With Heavy Hearts: 22 days and counting

With heavy hearts: Today, Bethlehem lost the person who has been the guide, historian, and teacher for our 100th Anniversary. Rev. Dick Vangerud passed away today following a short hospitalization. A lifelong scholar and teacher, Pastor Dick served as a pastor of Bethlehem from 1960-66, 1969-75, and again as an Interim Pastor during 2004-05. He spent much of the past 2 years reading through Church Council minutes and looking at photographs from the past 100 years as part of his homework for The Bethlehem Story, the history narrative that he wrote. The book is available now as we get ready for this Centennial celebration. How we give thanks for Pastor Dick’s life and witness, and how we will miss his faith-filled presence!

Prayer
Eternal God, you gave your servant, Dick, a new birth in Baptism and entrusted him to us for a time that seems too short. As we thank you for the life we shared, help us now to release him to your mighty keeping. Bring us all to that day when we shall stand in your presence with all your saints in light eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--Lutheran Book of Worship, Occasional Services Book