Dear Alpine family and friends,
I am writing to share the difficult news that I am ending my time as your pastor here at Alpine Lutheran Church. A congregation in Omaha has voted to call my wife Lucy as their next Senior Pastor and we will be transitioning to Nebraska later this summer. More details about the transition, timeline and so forth will be coming in the next couple of weeks as the Council and I work things out with the Synod, but I wanted to share the initial news immediately.
This announcement comes with a whole range of complex emotions for us. Discerning God’s will is a tricky business because it happens differently in different seasons of life, kinds of decisions, etc. Sometimes God calls you (or your spouse) away from something – a job, a place, a relationship – because it is unhealthy, or because your gifts or needs have changed. That is NOT the case with this decision. I have cherished and delighted in the mission God has given us together – a mission of worship and service, of loving God, our neighbors and each other well. I still feel deep excitement about the things God has ahead for Alpine. I have not felt called away from you, but towards a new ministry that God is cultivating for my family and I.
Words cannot express how thankful I am for the privilege of serving you these past 9 years. This is a bittersweet moment for me, for although I am excited about where God is leading us, I am also grieving the loss of many treasured relationships. It is hard to summarize all that I am thankful for. Your warm acceptance of me. Your faithfulness throughout the years to God’s calling upon your community. The wonderful way you seek to accept newcomers into your congregation. The encouragement that you provide to me on a daily basis. Your warm smiles and the great way that you serve each other are but a few of the fond memories that I will take with me. My Last Sunday with you will be July 30th, 2023. Although the future might seem uncertain and scary, we are reminded that we never need to face it alone. We have God on our side. The faithful God who has watched over this congregation for the past 80 years, promises to continue to do so, until Christ returns.
We ask for your prayers for our whole family as we say hard goodbyes and prepare for new adventures in a new place. You will be in our prayers. And though the goodbyes will be difficult, we trust that God has wonderful plans for all of us in the midst of this change. Thank you for being the church you are.
With great love,
Pastor Dan