New pastor is at home in small Concord church
CONCORD – Deborah Hammer feels right at home in a small church.
That’s where she found her own faith growing up in Snyder and it’s now where she leads others to find theirs.
“I love the smaller size churches,” she said. “It’s easier to make relationships and be in community with one another. Smaller churches are just amazing.”
Hammer was officially installed as pastor of the Concordia Lutheran Church Sunday by the assistant to the bishop, Kristen VanStee, but has been serving at the church for several years.
Ten years ago, Hammer found herself without a clear career path.
She had worked at Pacific Coast Feather Factory in Wayne for more than two decades when a tornado ripped through the building in 2013. The company did not rebuild and instead relocated to North Carolina.
She decided to become a certified spiritual director and learned of the clergy shortage in northeast Nebraska. Hammer then became certified as a Parish Ministry Associate with much encouragement along the way to continue her education into seminary.
She hesitated due to the large expense of school but was supported by Concordia Lutheran and First Lutheran Church (Allen) through the Theological Education for Emerging Ministries program. The program emphasizes service in rural or village-sized communities while pursuing certification. She was called as a vicar during this time to serve at both the Concord and Allen churches. Hammer enjoyed online seminary classes but also attended in person three times a year for a week at a time.
“It was fun to be on campus and taking classes at home made it doable,” she said.
She was ordained into the ministry through the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America in a ceremony Aug. 12 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Wayne. Hammer has been a member at the Wayne church for 40 years. Since earning her certification from seminary, Hammer was approved by the candidacy committee of the Nebraska synod and called to serve at both Concord and Allen churches. Now, she leads worship every Sunday morning - first in Allen at 8:30 a.m. and then in Concord at 10:15 a.m. The two churches enjoy a joint service a few times per year. Confirmation classes every week are held jointly as well.
About 30 members attend their respective churches each week although each have more than 150 on the membership roll.
“A lot of the members on the list, I see out in the communities,” Hammer said. “Church doesn’t have to happen just in church as we are loving God and loving one another in our communities. My goal is to be the church wherever we are and I’d love to have them in worship.”