After living in Great Falls for 16 years, I am retiring as pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church, and together with LaVonne, moving to Clermont, Fla. We’ll be closer to our daughter and grandchildren who still mourn the sudden death of their dad this past April, but we shall miss a fantastic community.

What is it about Great Falls that we have come to love? It’s a community that is "big enough to celebrate, and small enough to care." The Easter Egg Hunt on the Village Green still has the sounds of children hollering, "We want eggs! We want eggs!" Guarding an entrance area, I could feel the excitement and joy of anxious children. There was a festive spirit in this small, caring community.

I’LL NEVER FORGET the first anniversary of 9-11. Standing in the Village Green gazebo, I looked out at 300 people seated on the green grass. In a service led by the Ecumenical Council, the bulletin stated that candles would be lit at a certain time, but people couldn’t wait. Candles began to be lit, piercing the darkness, and a marvelous thing happened that night. We had a "fly-over," not by jet airplanes, but by a flock of geese, in perfect formation. It reminded me of how geese honk to cheer one another on, and if one is sick, another stays with it until it’s well again. Amid the hurting of 9-11, the geese were the preachers that night, pointing us to God’s gift of one another. It’s that caring spirit that continues on. In fact, following that service, three people got together and shared a dream about a "Freedom Memorial." That dream became a reality because people cared, and Great Falls now gathers on Sept. 11, Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day and July 4 to remember those who have served our country.

When our dear neighbor Eva Kee suddenly died, leaving six children under the age of 15, this community, which is large enough to celebrate at Halloween (a favorite time of Eva’s) in the village center, was also there caring for her children and their dad. Eva was loved by so many people in this community. A reception was planned following the funeral and a few people got together, planned it and put it on Evite, and within three hours, people responded by offering to bring everything needed. Yes, Great Falls is "big enough to celebrate and small enough to care."

While we’ll be gone before the dedication of Turner Farm Park, LaVonne and I have been walking on that parkland. A visionary person years ago came forward, shared a vision of what the Turner farm could become, helped people capture a vision and shared it with a community, and the community cared enough to help this happen as money was raised. To see horses there, to walk the trails, to dream of what "Observatory Park" will someday become is exciting. Yes, Great Falls is big enough to celebrate, and small enough to care.

As I watched the fireworks for the last time on July 4 at Turner Farm Park, I thought of the festivities of that day. Hometown folks who care plan the events in Great Falls. Hometown folks enjoy the early morning 5K run/walk. That dream of mine became a reality when the Ecumenical Council decided to sponsor it. For the first years of the run/walk, I would be there to cheer on the participants. Only after a heat attack and open heart surgery was I able to run. That was my goal following surgery. I shall miss this day, seeing the baby parade, watching the parade and gathering candy. Children playing games on the Village Green following the parade bring generations together, and that is cause for celebration in itself.

SOME YEARS AGO, during Great Falls Day at the Grange, I was invited to announce the groups and individuals performing on stage. The last group was an orchestra. As the vendors took down tents, the people left, until it was only Lauren Hill and me who were listening. After each number, we would applaud and Lauren would yell, "Great job, thank you." We were the only ones there when the band stopped playing, and the band thanked us. I saw a caring spirit in the heart of Lauren.

Thank you, Great Falls. I hope you can hear that. Continue the performance. You have been "large enough to celebrate," and celebrate you do. You are "small enough to care." Thank you for that caring spirit. We shall miss you.