Dear Friends of St. Philip the Deacon:
Yesterday in worship, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson’s ordination. Pastor Valerie was ordained to the ministry of word and sacrament on July 13, 1986, and began her tenure at St. Philip the Deacon in April of 1989.
During yesterday’s services, we thanked Pastor Valerie by presenting her with a special print from the St. John’s Bible. The illumination is called “Life in Community,” and visually interprets the passage from Acts 4:32-34.
As I mentioned in worship, following are some of the reasons this particular artwork was chosen for this important milestone:
- Jesus, the center of our life, is shown drawing believers together into community. These believers are seated around an altar with bread and wine, representing the sacrament of communion, which Pastor Valerie presides over as an ordained minister.
- There are images of the St. John’s Abbey Church and the Stella Maris chapel, which are important to Pastor Valerie—both as an alum of St. Ben’s, and also as a retreat leader at St. John’s for many years.
- One of the primary colors in the illumination—and also the matting—is ruby red, the color of 40th anniversaries. This color symbolizes devotion and love, hallmarks of Pastor Valerie’s ministry.
- The text includes the line: “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul . . . and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them.” This points to Pastor Valerie’s large heart, and her passion for ensuring that no one is forgotten—especially during the holiday seasons, when she manages major ministries for individuals in area shelters.
We give thanks for Pastor Valerie’s 40 years of ordained ministry, and are especially grateful that most of her ministry has been at St. Philip the Deacon. As I mentioned yesterday, we are also glad to know that she has no intention of retiring anytime soon.
Please join us in congratulating Pastor Valerie on this important milestone, and thanking her for her ministry among us.
Grace and Peace,
Tim Westermeyer
