Installation
18 June 2025
Installation.
Have you installed anything recently?
For the Wieses, it was a new microwave. The fancy convection built-in microwave/oven that came with our house finally bit the dust. After the retrofit of the cabinet, the required wiring, and installation fees, the actual cost of the new basic microwave seemed to be a drop in the bucket.
Besides appliances, installations can also imply required software updates to keep our phones and computers running well. Anyone besides me feel nothing but sunshine with those installations?
In contrast to the frequent frustration of mandatory installations, I’m doing cartwheels over the installation COS is blessed to celebrate this Sunday: The installation of our new Pastor, the Rev. Wes Smith. You’ve heard plenty about the gifts of Pastor Wes and his wonderful wife, Jess, and two fun kids, Evelyn and Nolan.
So let me focus today on the promises that Pastor Wes will make upon his installation.
Pastor Wes, in the presence of this assembly
will you commit yourself to this new trust and responsibility,
in the confidence that it comes from God through the call of the church?
Will you preach and teach in accordance with the holy scriptures
and with the confessions of the Lutheran church?
Will you carry out this ministry in harmony with the constitutions
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America?
Will you be diligent in your study of the holy scriptures
and faithful in your use of the means of grace?
Trusting in God’s care,
will you love, serve, and pray for God’s people,
nourish them with the word and sacraments,
and lead them by your own example in faithful service and holy living?
Will you give faithful witness in the world,
that God’s love may be known in all that you do?
I will, and I ask God to help me.
I love the “one-touch-add-30 seconds” feature on my newly installed microwave. But I think we’ll find the dynamic discipleship and leadership features Pastor Wes brings much more life giving than any bells or whistles of any appliance or software installed recently!
We certainly pray for Pastor Wes as the Holy Spirit uses him to bring so much blessing to COS.
But let’s remember the installation is not complete without a promise that you and I and the whole church make as well! Here it is:
People of God,
will you receive Pastor Wes as a messenger of Jesus Christ
sent to serve all people with the gospel of hope and salvation?
Will you regard Pastor Wes as a servant of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God?
Will you pray for Pastor Wes?
Will you help and honor Pastor Wes in carrying out this ministry?
In all things, will you strive to live together in the peace and unity of Christ?
We will, and we ask God to help us.
See you Sunday at 11:00 for one of the best “installs” you’ll ever experience!
In Christ’s hope,
Pastor Fritz
Let us pray:
May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make us complete in everything good so that we may do God’s will, working in us that which is pleasing in God’s sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.