07/18/2021
A message from Pr. Justin
Dear Faith Lutheran Church,
Learning and growing are hallmarks of my time at Faith. I have learned with you how to welcome and be welcomed, receive and give, listen and reflect. We have learned along the way what makes discipleship in a variety of situations from times of prosperity to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now there is another learning journey to share: how to say good-bye.
Kathleen and I have received and accepted a call opportunity from Shalom Hill Farm in Windom, MN. It was something we were not looking for, the position was made known to us one day and we became curious. Our curiosity led us to submit our paperwork, knowing if a “no” came back, we would be content. As we went along our process, we kept hearing “yes” and soon all of the “yeses” piled up into a sense that God was leading us in this direction.
Much in the same way Paul regarded the Christ-followers in Philippi (see below), we regard you with thankfulness and full hearts. We love the people of Faith. Faith has amazing gifts and community. In our time with you, Faith opened an endowment fund, created Celebrate Sunday, initiated facility upgrades, inspired the cluster to try new things, weathered COVID-19 with grace and compassion, took the plunge to house someone at the Parish House and, overall, mentored a first-time pastor fresh out of seminary into a more mature and faithful follower of Jesus. Faith has a future ahead for all participants. I am sorry that I will not get to witness all of what God has in store for the future of this beloved community.
With this new mixture of excitement and grief, I am submitting my resignation. My last Sunday will be August 29th. It is with pride that I have served as a pastor in this community for 6 wonderful years. We have been privileged to start our family life in ministry with you.
Grace upon grace,
Pr. Justin Tigerman
Philippians 1:3-11: “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.”
