Our Savior’s Lutheran Church celebrating 25th Anniversary of Ordination of Pastor Laura Gentry

Sunday, December 17, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing will be hosting a worship celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of the ordination of their pastor, the Reverend Laura Gentry. She began serving their congregation when she was called in 2001.

Pastor Gentry’s ordination into the ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America took place at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Guttenberg in December of 1998. After earning a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in the area of worship and the arts at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA and being approved for ordination by her candidacy committee in Montana, her first call came from American Lutheran Church in Burbank, CA. Rather than have the ordination in California, she chose to hold it at her grandmother’s church in Iowa so that extended family could attend.

Officiating the sacrament of Holy Communion at Pastor Gentry’s ordination service was the Reverend Mike Blair. He will be the guest preacher at the upcoming celebration in Lansing. Pastor Blair was Pastor Gentry’s campus minister when she was a student at Luther College in Decorah. He later became a colleague in the Upper Iowa River Conference of the ELCA.

The Bishop of the Northeastern Iowa Synod, the Rev. Kevin T. Jones, will be present to bring greetings from the synod and facilitate a renewal of ordination vows for Pastor Gentry as well as an affirmation of baptism for all in attendance.

Additionally, there will be a children’s presentation to mark the feast of St. Lucia, an annual Swedish holiday observed December 13, which is close to the winter solstice and the shortest days of the year. The young people will process in their robes, led by the oldest girl in the role of St. Lucy with a wreath of candles on her head to light the darkness.

This theme of light and hope will set the tone of the entire service. Special music will be provided by Andrew Boddicker and Ian Zahren, church members and music teachers in the Eastern Allamakee Community School District.

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church cordially invites the public to attend the ordination anniversary worship. It will be held Sunday, December 17 at 9 a.m. A brunch will be served after the service with an open microphone allowing people to share stories and memories of Pastor Gentry’s ministry. Visit LansingLutherans.org to learn more.