Annual Report for 2022
Dear Christ Lutheran,
Jesus’ grace to you.
I count it as one of the highlights of my life to have started working here with you all! Sarah and I have been here seven months now and we are immensely enjoying living here and being part of this community. Those seven months have been flown by fast. They have included moving, starting new jobs, becoming parents, and learning about quarterly taxes.
Being the associate pastor here, I work closely with Pastor Garrett on several things. We share preaching and teaching responsibilities as well as counseling and confession. I have thoroughly enjoyed preaching, but I still see myself as learning the craft of preaching. My responsibility is 40% of the preaching, so I thank you for your grace and patience as I continue to learn how to do this! In addition to this, I am currently teaching a series on the life of David to the Confirmation and youth groups.
Along with routine pastoral duties, I have also done other teaching series and events. During the season of Advent, I led series on Evening Prayer which included teachings on spiritual practices. I have been encouraged by how engaged some have been with these practices. On January 6, I co-led a night of worship with Dana Schmidt and Christian Parr for young adults. Nine young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 showed up to eat grilled cheese sandwiches and worship Jesus. And the weekend of January 14 and 15, I led a men’s retreat to Frazier Park where 13 men learned about St. Benedict and created a rule of life.
Looking forward to 2023, there are a couple things I’m eagerly anticipating. Launching a monthly young adult night of worship and teaching is one of these things. There has been an expressed need for ministry for people in their 20s and a gap in ministry options for that age group here. The dream for this is to become something that is self-sustained by young adults. A young adult would plan events, another would take charge of communication, another food, another music, and I would bring just the teaching. The dream is that young adults would move from being consumers to participants in the ministry – that young adults would live into what it means to be disciples of Jesus.
I am also looking forward to preaching at Mount Carmel Ministries summer camp at the end of July and beginning of August. I’ll be partnering with pastors Nathan Hoff and Dave Wollan who will the primary teachers that week.
Lastly, I’m looking forward to continuing to pastor here. Working under Pastor Garrett’s leadership has shaped and grown me. Being the associate under him, I have done things already that I have never done before and have been given opportunities that many other associate pastors do not receive. I am thankful to have him as both a leader and a friend in ministry. Also, the staff that we have is incredible. It is a privilege to start out my pastoral ministry here working alongside of these men and women. I have been enjoying the journey so far and I’m looking forward to what God is going to continue to do here.
Jesus’ peace to you,
Pastor Matthew Kolden