The Rev. Mark Swanson has joined the staff of Union Lutheran Church, Schnecksville, as interim pastor.

He succeeds the Rev. Dennis Moore who retired in July 2016, after 20 years of service.

The Rev. Herb Gifford and the Rev. Gene Parker shared pastoral responsibilities for several months until Swanson’s arrival in November 2016.

Swanson explained his role as interim pastor with The Press.

“I’ll want to move the congregation in the way they need to go, to be a navigator and help the congregation stay on the right course to follow its mission.”

In addition to leading worship every week, Swanson said he is involved in the many ministries and programs of the large congregation.

“This is an exciting time for Union Church and for me,” Swanson said.

He commented on the mission of the congregation.

“We want to reach out in the community to folks of all ages with the gospel of Christ,”Swanson said. “There are strong educational programs.

“This congregation takes pride in being a family church which welcomes people of all ages, including a preschool and youth ministries.

“We have a contemporary service as well as a worship rooted in the Lutheran tradition with good liturgy and the gospel.”

A native of Jamestown, N.Y., Swanson is a graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia, and the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia.

In his 28 years of ministry, Swanson served congregations in Queens, N.Y., and in rural upstate New York.

He then had an 18-year term at St. Paul’s Lutheran “Blue” Church, Coopersburg.

His latest assignment was interim pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Macungie.

Swanson’s wife, the Rev. Laura Csellak, is pastor of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Easton.

They are the parents of two adult children.

Swanson resides in Hellertown, where he raises a flock of chickens. He visits Animals in Distress to bless the pets residing there.

In a pastor’s message after the presidential election, Swanson presented thoughts on how the church can mend divisions in society.

“Here at Union Church we have a great opportunity to be a voice of reason, witness and healing in our community,” Swanson said.

“We have a chance to show our neighbors and the world around us that God is at work binding up wounds, creating bridges of connection between differing opinions and opening our hearts and minds to hear and see one another not as enemies to be avoided, but as coworkers in doing God’s work.

“It isn’t easy. It never is. Even among Christians we have to work hard at this task of being reconciled to one another.”

Swanson said he enjoys getting to know people at the large number of church social gatherings which provide opportunities for fellowship.

“People are so friendly here. It makes it easier to get to know them, often where food is served, just as in Jesus’ ministry so many years ago,” explained the pastor.

Swanson anticipates remaining at Union Lutheran as long as necessary, including all of 2017, for the congregation to move through the process to call a new pastor.