My wife Debbie and I now live just about a mile from Faith Lutheran. We moved joyfully out of student housing
in Saint Paul, Minnesota where we spent four years at Luther Seminary. We are originally from Alaska though
neither of us was born there. Debbie and I were in the same class in high school but it wasn't until fifteen
years later that we began to date and eventually married. We now have one wonderful daughter, Caitlyn Victoria
who was born in 2002.
While Debbie has been a church member her whole life, it was actually she who led me to my first Lutheran
service. I guess it took! Soon thereafter I was baptized at the age of thirty-three and the rest, as they say, is history.
Both my wife and I have had varied careers, following the postmodern pattern of constantly seeking more
meaning or value in what we do. Between us we have re-invented ourselves at least seven times and are approaching
Santa Rosa with a feeling that we have come to a point when we can rest, enjoy the careers that are before us
and leave the re-invention to a younger crowd.
My own passion for the Word of God makes education a priority for me in my ministry. Lutherans have a rich
heritage of thoughtful, beautiful theology and while the scope of it may seem daunting it is our inheritance
and every bit of it points to Christ and our salvation. I cannot imagine a more rewarding study for a group
gathered in faith. Dry, dusty Bible studies are put aside when we realize that modern questions and moral
deliberations can be informed by our own witness to the truth of God's love. Since our earliest witness of
that love is in the Bible, we can bring the old stories to life as we relate them to our own lives and determine
how we can meet the challenges of modern living faithfully.
I am also fully invested in a meaningful, lively worship atmosphere. There is a common misconception that
paying attention to tradition makes worship boring while minimizing tradition and exploring new avenues makes
worship meaningless. Both sides of that argument miss the very point of worship, coming together as a community
in the joy of a life in Christ. There is a middle ground where the traditions are returned to their original
dignity without making the service dead and where music is enjoyed with freedom and abandon. This middle ground
is only reachable when the community shares ownership of the worship by investing their time and talent in
making it fruitful. It is this place that I seek in worship.
My family and I are very very excited about our new home in Santa Rosa and here at Faith Lutheran and we
hope to be part of this community for many years to come.
Pastor Carnahan's Blog email Pastor Carnahan
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