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Hernando Today

New Pastor - Same Savior

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By MAUREA SLEESMAN Hernando Today correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 13, 2008

SPRING HILL - One local church's reader board sign has been particularly eye-catching for the past three weeks. It says "New pastor - Same Savior."

Another says, "We are a church with a brain."

After 20 months of searching, Spring Hill United Church of Christ called its new senior pastor.

One could call the Rev. Dr. Carlan D. Helgeson a local Viking for both his heritage and seasoned battle winning. The church he led in Sugarcreek, Ohio, since 1993, burned to ashes in 2003. He and members rallied to build a new church, "like the Phoenix bird," he recalled. "Quite a challenge." Helgeson continues to be a Christian vanguard, a champion to embrace all who would be made whole, regardless of financial standing, ethnicity, social status, cultural background, sexual orientation, age or past history.

Meredith Suld is a recent widow whose late husband, a minister, taught theology in Boston and served in various churches before retiring to Spring Hill. A thoughtful reader, Suld enjoys the dialogue of the monthly church book discussion group. "What really pleases me about this church," she said, "is that United Church of Christ has a long history of championing social justice issues." Suld spoke about recent member considerations in developing its church profile and on being a local community voice for all ages and assorted interests.

"Our debates and expressiveness are lively and charitable," she said, "from Share the Care plan for housing in disasters to educating our youngsters and newcomers in our faith, our prayer chain, and special potluck meals with invited speakers addressing relevant issues to our community. We are the church with a brain ..."

Judy Barker headed searches for many personnel positions, including dean, for 22 years at the University of Massachusetts. Hence, she was asked to head the church pastoral search committee and spoke of the process and screening.

"The search was conducted in accordance with UCC guidelines. Interim Pastor Dr. Robert Palin helped us define our church profile and direction," she said. "Dr. Jean Simpson our UCC regional conference minister provided us with profiles of pastoral candidates. We asked some of them for tapes of sermons, did telephone interviews and reference checks, and spent many months of consideration. Finally, members of the committee were able to hear Dr. Helgeson speak in a neutral pulpit nearby.

"The search committee was convinced that this was the person we wanted to recommend to our congregation. We then invited him to return and preach here in our church. After he spoke here, members voted unanimously to call him as our settled pastor. God had a hand in this of course. We are so pleased to have him and his lovely wife here and we are excited about his leadership and guidance in the years ahead."

Helgeson holds an education degree from the University of Minnesota, a Master of Divinity from Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. and a Doctor of Ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio. He enjoys teaching New Testament and will open the church college level classes to any that want to learn, he said.

He met his wife, Jill, when she was a student in his college German classes. "Oh yes, she got an A++," the pastor said. "She always does, in everything. Besides being the ideal pastor's wife and mother to our children, Jill is an excellent seamstress. She sewed authentic Swiss costumes for pageants for the past decade. She also creates puppets and banners, and we hope to have a puppet ministry soon as well as a banner workshop."

The Helgesons have four grown children. Caleb, Rachel, and Brittina live in Ohio. Daughter Signe and her husband Ray live in Connecticut.

Spring Hill United Church of Christ has an ongoing history of superb traditional and newer music by way of its choirs, musicians, and music director Wayne Raymond, who is also director of the Hernando Symphony Orchestra.

"Pastor Helgeson is a great match for music here," Raymond said. "He appreciates newer and traditional music and likes to add newer verses in Sunday handouts, too, so we're up to the minute." The pastor likes Casting Crown and traditional fare.

"We are a church that believes that you can both think and believe, that all truth is God's truth, whether it is revealed in the Bible, the medical science lab, or astronomical observatory," Pastor Helgeson said in closing comments. "In my preaching, I seek to bring the timeless truths of God's love and grace into our present-day lives so that people can grow in their relationships with all those they love and grow in their understanding and compassion for those whom they are called to help.

"I especially have a heart for children and all that impacts their lives, whether it's doing well in school, having a peaceful and nurturing home life, or learning to know the love of Jesus. I am a collector of children's books with more than 1,500 in my library.

"We offer space to three other religious groups to worship on our campus here. I believe that people need a place where they can be accepted for their failings and affirmed for their successes. The church needs to be a sanctuary from the world's cruelty and bigotry, a haven of hope in a world of discouragement and pain. We welcome you here."

When they meet

Sunday worship and children's church: 10 a.m.

Bible study midweek will resume soon

Other midweek groups: call church

Spring Hill United Church of Christ Church is located at 4244 Mariner Blvd. (north of Northcliffe), Spring Hill. Phone: 683- 4870 Web site: shucc.org

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