Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Pastor Lura's Last Sunday At Grace Lutheran

Sunday morning I made sure to get up and head over to the gayborhood for a bittersweet event.

It was the last Sunday service that Pastor Lura N. Groen would preside over as the head of Grace Lutheran Church.

She's been the pastor at Grace Lutheran since 2003, but I only met her last year during the fight to pass the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.  

She knew yours truly through my writing on TransGriot and when we finally met, it was mutual admiration.

I love her as one of the progressive pastors in this city who is an unabashed drum majorette for justice, and that theme resonates in the numerous sermons she would preach during Grace's open and affirming services.

There was one humorous and touching moment during the service when Grace's choir sang a special version of 'Season Of Love' from the musical Rent

While Sunday was the last day she will preach at Grace Lutheran as their pastor, thankfully she will still be around H-town and in our progressive community lives.

She's taking a sabbatical and in addition to doing some reading and writing, will take on assorted ministry projects, doing some preaching around town along with officiating at some weddings and funerals as Grace begins the search for a new pastor to guide their church congregation.

Pastor Lura's presence will definitely be missed at Grace Lutheran, but I do wish her along with all who love and admire her nothing but success and abundant blessings as she continues her ongoing faith journey

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