Before the service we hung out in the Welcome Center and visited. Stephen greeted his cousin Kaley and checked her book for Bible parallels.
Stephen and Jacob have enjoyed their time together since our return from Indonesia. Stephen has done wonderful things like take Jacob to school when it's been wet, or when Jacob has been late.
Here's part of my side of the family, starting with my Aunt Elsie, mother Mitzi, brother Doug, father Roland and uncle Cal.
Craig and Brooke arrived 30 minutes before the service, quite a feat! They had time to visit with PA Mack and grandma Joan, along with Nancy's sister Jill.
Maggie and Nancy's sister Mary Sue joined the ever growing crowd.
Betsy waiting patiently (sort of) for this day, for this moment, and it was here!
Jacob led the procession carrying the cross, which unfortunately extends beyond the top of the picture.
Family friends Jim and Katha O'Hatnick represented the St. John's congregation in presenting Stephen for ordination.
Stephen was addressed by the many pastors on hand. Here Rev. Laura Bostrum reads a Bible verse, while Pastor Eric Murray waits his turn.
Reverend Kevin Kanouse, the Bishop of Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod, presided over the service.
This is the start of the "laying on of hands" which usually consists of the gathered ministers gathering around the ordinand and connecting with hands on his shoulders. However, in what proved to be quite powerful and moving, Rev. Kanouse asked everyone present to come forward and participate in the "laying on of hands". Nancy and I got to stand directly behind Stephen and we certainly felt the Holy Spirit.
It was time to present Stephen with the beautiful red stole, created by Betsy.
Then Stephen was presented to the congregation as an official pastor of the church.
He was invited to say a few words and in an un-pastor-like moment, limited himself to just a few words.
Communion was served next and it was wonderful to be some of the first members served by Stephen in his full pastoral capacity.
The worship nearly over, the pastors processed towards the Baptismal Fount at the back of the church.
The service was followed by picture time! It was as if we were back in Indonesia!
Included in this gang is: Laura Stancher, who is in her final year of seminary, who is Stephen's age and has shared many Sunday School and confirmation classes with him; Rev. Bob Blanton, who serves in ELCA Disaster Relief in Mississippi; our senior pastor Steve Misenheimer; Stephen; Rev. Eric Murray, Rev. Amy Figg, our too young to be senior pastor, and Ingrid Shalk, who is in her internship year of seminary and has been connected to our family for many years.
That guy on the far right is Rev. John Tiro, our newest pastor at St. John's and an incredible musical tour de force.
Here's Stephen with Betsy and her parents, Carol and Steve Ward.
Here we are with the new pastor and pastor's wife.
Here's our family portrait. Hopefully Craig posed more formally in the real portrait.
The boys, what a tremendous gift from God they are!
This is the view we see of them more often.
Here's Stephen with my parents, Roland and Mitzi Friedrich.
And Stephen with Nancy's mother Joan, who hoped to live long enough to see Stephen get ordained. It's not like she's sick at all...she just needed a good goal to look forward to.
We have known the O'Hatnicks for many years, even back before Stephen was born. Our families are in parallel children universes, as we each have kids roughly the same age.
Here's a gathered gang of the Olcott side along with the Friedrich family. Yes, Brooke is considered part of the family...just ask Jacob!
We threw in an extra shot just for good measure.
Stephen and Jacob have enjoyed their time together since our return from Indonesia. Stephen has done wonderful things like take Jacob to school when it's been wet, or when Jacob has been late.
Here's part of my side of the family, starting with my Aunt Elsie, mother Mitzi, brother Doug, father Roland and uncle Cal.
Craig and Brooke arrived 30 minutes before the service, quite a feat! They had time to visit with PA Mack and grandma Joan, along with Nancy's sister Jill.
Maggie and Nancy's sister Mary Sue joined the ever growing crowd.
Betsy waiting patiently (sort of) for this day, for this moment, and it was here!
Jacob led the procession carrying the cross, which unfortunately extends beyond the top of the picture.
Family friends Jim and Katha O'Hatnick represented the St. John's congregation in presenting Stephen for ordination.
Stephen was addressed by the many pastors on hand. Here Rev. Laura Bostrum reads a Bible verse, while Pastor Eric Murray waits his turn.
Reverend Kevin Kanouse, the Bishop of Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod, presided over the service.
This is the start of the "laying on of hands" which usually consists of the gathered ministers gathering around the ordinand and connecting with hands on his shoulders. However, in what proved to be quite powerful and moving, Rev. Kanouse asked everyone present to come forward and participate in the "laying on of hands". Nancy and I got to stand directly behind Stephen and we certainly felt the Holy Spirit.
It was time to present Stephen with the beautiful red stole, created by Betsy.
Then Stephen was presented to the congregation as an official pastor of the church.
He was invited to say a few words and in an un-pastor-like moment, limited himself to just a few words.
Communion was served next and it was wonderful to be some of the first members served by Stephen in his full pastoral capacity.
The worship nearly over, the pastors processed towards the Baptismal Fount at the back of the church.
The service was followed by picture time! It was as if we were back in Indonesia!
Included in this gang is: Laura Stancher, who is in her final year of seminary, who is Stephen's age and has shared many Sunday School and confirmation classes with him; Rev. Bob Blanton, who serves in ELCA Disaster Relief in Mississippi; our senior pastor Steve Misenheimer; Stephen; Rev. Eric Murray, Rev. Amy Figg, our too young to be senior pastor, and Ingrid Shalk, who is in her internship year of seminary and has been connected to our family for many years.
That guy on the far right is Rev. John Tiro, our newest pastor at St. John's and an incredible musical tour de force.
Here's Stephen with Betsy and her parents, Carol and Steve Ward.
Here we are with the new pastor and pastor's wife.
Here's our family portrait. Hopefully Craig posed more formally in the real portrait.
The boys, what a tremendous gift from God they are!
This is the view we see of them more often.
Here's Stephen with my parents, Roland and Mitzi Friedrich.
And Stephen with Nancy's mother Joan, who hoped to live long enough to see Stephen get ordained. It's not like she's sick at all...she just needed a good goal to look forward to.
We have known the O'Hatnicks for many years, even back before Stephen was born. Our families are in parallel children universes, as we each have kids roughly the same age.
Here's a gathered gang of the Olcott side along with the Friedrich family. Yes, Brooke is considered part of the family...just ask Jacob!
We threw in an extra shot just for good measure.
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