Pastor Dan's Farewell Message

Dear People of Beautiful Savior:

Christmas love and peace from my heart to yours.

On Sunday, February 12, 2006, I will retire as pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church after 28 years of our life together, 39 years as a pastor of the Church--having recently celebrated my 65th birthday. (I even got a "card" from the U. S. government!) 

During these next six weeks, Jane and I look forward to every opportunity to talk with you. Our times of worship together will be especially meaningful--thanking God for all his marvelous blessings upon us and asking for our Lord's continued mercy and kindness.

I prepare to leave with much sadness--and a bit of trembling. The fellowship and ministry of Beautiful Savior has intimately intertwined with almost half my life! You have been a daily part of my thoughts, prayers and activity for such a long time, it is difficult for me to think of life apart from you.  For your partnership, support and love, I am extraordinarily grateful to God. I have always considered it my privilege to be your pastor. That seems to be even more true now. Like Mary at Christmas, I have much to "treasure in my heart" and to "ponder" the rest of my life. Thank you. Thanks be to God!

The memories of being with you at worship (like glorious Christmas Eve several days ago) help me realize how good God has been to me all these years. To have had the honor of representing Christ and the Church: "I baptize you in the name of. . . ." and "Take and eat, the Body of Christ" fills me with awe and wonder. To have welcomed you in Jesus' name when you first came to Beautiful Savior was a joy. To have prayed with you at times of a child's birth, during an illness, at a confirmation, wedding, anniversary, to have grieved with you at a memorial service were occasions of high honor. Thank you for letting me share in your life.

I realize that many of you will be sad, too. My retirement from Beautiful Savior will bring about significant changes. Without a doubt, congregational life will be different--different, but still full of God's promise and power for his mission among you! Think about it. At 28 years old, this congregation is just coming into its prime! God held us closely through birth and childhood, patiently loved us through our teenage years and helped us develop maturity in our twenties. The details of God's plan for this "fellowship of saints" may not yet be known, but the future is unquestionably bright and full of hope in Christ.

As Yogi Berra might say, "You ain't seen nothin' yet!"  Or as St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him," these things God will reveal through his Spirit (1 Cor. 2:9).

Please know that Jane and I wish there were an easy way of saying Goodbye to you our friends. Yet, even with tears, we ask you to bless us in our new chapter of life, as we will ask God to bless you. (A prayer for us: O, Lord, send your Spirit into our hearts as we talk and express our feelings to each other; and "let your face shine upon us." Amen.)

Bishop Neils

In preparation for this change, I have consulted with Bishop Michael Neils of our Grand Canyon Synod. He looks forward to working with you--assisting you during the time of transition as you get ready to call another pastor for the next part of Beautiful Savior's promising mission journey.

As scheduled, the Annual Congregational Meeting will be on Sunday, January 15, following worship. As usual, one of the business items will be the election of several new Council members. In anticipation of having the new 2006 Council in place, Bishop Neils has already scheduled a visit to Beautiful Savior on Monday, January 16. He desires to meet with both the congregation and the new Council to explain the Interim process, offer the name of the Transition Pastor and, of course, answer any questions. (Please watch for the meeting times.)

Pastor Stewart McDonald

As I hope is amply evident, I am grateful for this colleague in ministry! I asked him to serve with us nearly a year ago to provide leadership for ongoing Small Group Ministry. This he has done, helping to establish a number of groups. He has also served in the areas of worship, adult education, men's ministry and long-range planning, as well as establishing the Deacon's Ministry. He has filled this half-time position with good things!

Thankfully, he has agreed to continue on a month-to-month basis, as he seeks a permanent call as lead pastor in another congregation. Although he has training and experience in Transitional Ministry, the many relationships he has made with you, as well as having become part of  "the congregational system," prevent him from assuming this role at Beautiful Savior.

Other Ministries and Staff

When the pastor leaves, it is important that a congregation continue the good ministries it has been doing. In fact, the experience of other congregations in transition has shown that only after a time of thorough study and prayer should major changes be considered. To be sure, Beautiful Savior has tremendous opportunities for serving not only the members, but the community through Worship, Youth and Family Ministry, the Academy, Social Concerns, Outreach, Welcome. . . .plus new ways that will be uncovered in the months ahead.

The Time of Transition

The period "between pastors" serves a unique purpose in a congregation's life. Although one focus will be calling another pastor, a number of other important activities will take place. In fact, Transitional Ministry includes five (5) tasks for the congregation to accomplish in preparation for the future:

• Coming to Terms with History;

• Discovering a New Identity;

• Allowing Needed Leadership Change;

• Renewing Denominational Linkages; and

• Commitment to New Directions in Ministry

Some of these may seem a bit daunting (and unclear), but each one, and all of them together, has proven to help a congregation get ready for a dynamic and healthy future.

With the support and guidance of the Transition Pastor, you will continue "regular ministry" of worship, study, fellowship and service. You will rejoice at Baptisms, Confirmations and Weddings. You will care for the sick, comfort the sorrowful and pray for each other, as we have done all these years--as well as get ready for "tomorrow" by working toward the five goals listed above.

Each person who calls Beautiful Savior his/her church home will be invited to share faith, time and resources to make the Interim experience a time of growth and renewed vitality. Exciting stuff!

The Transition Pastor

Bishop Neils will recommend a trained and experienced pastor for congregational approval. That Transition Pastor will come from "the outside," without established relationships, so that he/she may help the congregation look objectively at itself, its gifts, its mission, its future.  In the months ahead, Beautiful Savior will not only get ready for a new pastor, but a new future--built on the foundation of God's grace in Christ. God is faithful.

What about Jane and me?

We hold each of you dear to our hearts. We pray for good things in your life together. Ironically, because we love Beautiful Savior so dearly, we must say, "Farewell." Jane and I will not continue as members.

The Transition time of new beginnings for you, we believe and trust, is best accomplished without us. For blessing or woe, I have been part of every chapter of the congregation's history. For these years, these relationships, these mercies, I pour out my thanks to God. But now it is time for you to depend upon God and each other in new ways--without me.

(If I did not care as much as I do for Beautiful Savior, I would have offered my resignation as Pastor and simply requested to continue part-time and serve in limited ways. That would be wonderful for me--but not good for you and the congregation's future. Studies of congregations in similar situations have shown that the next chapter for mission cannot be opened strongly with the retired pastor in the cast of characters.)

About a year ago, the reality of approaching "number 65" dawned upon me! So, as the Council and some staff members are aware, I used my Continuing Education time to receive training as a Transition Pastor. Just as you in the congregation need a time of transition between the past and future, so do Jane and I. With that in mind, I have requested and received an Interim assignment from Bishop David Mullen of the Sierra Pacific Synod.

Our plan is that after February 12 we will go to Auburn, California where I will serve as Transition Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. (Their pastor is retiring.) We will be there for 12-18 months--the average amount of time for Transitional Ministry.

We plan to keep our home here in Tucson and return when that assignment is finished. We will then wait to see what the Lord has in store for us.

Farewell Prayer and Thoughts

"I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).

God began this "good work" which we call Beautiful Savior Lutheran at Thornydale School on February 5, 1978. (I had recently turned a mere 37 years old and our children were 13, 10 and 9!) Some time between then and now, I blinked--and here we are!

Be sure of this,

God is not finished molding you--people of Beautiful Savior!
God is not finished surprising you with kindness and mercy!
God is not finished using you for grander and greater purposes!

God holds you in the palm of his hand.

"He will bring [his work among you] to completion by the day of Jesus Christ."

Giving thanks in every remembrance of you,

---Pastor Dan and Jane