May 03, 2024

The Last Sermon

After a quarter century serving his congregation, Brent Book delivers his final sermon

By Natalie Book

A man in a white shirt walks in front of a stained glass window.

Pastor Brent Book carries a cross to adorn the altar in preparation for Palm Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church in Boalsburg Pa, Saturday March 31, 2024. Book explains his ministry with a simple phrase, “If it’s good it’s G-d, if it’s bad it’s me.”

Credit: Natalie Book

Brent Book has been the pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Boalsburg for the past 25 years.

From baptisms, to marriages, to burials, Pastor Book has been part of the community’s most significant life moments. Book reflects, “we are called into the privilege to be servants: to G-d, to my wife, to my children, to my family of faith, to the stranger… but as I reflect upon a life serving, it becomes clear I have in sum total received more than I could ever give, and I am grateful for it all.”

The pastor’s daughter, Natalie Book, a Penn State senior, documented the last sermon.

A close-up of a person's left hand against text on a stained-glass window.

Pastor Brent Book reflects on the past 25 years serving the congregation as he looks at the names painted onto the stained glass of all the pastors who served before him. “The names on the window aren’t what’s important,” Brent explains “It’s that the light shines through them.”

A dark-haired man looks at his reflection in the mirror as he brushes his teeth.

Pastor Brent Book brushes his teeth in preparation for church on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in the church office. Every morning before church Book prays, “May the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight Oh Lord.”

A man in a white robe approaches a two-story brick church.

Pastor Brent Book rushes across the street as the bell in the steeple calls people in to worship at Zion Lutheran Church in Boalsburg Pa. Pastor Book says setting up the sanctuary is like “preparing the house for the family to gather.”

A man in a white collared shirt, reflected in a stained glass window pulls a rope to open the window.

Pastor Brent Book opens a window, letting fresh air flood the sanctuary, as he sets up for the coming services.

A close up of a man separating palm branches.

Pastor Brent Book pulls fronds apart in the church office for Palm Sunday Saturday March 31, 2024. “Even the little things give an opportunity to serve and reflect,” he said.

A man in a white robe hugs an older, balding man wearing glasses.

Pastor Brent Book greets each congregant at the close of the service on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Pastor Book describes his connection to the people of Zion, “relationships run deep and departures are hard.”

A dark-haired man in a black sweatshirt works at his laptop.

Pastor Brent Book arrives at the church office at the crack of dawn on Sunday April 28, 2024, to preach his last sermon to the Zion Lutheran Church community. “The sermon is never a product until I deliver it,” he explains, “The words are on the page, but the Spirit moves through it and changes it up to the last second.”

A dark haired man in a dark shirt puts on a white robe.

Pastor Brent Book robes before church in the office across the street from Zion Lutheran Church. “This robe is really worn. It’s well past its peak and I’m kind of ashamed of it being worn and stained and wrinkled, but I am too” he chuckles.

A dark haired man sits alone in front of a stained-glass window and reads the Bible.

In the corridor adjacent to the sanctuary the steeple bells, organ pipes and friendly chatter are muffled as Pastor Brent Book takes a moment to make final edits to his sermon. Pastor Book says Sundays can be chaotic and it is important to take a second to “center” himself and get “the heart and mind ready for worship.”

A dark-haired man prepares to hug a woman after her baptism.

Pastor Brent Book administers holy baptism to Jordan on his last sermon at Zion Lutheran Church, Sunday April 28, 2024. “It is a blessing for your hands be on behalf of Christ’s,” Pastor Book noted in reflection of administering baptism.

A dark-haired man with a graying beard spreads his arms while delivering a message.

Pastor Brent Book is deeply moved as he offers his last words from the altar to his congregation at Zion Lutheran Church. His parting blessing was from Numbers chapter 6, “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The LORD look upon you with favor, and give you His peace.”

A right-handed man slices through a sheet cake featuring colorful flowers in the shape of a cross.

Pastor Brent Book and his wife Ramona cut the cake as the congregation celebrates his 25 of service. Many of the congregates remember when Brent and Ramona cut their wedding cake together in the very same spot, 23 years ago.

A woman in a blue shirt raises both her ams in celebration while seated at a table.

Ramona Book reacts to one of her husband’s jokes during his address at the post service celebration at Zion Lutheran Church. “You all are my witnesses” she announces following Brent’s remark he will finally be completing tasks around the house that are on her “honey do” list.

A dark-haired man in a black button-down shirt pulls books from a bookshelf and places them in a box.

Pastor Brent Book packs books that have lined the walls of his office for the past 25 years at Zion Lutheran Church. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do with all these books” he remarks. “Many of them are commentaries I will keep since I still plan to do ministry, just in a different role, but I really only need the one.”

A dark haired man carrying a white robe in his left arm crosses the street.

Pastor Brent Book walks away from the church after his last sermon. “I’m walking away from parish ministry but walking towards what G-d has next. Whatever that is, is unknown, but it will be good because He is still walking with me,” he reflects.