18th January 2026

As you know, I gave my ELCE Chairman’s report to Synod on my birthday last November. I concluded …

“And so I say farewell. When the then LCA General President in 2002 tapped me on the shoulder and asked about England, he said, “They’re a little church, go and help them anyway you can!”. That has sort of been a guide for me. And so I was called and so we came and we arrived in the UK on this day 23 years ago. I am very conscious of work not done and my fear that I haven’t best helped speed the restructure exists. There is a part of me that feels guilty leaving. Nevertheless then I tell myself the words I have said in many other congregational contexts, ‘This the Lord’s Church and he hasn’t let us down yet and he won’t do so now’. And I am encouraged because Jesus is faithful. I keep you in my prayers. I hope you are encouraged – after all, the joy of the Lord is our strength!”

I write this blurb exactly two months later and still feel similarly – many mixed emotions – but here at Ascension and Ipswich, more than anywhere, I am home among believers some who stay and many who go – our congregational ‘life’ can cover in a few years what other congregations take decades to cover. It is from Ascension together with the ELCE that I received a call to serve. I have sought to live out what you wanted as per Augsburg Confession V – Of the Ministry – whereby you wanted me to speak the Gospel (and yes, all the Bible – so that Law and Gospel are heard) and to distribute the Sacraments so that you will hear words coming from outside of you into you. This is how the Holy Spirit brings his gifts which result in faith in Jesus.

Now in congregations, pastors have a role to play. But in the interaction with the world, it is particularly the congregational members who interact with, rub shoulders with, come into contact – maybe conflict – with the world, with those who do not know Jesus as Lord, as Rescuer, as One who serves but often only a caricature of him. A pastor can help discipleship but he really isn’t that important or central – because he wants you – I want you! – to always have ears (first!) and eyes for Jesus – so that you ‘live’ under the cross, so to speak, by the light of the empty tomb. That’s how disciples of Jesus live – how you at Ascension and Ipswich live – hearing God’s Word (and what are God’s first words to you before all the other things he says? _ _ _ 🙂 )* and daily returning to your Baptism, and coming to Holy Communion so that you grow in Christ to be you! Each of you are so precious to God!

What God has established through Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension continues! Only the waiter is changing! Thank you for the opportunity and privilege to serve Ascension and Ipswich. I leave you in God’s hands – pierced for you – the safest place to be!

GS

*For anyone visiting today … God’s first words are “I love you!”.