THE NEWLY INSTALLED PASTOR OF FIRST PARISH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH BRENDAN D. JORGENSEN is shown wearing a red stole presented to him by recently retired First Parish Pastor John Dale. (Gail Lowe Photo)
By GAIL LOWE
WAKEFIELD—Pastor Brendan D. Jorgensen was installed as the 24th Pastor of First Parish Congregational Church on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 4 p.m. After the installation, a dinner to celebrate the occasion was held in the dining hall.
The event opened with a prelude titled “He Who Will Suffer God to Guide Him” by J.S. Bach played by Organist and Director of Music Ministries Donald G. Hodgkins. A procession of clergy followed, including Jorgensen, recently retired Pastor John Dale, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Richard A. Weisenbach, Rev. Robert Leroe and Rev. Nicholas Granitsas.
After Diaconate Chairperson Robert Blaser provided opening remarks and recognized the guests, the program continued with an opening hymn, call to worship, prayers, scripture readings, special choir music, the passing of the stole, prayer of installation, music provided by the Cornerstone band and remarks by Pastor Jorgensen.
The installation then closed with a prayer, benediction and postlude “Toccata in D” by Froberger played by Hodgkins.
Pastor Jorgensen expressed his desire to reach the next generation and thrive into the future, not turned into a building for housing which, he said, is happening all across the country every week.
“My hope is to help our church grow into the modern world so we can effectively reach those around us,” he said.
Lisa Carpenter, Ian Carpenter, Brian Foster, Doug Jackson, Tom Martin, Marion Sciascia and Amy Sturgis served on the Search Committee to find Pastor Jorgensen.
