Farewell Plans for Pastor Dwight Released

Debbie Michel March 2, 2023

Farewell Plans for Pastor Dwight Released

Since Pastor Dwight's announcement, a celebration weekend has been planned for April 21-22, 2023, and a Pioneer family farewell on May 20, 2023.

After 40 years at Pioneer Memorial Church, Dwight Nelson announced last summer his plans to transition from pastoral ministry.

He told the congregation on Aug. 13, 2022: “It has finally dawned on Karen and me, that the privilege and joy of pastoring this parish cannot go on forever. And today we are announcing that it will soon stop.”

The last day of congregational ministry will be early summer 2023, with Nelson’s last Sabbath preaching on May 20, 2023.

Since his announcement, a committee began formalizing plans to salute the longest serving Seventh-day Adventist pastor to one congregation. A series of events are planned to commemorate Pastor Dwight and Karen, and to thank them for all they have done through Christ Jesus.

You are invited to attend the celebration weekend of Fri. April 21 and Sabbath, April 22 in the Pioneer sanctuary:

Friday Night Vespers, 7:30 p.m.
Sabbath Worship Services, 9 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.
Sabbath Tribute Program, 4 p.m.

The Pioneer family farewell is scheduled for later, on Sabbath, May 20, with:

Breakfast at 9 a.m.,
Sabbath School tribute at 10:30 a.m.
Worship Service at 11:45 a.m.

If you cannot attend, some events will broadcast live on this website, Facebook page, and Roku channel.

For more details, including information on where to leave a personal message of thanks, visit https://pmchurch.org/farewell. Selected messages will be included in the tribute presentation and available on the website at a later date.

Additionally, stay tuned for a feature story on Pastor Dwight and his impactful ministry to be published in the May issue of the Lake Union Herald.

Debbie Michel is Communication director of the Lake Union Conference.