet. We give thanks for the leadership we have known, while wondering what God has prepared for us next. This mixture of gratitude, grief, curiosity, and hope is both normal and holy.

From an ELCA perspective, pastoral transition is not simply an administrative event - it is a spiritual season. We trust that Christ continues to guide His church through the work of the Holy Spirit, shaping us through the unique gifts each pastor brings. No two pastors serve in the same way, and that diversity is part of how God forms congregations for their next chapter of ministry.

A new pastor brings fresh preaching, new language, different rhythms, and often a renewed sense of mission within the community. These changes are not intended to replace the past but to build upon it. The ELCA teaches that the church is always being renewed - semper reformanda - and pastoral transition is one of the ways God nudges us toward deeper faith, fuller service, and renewed imagination.

This is also a time for mutual listening. The pastor listens to the congregation’s story; the congregation listens to the pastor’s gifts. Together we discern how God is calling us to serve in this moment. Some things will feel familiar, and others will stretch us. But in all of it, we trust that Christ is present.

So, as we await our new pastor, we also welcome the work God is doing among us. Rooted in Word and Sacrament, we remember that Jesus Christ, not any one leader, is the true shepherd of the church. Because of this, we face change not with fear but with trust, confident that God’s grace goes before us into every new season.

A Prayer for Our Congregation Holy One, You have held Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Your grace through every season. As a new pastor is soon called into our journey, breathe fresh hope into our shared life. Knit us together in love, deepen our trust in Christ, and let Your Spirit lead us into the future You prepare. Amen.

Happy New Year Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Craig