Celebrating Pastor Kris Tostengard Michel

Thanks, Memories, and Well-wishes…

I don’t have a particular memory of Pastor Kris, but her presence always with a bright smile, encouraging words to myself and all of our Members. I enjoyed all her Sermons each Sunday she spoke. Always positive and upbeat and words I needed hear that Sunday. I wish you Happiness and Fun long days with your Family and that
new Grandchild Freyr. Enjoy new and old Hobbies. I will miss you along with every Member of Bethlehem. Thanks for all you have done for us.

Love, Sue Johnson

Kris, may your retirement be as much of a blessing to you as your many years of ministry at Bethlehem! I am continually grateful to have worked with and learned from you in my year on staff and my last year of seminary. I’ll never forget being part of the scramble of Holy Week 2022 when multiple pastors tested positive for Covid, and how delightful it was to work with you to plan my ordination. Your caring, nurturing, and wise presence will be missed but your impact has made a lasting impression in this place and on the faith of countless people.

All the best and all the prayers,
Ben Nelson

We will miss your clever sermons that start out in such interesting ways like when you started with a viewing of Ted Lasso (a show we also enjoyed). We were married at Bethlehem many years ago and had wished we could return to Minneapolis and have you do a renewal of our vows, BUT time never made that happen. All the joy and luck to you from unknown friends in Florida now.

Elaine & Mike Adams

Then, it occurred to me, instead of complaining, do something about it!  I had TONS of experience organizing teenaged scholarship and recognition pageants across the nation.  So I volunteered.  That led to 3 or 4 years of working arm in arm with Kris T-M to plan, organize and put on our Christmas pageant/program.  I thoroughly enjoyed working with Kris and was amazed by her leadership, knowledge and compatibility.  Thank you Kris!

Heidi Stennes

I will always remember the time you took with me as we prepared for my mom’s memorial service. Your patience, kindness and empathy were deeply appreciated! Best wishes as you embark on a new chapter Kris….Enjoy!

Jane Belgum

Thank you for you’re time and devotion to Bethlehem, we appreciate you! Enjoy retirement ….

Dan, Kali, Jaxson and Henrik

We have been blessed to have Pastor Kris baptize all three of our children in recent years. What a gift to have the same pastor usher in a life of faith and promise in Jesus Christ for our family. We wish her the absolute best in her next chapter and journey in Christ.

Demet Family

Pastor Kris, I will remember you most for your friendliness and your knowledge and love of scripture and what it teaches us. I so appreciated your help back in 2019 and 2020 when we put in place a Wednesday evening Bible Study. Though few attended, you came as often as you could and supported the effort. Your carefully crafted sermons touched and encouraged me, too. We also appreciate your support of the Sunday Morning Bible Study as well. Thank you for your ministry to us!

Nancy Johnson

My favorite memories of Kris TM are going on the NYC Mission Trip with her. I believe there were 96 of us and we stayed at 5 churches and did a variety of service projects. Kris‘ kids were in high school and her whole family was on the trip.

I also credit Kris with introducing me to Holden Village when a group of us from Bethlehem went to Fall Work Week.

I really appreciated Kris the Sunday after I was ordained as a pastor when she invited me to preside at communion for the 7 pm service.

Kris, you’ve made a big impact on Bethlehem and we will miss you! Enjoy your retirement!

Betsy Hoium

Best wishes on your next life phase. You deserve the best retirement has to offer.

Judy Germann

Kris, I so deeply understand and yet am so sorry to hear about your retirement. You have been the rock, the steadfast servant, the ever-present stability, and a beacon of peace amidst many transitions. Thank you so much for your service. We will miss you terribly.
Many blessings in this next phase.

Tricia Hall

Hello! Wishing you all the best and wanting to thank you for organizing Erin’s ordination and being there for her. We appreciated that and you for all you have done.

Cathy and Craig Schmidtke

Pastor Kris is a gem of a person and leader. She’s kind, observant, and responsive. She uses the literary and musical arts to share the Gospel and connect with others. She helped me feel seen and understood at a low point in my life. I have looked forward to her preaching…; there’s always a poem or song to amplify my understanding and sense of God’s love and care. I am thankful for her gifts to me and to our congregation. She is a good shepherd and I will miss her much. Kris, I wish you joy upon joy as you move into your next chapter.

Much love, Kirsten Vaage

Thank you for your compassionate leadership, for your beautiful prayers, and for your gentle voice of comfort in our times of grief. Our family is grateful for all the gifts of your beautiful ministry. We hope a trip to Holden is in your near future!

Naomi Hagestuen LaFrenz

I had the pleasure of shaking your hand the first time you preached at Mtka. Since then I have worshiped on line with the Mpls services. As I am now in a Assisted Living facility I am thankful for that opportunity.

Your retirement from Bethlehem is well earned and I wish you many other ways to do God’s work. I’m sure the Holy Spirit will continue to lead you. September 23 is the 100th year that he has led me, although I often wonder if he is telling me I still have more to do before he calls me. Thank You for being one of my favorite online persons. God Bless.

Fred Schoenfelder

Best wishes , Pastor Kris, on this next chapter in your life journey. I am so grateful for Pastor Kris‘ ministry over all these many years. I am so thankful for how she touched the lives of many children including my son , Aidan, when she was an integral part of the Children’s Ministry at Bethlehem. Aidan, now an adult, still remembers her fondly and carries faith lessons that he learned from her with him.

I am also thankful for Kris‘ part in faith formation, in leading countless Bible studies ,which I always enjoyed and always learned a great deal from. And our small group is thankful for her guidance and recommendations during our own Bible studies.

I have been a member of Bethlehem for many years and I will miss her gentle and steadfast presence greatly. This was especially comforting during COVID and during all the changes with pastoral leadership that the congregation has endured. We will miss you, Pastor Kris, and wish you all the best!

Ingrid (and Aidan) Petrilla

When we rejoined Bethlehem I reconnected with Pastor Kris. She was so warm. She took the time to connect with me and make my whole family feel welcome. She was a bridge to make me feel at home at a church again and that I was moving in right spiritual direction. I am so glad to have crossed paths with her at the right time in my life and wish her all the best on her retirement.

Steve Roller

I just want to say Thank You for going up north to preside over Mom’s burial. It means so much to us.

Thank You for also going on the summer trip to the Boundary Waters. It really helps the students to get to know the pastors better outside of church.

Good luck in retirement.

Toni Ferch

Pastor Kris – Thank you for your faithful and dedicated leadership as Dean of the South Minneapolis Conference during my time on the Minneapolis Area Synod staff! It was a joy to work with you and to come to the well-attended meetings of the conference. I valued your extra attention to newcomers to the conference, and your genuine interest in how things were going in the synod.

You always exude a joy and approachability in your public leadership that is noticed and appreciated!

God’s richest blessings to you in your next chapter!

Pastor Craig Pederson

I got to know Pastor Kris when I was a young mom, abut 20 years ago. She invited me to participate in the planning of vacation bible school decorations. I was able to help with some parts of worship as well. For Ash Wednesday we charred a tree and had people hang cut out hands on the tree as an interactive beginning to lent. It was a joy to volunteer for her and she really encouraged me share my spiritual gifts. I taught felting at a women’s retreat at her request. I enjoyed planning things like that with her. The newborn LWR kits were a great things to be able to participate in as well (cutting the bottoms of many onesies and cutting fabric into long strips).

I moved away across the country but continue being involved in VBS and Children’s Ministry (& LWR kits) in my new church. I learned so much from seeing Kris’s leadership in action with VBS. Planning so far ahead leads to so much calm in the process but Kris also handled all the whole team and last minute things that come up with great care and ease – God’s peace is within. I was always in awe! I now have led VBS for many years and have been the Children’s Ministry Director at my church and I am striving to be more like Kris. She inspired me to get more involved in church work and expanded my faith. I appreciate the loving leadership she shared with Bethlehem Church as a whole and it made a huge difference in my own life! I am so grateful to have shared time with Kris at Bethlehem and hope she has a wonderful retirement!

Jenni Klemp

Pastor Kris is, whether she likes it or not (or knows it or not) thought of as our family pastor. She buried my grandmas; married my brother; baptized my son. She made church vibrant, loud, messy, wet, and fun when I was a kid with VBS that was unbelievable to my childhood eyes. I feel like I grew up with her, as she became a pastor while I became an adult, and I now heard the gospel from the pulpit instead of the altar steps. Though, still to this day I love seeing her perched on the steps telling the story to the kids. Back in January walking us through baptism, playing with water sitting next to the kids. I feel like I have so many full circle moments with her. My childhood memories of the children’s message, then watching Gus up front with her. Seeing the “baby parade” after a baptism, and having Kris bring Gus down the aisle too. She has been with us all through death, resurrection and new life. A steady presence always lending her calm to us. How I will miss that calm. Or catching her after the service when she remembers she has something funny to share and giggles as she reaches out to initiate a good story.

The ordinary and extraordinary moments of life she uses to share the gospel. I still think of her on the bus with her expired chocolate bar as a kid. I remember sitting in the pew the day before I was induced with Gus and making eye contact with her during the service. Soon came the prayers and she prayed for “safe passage for new life” and I knew it was for me. How many of us can cherish those moments where she knew just where to meet us. How grateful I am that she’s carried me through my faith journey. I am so thankful to have known and learned from her, to have met Christ through her. Bethlehem is home thanks to her. Well done good and faithful servant and thanks be to God for the stream of love, care, and calm that Kris has gifted our community. We will miss you but we are so happy for you!

Bekah Engstrand

Pastor Kris,
It has felt like home seeing you at church all these years. Your friendly smile, kind and knowing eyes, and your warm spirit have embraced me every time. Thank you for making Bethlehem feel so welcoming, that we all belong, and we are all known.
I don’t think I have ever told you, but you remind me of my wonderful Aunt Bernie. Another reason you feel like home. I remember a story you told about being at a wedding or baby shower long ago, and you had accidentally spilled on the carpet. You felt embarrassed, wondered how you should go about telling someone, felt exposed and vulnerable, and in that story I easily imagined myself having the same feelings and that you were just like the rest of us (not just a Pastor on the Pedestal). All of your sermons brought humility, reality, compassion, truth, clarity, humor, grace, and a deeper understanding of how God shows up in our lives.

You were the one who got our family to finally watch Ted Lasso. What a gift of joy and love that was/is!

I appreciate the light shone on living and loving your family through mental health issues and the special care and support you gave me during that time. The support seminar opened my eyes to how many struggle and that we are not alone. I am proud that Bethlehem sees the value in supporting this important issue and has done so many things to continue their support.

It’s been lovely to have the communion connection with you. I grew up Catholic and could not understand why women were not allowed to serve communion. Serving communion is something I deeply cherish, as it feels so very holy to be able to serve God’s meal to our congregation. I have appreciated the funny quirks and antics that come with an up close view while holding the bread and wine.

Kris, you have been the constant at Bethlehem through all the difficult changes we’ve known as members, and that has meant so much to our family.

Wishing you long and easy days filled with restoration, joy, laughter, good health, family, and friends. May God bless you abundantly in this new chapter, as you have blessed us for so many years.

Please keep in touch and I hope we will see you at Bethlehem once in awhile.

With deep heartfelt gratitude for all you’ve done for Bethlehem, and for the magnificence you’ll bring in retirement,

Melissa, Chris, Lauren, and Andrew Piela

Pastor Kris,

I rarely stepped foot in a church before we started going to Bethlehem and then became members. You’ve made me feel so welcomed and included in the church community. You were a great resource for our small group and connected me with someone who has become a dear friend! I wish you a wonderful retirement with excellent adventures around every corner.

Warm Wishes,
Yvonne Olsen

Thank you, Pastor Kris, for your caring, loving, and supportive ministry to us and so many others over the years.

We wish you all the best in this next chapter!

Chris, Mark, Phoebe & Henry Loth

Pastor Kris,

Thank you for your many years of service, your thought provoking sermons, kindness and support, amazing small group activities, and calming presence. It has been a joy to be part of your congregation. I have so many memories from volunteering for Sunday school to Robert getting small group information for our mish mash group to you explaining your journey to pastor to my Girl Scout troop at Day of Service. Our family wishes you all the best in your retirement.

Love,
Tina, Ric, Donovan, Anika and Juliet

Though not a member I am a Holiday worshipper. I would always hope that Pastor Kris would be preaching. She is clear, spiritual, kindly, and knows how to relate the religious to the human. Thanks. I will miss her.

Sincerely,
Dr. Mary Cutler

Best wishes on a well-deserved retirement! Our family will forever be grateful for the kindness, compassion and comfort you shared with us when our son was critically injured. You went above and beyond, even making a house call on Ash Wednesday so we wouldn’t miss out. I’m so glad we’ve been able to keep in touch after our move and hope to see more relaxing retirement updates online. You’re always welcome to visit us in New Zealand.

All our best, Jen, Paul, Richie and Henrik

Pastor Kris,
Thank you for all of your kindness and leadership. After my dad died, you called me. You listened and offered prayers and support. Your reaching out helped me feel connected and comforted. Thank you. You will be missed!

~ Sara Boss and family

We first met as you led the children’s ministry and were thrilled many years later when you became one of Bethlehem’s Pastors. You’ve always been a part of Bethlehem for our family, always welcoming us warmly, celebrating milestones and caring so much. We were all blessed to know Anna as well, and are so happy that you will have more time available to spend with your sweet Grandson.

Through so many trying times and transitions, you have always been there – calm and steady. Thanks for sharing your ministry with us. We will miss you greatly!

Leslie Nall

A prayer – old I think – I will particularize:
O God you have called your servants —
especially Kris —
to ventures of which she cannot see the ending
by paths untrodden
through perils unknown.
Give her faith to go out with good courage
Not knowing where she goes
But only that your hand is leading her and your love supporting her.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
AMEN

Happy New Days!

Carrie Bliss

Pastor Kris knows that I love Bible study and books on religion. She would always notify me about upcominbg classes and sessions at Bethlehem and would even register me for the offerings.

Robert Vokes

I had my most direct interaction with Kris many years ago when I was a Sunday School teacher and Kris was in charge of the program. Kris approached the job with great enthusiasm and was always looking for ways to improve the effectiveness of our teaching and to keep it interesting for the kids. I always felt valued and appreciated, even though teaching is not my forte. There was usually a “Thank You” meal at Buca’s at the end of the year for the teachers, which I greatly enjoyed. Our children are of a similar age to Kris’, so we exchanged lots of parenting stories over the years as we watched each other’s families grow up.

While Kris’s retirement will be a big change for the church, I’m sure that she will continue to faithfully serve God in new ways in her “Golden Years”.

Kris, thanks for all you have done for Bethlehem over the years, and I hope you enjoy your retirement as much as I have enjoyed mine.

Robert Kean

Kris- You have been such a blessing to me and my family. With deep gratitude, I wish you the best in your retirement. If I were to become a minister, you would be my role model! Godspeed.

Kari Hansen