Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter welcomes new pastor
Article published on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 |
TREASURE ISLAND – The Rev. Briit Rebane will replace retired Pastor Paul F.W. Pieper, who helped establish the Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter on Paradise Island in 1962.
As interim pastor, Rebane has a long pastoral history in the area, including Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg for 18 years, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Clearwater and the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Seminole.
Rebane was born in Pilistvere, Estonia, in 1937. In 1944 at the age of 7, he and his family fled to Germany to escape the Communist army’s invasion of Estonia. At the end of World War II, and for the next six years, the family lived in displaced persons camps in war-torn Germany.
In 1950 the family emigrated to the United States under the sponsorship of Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg. Rebane graduated from Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., with a bachelor’s degree; then in 1960 a master of divinity degree from the Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia; and in 1982 he earned a doctor of ministry degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
The Rev. Paul F.W. Pieper helped found the church in 1962 when he was called by the Board of American Missions of the United Lutheran Church of America. As chaplain, he spearheaded the development of the church until October 2005.
After 54 years of serving the Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter and the Treasure Island community, the congregation and friends wish the Rev. Pieper a long and comfortable retirement.
|
Article published on Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
