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Pastor Pat Carlson and Elise came to Good Shepherd in April 2003. In 1975, Pastor Pat received his Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois. He was ordained into the Lutheran Ministry in July 1975. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California in 1992. Pastor Pat completed two units of clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training at Good Samaritan Hospital (West Palm Beach, Florida) in 1993 and at Providence Hospital, (Washington, DC) in 2008. He holds membership in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors as a Pastoral Care Specialist. Pastor Pat has shepherded churches in the Southern and Florida-Georgia Districts of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod: Christ the King (Greenwood, Mississippi); Redeemer (DeRidder, Louisiana); Our Savior (Lake Worth, Florida); and Atonement (Metarie, Louisiana). Pastor Pat volunteers at the Villages of Rockville (previously called The Lutheran Home) and for Montgomery County Hospice. Pat and Elise (Gutzke) Carlson were married in 1971, that same year they graduated from Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi. The Carlson’s have two daughters. Rachel Kruspe, M.D. Hematology/Oncology, is on staff at the Cancer Center of Huntsville, Alabama. Rachel is married to Andy Kruspe. Their other daughter, Rebecca, received her Masters in Social Work in May 2003. She is currently the Director of Services at the Family Abuse Center in Waco, Texas for domestically abused women and their families. |
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Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany – February 12, 2012 Two Sundays ago the question was raised – “Why build a church”? 2013 is Good Shepherd’s 50th anniversary. Wow, how remarkable to have a Lutheran presence in our Olney community for nearly half a century! And what makes this so personally uplifting is that you and I are a part of this historic Lutheran presence. Our membership is a grace privilege. And the Lord of his Church has kept these Lutheran doors open to our community by resourcing you and me with our time, talents and treasure. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! But the question bears repeating, why build churches, why Good Shepherd for 49 years and counting? Notice in our Lessons how our Lord responds. (Read texts). What overarching Epiphany theme do you sense in today’s texts? How does Jesus present himself – as the compassionate Inviter. “Whosoever will, let he/she come”! Come, anyone, come; that’s been our Good Shepherd Gospel invitation for 49 years. Elisha exhorts: “King Joram, chill, don’t tear your designer jeans. Let Naaman come. I know he isn’t Jewish, he’s a Syrian goyim and a leper to boot; but let him come so he may know the true God. St. Paul writes: “Hey, Corinthians, you are free to eat and drink (partee!), but use your Gospel freedom to express your faith in Jesus Christ. And notice without any doubtful hesitation Jesus’ unconditional love moves him to heal a leper. But note the two immediate repercussions. By touching the leper Jesus incurs Jewish wrath and his healing prevents him from ministering openly in any Galilean town. Have there been dire consequences in our 49 years of Good Shepherd ministry? Have we experienced conflicting issues? Well, we are Lutheran, saint and sinner, yet forgiven by Christ’s death and resurrection, right? That’s why we need to stay focused to today’s Epiphany theme – whosoever will let them come. Jesus’ open Gospel invitation is the heart and soul of our 49 years. Let’s keep welcoming and ministering to the Naaman’s who walk through our doors. Let’s use our 24/7 lifestyle freedoms to honor our faith in the public arena to our friends. Let’s not forget our faith and act like an embarrassing jerk. In other words, what our Epiphany Lord is saying to us is – “keep the main thing, the main thing”. Our Vision Statement states the main thing: we bring Christ to our community and we bring the community to Christ. Note the dual focus. First, as we weekly leave our worship and venture out into our community (which is where we live and spend all of our time) we bring Jesus and our faith with us. And secondly, the next Sunday we bring back to Good Shepherd a friend, a Naaman, a leper, anyone needing Jesus’ unconditional love. Six months out of Seminary I was asked: “Pat, what business is your church in”? Ever since 1975, I’ve repeatedly ask myself that question. There’s so many ways to respond, but Paul today gives us the one and only response – “that they may be saved” (v33). Years later another question, “Pat, how many doors does your church have”? “Well, let’s see… No, these are our Good Shepherd doors (handouts sheet). How many ways can we, at Good Shepherd, make the main thing the main thing? It’s all about knowing who we are and whose we are. Good Shepherd, thank you for staying focused. How often you come, whatever it is you do when you get here – thank you for your focus on Jesus and him crucified. |
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Pastor Pat’s Inspiration for the Week |
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Meet Pastor Pat & Elise |
