Lively Lenten Services At First Lutheran Church

For the next four Wednesdays, you could make a small journey to experience an unusual series of Lenten services and programs including a variety of home-cooked dinners.

First Lutheran Church of Ridge Manor's Wednesday evening Lenten series, "Faith Expressions Deeply Felt" will consist of a variety of programs including musical events, drama and Bible Study, preceded by a varied dinner menu each week through April Fool's Day. Each night features a different experience and a different mode of expression of the faith.

The first evening program held last Wednesday expressed "Joy," with a "Singspiration" of favorite hymns, with the congregation choosing songs and church organist and pianist Tim Howsare accompanying on piano. A last-minute guest, Dr. Al Walker, played bagpipes on two songs.

The "Trust" theme features "Down Home" songs of faith on March 11 with Vern Nelson's Strings Combo.

"Gratitude" on March 18 includes a "Down Nostalgia Lane," a drama written by the church former Pastor Christian Ditmar.

"Insight" is the title of the special Bible Study on March 25, led by Stanley Murphy and focusing on the heart of the Gospel.

April Fool's Day concludes the series, sharing God's Good News with members expressing experiences of thanksgiving and giving their Christian witness.

Some of the innovative programming and possible changes at the church come from the expertise, energies and insights of its Canadian-born semi-retired pastor, the Rev. Dr. Del Gusdal. He has served in Minnesota, Illinois, Alabama and Florida and always gives great credit to the cooperation, dedication and volunteerism of church members.

Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of the Ridge Manor church's Lenten journey toward baptismal immersion in the death and resurrection of Christ, as retold in last Sunday's Holy Communion service.

The sanctuary has a remarkable baptismal font made from a giant clam shell from the South Pacific. The handsome piece was a gift from a Lakeland Lutheran Church, where it was used since 1954. Pastor Gusdal appreciates its symbolic connection to water and the sea.

Food is important in the fellowship of this community church. The pastor likes the Greek word "koinonia" for its meaning in Christian fellowship, care, food and hospitality. He served as pastor in a minority congregation, koinonia, in Montgomery, Ala.

Coffee hour follows Sunday services, and there are plenty of seasoned chefs and homemakers in the membership. Angel Food Ministries, a national food and meals distribution program for pre-ordered menus and produce, is a new ministry outreach. Church volunteers helped the first distribution serving 26 local families. Order details and inquiries for March 28 distribution can be made by calling the church office. The church just received permission from the School Board to distribute Angel Food Ministries information take-home flyers to local school children.

In February the church men's fellowship held a pig roast, suitable since the well-groomed acreage includes a large picnic pavilion. It was a successful outreach event creating a good meeting place for church and community.

A monthly "Friends Night Out" affords dining excursions with fellowship, the next one to be at the local Beef 'O' Brady's next Tuesday.

Ridge Manor is a burgeoning part of Hernando County, and the future growth planned for the area will bring changes in faith communities in meeting those challenges. Gusdal has the organizational and career expertise to help guide the church in its transitions as its interim pastor. He founded Lutheran Services Florida, one of the largest nonprofit social services agency in Florida. Some 550 staff and volunteers currently help in its agencies in Florida's major cities, concerned with aid, issues and needs of the elderly, impoverished, farm workers, disaster relief and refugees.

Ordained in 1959, educated in universities and seminaries, the pastor is an expert on Martin Luther, and has studied the denomination's history and its introductions of the concept and trends of evangelism. In addition, he has guided other congregations through growth and transitions using church development books and resources. Serving as interim pastor fits in well with Gusdal's interest in mission development, a strong theme in his ministry, he said.

By cell phone from a business trip in California, Verizon Fios worker Billy McMillan - also the church council president - applauded Pastor Gusdal's authoritative knowledge. "We were in a room with 600 Lutherans in Orlando for a Synod Assembly," he said. "It seemed like everyone there, from all over the region, knew him and told of his many accomplishments and fine leadership. We are so fortunate to have him here. We all get a boost of energy ourselves from his enthusiasm and encouragement."

His wife, Miriam, has siblings who are ministers, and her father was a pastor, similar to many in Del Gudal's family. He remembers as a child thinking his family "owned and operated' Madagascar when hosting missionaries and supporting various mission causes," he said. His wife says he is her best friend and "a wonderful man."

Married 50 years, the Gusdals have four children and seven grandchildren. The well-read pastor enjoys travel, golf, movies, music and fishing.

He encourages the teachings of Martin Luther in the writ "Freedom of the Christian" for insights into the Christian faith and motivation for sacrifice and freedom, believing that Christians are the most bound to their neighbors and the freest of all in spiritual freedom and service obligation out of thanks to God.

"Our church motto is 'Seeking to know Christ and to make Christ known,'" the pastor said. "A wonderful and friendly church, we welcome you and your family to experience our Lenten season and always."

When do they meet?

Lenten dinners: Wednesday, 6 p.m. March 11 - April 1

Lenten services: Wednesday, 6:45 p.m. March 11 - April 1

Adult Sunday school: 9 a.m.

Children's Sunday school: 9:30 a.m.

Sunday worship service: 10:30 a.m.