A message from Interim Pastor Merle

March 14, 2023

Dear Siblings in Christ at Bethel Lutheran Church,

    It has been a privilege and honor to serve as your designated Interim Pastor.  I have made many new friends in Christ, laughed, enjoyed your hospitality and our time together striving through the joys and challenges of ministry.

    This is to inform you that I will need to bring my time with you to an end.   

I serve at the pleasure of the Synod Council of the Central States Synod and the Bishop’s Office, with whom my call resides.  My skill sets are now required with another congregation to help them grieve, begin their paperwork and transition toward their new pastor.

    I had hoped that I would be able to write this letter with you having your new pastor lined up and in place, but such was not the case.  

I do know that your Call Committee is being forwarded excellent candidates to consider and I trust that the Holy Spirit is at work in all of this, and in us.

April 16th will be my final Sunday to be with you in worship. 
   
    Again, I thank you for your partnership in the Gospel in this time.  Keep daring and serving Jesus in this community.  Keep looking for ways to be open to the work that God is already at work doing in this world.
May that peace of God which passes all understanding continue to keep you in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell.  Mend your ways, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
                -- 2nd Corinthians 13:11, RSV

In Christ’s Love,

Merle L. Brockhoff, Interim Pastor.