I am a second-career person who felt called by God to ordained ministry for a number of years before going to seminary. Over the years I was always active in whatever congregation I was a member of and served as a lay person in almost every possible capacity within the church.

        In June, 2004 I graduated from Trinity Lutheran Seminary and was called to St. Paul as their pastor where I began serving on September 1, 2004. I love being a pastor! I especially enjoy leading worship, preaching, teaching, and pastoral care. My husband, Vernon, and I feel blessed to be in Louisville—and are enjoying exploring a new city. Both of us lost spouses, met, and married while we were at the seminary. He has lived in many different cities throughout the United States, while I have spent the majority of my adult life in Michigan, but have also lived in Indiana and Ohio. I love sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others. Jesus embodied God’s amazing love and through his death and resurrection we have been reconciled to God and have the gift of eternal life (defined as life lived in the unending presence of God now and in the life to come).

        Two of my favorite passages of Scripture assure us of God’s promise to always be with us regardless of what comes our way in this life. The first is from Isaiah 43, verses 1-3:

        “But now says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Do not fear for I have redeemed you: I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.’”

        The second one is found in the eighth chapter of the letter to the Romans, verses 38-39:

        “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

        God created, named, and redeemed us, and will be with us always and forevermore. Praise be to God!

God’s richest blessings on your journey,
Pastor Shirley