From the Pastor

Septmeber 2007

News flash: Holy Redeemer is about to welcome our second intern!

I trust that you knew that already, but as we welcome Vicar Craig Brown into our congregational family, it would be good to have a reminder of what the internship year is about—for both the congregation and the intern. What can we expect from the intern, and much more importantly, I think, what can Vicar Craig expect from us?

First and foremost, the intern is a student. Vicar Craig will be here to continue his four year seminary education by putting what he has been learning in the classroom for the past two years into practice in our congregation. He will help lead worship each week, preach once a month, teach confirmation once or twice a month, teach Adult Class in the future, attend meetings, and participate in our congregation’s life and ministries in as many ways as he can. We can expect that he will engage in these ministries with respect for our history and setting, with his foundations in both Lutheran theology and scripture always in mind … and with enthusiasm!

From us, Vicar Craig can and should expect a warm welcome and the effort to get to know him, his wife Katie, and their son Kirk. He should be able to expect that we will remember that this year is to be one of learning and growth for him. He can expect that we will encourage, support, and nurture his ministry, and also that we will be willing to give him our honest and caring feedback on the various tasks he will engage in here at Holy Redeemer. He can expect that we will respect that he is also working part-time as a chaplain at St. Luke’s Hospital, and that we value that ministry, as well. Vicar Craig also should be able to expect that we will not view him as my assistant pastor—here to do all of the things that I am unable to do or to oversee any programs or events that we may have wanted to get started but have not been able to implement in the past.

Above all, we can all expect that the Holy Spirit will move among us over these next months, as we minister together at Holy Redeemer. Vicar Craig will learn from me, and I from him. He will learn from you, and you from him. And the whole Church will be blessed by this experience!

I look forward to this new beginning, as I pray that you do.

In Christ,
Pastor Brenda