POULSBO — The Rev. Don Jukam will retire as pastor of Poulsbo First Lutheran Church on Dec. 31.

Jukam was invited to pastor at First Lutheran Church in 1997. In a prepared statement, the church said he leaves a legacy of “discovering what the words of scripture meant when first heard.” Jukam also established a Mission Committee, which is very active, according to the church.

Jukam’s last Sunday service will be on Christmas  Day, 10 a.m.

“All are invited to his last Sunday in the historic pulpit at First Lutheran, corner of 4th and Hostmark,” according to the church.

Jukam is retiring from his lead pastor position, but is staying quite active. He said he will work as an interim pastor for churches between permanent leaders, and continue to work with a military mission organization where he trains foreign military chaplains; last year, he taught in Chile.

A former Navy chaplain of 20 years, Jukam first came to the Sound region in 1986. He previously worked on Whidbey Island and at Keyport Naval Base.Jukam and his wife Elaine will spend much of their time with the founding of a new orphanage in Nepal, that First Lutheran helped establish.

“It’s a great ministry here,” he said. “It’s a wonderful, wonderful place to do ministry.”

The Jukams have two daughters, Sonja and Rekha, both in the Los Angeles area.

First Lutheran will be led by current pastors Alison and Kent Shane, and youth and family coordinator Paul Davis.

There have been 19 pastors in the church’s 125-year history.