Dear Friends in Christ,
Carol and I remember the first time we saw
Shepherd of the Hills. In late 1987, I received an invitation to
meet with the Pastor Nominating Committee, and we drove down from
Longmont. After driving up Kipling from I-70, we turned west on
20th to Simms. There was a white-roofed sanctuary overlooking the
foothills.standing like a lamp on a lamp stand. We drove back to
the law office of Sax Willson, and met the very best part of
Shepherd of the Hills - her people.
Our time among the congregation began the summer of 1988, and continued until the summer of 1999. Over that stretch of time, we had the joy of serving Christ as part of a community of faith that stretched and grew, that reached outward to touch the community with faith and love, that reached inward to discover new truths about who God had made Shepherd of the Hills to become.and especially upward to receive again and again the renewing power of God's grace. Stacey and Mark grew up there, and our lives matured among you.
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I was privileged-and humbled-to be part of many individual life events: baptisms, weddings, funerals and private times that I carry within me like so many treasures. I found preaching to be an enriching conversation with saints willing to enter into a dialogue and children willing to wonder; appreciated the uniqueness each staff colleague brought into a rich and vibrant staff mix; I was blessed by ministry that grew out of people discovering and then using their God-given gifts to serve others; I rejoiced as the Shepherd of the Hills deepened its missional concern. With the church family, I celebrated as the church facility expanded, and filled with laughter. What a blessing! |
Challenges, losses and pain were part of that mix as well. Walking with the church family through tragic deaths, through revelation of abused trust, through disappointments that soured early joy, through community-wide pain.such remembrances help to remind me that the God we worship is a crucified God. Frequently I'd spend time alone in the sanctuary in prayer, often on my knees. Again and again, God reminded me that the cross that stands high in the sanctuary (a one-of-a-kind watercolor of that cross and communion table hangs in our living room).that cross is an empty cross, and reminded me again and again that the cross in not the last word, but always the next-to-the-last word. That was a truth re-affirmed again and again as sorrow turned into gladness, and joy bubbled up yet again.
When we left for California, we returned to the same I-70 that brought us to Shepherd of the Hills in 1988. Although we left behind sweaters, a snow blower, and 11 years of ministry among you, we took with us warm memories, and enough lessons learned to serve as stepping stones into the future. We'll never forget our time in Lakewood, especially the people lodged in our hearts who we know to be the very best part of the church.
Congratulations on 40 years of faithful
witness and may they be but a prelude to even greater joy in the
years to come as Shepherd of the Hills continues on a beautiful
journey following that "upward call of God in Christ Jesus,
our Lord."
Fondly,
Alan H. Landes
Pastor, 1988-1999