Dear Friends in Christ,
Grace and peace to you from our loving and faithful God.
I am writing today with news about a new, short-term addition to our pastoral staff, as we continue to care for one another during this season of transition and healing. As you know, Pastor Amanda has been courageously navigating her cancer journey with faith, grace, and determination. As she has returned to work, she has stepped back slightly in her work at Trinity, reducing her hours to 14 per week to prioritize her treatment and recovery.
To support Pastor Amanda and ensure we continue to provide strong pastoral care and programming, we are thrilled to welcome Pastor Susan Li to our staff as a short-term, associate pastor. Pastor Susan will be serving Trinity part-time (15 hours per week) in a “bridge” role. We anticipate that she will be with us for 3-5 months, focusing on pastoral care, ministry with seniors, and other congregational programs.
Pastor Susan brings a wealth of experience and a heart for ministry in times of transition. Next month, she will celebrate 20 years as a Minister of Word and Sacrament. For the past 17 years, she has specialized in transitional ministry, walking alongside congregations as they navigate change and discern God’s call for the future. She is trained through the Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association and has served 14 congregations in her career.
Before entering ordained ministry, Pastor Susan was a critical care nurse, a practicing attorney, a full-time mom, and an adjunct professor. She brings wisdom, compassion, and a deep love for listening to people’s stories and recognizing the presence of God in them. Many of you may recognize her from her recent service at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church here in Owatonna.
We are grateful for Pastor Amanda’s continued ministry, and we pray for her health. And we are excited to welcome Pastor Susan into our church family. Please keep them both in your prayers as they begin this shared season of ministry.
In Christ,
Pastor Todd
Senior Pastor
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