TiM pastors: free installation upon delivery...

Well, this week the three of us TiMs were "put in our place" by Bishop Larry Wohlrabe of NW MN. That's how he described our installation-- a time when we are put in our place. And boy, oh, boy... do we need it! ;) I mean, seriously-- we must have needed some serious work, considering that they had to install us three times! Maybe they were worried it wouldn't stick. After three successful installations, under the hands of about a dozen members of the church who helped, I think we're pretty firmly planted in our place. So much so that two years from now, I bet they'll have a hard time uninstalling us!

But really, the installation service Sunday was an incredible day. Bishop Wohlrabe preached an excellent sermon about where to find our place in life... He advised me, Colin and Rick to "aim low." That is, to humble ourselves and to find our place among the least, the forgotten... to seat ourselves among those with whom Jesus would dine. And with whom would Jesus dine? With those who can't

make it on their own. With those who like to mooch off the Lord's Table. Yes, that means the poor, the outcast, the disabled, the sick, the troubled... but you know, it also means you and me. Because none of us can make it on our own-- we all need Jesus. And aren't we so lucky that we have a God who loves to let us mooch off God's own table of grace?!

Good advice for us new pastors as we begin these two years in this community at Trinity. Aim low, put ourselves where Christ would, remember that we're all in need of God's love and mercy, and to declare as often as possible that we're welcome to mooch at that Table of grace always. WINNER WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER! :)

The Changing of the Guard

Welcome to a new wave of TiMer experiences...

Before we begin to regale you with our tales of wonder, surprise, confusion, and satisfaction, I thought we'd better introduce ourselves. But since I wouldn't dare speak for my esteemed colleagues (yes I would-- that's why I'm writing now!) I will just introduce myself and my fellow TiMers as I have come to know them... hehe

Let me first introduce you to Colin. Colin is a MN native, having spent most of his time in the St.

Paul area. He went to high school in Ohio, in a small city that probably isn't on most of your maps. He went to St. Olaf College, but we don't hold that against him. After college he decided to explore the world a bit and moved to Edinburgh, Scotland where he worked in a men's addiction counseling center. While there he met the coolest Milwaukeean ever... me, Alexis! From there he went on to seminary at Luther, where he played a lot. Next he went on to Las Vegas for internship, had a wedding and began married life, and after graduation took a trip around East Africa and Jerusalem for a year. While at Trinity, Colin will be responsible for Young Adult Ministry and Evangelism. Colin loves MN politics, philosophy, reading the newspaper, and his sideburns. Oh, and his wife Jeni-- who is awesome!

Next, there's Rick. Rick is... kinda short. But, once you move beyond that, you come to find out that he's a pretty cool Wisconsinite from Rice Lake. Because he was too small to play football in college (I told you he was short), he decided to go to UW-LaCrosse to be a physical trainer.

Unfortunately for him (but lucky for us) that trainer thing didn't work out. Then, while working at Luther Park Bible Camp in Chetek (not Danbury... this is important) he met some cool folks who told him he should be a pastor. One of those cool people was so persistent, that he decided to marry her... well done, Lindsay! Rick went to seminary at Southern Seminary in South Carolina (yes-- they do have Lutherans there!). He did his internship and field work there in Columbia, SC as well. Now that he's here at Trinity, Rick will be doing Small Group Ministry and Caring Ministry. Rick loves Walgreens, softball (though his shoulder doesn't), football (he played with his seminary against mine... they were better-- but don't tell him that!), kittens who like to play hide-and-seek, and his lovely pregnant wife.

And then, of course, there's me! I am from "Mil-u-wau-kay: the good land." I'm a city girl at heart. This is important: Milwaukee, not Wisconsin. I went to college in Minneapolis at Augsburg College. I figured out right away that I wanted to go to seminary, which freed me up from the typical college angst to do all the things I wanted to. It rocked! I studied in Spain for a semester and it was great. Then after graduation I decided I didn't want to be a grown-up just yet, so I went to Edinburgh, Scotland with the ELCA's Young Adults in Global Mission program. There I worked with homeless adults and I met Colin. (No, he wasn't one of the homeless.) After Scotland I went back to Milwaukee to work as a bilingual teacher and as an HR person before I realized that I was finally ready to do the seminary thing. I moved out to Philly to go to seminary there. At seminary I got into my share of trouble, but had a blast. Now I'm here at Trinity (who'd have thought I'd end up here?), where I will be doing Social Concerns Ministry and Children's Ministry. I love all things green, laughing until I cry, So You Think You Can Dance, and tattoos.

Well, that's us. Soon you will read all about our crazy adventures, our steep learning curves in ministry, and how we understand this whole 'first-call pastor' thing.

Giddyup!

Pastor Alexis (on behalf of and unbeknownst to Rick and Colin)