A message from Pastor Tanner

March 12, 2023

Beloved Saints and Sibling in Christ,

The third chapter of Ecclesiastes reminds us of an unchanging truth: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." For the past five years, I have felt called by God to serve as your pastor at All Saints Lutheran Church. Not only have I felt called to serve here, I have also greatly enjoyed the privilege of serving as a pastor to this wonderful community of faith.

Life, however, is never static. Change is inevitable. God continually calls us to new challenges, opportunities, and adventures. So, after a lot of prayer and discernment with Katie about our family’s future, it’s time for us to make a move. And for us that move is Duluth. Katie has accepted a position as a Family Nurse Practitioner with Essentia Health, and will be joining a wonderful practice in Superior. I am in active conversation with the NE Minnesota Synod about calls in and around Duluth, but will be taking some time to practice my dad skills this summer. No doubt Lorelai will have me well trained soon enough.

Our last Sunday here at All Saints will be April 16th. In the meantime, I am working with the staff, council, and synod to help All Saints transition well. That said, if you look at the wall of pastors in Resurrection Hall, you will note that you haven’t had a pastoral transition since 2006, and not an associate transition since 2002. So, some of this will feel new. Pause. Breath. Pray.

Pastoral transitions are difficult. A big part of them is maintaining healthy boundaries which allow new pastoral relationships to form. These standard boundary policies apply to all pastors when they leave a congregation. Basically, this means that I will not be available for any pastoral or administrative duties at All Saints, including officiating or assisting at baptisms, weddings, or funerals for members of All Saints when I leave. We are pretty good at boundaries around All Saints. This is just a new one that we will live into together.

St. Paul opens his letter to the church at Philippi with these words: "I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now." Amid all the varied emotions I am currently feeling, I am definitely experiencing the joy Paul felt as he wrote to his beloved congregation. It is impossible for me to express how grateful I am to God for the privilege and pleasure of serving as your pastor. I believe God has truly blessed our ministry together. My family and I have also been richly blessed through the loving, nurturing, and supportive faith community that is All Saints. The relationships we have formed have enriched our lives and allowed us to love and be loved in the most wonderful ways.

Saints of God – thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for showing up, doing work, and being kind. Thank you for welcoming us into your church family. Thank you serving, laughing, crying, and doing ministry together. Thank you for sending us off with your blessing. Thank you for walking the walk of faith.

In deep gratitude,

Pastor Tanner