The Rev. Barry Keurulainen, pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Jefferson Township, waves to church members during a drive-through ceremony Sunday afternoon atnearby SEBCO Park where he was given a fond farewell upon his retirement after nearly 39 years of leading the congregation. Seated in front was his daughter Jennifer, and in back next to was wife Andrea.

JEFFERSON TWP — Parishioners of St. Luke Lutheran Church gathered under umbrellas Sunday afternoon at SEBCO Park to bid a happy retirement to the Rev. Barry J. Keurulainen — their beloved pastor for nearly four decades.

Hoots and hollers and clapping hands greeted Keurulainen as he puttered by in the back seat of a Ford Model T, accompanied by wife, Andrea, daughter Jennifer, and honorary chauffeur and church member Simon Neubert.

The grim weather did not dampen the spirits of the grateful congregants — some holding signs that read “God Blessed Us With You.” “We Love You,” “May God Bless You & Your Family,” and “Thank You.”

It was the chance to pay one final tribute to the man they know as “Pastor Barry,” with a drive-through reception — a sort of victory lap — at the park just down the road from the church on Hannahstown Road in Jefferson Township.

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