The Ordination and Installation of Pastor R. Glenn Stubbs Jr. held on November 27, 2005. My thanks to the entire All Saints family and friends who made this day so special.--Pastor Glenn Stubbs.

Pastor R. Glenn Stubbs, Jr.

pastor@allsaints-lcms.org

I'm what's called a "worker priest". That means I have a full-time job outside the church. I do that for a variety of reasons, some financial, most theological. After all, the original disciples of Jesus were all "worker priests". Peter was a fisherman, Paul was a tent maker. If it's good enough for them, it should be good enough for me.

Me, I work for IBM. For 36 years I've worked for IBM.

Because I work a full-time job, I know what many families in the area are suffering through these days. Everyone who works for a living feels the same way. It's just not as much fun as it used to be. It's not easy, getting up every day and going in to work wondering if today is the last day of your career. It's not easy knowing you may have to come home and face your family with the news that there are no more paychecks. It can tear a person up inside. It can destroy families and it can destroy lives. Part of my job in the church is to try to lessen that sort of destruction.

Come to church.

I'm not going to tell you that going to church will insure that you keep your job, I'm not even going to tell you that when you give to God he will reward you a thousandfold or a hundredfold or even tenfold. That's not how it works. God has already done what he needs to do for you. He sent his Son to die and rise again to save you, but that's a discussion for another day. I want you to come to church because we can help in other ways. Your church should be just like your family. We are here to listen, and help. That's what family does. If you need it, I've got a wood pile behind the house. You can come over and whack the snot out of a chunk of wood and scream all you want to get it out of your system. Lord knows I do it enough. We also have other ways we can help. All we need is you.

On May 30 we will be offering some free education in financial planning. Even if you aren't a member, you are invited. Keep an eye out for the announcement. We'll also be announcing our Vacation Bible School. You don't need to be a member for that, either.

Mostly we just want to be able to pray for you. Right now that might not seem like much. But wouldn't you feel a little better knowing that all these people are praying, daily, for you and your family? And who knows, maybe someone here has a line on a job for you. Hey, it's church. Stranger things that that have been known to happen.

In His Love

Pastor