Well our time has come. Speaking on behalf of Gloria and me, I have to say, "We have truly enjoyed our time at Calvary." YOU, the members and families of Calvary have been encouragers to us. We have been blessed to worship as the family of God at Calvary.

I personally, want to thank you for putting up with my adjustments to your worship life. I'm thankful you were not hard on me when I first arrived since I had gathered some rust after being off for a year and a half. It's been fun for me moving from the pew in the congregation back to leading worship once again.

I have no fears for you as you move forward as a congregation. Pastor Lu Werth has grown and pastored a very large congregation before his retirement and since his retirement he has been interim pastor to several congregations. You are blessed that God brought him out to California.

Some of the memories I will take away is how willing so many were to form a choir for Easter this year. I truly enjoyed participating in this venture and I hope you gather a choir for future occasions. You are blessed with many talented people who love the Lord.

Below I have noted some things I hope I have left behind for YOU to grow on.

1. I hope I have given you a bigger picture of God.

"For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord"
(2 Cor. 4:5).

Ultimately, every one of us needs to be told repeatedly that the God of Scripture is bigger than all of our earthly problems. While we live in a complex age with a changing culture, we need to always remember that God is in control, that He loves us immensely, and that nothing is impossible for Him. When the trials of life come, we can so quickly forget this truth!

2. I hope I have encouraged you as a congregation to appreciate financial constraints.

Congregations have always and will always face financial challenges. To grow as a congregation, we will always feel our need for more. However, these constraints can never force us to do less-but rather they need to force us to be more creative, to pray more and to seek God's guidance more earnestly. Remember, God does not need our offerings, however, we need to give them as part of our worship and growth as the people of God.

3. I hope I have encouraged you to turn to the Bible when problems arise.

Our theme this year, chosen by our school is:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

I hope I have encouraged you to be in God's Word always, especially when work dries up, when we hear of a difficult medical diagnosis of a loved one, etc. The Bible is God's Word and it is able to meet all of our needs, even though I, your pastor, am not. In all situations, rejoice in God and His powerful Word.

4. I hope I have shown you how to read, study, and handle the Bible for yourself.

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

I am sorry that I have meet with so few of you in weekly Bible study classes. I hope you take the challenge to gather around God's Word each week with Pastor Lu Werth, my replacement. The Bible can be difficult to read if we don't know where to begin. During my time at Calvary, I have studied the opening of Revelation, James, Acts, Hebrews, and a study on Prayer. In addition, I have tried to make each sermon a little Bible study as I address a Gospel lesson each Sunday. I hope I have left no doubt how important God's Word is and has been in my own life. Please remain students of God's Word always.

5. I hope I have taught you to thank God for the gift of salvation He has entrusted to you and that I have challenged you to share this hope with one another.

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22-27).

Jesus struggled with the church folks of His day because they became fact finders but it did not lead to changing their lives. They memorized the Scriptures but they could not recognize the Messiah when He was standing right in front of them. I hope I have caused you to apply God's Word to your particular life situations-finding comfort in all things because God is in charge. I hope you can look back at your check book since August and see in it that your concern for God and His will shows by the way you are now spending your money.

6. I hope I have helped you see how relevant God's Word (the Bible) is for YOU today.

"Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day...They are not just idle words for you-they are your life"

(Deut. 32:46-47).

I hope I have been able to help you see how the Bible stories affect the way you are to live your life Monday through Saturday and draw you back to come on the following Sunday. YOU are NOT alone, ever. God is with you and he wants to walk with you all the days of your life on earth and right into heaven with Him.

Thanks so much for allowing me to be your short-term pastor. It's been fun for me and I know God has great things in mind for Calvary Lutheran Church and its ongoing ministry.

God's peace be with you,