What an honor, what a privilege, what a joy, to share these last ten years with you in Ministry together.

 

When Bishop McCoid first told me about Painterotwn, I asked, "Where is that?" He told me the location, and then said that this was a congegation that was ready for some love and spiritual care. He also said that it was a church much like my home church, and that sometimes the Lord has great surprises in store for us, if we're open to the Spirit's guidance.

 

Well, I can honestly say, the Bishop was indeed right, again!

 

Ten years ago, this faith family celebrated fifty years of ministry as Paintertown Evangelical Lutheran Church. And here we are, marking the sixtieth year of God's ministry in this community.

 

Those 60 years have been marked with joys and sorrows, growth and loss, celebration and tragedy. When one lives a Christian life, there will be many ups and downs. Struggles do not end as we go along the path of our fatih journey, but when we follow the Spirit's lead, we will not be alone, and we will find renewed hope, when we are down, renewed strength, when we are tired, renewed joy, when we are sad.

 

For 60 years, we have witnessed a great deal of faith in the lives of our founding mothers and fathers of this church. We are the heirs of a communion of saints who have passed on faith traditions. We are also recipients of God's great mercy through this legacy of faith, hope and love.

 

Thank God for the commitment of so many devoted people who continue to carry out the call of our Lord to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. "Amen."

 

Shalom,

Pastor Dorothy