From about 30 miles outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Gunnison, Colorado, then back to Santa Fe, to Columbus, Ohio, and finally to Lehighton, the journey of Joshua Krenz has been adventurous.

You’re probably sitting there reading this thinking, “who cares about the journey of Joshua Krenz?” And in all honesty, probably not a whole lot of people do. But Joshua Krenz is - was - the vicar at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lehighton on the corner of Third and Iron Street. His journey from New Mexico to Colorado to Ohio, and finally to Pennsylvania, brought him to this small, lovely town of Lehighton.

So, what happens next in this journey he is - and has - been embarking on? Well, that is the $95 question right here. I want to take you back to what a vicar is within the church. Technically, a vicar is a representative of the bishop. However, a vicar, in the case of Joshua, is an intern pastor - a person learning/preparing to be a pastor. Joshua has been in Lehighton since August 2019 learning to be a pastor, and now his education is complete - well, complete enough - to graduate and have a congregation of his own. But the $95 question is where; where is that congregation, that church, that he will be called to. We just don’t know.

It is in the hands of God - great hands but is a bit anxiety inducing. Within the church and ministers of the church, we leave a lot of things in the hands of God and go where God wants us to go and minister what God wants us to minister. But our human failings leave us wanting to know and be certain of the next step. All Joshua knows right now is his last service at Trinity in Lehighton will be May 16; his last day at the Trinity Food Pantry (every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the third Tuesday also 5:30-7 p.m. on Third Street via drive-thru) will be May 18.

Later in the week, he will move out of his apartment. He will drive back to Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, for his commencement ceremony to receive his earned Masters of Divinity degree on May 22 (also livestreamed via Trinity Lutheran Seminary Facebook beginning at 11 a.m.). He will be staying with a friend until God calls him to serve a congregation where needed.

It is an uncertain world we live in - as this past year can attest. But if there is one thing that Joshua wants to leave you with it is this: trust in God. God knows what God is doing, even if we don’t like it and don’t want to hear it, God knows what God is doing. We don’t get to see the whole plans, we don’t get to see what everything means, we don’t get to see how our lives have impacted those around us - even when we make each other uncomfortable and angry. So, we leave you with this: Trust in God, trust in God for everything and always.

May God bless you and keep you; May God shine God’s grace and mercy upon you; and may God look upon you all - every one of you - and give you peace. Thanks be to God. Amen