INSIDE
New pastor installed

A decade after first arriving at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pastor Jean Barrington was enthusiastically welcomed by the congregation as their permanent pastor.

Barrington’s October 21 installation ceremony was like a marriage of pastor to congregation, and combined scripture and prayer with the church’s strong musical tradition.

“The theme is thanksgiving and being one in mission,” Barrington said. After years of division in the congregation, Barrington was chosen unanimously. “We’re all feeling pleased and excited,” she said.

Barrington first arrived at the local church in 1997 following the retirement of longtime pastor Ernie Loreen, but it was a part-time call, and Barrington was hoping for full-time security. “I started my ministry at 47 and my concern was for my retirement,” she said.

She left Point Roberts with regret in 2000 to take a call in Renton that would last 26 months, then moved on to Chicago where she completed a Doctorate of Ministry at the Lutheran School of Theology. After marrying Curt Bush in 2002 the couple chose to move back to Point Roberts, with Barrington taking interim positions such as one for ten months in Lynden.

It was after a year off traveling that Barrington was presented again with the opportunity of leading the local church. “The congregation approached me and asked if I would be interested in coming back,” she said. “We interviewed each other and we both liked what we had to say.”
An important part of her commitment to the church was helping the congregation reach their goals, Barrington explained. “A huge piece is a real desire to welcome the community at large, to develop outreach. We’ll work on that together.”

Barrington lauded the work of church music director Natasha Neufeld in giving the church strong musical roots. “Despite all the pastors coming and going over the years she’s really held music and worship together,” she said. Music will be part of the church’s outreach efforts, she said. “We hope to make that more accessible to more people.”

Her work as a pastor will be to develop a “family ministry,” Barrington said, drawing in local families and children, offering something for everyone. “People have said when you’re called to Trinity you’re called to pastor the whole community: marry, bury, counsel, visit them in the hospital when they’re sick.”