The Friday Flyer • January 13, 2017

CANYON LAKE’S NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 13, 2017
Residents brave cold water and weather on Polar Bear Day Pg. 6
Dueling Pianos will perform at the Lodge January 21 Pg. A8
Uncork your creativ- ity at Paint and Sip on January 19 Pg. 15
Paster Pete, at left, served as Senior Pastor of Can- yon Lake Community Chuch, above, for 40 years. In retirement, he contnues to help those in need.
Pastor Pete’s retired? No... He’s re-fired
DONNA RITCHIE
EDITOR, THE FRIDAY FLYER
Canyon Lake Community Church (CLCC) experienced a change of leader- ship one year ago this month. Pastor Pete Van Dyke, who had been installed as the pastor of CLCC on January 9, 1977, re- tired on January 10, 2016. He served 40 years as senior pastor of CLCC. Pastor Dave Dick assumed Pastor Pete’s duties.
Pastor Pete and his wife Pat, who had retired three years previously from her administrative position at Riverside Christian Schools, were looking for ways to fill their retired days. Pat kept very busy with her photography, writing for The Friday Flyer’s Unsung Hero and Pat’s Funny Bone columns and adding to her crafting skills. Pastor Pete, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to discover a new passion.
One of Pastor Pete’s passions was gardening, but his “postage-stamp-sized yard,” doesn’t require much time or care. He then considered other possible answers, but he always came to the same conclusion, which is that he wanted to do what he loved most and that was car- ing for the emotional needs of others.
The word “pastor” derives from the Latin noun pastor which means “shep- herd.” Pastor Pete is just that, a “pastor- shepherd.” A shepherd unselfishly cares for his flock and Pastor Pete filled and continues to fill that role for many.
In February, Pastor Pete was named the Pastor of Congregational Care of CLCC. He finds himself working more than 30 hours a week visiting and en- couraging those with medical needs, meeting the needs of those who have experienced the death of a loved one, conducting funerals, counseling and performing weddings.
In short, in retirement, Pastor Pete is doing what he loves best, his passion: caring for others both locally and in the extended communities. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” says Pastor Pete.
When asked what his greatest reward is now that he is retired, the Pastor says without hesitation, “Teaching my be- reavement classes. I feel privileged to help so many walk through this process no matter if the loss has been only a few months before or years later. It’s a time that I can help people have a victory over the stress that they are experiencing. It’s a time that I can bring comfort as well as provide resources to help overcome that stress that is associated with grieving.”
Stress has been identified as Ameri- ca’s number one health problem causing a person to experience many negative issues. A person’s physical and mental health is greatly affected by the stress that one may be enduring at that time. One of the greatest stress factors in life is the death of a loved one.
Pastor Pete has found many of his congregants in exactly this position. Many were dealing with the loss of a loved one, but did not have the tools to help them get through this difficult life experience.
The loss of a family member or close friend breaks one’s heart and un- derstandably, one will find themselves grieving with little knowledge regard- ing a healthy way to deal with this life changing experience. Unfortunately, ev- ery person will have to deal with grief sometime in their life. Some will fully recover and deal with their “new nor- mal,” but others will find themselves in a situation in which they cannot function or deal with everyday life.
There has probably been no other Pastor in the community who has minis- tered to the hearts of Canyon Lake fami- lies more than Pastor Pete. His ministry as Pastor has given him access to the lives of many Canyon Lake residents. He’s shared their happiness while per- forming weddings, their grief while of- ficiating funerals of their loved ones and their saddness as he prayed with them through some of the darkest days of their lives.
During his 40 years as senior pastor of
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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY PAT VAN DYKE