Lori Wunder, Designated Pastor

We extend a warm welcome to our newly appointed Designated Pastor, Lori Wunder.  Below is her letter to our congregation.  She will begin preaching on Sunday, September 21.

Dear Friends,

 I am delighted to be called to serve as your Designated Pastor for these next two years!  First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Vernon has a reputation around the presbytery as a creative, energetic and loving congregation.  What a privilege to be joining with you in ministry!

 As I look in the rearview mirror, it is as if God has been preparing me all along for such a time as this.  First, I have already served a church that has lost its pastor at the beginning of a building project, and I know well the anxiety and challenges that face a congregation in that situation.  Second, while the damage to First Pres Cedar Rapids during the June floods was not as extensive as the damage done by a lightning strike and the subsequent water in Mt. Vernon, I have lived through the experience of being out of the church building and worshiping "in exile" at a funeral home.   Besides all that, I have an affinity for college towns.  I grew up in Ames, my father was a professor at Iowa State, and my family was very active at Collegiate Presbyterian, right on the corner of the Iowa State campus.  There are many differences between a state land grant university and a private liberal arts college, but I believe I not only understand, but appreciate what makes a college community unique.  

 My husband, Jim Bonewald, is also a pastor, serving Knox Presbyterian in Cedar Rapids' northeast quadrant.  While you won't see Jim very often, he is as enthusiastic about this next chapter as I am.  We have also begun the process of adopting a child (or possibly twins) from Ethiopia. Depending on many things beyond our control, we probably won't have a referral for a little over a year and won't bring our child home until 3-4 months after that.  At this point, we will continue to live in Cedar Rapids. 

I so enjoyed meeting many of you on Sunday and hearing the stories of what is happening in your church and in your lives.  I look forward to learning more about you in the weeks and months to come.  My prayer is that we will all continue to grow in faith, love, and understanding of God and one another.

 Peace be with you!

 Lori Wunder