Saying Goodbye to Pastor Monte Haun

Acts 20:17-38

By Rev. Dr. Scott Seidler, Senior Pastor

“What grieved them most was that they would never see his face again.  Then they accompanied him to the ship.”—Acts 20:38

This weekend at Concordia, Kirkwood, we will bid farewell to a pastor as dear to our congregation as Paul was to that congregation so long ago in the Greek city of Ephesus.  Pastor Monte Haun, who has served at Concordia since his days in seminary almost 15 years ago will preach his final sermon throughout all five worship services this weekend.  Many tears will be shed, including some from my own eyes as I express gratitude to him on behalf of this congregation and in honor of all the ways he has shown friendship to me as a young senior pastor in a very unique congregational setting.

That said, I think Luke in recording St. Paul’s final farewell may go a bit too far—or perhaps those warm-hearted Ephesian leaders did.  Certainly, saying goodbye to someone so spiritually significant does stretch our soul’s strength and emotional energy.  However, as Pastor Haun will remind us, we will see each other again.

Obviously, we will see each other in heaven.  Check!

And, we will see each other periodically in St. Louis because of family visits and other circumstances.  Check!

But more than that, I pray we “see” each other because of the influence and impact each of us have on God’s kingdom in the places (new for Pastor Haun) we are called to serve.  I pray that Pastor Haun’s mission-driven leadership in Wisconsin trickles south toward us in some evident way.  I pray that our mission-minded activity in “the Lou” bubbles up evidently toward the land of cheese curds and cheese-heads.

Pray with me for Pastor and Cheryl Haun’s next adventure in Christian ministry.  May God grant that in every way, but especially in the way of the shared mission we have from Christ, we may see each other’s face again.