The most blessed family in the world

One of the privileges of being a pastor is being involved in the most important events in a family’s life: births, baptisms, serious illnesses, weddings, and deaths.  While the world watches these events from afar a pastor gets to come alongside families at those important times.  It has been my privilege to spend some time with your pastor’s family after the death of their beloved son, Obi.  Not only has it been a privilege it’s been humbling and faith strengthening.  The day Obi went to heaven I stopped at your pastor’s house to have a devotion with him and Liz.  Before I left Pastor Christenson said, “I can’t think of a better place than here to go through something like this.”  That is a testament to your love and care for your pastor’s family.  The day of Obi’s committal service Pastor Christenson was telling me some of the kind things others had done for them in the last few days.  He said, “We are the most blessed family in the world.”  That is a testament to your pastor’s faith.

 

The relationship between a pastor (and his family) and the congregation he serves is a sacred one.  From everything I can see, the relationship between First Lutheran and the Christenson family is as solid as steel … and as precious as gold.  For that we can all be thankful to our Lord.

 

The next months will be like learning how to walk.  We’ll take a few steps forward and then fall down, only to get back up and try again.  There will be days when Pastor Christenson feels like getting back to work and days he doesn’t.  There will be days Liz feels like being out and about and days she wants to stay home.  There will be days when our members feel joy at the fact Obi is in heaven and days when tears flow readily.  There is no roadmap for grief … only a destination.  And the destination is heaven.  There we will see Obi, Mike Albrecht, Dallas Doss, and all believers.  Until then we keep moving forward, trusting that the Lord will give us the faith, energy, and stamina we need.

 

The council here at First Lutheran and the council back at Ascension where I serve have set no timetables.  I am willing to help out as long as I’m needed.  If there is anything that I can do for you please let me know.

 

One more thing … we are truly blessed by the work that Barb Hoff does for our congregation.  She is very good at what she does and has a heart of gold.  It’s a joy to work with her.

                                                            Pastor Kom

Pastor Kom’s contact information

Cell phone number: (507) 421-5477.  

Home number: (507) 282-8383.  

E-mail: pastorkom@ascensionrochester.org.  

 

You can also call Pastor Sheppard from our sister congregation of Hokah and South Ridge at (507)895-6740 or 608-799-1253 if there is an emergency.