Song & Blessings for years of faithful Service

Pastor Kris Tostengard Michel served Bethlehem Lutheran Church with care, wisdom, and gentle faithfulness for nearly three decades. In gratitude and acknowledgement of her immense contribution to our faith community, BLCF funded the commissioning of a new choral anthem to be performed as a gift to Pastor Kris at her send-off service on September 14. 

“The Word of Our God Endures” was composed by our own J. Aaron McDermid, and based on Isaiah 40:8, one of Pastor Kris’s favorite passages. All adult choir ensembles joined together to sing the new piece, and it was immediately picked up by MorningStar Music for publication. As Mark Paisar, Bethlehem’s organist and Director of Music, noted, “It was a moment when music was carrying the words of faith into the hearts and minds of all who listened.” 

In addition, more than $1,800 in gifts to BLCF have been received to date in Pastor Kris’s honor, to help continue the work of the Foundation. In her final letter to the congregation, Pastor Kris shared gratitude and her own blessing for us: “I can’t wait to see what comes next for this beloved congregation. You will continue to be in my prayers and in my heart.” 

If you’d like to donate to the Foundation in honor of Pastor Kris, you can do that by visiting www.blcfoundationmn.org/donate-now.