Grace Lutheran Church

Reverend  Jon Richard Nelson

BIRTH:      Stoughton, Wisconsin

RAISED:     McFarland, Wisconsin

COLLEGE:     Luther College, Decorah Iowa  (1966-1970)

SEMINARY:      Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota  (1970-1975)

HIGHEST DEGREE:   104 (with the flu, 5th grade)  

CONGREGATIONS:    Lutheran Church of the Master, Pasco, WA (1975-1984)

                                        Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA (1984-2001)

                                        Grace Lutheran Church, Wenatchee, WA (2001-Present)

INTERN SUPERVISOR:    19  Interns

MYERS-BRIGGS:     INTJ 

SPIRITUAL GROWTH:    struggle and buoyancy

VIRTUES AND COMMITMENTS FOR WHICH I STRIVE:

          AUTHORITY  (The word of God is my “norming norm” and the Lutheran Confessions are my

                                 “normed norm” for my life in faith in the Body of Christ.  The sovereign freedom and

                                   power of God over all.)

          VERACITY  (The truth of God about me and for me).

          CHARITY    (The undeserved generosity of God.  The unmerited forgiveness of God for the

                                   sinful and mercy of God for the weak. The love of God for and through us. 

                                   The fruit of the Spirit.  Impartiality.)

          FIDELITY  (Trust in the faithfulness of God to us in Jesus the Christ.  Faith and its fruits. 

                                   Fear, love and trust in God above all things.

          TENACITY  (resilience, strength, courage, fortitude, character, steadfastness, vitality,

                                   stubborn persistence)

          HUMILITY  (repentance, emptiness before God, meekness, submission, gentleness,

                                   modesty, authenticity)

          SAGACITY (maturity, discernment, wisdom)

          CHASTITY (to will the will of God and behave accordingly; purity of being; discipline; temperance,

                                   conformity, holiness; honorableness)

          COMMUNITY  (the whole Body of Christ; our life together in and around Jesus our center)

          ACCOUNTABILITY  (to God, ourselves, our brother and sister in Christ and to the poor;

                                   mutuality of admonition; transparency)

INTERESTS:    Reading (poetry, philosophy, theology)  athletics, puzzles, cold milk,

                       warm bread, black  licorice and Alice*

MARRIED:   *Alice Anna, 1971

FAVORITE HYMN:      The fittingly anonymous writer of the words -

                                                    ”I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew

                                                     He moved my soul to seek him seeking me;

                                                     It was not I that found, O Saviour true; No, I was found of thee.

                                                     Thou didst reach forth thy hand and mine enfold;

                                                     I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea;

                                                    ‘Twas not so much that I on thee took hold As thou, dear Lord on me.

                                                     I find, I walk, I love, but O the whole

                                                     of love is but my answer, Lord to Thee;

                                                     For thou wert long beforehand with my soul,

                                                     Always thou lovest me.”

         (This I believe is a fine example of what Lutherans might call God’s Decision Theology)

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