September 2025 Settling In To A New Home And Community

After a very busy winter and spring (buying a new home, selling our former home, packing up, moving) and a very busy summer with LAMP trips in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, this September has allowed for a time of slowing down and settling into to our new home for me. My wife Lynne has been living in our new place since May but it has only been the last four weeks (in a row!) where I have been able to be with her at our home base for an extended block of time. I must say it feels good to begin to settle in even as I continue to unpack some of my things. We have been meeting our new neighbours and even got to attend a community supper with some of them. We love our new home and community! Here's a picture of our upstairs living room along with a picture of my home office...almost organized and tidy!

In addition to settling in at home, it's been fun to connect with some of the local churches and church leaders in this area. My wife and I have been attending worship services at Trinity Lutheran Church in Abbotsford most of the time and I had a wonderful coffee visit with Pastor Henock T from Trinity this month. I also appreciated the chance to attend a session on MAID at the congregation. Lynne and I were also able to attend worship at Hillside Christian Church in Surrey. It was good to hear Pastor Ian W preach and play guitar and it was also fun to see some other family and friends. Lynne and I really enjoyed attending the special anniversary service and celebration in late September at Hope Lutheran Church and Hope Lutheran Christian School in Port Coquitlam. I served at Hope as Director of Parish Ministries with responsibilities for leading youth ministry, contemporary worship, and young adult ministry from 1993 - 1997. My wife Lynne was very involved in the founding of Hope Lutheran Christian School and our oldest son attended kindergarten and grade 1 there. It was wonderful to see lots of old friends including my former coworker Rev. Ronald T. Here's some pics of the celebration! 

Chances to connect with fellow church coworkers continued with my visit to the Greater Vancouver Circuit monthly meeting. I was part of the Fraser Valley Circuit when I served at Hope in the 1990s and this circuit has now been joined with the Vancouver Circuit. It was good to see fellow church workers (pastors, deacons, and others) as we gathered at Trinity Lutheran Church in Richmond. Here's a picture of the beautiful sanctuary with a wood carving of Jesus over the altar. I've also included a picture of me and my friend Pastor Brian F.

Pastor Brian's church sends a LAMP team to northern BC and there are rumours that he might be able to join them next summer. That would be awesome!

My LAMP work this month has largely focused on finishing up my summer paperwork and beginning to plan my fall trips. I'll be travelling to Manitoba first and then later to Saskatchewan. I also have a trip planned to Alberta do a LAMP presentation at a church in Lethbridge before I fly down to Ohio for LAMP's staff retreat and board meetings. It was fun to spend time with my fellow LAMP missionary Pastor Nathan Schmidt at the LCC West Region Pastors and Deacons Conference in Calgary during the last days of September. It was a busy event for me as I helped play some music for one of the worship services and presented a session with Deacon Miriam W for attendees. Nathan and I were also given some time on the agenda to talk about LAMP and we appreciated the chance to do that. Here's some pictures of the event.

As I review September, I'm thankful for the chance to land and settle in...both at home and also in my local community. My fall travel schedule started with my Calgary trip and continues now for the next little while. Your prayers for safe travels and good visits in the communities where I go are always appreciated!