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Weekly Events
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 PASTOR’S PAGE
Greetings and welcome
to the Pastor's Page.
My name is Larry Sexe, and I'm the Pastor of Deerfield
Lutheran Church where I have served since 1993. As one of my confirmation
students said, “you’ve been here a LONG time!” I have served congregations in
Minnesota and Wisconsin
before coming to Deerfield. I'm a graduate
of St. Olaf
College and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
My wife Debbie and I were both raised in Black River Falls, Wisconsin.
Deb's grandfather Knute came to the US
from England by way of Shanghai, China,
where her father was born. I mention this bit of genealogy and geography
because although Deerfield
Lutheran Church
was founded by Norwegians, our present members trace their roots and faith
backgrounds to many places across the globe. We're becoming more and more a
multicultural community of faith.
Deb and I also have two daughters: Elizabeth a graduate of St. Olaf with a
degree in Biology/Dance and a Master’s Degree in Dance/Choreography from Mills College
in California.
She is continuing teaching dance, performing, and doing choreography along
with teaching pilates in the Madison
area. Kari graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College
in secondary education – social studies and received her Master’s Degree in
Library and Media Studies at the University
of Wisconsin - Madison. She is an elementary school
librarian in the Elkhorn,
Wisconsin school district.
My last name usually raises eyebrows so let me explain it this way. Sexe is
an anglicized form of the Norwegian place name Sekse. My grandfather left the Hardanger Fjord and settled at
Hegg which is near Blair,
Wisconsin. In coming to America
the spelling of his 'place name', which he used as a last name, was changed
from 'Sekse' to Sexe, and that's how I got my memorable name!
Besides my name the other thing that people ask about when
they first meet me is why I wear this funny collar. I often wear what is
called a clerical collar. Why? Our oldest daughter once drew a picture of me
in my "uniform" for a school assignment. She wrote this caption,
"My Dad the service worker!" I like that. Wearing this strange
collar is a way of reminding me that I serve Jesus Christ and his Body - made
up of a very diverse group of people. But I'm here to be a servant. I know
some folks see a collar and think something else (it's a power symbol - a
reminder of some bad experiences with church authority) - I can't change
that. All I can do is try and be the best servant I possibly can be. After 33
years as a pastor I'm still learning what Jesus meant by servant leadership.
Another thing I'd say about ministry is this: Christians are called by Jesus
Christ to be living parables (or riddles) of Jesus and the Kingdom of God
to all the people we meet. Being a parable is not easy work. Sometimes you
are misunderstood and look foolish, even weird, to folks who judge us by
worldly standards.
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