Saturday May 20, 2023 we had a big time in Cowtown. The Rev. Sean McConathy was ordained in his home parish Trinity-Fort Worth where he attended Kindergarten in their parish school. Sean has been serving as a SAWL at Trinity Lutheran Church Lockney Texas while doing his seminary education at Wartburg Theological Seminary and the people of Trinity-Lockney have called him to be their pastor.
Trinity-Lockney is part of the Panhandle Conference of NT-NL Synod, ELCA. Members of this congregation are farmers who source cucumbers for Best Maid Pickles in Fort Worth. Those pickles from their farm were a welcome addition to the BBQ dinner after the service.
A tight knit group of leaders who understand their distance from one another means they must be intentional about connecting. Conference Dean Arlen Lloyd (Oslo Lutheran-Gruver), Pr. Leah Lawson (Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church – Amarillo, TX), and Pr. Darlene Hopkins (Shepherd King Lutheran Church-ELCA) were all present. Driving many miles to be here.
Sean is the 18th person raised up by Trinity-Fort Worth in its 79 year history for ordination to the ministry of Word and Sacrament. And the 3rd in the past year. Pr. Darlene Hopkins, previously mentioned as being at Shepherd King, Lubbock, and Pr. Tyler Moquin-Lee who was ordained to serve in the Southern Ohio Synod preceded Sean this year. We give thanks for communities that both inspire their leaders to consider rostered leadership and also encourage and equip those leaders to serve. If you know someone in your congregation who has these gifts, please encourage them to consider this possibility. The church, God’s baptized people, have need of their gifts. #NTNL #TLCFW #InMissionTogether