Pastor John Jorgenson

I really enjoy what we are doing at Prince of Peace together. This model we are creating is fun and it can be very meaningful and helpful to others as well. This idea is what a kid growing up on a farm in Minnesota during the 30’s learned from family. I would not survive unless we all worked together, and that we did. I had chores to do when I was five, drove horses when I was six, and learned to drive a car when I was 10 so I could bring food to Dad and Grandpop, who were out in the field working.   I had chores to do before breakfast in the morning, and before dinner in the evening. Then I went to the University of Minnesota, and learned from a great lady how to write so I could be a journalist. I will never forget my first paper for her. She read three lines, drew a red line across the page and wrote “WHO TOLD YOU YOU COULD WRITE!” And she then taught me and I began writing for the U of M Daily News. A year later, I interviewed Eleanor Roosevelt and she too helped me when she asked to see my notes from the interview. “Who is going to be able to read this?” she asked and then edited my notes to do just that. I spent time in Korea trained as a SCARWAF Combat Engineer who ended up writing reports on the condition of airfields. I traveled in Korea, Japan, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Taiwan, and Guam and had the best Christmas gift ever when I returned. On Dec 25, 1955, I was discharged and went back to the University of Minnesota. Lorraine and I met the next year.  We were married in 1957 and Michael was born in1958 followed by Joel in 1963. I graduated in 1959, went to seminary and finished in 1962 when I was called to Hope Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. While there, together we designed a new building, I finished a MA in Journalism, and began a photo journalism career.  I moved to Philadelphia in 1966 to serve as production director for the Board of Parish Education making slides, film strips, movies and videos for the LCA (Lutheran Church in America ). While in Philadelphia, I went to Temple University and completed another master’s degree and a doctorate in learning theory. I finished the degree in 1976 after teaching there for three years. Then, in 1979, I went to the LCA Communications Department in New York, where I directed production and distribution of Davey and Goliath, convention presentations and various commercials for the LCA. This also gave me the opportunity to travel to Britain, Holland, Belgium, Germany, France and Switzerland as well as from coast to coast, Canada, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, and Puerto Rico.  I traveled 50% of my time, creating projects to help kids get food, clothing, health care, and schooling along with family support.  This was accomplished using funds from Lutheran World Relief, Bread for the World, Catholic Charities, Jewish Relief, and other agencies with the same commitment we had to help kids and their families. This was the best job I ever had and I loved it. However, pneumonia forced me to make a change, so I started up my own production company and worked for churches more than ever before. The recession of 1987 ended that chapter, and I began serving parishes starting with Faith Lutheran Church in Mount Penn. Then, in 1991, I went to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boyertown for three years as Interim Pastor.  I retired in 1994. In retirement, I wanted to focus on issues of aging so I did some post graduate work at Vermont College.  I also worked in psychology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where I studied Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from Aaron Beck and began working in clinics dealing with anger among prisoners ready to be on parole. That was interesting. I was teaching graduate courses about issues of aging and anger at the Lutheran Seminary, Eastern Baptist Seminary, Penn State Graduate Campus, and offering training programs for a variety of businesses in the Delaware Valley. Finally, in 2001, I was invited to serve Prince of Peace and found out over the past several years that what I was doing was getting me ready for our project that we are doing together and really having so much fun. As I have said over and over again, Prince of Peace is really a special place and I thank you for all your help and support. Pastor John