New pastor hopes to impact McAlisterville community
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McALISTERVILLE -- Pastor Karen Ward has come to the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in McAlisterville looking to make a warm and immediate impact onto the community. She is the church's new pastor, taking on her new role about a month ago.
"I'm very excited, I feel very humble to be called here. It just seems so far that it has been a very good fit and just getting to know the community and the congregation more," Ward said. "I just really enjoy the way we worship together and the ministry that we do here together but also for the community and so it's just been great so far."
Prior to becoming pastor at Trinity, Ward was working part-time serving in Bedford County for seven years trying to find something full-time, then the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America offered her an opportunity at the McAlisterville church.
Ward says the change was a little bit of an adjustment -- while she was use to serving in rural areas, actually living in one was a different story.
Ward, along with her husband, Greg Neal, had been living in Altoona for a long period. But after arriving in McAlisterville, they knew she had made the right decision, she said.
"I was excited about all the possiblies, but also nervous because I was moving to a new place. I've never lived somewhere so rural. I've served congregations in rural settings, but I always ended up living in a town or city that is close by," she said. "So I was a little bit nervous about that. Greg and I were leaving the home that I had built."
The pastor received a warm welcome from the people of McAlisterville. A welcome that she greatly appreciated.
"Everybody has been really welcoming, we moved into what is called a parsonage so the church owns the house and its part of my compensation that my husband and I and our dog and cat get to live in that house," Ward said. "Everybody is really welcoming, the kids at Sunday school had made signs like 'welcome Pastor Karen' and little prayers and blessings and they put all the signs in the house. Then a bunch of people were there to help us move in so it took less then an hour to move all of our stuff in the house."
One month into her service at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, Ward's main focus is getting to know her congregation and the people of McAlisterville. She hopes to bring a strong sense of community especially during these tough times happening around the world.
"I think right now its really just getting to know the congregation and the community. Everybody here knows a lot more about this area and its needs and the passions and gifts of this congregation. People that have lived here their whole life or been members here for a while so I'm really just listening," she said. "Then leading in preaching the word, the gospel and given communion, baptism, offering prayer."
With Holy week and Easter upon us, Ward said she is focusing on creating a meaningful and authentic worship opportunity.
"Especially in this time as we're seeing a way unfold in the Ukraine and coming out of this pandemic. I think that coming back to something familiar and feels like home and is comforting is something really important right now."