By SARIT LASCHINSKY

Special to The Press

Congregants of New Life Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Tripoli, gathered June 27 for an official ceremony which had been on hold for more than a year - the installation of the Rev. Lauren Applegate as pastor.

Raised in Freehold, N.J., Applegate now lives in Bethlehem with her husband, Ken, and three sons.

She was chosen as pastor at New Life, her second call, in January 2020.

Before that, she served from 2015-20 at New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lower Saucon Township.

Applegate’s original installation had been scheduled for March 15, 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ceremony began with a drum performance of “Amazing Grace” by New Life’s drummers, under the direction of music lead Deb Madey.

This was followed by a welcome from worship leader Jacquie Moser.

“This is quite an exciting day for not only New Life, but also for Pastor Lauren,” Moser said. “She has been here almost a year and a half and has been through the pandemic, which we all survived thanks to God.”

“Give Me Your Eyes” was then played, followed by a reading of Isaiah 40:1-11 by Lector Marlene Wertman.

Newly-elected Bishop Christopher deForest of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod presided over the ceremony and provided a reading from Matthew 22:34-40, as well as the proclamation of God’s word.

“What a day, long time coming. Neither rain nor sleep nor the pandemic can get in the way of the Lord,” deForest said, adding he was glad to see congregants practicing healthy practices and continuing to hold strong amid the pandemic.

“Yea science, yea go scientists who did that work for us and made for us, to hold on tight to the gifts that God has given them.”

In the proclamation, deForest said attendees were gathered to take part in carrying out the “love commands ... to love God and to love neighbor.”

He referred to the reading of Matthew where a lawyer asks Jesus to name the greatest commandment.

Instead of naming just one, deForest said, Jesus cited two: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

“He doubles the fun, he doubles the love, he doubles down on the love,” deForest said, explaining how the simple word “and” serves to convey God’s power and love.

“The power of “and” revealed by Jesus today, this day, this hour of power, and revealed in his story ... love of God and love of neighbor. That’s what God commands, and that’s what God empowers us to do even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.”

Referring back to the reading of Isaiah, deForest made note of “the power of the word ‘and’” throughout the text, and said the word and power of God will continue to stand strong.

“Friends, our church giving can fade; our worship attendance can waiver, even wither; our congregations can wear out like garments, and of course every single one of us here will one day die, but the word of the Lord will stand forever, and that is the good news of God.”

He added that Jesus was deeply in love with the word “and” as the Son of God and man, and said salvation is “for you and for me, but also for our friends and our enemies; neighbors and strangers, saints and sinners, made one by the blood and body of our once-dead and now living forever savior Jesus Christ.”

“And so today in the city of New Tripoli, a place small and big, poor and rich, scared but also courageous, God has called a pastor, Lauren Marie Applegate, to be installed and empowered,” he concluded.

After a rendition of “Here I Am, Lord” was played, the installation rite began with Council President Theresa Keim affirming members of New Life had called Applegate to serve as pastor.

DeForest then read from John 20:21-23, Matthew 28:18-20 and 1 Timothy 4:12-16 before asking Applegate several questions.

Would she commit herself to New Life’s responsibilities, teach according to the Holy Scriptures and Confessions, carry out her new ministry in harmony with the church’s constitutions, be diligent and faithful in her study and means of grace, trust in God’s care, serve and lead the people, and make God’s love known in all her work?

To every question Applegate wholeheartedly responded, “I will, and I ask God to help me.”

To the audience, deForest asked if they would receive Applegate as “a messenger of Jesus Christ,” pray for her, help and honor her in carrying out her ministry, and whether they would live together “in the peace and unity of Christ.”

“We will, and we ask God to help us,” the congregation responded, and deForest confirmed that New Life’s office of pastor was officially committed to Applegate “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

“People of God, I present to you The Rev. Lauren Applegate, your pastor,” deForest concluded as the audience broke into enthusiastic applause.

“I preached this morning about people being on similar paths, going in the same direction, and how God’s love is what keeps us bound together,” Applegate said.

“I am amazed at how our stories have lined up between New Life, and my own personal life story, and family life, and I can’t exactly put into words just how grateful I am that I was called here to be your pastor for such a time as this.

“We just faced a global pandemic y’all. We just faced an exorbitant amount of pain and suffering, and I feel like our relationship as pastor and congregation has weathered that storm and is ready for some joy, and I trust God will do great things with what we’ve seen and experienced so far together.”

She thanked the congregation and God, and asked that together, “let’s keep going.”

Offerings and donations were collected for the New Jersey Synod’s Bosnia International Service Trip, a beneficiary close to Applegate’s heart, and she noted her stole for the day was handmade by the women of Sarajevo.

After the ceremony attendees gathered for fellowship and refreshments, and Keim presented Applegate with a pair of gifts - a new green stole and a framed photo of Jeremiah 3:15,

“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Applegate thanked Keim.

“We have some really good things happening,” Applegate said. “This week, last week, there’s been conversations that have happened, connections being made, and I take them all as affirmations that we are in a good place, we’re moving in a good direction, and God is awesome.”

Applegate’s husband, Ken, told The Press that while the wait has been long, the installation marks the next step in their story at New Life.

“It’s hard to explain. Today’s the day. It’s been a long time coming with COVID and everything,” he said. “But we’ve been part of this church for a long time and now that it’s finally here, we’re happy to be a part of it in this new role.”

Several churchgoers also shared their best wishes for their newly-installed pastor.

“Now that we have a new pastor, I hope new and wonderful things will come to our church here at New Life,” Wertman said. “I hope she can be a part of many new things, and bring many new people to our congregation.”

Madey said she had “such love working with Pastor Lauren through COVID - her coming here with her young family just as the pandemic hit.

“She has been just a wellspring of kindness, and already taught us so much,” Madey said.

“I’m so grateful to have Pastor Lauren here,” Christy Bishop of New Tripoli said. “She is a perfect fit for New Life.”

Roger Pandel of New Tripoli said under Applegate’s guidance, he has high hopes for New Life’s next chapter.

“We’re glad she’s here and she’s doing a great job. It’s been tough with the pandemic, but now I think we’re ready to flourish,” he said.

Applegate said she is also looking forward to the future, particularly after an unusual and challenging year.

“This first year has been absolutely wild, and yet God meets us in the midst of it and promises to love us no matter what,” she said.

Applegate said New Life will continue to “clean up our side of the street with some business,” and reach out to the community.

She noted the church has faith family events planned over the summer as well as service opportunities, A Night in the Country, and more.

In fall, the focus will be on “welcoming each other back in a way that’s helpful and healthy, and compassionate knowing that this past year has been really rough on all of us.

“We’re here, and we’re ready to welcome you when you’re ready to be welcomed,” she concluded.