- Meet Roger Lynn -
I grew up in the church, the son of a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister. I attended Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon, graduating in 1978 with a B.A. in Psychology. From there I went to seminary at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. In addition to learning to say "y’all" and "fixin’ to", I graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1981 & was ordained as a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister.
Following graduation came a move to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where I served as Associate Minister at First Christian Church. It was during my time in Arkansas that I became heavily involved with the Church Camping program, serving as both counselor and director at several junior high and high school camps. In 1985 I moved to Bellevue, Washington, and served as Associate Minister at Bellevue Christian Church. Then, in 1989, I moved to Ephrata, Washington, where I served as Pastor of Memorial Christian Church. In 1996 I became the Pastor of The United Church of Moscow, where I served until May 2008. After an extended period of serious prayer and discernment I came to believe that it was time for a change, so I made a leap of faith and resigned without another call. Following my resignation from the church in Moscow, my wife and I spent a couple of months traveling around the SW, visiting some of our amazing National Parks. After several more months of trying to figure out what the next steps of the journey would look like, an opportunity presented itself to serve as Interim Pastor at First Christian Church in Hamilton, Montana. That position ended in January 2010 with no new positions forthcoming, so we moved to Salem, Oregon to stay with my mom while we discerned what to do next.
In late February 2010 my life was turned upside down. While we were visiting one of our daughters in Everett, Washington my wife, Veronica Lassen, was admitted to the hospital with what turned out to be Stage Four Breast Cancer which had spread to her abdomen and her bones. Following a surgery and fifteen days in the hospital, she threw a blood clot and died. After six years of being married to the love of my life, I found myself in the midst of an experience that was more challenging and painful than I could possibly imagine. It was also a time filled with amazing support, blessings and opportunities for growth and healing. I was surrounded by the prayers of hundreds of people from around the world. Generous assistance poured forth from a variety of sources. And in August 2010 I was blessed to become the Transitional Pastor at Country Homes Christian Church in Spokane, Washington - a remarkably loving congregation filled with people who welcomed me into their lives. In July 2012 I moved across town and became the Transitional Pastor at Veradale UCC in Spokane Valley. This was my first big exposure to the United Church of Christ, and my first experience with an Open and Affirming congregation. I have found it all to be very refreshing and enlivening. In March 2014 I became the Transitional Pastor at First Congregational UCC in Hillsboro, Oregon. This move allowed me to be close to my mom during what turned out to be her last year of life. I had the privilege of being at her bedside when she died in March of this year.
Over the past few years I have been continually reminded that even in the midst of the pain which is sometimes a part of our living we live in an abundant universe where love really does reign supreme. After more than five years my grief related to the death of my late wife has largely been healed. I now find that I am more open to and grateful for the presence of the Sacred which surrounds us in every moment of our lives.
I am a person who enjoys sharing life with those around me – family and friends are very important. I am blessed with three wonderfully gifted daughters - Casey, who lives in Boise, Idaho; Zoe, who lives in Portland; and Maia, who lives in Bellingham with her husband James and their brand new son (my first grandchild). A couple of years ago I found a new love in my life. Susan Allred lives in Helena. Between us we have seven daughters and four grandchildren. We have made the intention to be married and are in the process of figuring out all of what that looks like.
As for what I’m like in my role as pastor, my preaching style features sermons which are fairly brief (8-12 minutes), and which I strive to make both thought provoking and spiritually engaging. I also enjoy planning meaningful and creative worship experiences. In addition, I have both interest and skill in using computers in the church, particularly in the area of desktop publishing, web-site design and social media. Being a pastor is what I love to do, because it provides me with abundant opportunities to touch people’s lives and help them discover God’s presence in real and meaningful ways. I believe that even my recent experience of grief has equipped me to be a better pastor – more empathic, more fully aware of the presence of God’s grace.
When I am not working in the church, I enjoy participating in a variety of activities, many of which involve being outdoors. In the winter I enjoy both cross-country and downhill skiing and sitting in natural hot springs. In warmer weather I enjoy hiking and camping. I enjoy contra dancing (a style of community dancing). I also write the occasional poem. And I am a photographer. I play Native American-style flute. And in the last several years my life has been profoundly enriched by engaging in Sufi spiritual practices, including the Dances of Universal Peace.
I am excited by the possibilities for ministry I see at Plymouth Congregational UCC. I am confident that if you make the decision to call me to be your next Pastor we will find exciting, challenging and transformational ways of being the Church together. Life continues to be a journey in which I am always in the process of learning and growing and changing. It is a journey which is shared with and enhanced by the partners who travel the path with me. The adventure continues. . .
If you would appreciate reading more about my healing journey through grief, you can find a paper I wrote at: tinyurl.com/thepathofgrief
You can check out my Daily Gratitudes blog at: my-daily-gratitudes.blogspot.com
And you can see examples of my photography at: www.flickr.com/photos/rogerlynn
I grew up in the church, the son of a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister. I attended Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon, graduating in 1978 with a B.A. in Psychology. From there I went to seminary at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. In addition to learning to say "y’all" and "fixin’ to", I graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1981 & was ordained as a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister.
Following graduation came a move to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where I served as Associate Minister at First Christian Church. It was during my time in Arkansas that I became heavily involved with the Church Camping program, serving as both counselor and director at several junior high and high school camps. In 1985 I moved to Bellevue, Washington, and served as Associate Minister at Bellevue Christian Church. Then, in 1989, I moved to Ephrata, Washington, where I served as Pastor of Memorial Christian Church. In 1996 I became the Pastor of The United Church of Moscow, where I served until May 2008. After an extended period of serious prayer and discernment I came to believe that it was time for a change, so I made a leap of faith and resigned without another call. Following my resignation from the church in Moscow, my wife and I spent a couple of months traveling around the SW, visiting some of our amazing National Parks. After several more months of trying to figure out what the next steps of the journey would look like, an opportunity presented itself to serve as Interim Pastor at First Christian Church in Hamilton, Montana. That position ended in January 2010 with no new positions forthcoming, so we moved to Salem, Oregon to stay with my mom while we discerned what to do next.
In late February 2010 my life was turned upside down. While we were visiting one of our daughters in Everett, Washington my wife, Veronica Lassen, was admitted to the hospital with what turned out to be Stage Four Breast Cancer which had spread to her abdomen and her bones. Following a surgery and fifteen days in the hospital, she threw a blood clot and died. After six years of being married to the love of my life, I found myself in the midst of an experience that was more challenging and painful than I could possibly imagine. It was also a time filled with amazing support, blessings and opportunities for growth and healing. I was surrounded by the prayers of hundreds of people from around the world. Generous assistance poured forth from a variety of sources. And in August 2010 I was blessed to become the Transitional Pastor at Country Homes Christian Church in Spokane, Washington - a remarkably loving congregation filled with people who welcomed me into their lives. In July 2012 I moved across town and became the Transitional Pastor at Veradale UCC in Spokane Valley. This was my first big exposure to the United Church of Christ, and my first experience with an Open and Affirming congregation. I have found it all to be very refreshing and enlivening. In March 2014 I became the Transitional Pastor at First Congregational UCC in Hillsboro, Oregon. This move allowed me to be close to my mom during what turned out to be her last year of life. I had the privilege of being at her bedside when she died in March of this year.
Over the past few years I have been continually reminded that even in the midst of the pain which is sometimes a part of our living we live in an abundant universe where love really does reign supreme. After more than five years my grief related to the death of my late wife has largely been healed. I now find that I am more open to and grateful for the presence of the Sacred which surrounds us in every moment of our lives.
I am a person who enjoys sharing life with those around me – family and friends are very important. I am blessed with three wonderfully gifted daughters - Casey, who lives in Boise, Idaho; Zoe, who lives in Portland; and Maia, who lives in Bellingham with her husband James and their brand new son (my first grandchild). A couple of years ago I found a new love in my life. Susan Allred lives in Helena. Between us we have seven daughters and four grandchildren. We have made the intention to be married and are in the process of figuring out all of what that looks like.
As for what I’m like in my role as pastor, my preaching style features sermons which are fairly brief (8-12 minutes), and which I strive to make both thought provoking and spiritually engaging. I also enjoy planning meaningful and creative worship experiences. In addition, I have both interest and skill in using computers in the church, particularly in the area of desktop publishing, web-site design and social media. Being a pastor is what I love to do, because it provides me with abundant opportunities to touch people’s lives and help them discover God’s presence in real and meaningful ways. I believe that even my recent experience of grief has equipped me to be a better pastor – more empathic, more fully aware of the presence of God’s grace.
When I am not working in the church, I enjoy participating in a variety of activities, many of which involve being outdoors. In the winter I enjoy both cross-country and downhill skiing and sitting in natural hot springs. In warmer weather I enjoy hiking and camping. I enjoy contra dancing (a style of community dancing). I also write the occasional poem. And I am a photographer. I play Native American-style flute. And in the last several years my life has been profoundly enriched by engaging in Sufi spiritual practices, including the Dances of Universal Peace.
I am excited by the possibilities for ministry I see at Plymouth Congregational UCC. I am confident that if you make the decision to call me to be your next Pastor we will find exciting, challenging and transformational ways of being the Church together. Life continues to be a journey in which I am always in the process of learning and growing and changing. It is a journey which is shared with and enhanced by the partners who travel the path with me. The adventure continues. . .
If you would appreciate reading more about my healing journey through grief, you can find a paper I wrote at: tinyurl.com/thepathofgrief
You can check out my Daily Gratitudes blog at: my-daily-gratitudes.blogspot.com
And you can see examples of my photography at: www.flickr.com/photos/rogerlynn