My dear Calvary church family,

"Confucius says: May you live in interesting times!" That's what the fortune cookie said after my first Chinese meal quite a few years ago. Maybe you have encountered the same or a similar saying.

National and global upheavals of various sorts notwithstanding, the ministry of the Calvary church family has entered a phase where life will, indeed, be interesting.

With last Sunday's vote to call your next pastor, the interim pastorate is coming to an end. My last day with you will be Easter Sunday. A chapter closes.

Then, a new chapter begins. In the week after Easter, Pastor Frantisek will begin to be available in the office. On the Sunday after Easter, he will lead you in worship for the first time. I am optimistic that it will be the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship.

Spiritually speaking, there are two more important milestones before us. (Somehow the descriptor "interesting" does seem to fit quite right.) As we approach the end of the Lenten season we want to take stock of how well we used the season to get closer to God, to recharge our spiritual batteries, to repent and change our ways to be better aligned with God's Will and Word.

Then we are in Holy Week with Easter just around the corner. Will you make an extra effort to be involved in the entire three-part drama of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter? Or will you settle for a truncated "Easter only" version? I trust you know what is spiritually more beneficial for you.

Finally, the long-awaited day arrives: Pastor Frantisek begins his ministry with you! It will be interesting. It will be great. It will be a holy "thing."

God's Peace,

Pastor Hahn

InterimPastor@CLConcord.org

On Sunday, August 4th, Pastor Hahn began serving Calvary as our interim pastor.

The Rev. Dr. Norbert Hahn—who likes to be called “Pastor Hahn”—brings an international perspective with him as he has been educated, lived, and served in both the United States and Germany.

He completed his graduate education at the University of Muenster in Germany (Master of Theological Studies), Harvard University (Master of Divinity), and Emory University (PhD in Theology and Psychology). In addition, he has been trained as a church coach, a church growth consultant, and an intentional interim pastor.

He has served as parish pastor in Georgia, North Carolina (including twelve years here in Concord), Pennsylvania and Northern Germany and as campus minister at three different universities in the U.S.

Pastor Hahn will be serving as Calvary’s interim pastor on a part-time basis while continuing to serve as part-time Lutheran campus minister at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC.
He enjoys walking, cooking, and gardening with his wife, Lyn, playing his guitar, reading, and, occasionally, binge-watching an interesting TV series.

He and Lyn serve as staff to their cat, Lulu.