By Mary Owen
Trinity Lutheran Church members have welcomed the Rev. Tom Arnold to the pulpit.
“I was called to Trinity after an interview from the Call Committee, selection process, a congregational vote, and much prayer,” said Arnold, originally from Oregon City.
His journey to the Mount Angel church began after “prayerful consideration” following a series of jobs including serving in the military, as a manager and as a cook.
Arnold attended three years of graduate studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind. He served a one-year vicarage with Redeemer Lutheran in Gresham.
“This is my first call,” Arnold said. “I was ordained and installed on Aug. 29.”
Arnold replaces Pastor Sid Johnson, who served as interim pastor during the congregation’s search for a new leader.
He plans to shepherd his new congregation “with the love of Christ in humility and forgiveness.”
“To teach them and challenge them and they me, so that we all may grow in our faith together,” he said. “To
minister to them in their joys and sorrows, in times of plenty and times of need, and to reach out together with them to our neighbors … To live together as one in the Body of Christ in prayer and our confession of faith.”
Arnold said the people at Trinity are striving to become a more liturgically-based, “hymnal-friendly” congregation.
“This will not only reduce paper use and cost, the hymns and orders of service teach the faith in the same way that Bible studies, Sunday school and other classes do,” he said. Arnold said a submenu was recently added to Trinity’s website, www.trinitymtangel.org, titled “From the Pastor’s Study,” a monthly posting on various subjects.
“During Advent, we will be returning to traditional Wednesday night soup suppers followed by a service,” he said. “On Thursdays, to accommodate those who are unable to make the evening service, we will have a brown bag lunch.”
Other changes are a ways off, Arnold said. “Changes should never come drastically, but with teaching and care so everyone understands why changes are being made.”
Trinity is active with Lutheran Latino Ministries, with Pastor Miguel Luna as missionary pastor. Other ministries include daycare, pre-school, Bible studies, emergency food pantry, youth ministry, and Backpack Buddies, an outreach that provides weekend food for students.
“We have a very active Sunday school for children and a well-attended Sunday morning adult Bible study,” Arnold said. “There is a women’s Bible study and prayer meeting on Thursday mornings and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League is a strong presence. Of course, our tastiest ministry has to be our booth at Oktoberfest – marionberry sundaes!”
Arnold – dad to son, Taylor, 12, and husband to wife, Amy – said he looks forward to “serving God’s people at Trinity…. There are mercy, grace and forgiveness in abundance in this place.”
