Dear Friends,
It is with great joy and thanksgiving to God that we have received the news that Nicholas Gonzalez has been Called to serve as St. Andrew’s new Associate Pastor!
Nick is from Lakewood, New Jersey, where his parents still reside. His brother, Matthew, is the pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in The Bronx, New York. Nick attended Concordia College in Bronxville, New York before completing his pre-seminary studies at Concordia University, Mequon, Wisconsin. From there it was off to his theological education at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, which included a one year vicarage/internship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakewood, Colorado.
It was my personal joy to be present at the worship service during which Nick received our Call on May 1st in St. Louis. Those who watched the service online or at the Watch Party at church know that the worship was glorious and the chapel was filled with the loving presence of spouses, parents, other family members, and people like me who traveled from places near and far to witness the Spirit’s action and observe the next class of future pastors as their futures unfolded before them.
After the service I met with Nick and his wife Lauren, who were married last December, and again with Nick the following morning before I returned to Maryland. We’ve been in frequent touch ever since. His plan is to be ordained at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Manchester, New Jersey, which is his home congregation. Nick and Lauren intend to move to Maryland before the end of July and his installation as our new Associate Pastor has been scheduled for Sunday, July 28 at 4:00 p.m. Mark your calendar now!
Whenever I talk with Nick, it is impossible not to sense his excitement and enthusiasm for life and ministry at St. Andrew. With him and Lauren, I also look forward with great anticipation to countless blessings yet to come for all of us as we welcome them with love and begin our partnership in the Gospel together.
Let us praise God for this new beginning!
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hricko