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TH*NK*NG (BEGINNINGS) I’ve been thinking about beginnings. Actually I’ve been thinking about St. Johns, Pastor Ron Larson, the call process, miracles and answering prayers, remembering but one day at a time, a reception dinner, and Creston fellowship. Sunday Ron Larson was installed as the 17th Pastor at St Johns Lutheran Church in Creston Illinois. St John’s is now just over 112 years old as a congregation. You see this congregation is a small one that had its Pastor (David Rasmussen) retire in August of 2008. This left us with a vacancy and a great need to be filled. We immediately began “the Call” process to get a replacement, but we knew as a small congregation (who really needed only a part time minister and had limited resources) this could take a while. Other congregations in the area had waited up to two or more years to get a replacement. Our needs are many as we have more members who are 90 years and older than those who are under twenty! This is not unusual in our area amongst the churches. We have gone thru this process before in both the good times and the bad – and we survived. Once again, we were told we might have to consolidate with another congregation. That was not an acceptable solution as we had considerable faith that our needs would be met. I am particularly sensitive to the power of prayer. During my recent travails – two open heart surgeries with an almost always fatal infection in between – I should NOT still be alive. There were considerable prayers made on my behalf and my doctors worked medical miracles. During my two months of multiple daily IV infusions of a killer cocktail of antibiotics, I don’t remember a whole lot of what happened to me and that is probably a good thing. I was visited in the hospital by former Pastor Dave, interim Pastor Sarah, and the newly called Pastor Ron. I received cards, emails and visits from members of my congregation even though they could not get in to see and talk to me for most of the two month incarceration. This is the way the system works when you are a member of a loving congregation. The miracle of Ron Larson’s coming to St John’s began with a phone call to Pastor Jeff Clements, administrative assistant to the Bishop in Rockford. He had been on personal leave to work on the family farm near Mount Morris and was ready to return to clergy work at least “part-time.” He had heard that St. John’s in Creston needed a Pastor. (Hallelujah, yes Virginia there is a GOD…!!!) Deaconess Cheryl Erdmann was brought into the loop as she was our “Call” coordinator. Other phone calls were made and meetings were set up. This was clearly a match made in heaven, and once again St. John’s was on the top. During his remarks in the installation service on Sunday Pastor Ron told us how there were certain days and events which particularly stuck in his mind. These included each of his installation services as well as the birthdays of his two daughters. He TH*NKS of things in terms of the present day and how each day serves as a beginning for each of us. This is good advice in so many contexts. The past is behind us and is but a prologue to the present and what will come. The current day is really all that we have (for now). The future is pretty much beyond individual control and will occur regardless. . This concept of time and actions is perhaps the best way to deal with our current problems. The Dollar’s value is eroding, costs of everything including energy are rising, we have troops stationed all over the planet, unemployment is increasing at 250,000 more every month, foreclosures are setting new records each month, our personal and national debts are skyrocketing to previously unseen heights… there is much uncertainly about the future of our nation as the sole superpower on the planet. Despite what is happening we have been there before. As an historian, I am well aware or this fact. A contemplation of the past gives both feelings of concern, and eventual triumph. If you TH*NK the recent flurry of stock increases is an indicator of a turn around, TH*NK again… If you look to the government to solve and fix things over night, don’t... If you feel that our situation is hopeless and we are doomed, forget about it… With faith, community, and hard work, “we” will turn things around. After the installation service of Pastor Ron, the members of St. John’s and guests sat down to a meal together and enjoyed the camaraderie of good fellowship. I looked around and thought of my present situation, the present situation of our nation, and the present situation of our world. To me this is the real America that I love, and explains why we became the standard the world has sought to emulate. Beginnings are made at the local community, household levels, and individual levels. “We” have a rough and difficult row ahead of us - there is no question about that - but I am convinced, “we” will get thru it. I’m Fred Cederholm and I’ve been thinking. You should be thinking, too.
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