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Link to the ELCA
(Evangelical
Lutheran
Church in America)
Link to the Upstate
New York Synod
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Reflecting on her new position as Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reverend Dasher says, "I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of God's love in my life
and in the lives of others. I am hopeful that, with the power of God's Spirit, I will continue love of God and neighbor
in this place as pastor. I look forward to walking beside you, knowing your joys and passions, pain and hurt. I am
confident that God's love overflows upon us and blesses us for the journey that is Trinity's."
Reverend Dasher comes with sixteen years of service in ordained ministry across the country, from Ohio to Georgia to North Carolina,
Washington, D.C., and Niagara Falls. She also has toured extensively in Jordan, Central America, and Ireland. "My world has continued
to widen and so has my understanding of God's love and love of neighbor," reflects Dasher. Having served as an Interim,
Associate Pastor, and Pastor in congregations from 90 members to 10,000, Dasher describes her experiences as having been in
"in-between places where churches intentionally decide to 'do a new thing' such as discerning the Spirit and redeveloping ministries;
leading a congregation where healing was needed following a pastor's sexual misconduct; spearheading outreach ministries
to the community following 9/11; pastoring a congregation in a struggling city; and organizing people from many different
denominations to work for a better tomorrow." Through the Red Cross she volunteered as a chaplain and assisted families of
those who died on Flight 3407.
Reverend Dasher also has experience as a chaplain in a regional trauma center where she specialized in neonatology and
psychiatric care and was the first staff chaplain for Grady Memorial's Children's Hospital. Currently, in addition to serving
part-time at Trinity, she is a chaplain at Niagara Hospice and a pastoral psychotherapy counselor-in-training with the
Samaritan Center in WNY. Pastor Dasher is looking forward to becoming involved in the active Faith at Work Ministry Team
at Trinity, which impacts those in need locally, nationally, and around the world through a variety of outreach projects.
A graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA, The Reverend Dasher holds a Master of Divinity degree with Honors
in Pastoral Theology. As an ordained Presbyterian minister leading a Lutheran congregation, Dasher believes, "serving
in an ELCA congregation through the Formula of Agreement that our denominations have forged is a larger witness to God's love
and love of neighbor and of Christ's mission that the Church one day be one." Characteristic of her dry sense of humor,
she adds, "All those hours watching Davey and Goliath [a Lutheran-produced children's program] as a youngster ought to
count for something." At Trinity Reverend Dasher hopes to further her life goals through dedicated ministry. "To do
justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God is central to my faith journey," says Dasher. "I am passionate
about proclaiming the 'old, old story' in a new day and time."
An installation service is planned for the fall. Trinity Lutheran East Amherst offers two services:
contemporary service is held at 5 PM on Saturdays and traditional service begins at 9:30 AM on Sundays throughout the summer;
10:30 AM September through June, following Sunday school for all ages. Visitors are welcome. Trinity is also home
to Trinikids Preschool, serving youth ages 3-5.
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