Dear Members and Friends of Christ Lutheran Church...
Thoughts from Council Member Pat Schrull:
“Is change good for the soul?” That is a question I have often asked myself.
These past five months have been a trying time for many of us. The loss of a church (which some have attended for decades) marks feelings of unrest. I personally remember those feelings, as I was a part of Christ Lutheran Church on Pearl Avenue for many, many years. My grandparents helped to charter the church in the 1930s; and I remember hearing stories about my grandfather holding my mother up (when she was a little girl) so she could clean the fingers of the statue of Jesus which is now located near the alter. I was baptized, confirmed, and married there; and I always assumed my funeral would be held there. So, merging and moving to another location was definitely a big change.
But I keep telling myself , “a church is not only the building.” What is important is what is in that church. Having been through the transition of moving to a new church, I can say that the change was for the good; as I have met many new people and now have many new friends I would not otherwise have had if I was still attending the building on Pearl Avenue. At the time, it didn’t seem like it, but the change has been good; as it gave me the opportunity to welcome new people and bring new experiences into my life.
Change can teach us to adapt and help us develop resilience. When change makes us better, it's because we have learned how to turn a challenging situation to our own advantage. And I have become better with the change that has happened to me over the past 10 years with my church and with my faith. When I look back on my life, all of the amazing things have happened because of a new experience I have had. I have come to accept that change is inevitable. I try to keep changes in my life in proper perspective, and I have learned to put my trust in God. He does take care of us all.
In this season of Thanksgiving, let us all be grateful for all we have and give thanks to the Lord. "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
- Pat Schrull
“Is change good for the soul?” That is a question I have often asked myself.
These past five months have been a trying time for many of us. The loss of a church (which some have attended for decades) marks feelings of unrest. I personally remember those feelings, as I was a part of Christ Lutheran Church on Pearl Avenue for many, many years. My grandparents helped to charter the church in the 1930s; and I remember hearing stories about my grandfather holding my mother up (when she was a little girl) so she could clean the fingers of the statue of Jesus which is now located near the alter. I was baptized, confirmed, and married there; and I always assumed my funeral would be held there. So, merging and moving to another location was definitely a big change.
But I keep telling myself , “a church is not only the building.” What is important is what is in that church. Having been through the transition of moving to a new church, I can say that the change was for the good; as I have met many new people and now have many new friends I would not otherwise have had if I was still attending the building on Pearl Avenue. At the time, it didn’t seem like it, but the change has been good; as it gave me the opportunity to welcome new people and bring new experiences into my life.
Change can teach us to adapt and help us develop resilience. When change makes us better, it's because we have learned how to turn a challenging situation to our own advantage. And I have become better with the change that has happened to me over the past 10 years with my church and with my faith. When I look back on my life, all of the amazing things have happened because of a new experience I have had. I have come to accept that change is inevitable. I try to keep changes in my life in proper perspective, and I have learned to put my trust in God. He does take care of us all.
In this season of Thanksgiving, let us all be grateful for all we have and give thanks to the Lord. "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
- Pat Schrull