Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church

Pastor's Page

“A bird does not sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”
Chinese proverb

As a pastor, I draw on an eclectic education and career path. I was an anthropology major with an environmental studies minor who fulfilled premed requirements. I’ve changed sheets and cleaned toilets out at the Heart Six Guest Ranch, taught humanities at a boarding school, answered phones for Patagonia and sold outdoor gear at a climbing and ski shop, and educated doctors about osteoporosis drugs. My vocational exploration was also spatial: Alaska, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania; even England, France, South Africa and Malaysia! My wanderings have filled with me wonder and an awareness of the myriad ways God is at work in the world.

I am excited to be at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church because the congregation shares my joy, interest in justice, and passion for learning (from scripture or a formal commentary, or from a casual conversation of experience). I say joy, as opposed to a naïve or blind happiness, because we are shaped by the pain of life. We are not strangers to death or sin, but as a community we trust in God’s love and presence, helping each other through struggles and doubts and celebrating triumphs and break-throughs.

For me, joy and justice are entwined with reflection and study. God engages us through scripture and sacrament. As pastor, in sermons and education opportunities, I cultivate curiosity and connections between scripture and our everyday lives. For example, in the future we might explore the relationship between sports and spirituality, music and faith, or Lutheran theology and a current film. Currently, we are enjoying a lively adult education hour about the lenses we use when we read scripture. We hope to add a mid-week lectionary text study soon. Another group is interested in looking at the work of contemporary theologians such as Thomas Merton, or Nadia Bolz-Weber. I am excited to facilitate our explorations, and to continue learning alongside my parishioners.

In our study, we ponder the endless mystery of our God. In our service, we hope to embody God’s compassion for each fragile human life. In the many forms study and service take, we find ourselves with renewed joy and wonder.

— Pastor Inger Hanson