The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

The past several days were undoubtedly memorable for Reverend Dr. Robert Svenson. Last Friday evening the Peru Community Church hosted a Recognition Dinner to honor his service as their pastor. Sunday he delivered his last sermon at the church and Monday he officially retired after forty-two years of ministry.

Anyone attending Friday night’s dinner soon became aware of that it was going to be a joyous, friendly, informal evening. All the speakers, including the church’s youth group president, addressed Reverend Svenson as “Bob.” It was very clear that his congregation regarded him as both a pastor and a friend. St. Augustine’s Church Pastor Reverend Alan Shnob was one of the people sitting at Rev. Svenson’s table. Interviewed last Thursday Rev. Svenson explained, “Our two Peru churches have always had a close relationship. My friendship with Father Alan started with a lunch. I don’t recall who asked whom out to lunch. Now if we can’t do lunch every Friday we’ll do dinner. He often invites me over to the rectory where Roberta (the rectory housekeeper) or his sister Carol cooks a great meal.”

Asked what he considers to be his great accomplishment Reverend Svenson responded, “I can’t think of any one thing. A lot has nothing to do with me, but I supported it – the Jamaican Mission, the Youth Group DC Mission program, teaching counseling to other pastors with Don Haight. This church also has a history of community outreach. We participated in the Family Promise Program where every month we would house one family for a week. Last night a group worked at the St. Augustine’s Soup Kitchen. These are the types of things that really matter. If my ministry has been successful it’s because God has been good to us and because the people in this church are sensational at pitching in.”

Reverend Svenson said the Peru Community Church’s community outreach flows from its worship service. He said, “Preaching! It’s a huge responsibility. You are teaching the people about God and who Jesus Christ is. If the worship service isn’t the center of the church then it’s just a social agency. Worship is the center of what we do here and everything else flows from that, our mission, our action.”

After The Peru Gazette published photos of Friday night’s Recognition Dinner, Community Church member Paul Madore addressed a comment to Rev. Svenson, “Your sermons here were second to none, and you have helped so many, many members with such well prepared, Holy Spirit inspired sermons. Words cannot express the admiration for you as our preacher, our mentor, our angel on earth, and I’m proud to say a friend.”

Reverend Svenson had special praise for Amanda Connelly, the church’s office manager/bookkeeper. He said, “I could not do what I do without Amanda Connelly. My career here has to a large extent been successful because of Amanda. She has been invaluable.”

Wednesday morning Reverend Dr. Robert “Bob” Svenson will be driving a truck to Syracuse where he’ll meet one of his five children who will accompany him to Tucson, Arizona. There he will reside with his daughter Elizabeth. His son Christopher lives next door to Elizabeth. Christopher’s job often takes him out of town, so Reverend Svenson is looking forward to spending a lot of time with Christopher’s three children.

He would like to stay in contact with his friends and recently joined Facebook. He can be emailed at robertericsvenson@gmail.com.

Click here to read our 2008 story about Reverend Svenson’s being installed as pastor.