A new chapter begins

To my dearest Christ the King family. 1 Corinthians 16:14 “Let all that you do be done in love”

There will never be enough words or available vocabulary to articulate the gratefulness I hold for Christ the King for the years of support, the trust put in me to lead as your Vicar, as Youth Director for Middle School and High School, or way back when I walked in as a first year seminary student, with purple hair and my first sermon in front of real people with the highest mohawk I could muster. Thank you isn’t enough. I spent too many years wondering what it would feel like to enter a space in a church where I could be myself, fully and unapologetically me. I wondered what it would feel like to have a church space surround me with love and acceptance, rather than being greeted by judgement and the expectation of needing to change to fit in, or be someone I am not by acclimating to the surroundings. Then, I walked into Christ the King and preached my first in person sermon about John the Baptist. My hands shook, my heart raced, but I felt it. Love. Grace. Acceptance. I felt everything, and more, that my soul had been searching for and couldn’t believe was a reality that existed in the world- a church that truly followed through with loving as Christ loved, with grace abound and love  being brought to life. When I received a call from Pastor Nate one evening, half blind in one eye, with an offer to join as staff and lead the youth, there wasn’t a single moment of hesitation to say yes. I had no idea that the yes that evening would turn into an internship offer, an offer to lead while Pastor Nate was on sabbatical, and an invitation to lead the incredible youth at Christ the King– that it wouldn’t be just a job, but a calling that led to a passion in ministry I didn’t realize I had. I always started the year with confirmation by telling the youth to ask me anything, and usually, there was quiet. Hesitance. By the end of each year, they were asking questions even I didn’t have an answer for. Being able to guide the youth into a space for openness, safety in questions, and watching their minds open to exploring faith was an unexpected and welcome opportunity that made me excited to come to work. Our youth at Christ the King are amazing, thoughtful, faithful, and beautiful reminders of what Imago Dei is all about. What I didn’t expect was the openness in other areas. Being able to walk with families in grief, in joy, in worry, and being invited into those sacred spaces with trust– each invitation into those divine spaces formed me. Each interaction with you over my time at Christ the King has formed me as a future clergy, formed my ministry, and has touched my heart for good. You taught me what it felt like to be loved, to be truly welcomed, to feel safe in a church again. You allowed me to fumble with grace, laughed with me as I lost pages of sermons, wielded baseballs at a dunk tank that reminded me… several times… of my baptism, and allowed me to thrive and grow with support I’ve never known before. You allowed me to share my story, my voice, and my heart without judgment or expectation. You showed me how beautiful church can be. As I looked out at my graduation from seminary and saw familiar faces of so many from Christ the King smiling proudly at my accomplishment, I truly felt God giving me the nudge I had waited years to feel– the one that said, “This is love. This is me. I’ve got you.” I see God working in every one of you. I see God’s love in every single word of support given over the years. I see the Holy Spirit working in the youth with every service project, every Wednesday night filled with laughter into the night, and yes, even when getting pied in the face when they stumped the seminarian. This is not a goodbye, this new chapter, whatever that will be, is a testament of your formation of me. The pastor I become is in no small part thanks to you. I will be back, you will see me again, you will even host my ordination. I couldn’t think of a better or more apt place to start my journey as a pastor- right here, where my ministry was formed and supported. At Christ the King. Thank you for showing me love in a church, what chosen family feels like, what bringing God’s love to life looks like. For trusting me with your children’s faith formation, for engaging with my nerdy Greek loving rabbit holes on Tuesday mornings. You’ve given me a lifetime of gratitude and I cannot thank you enough. To Pastor Nate: Thank you for teaching me how to be present, how to show up, how to have fun, and how to grow even deeper in my faith and my future ministry. You didn’t treat me like a student, you treated me like a colleague. You trusted me to lead when I hardly believed in myself. You walked with me, not pushed. The pastor I become is thanks to your guidance. And your humor and playfulness allowed me to open up and be myself. I am so looking forward to working with you in the future, as a colleague, and reminding you always of Sonny and Cher. Never goodbye, I will see you later. My heart will always still be at Christ the King. Because Christ the King became “home.” Home is where love lives, and Christ the King has given me that. Until we meet again, Sommer L. Loar (almost a pastor and forever grateful)