New pastor finds Good Shepherd a good fit

The Rev. Matthew Larson plays the trombone, but he’s more likely to sing with the choir at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church than accompany them with his instrument.

Larson, 35, took over as the church’s new pastor in August. He replaced the Rev. Neal Buckaloo, who served as the church’s part-time interim pastor for three years.

During his time at Washington State University, where he studied music performance, Larson played with the Eastern Washington-Idaho Symphony. “I played in just about whatever ensemble there was,” he said.

After he graduated, he listened to the urge in the back of his head that said he should go into ministry. He worked for two years as a parish assistant in Sandpoint, where he met his wife of 12 years, Kristin. With her encouragement, he enrolled in Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. He graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1999.

“It wasn’t always a clear path,” Larson said of his choice to be a pastor. “I knew vaguely in the back of my head when I was a sophomore in high school. It was always there.”

He served a combination Lutheran and Presbyterian church in Potlatch, Idaho, for three years. He spent two years each in Carmel, Calif., and Grayland, Wash., before coming to the Spokane area.

He found himself impressed with the congregation at Good Shepherd. “They’ve had quite the last four years,” he said “They’ve really stepped up when they didn’t have a full-time pastor. I think that’s a real strength of this congregation that they see themselves as ministers and it’s not just up to one (person) to do the job.”

His previous experience with ecumenical work will also come in handy, since Good Shepherd has a long-standing collaboration with St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection. “It is very much right down my alley,” he said. “It’s really an asset that they’ve been doing this.”

Right about now, though, Larson might be wishing he’d studied something other than the trombone. The church needs a new organist.

Plum pudding festival

The Veradale United Church of Christ will host its 30th annual Plum Pudding Festival Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. The annual event includes Christmas carols and stories topped off with a delicious plum pudding desert. The church is at 611 N. Progress Road.

Christmas crafts

The Spokane Valley Baptist Church will host a craft night Friday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. There will be a finger food potluck, craft projects, Christmas caroling and a visit from a “special guest.” Perhaps he’ll be wearing red?

Child care will be available for young children. The church is at 1222 S. McDonald Road. Call 924-1234 for more information.