Trinity Lutheran Church installing new vicar

CLOVIS - When some people reach a crossroads in the middle of their life they buy a new car or start exercising more. Eric Saed decided he wanted to become a minister.

After spending 15 years in the business world working in market research and competitive intelligence, this Sunday Saed will be installed as the new vicar at Trinity Lutheran Church, the first time he has entered a leadership position like this at a church.

"I'm very excited," Saed said. "This is a wonderful, wonderful congregation and Bonita (Knox) was a wonderful pastor and those are some big shoes to fill but I think that the future is going to be fantastic for Trinity."

Now 47, Saed said in his early 40s he experienced some changes in life that forced him to reassess his values and goals. After moving from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Lubbock to be closer to his family, he became involved as a member at Shepherd King Lutheran Church.

From there his pastor helped Saed get involved with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's TEEM program, which stands for Theological Education for Emerging Ministries.

Saed said TEEM helps take people who want to become a minister and place them in small or emerging congregations.

When Knox decided to leave Trinity Lutheran around the time Saed became involved with TEEM, the size and location of the church made Trinity Lutheran and Clovis the perfect place for Saed to begin his ministry.

"I decided to stop telling God '(I'll do it) later or can I do it this way?' and yielded to the call that's been on my heart," Saed said. "I decided this is where God wants me to be and where I need to be going."

Saed said he does not want to make any changes to the worship format at Trinity "other than just trying my own brand of being open, welcoming, affirming and positive."

"My number one goal in ministry is to speak a message of encouragement and joy whenever I can and to try to even find encouragement and joy and God's grace in even tragic or unpleasant situations," Saed said.

On Sunday at 2 p.m. there will be a ceremony officially installing Saed as the new vicar at Trinity Lutheran. Saed said all are welcome to attend the event, as well as regular services every Sunday at 9:30 a.m.