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The ST. MARK’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
Vineyard Press “I am the vine, you are the branches. “ (John 15:5)
MARCH 2020 , VOL 20, ISSUE 3
hello & goodbye
Hello, New Friends, Dear St. Mark’s,
I am so looking forward In St. Paul’s first letter to the
to being your Senior Thessalonians, he writes:
Pastor. As I begin, I
am grateful for your We always give thanks to God for
confidence in me, and I all of you and mention you in our
look forward to being on prayers, constantly remembering
this new leg of our faith before our God and Father your work of faith and labour
Jon & Charisse Jensen journey together. of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus
Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God,
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, a bishop and theologian who that he has chosen you …
lived in the second century, said: “The glory of God is
a human being fully alive.” These words help me focus That is how I feel as I share with you for the last time
on a vision that we all can become the people God and ask God’s continued blessing upon the mission
intends us to be and to shape the Kingdom of God at and ministry of St. Mark’s.
St. Mark’s, in the community of Aurora, and beyond. It has been my joy to be with you in two different
My prayer is that our time is now to become fully times, over three years, as I now complete my
alive, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of partnership with you. We have rejoiced and
God. You have many stories to share with me about celebrated, cried and wept, planned and visioned,
what this “coming alive” has been in your life—your worked and struggled, hoped and prayed. Our life
individual and your family stories—and I look forward together has been led by God’s Spirit as we have set
with joy to hearing them! I have stories to share with a more solid financial foundation, developed a solid
you about what my passions are for ministry: from Vision for the congregation, called two new pastors,
my first experiences of God while growing up in North developed an Endowment Fund, and created policies
Dakota to my journey as a pastor, a traveler, and an for clear administrative responsibilities, growth, and
agent for change and renewal in the church. outreach.
Our journey will be an inward and an outward one— Thank you for your many kind words over these
an individual and shared journey, an ancient one and numbers of months. Your thoughtful ways, your
a new one. My hope is that we listen to one another, compassion for those who need love and care given
dream with one another, and together imagine our to them, your willingness to step up and be counted
collective work. We will share a faith life that is life- as disciples of Jesus are all hallmarks of a healthy
giving and beautiful for a world in which every child of congregation. As you now receive a new Senior
God comes fully alive to the glory of God. Pastor, my hope and prayer is that you will welcome
Pastor Charisse with the same love and respect that
I look forward to sharing many “firsts” with you in the you have shown to me.
weeks ahead.
Thank you, St. Mark’s, for being a community that
Together in Christ, lives its mission statement of Sharing Christ’s
Pastor Charisse Abundant Love.
With gratitude to God,
Pastor Olson
