Brandon Twp.- Tomorrow morning, July 5, LuAnn Rourke will preach her first sermon at Seymour Lake United Methodist Church, 3050 Sashabaw Road.
The new pastor replaces former pastor Debbie Line, who has been reassigned to Davison.
‘I hope the congregation will see me keep growing in all the ways God has equipped me to do ministry, and I will weave myself and my passions into what is already at Seymour Lake,? said Rourke. ‘I’m just going to let Jesus decide what needs to be done. They’re ready for growth, but until I see what is there, I won’t try to impose a program. I need to see what He is doing there and we’ll see where we need to go.?
Rourke, 50, comes to SLUMC from the 650-member Swartz Creek United Methodist Church, where she has been under appointment the last three years. She has been a member of that church for the past 28 years and became more and more involved in ministry there, working as a youth minister for about five years, then becoming the full-time minister of discipleship and finally appointed as associate pastor. She received her seminary degree in 2007 from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio.
‘As my passions for ministry grew and changed, I was more open to what God was calling me to do,? said Rourke. ‘I am excited about this appointment. Seymour Lake has a lot of the same elements (as Swartz Creek)? how the congregation is made up and how they worship, what’s important to them, and they were looking for the things in a pastor that are important to me in ministry? being centered in the word of God and focused on Jesus Christ. I get excited about worship, it is central to our lives and helps us focus on what we’re about, and everything we do should flow out of time of worship and community, and help us keep our focus.?
Rourke has been married to Patrick for 32 years and they have two children, Jason and Abby, and three granddaughters, with another granddaughter due at the end of this month.