Installation

My Installation as pastor of University Church at Stanford was this past Sunday . . . what a great celebration! There were family, friends, colleagues from Stanford, colleagues from other churches, people from PLTS, people from the neighborhood, and (of course!) members of the UniChu community. It was a wonderful celebration followed by a beautiful reception in our house. It was great to begin this ministry officially on the 1st Sunday of Advent . . . so many new things coming to birth!

The dean of the Peninsula Conference presided at the installation service (that's her standing with me at the altar here to the left).

My dear friend, colleague, and mentor, Pastor Jana Schofield, preached on my favorite text: John 10:10. There, Jesus says, "I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly." I love that passage because, to me, it summarizes our calling: to help people discover the live they have been given and to help them live it to the full. Here is a picture of Jana and me.

There were pastors from the various congregations in this area, as well as other clergy who have been important in my formation. Among them were: Dan Senter, Jerry Schmalenberger, Meghan Sobocienski, Sarah Isakson, Matt Smutts, Mike O'Berg, Dan Smith, Martin Mahlzahn, Rebecca Schlatter, Stacy Williams-Duncan, Jay Ford, Cora Sheel, Joanne Sanders, Corrie Lassen, Jana Schofield, Susan Scott, and Vern Jones.