Text Box: April 2008 Text Box: Page #

PASTOR’S DESK:   Topic:  the call of a pastor.

On Tuesday night, Mar. 18, our Church Council called a special meeting to vote on a candidate for the position of Associate Pastor here at St. Peter’s.  The call committee submitted one name for their consideration, the Rev. Paul Graham of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.  Pastor Graham currently serves a congregation there called coincidentally,

St. Peter Lutheran Church.  After some sharing of biographical information and answering questions to the Council, the matter was put to a vote to call Pastor Graham.  The motion to call him was passed unanimously.

     I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Call Committee for their effort and careful attention to this matter.  They were given the names of several candidates with high qualifications.  The process to decide for and to recommend Pastor Paul Graham came about as the result of time and effort and prayer. 

   When Lutherans call a pastor, there are several things to keep in mind.  The person being called must sense an inner call from God to serve.  This is key in many ways for the called person has several tasks to perform including preaching, teaching, administering the Sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion, and training and equipping lay people for ministry.  One must feel called by the Holy Spirit to take on this ministry for it is at times difficult and lonely.

      Feeling an inner call is only one of the steps, however.  The inner call leads one to take seminary instruction, internship, and careful assessment of one’s talents, abilities, passion, and willingness to serve.  In addition to these hurdles, an external call must also be received.  Candidates for ministry may serve in a variety of settings, but the most common is a call to parish ministry.  A congregation upon prayer and reflection and guidance from the Holy Spirit will validate that inner call with an external call.  This has been validated for us up to a point.  Pastor Paul has shown interest by interviewing with us.  The call committee and church council have validated him by voting to present him as a candidate to the congregation.  The next step is up to you!   On April 13, 2008, you will have a chance at 9:30 a.m. to vote to call him as our Associate Pastor.  A congregational meeting has been set for that time.  That will be the only item of business for our meeting.  I encourage you to pray about this and be there at the meeting.  Happy Easter! 

                                                      

               See you in church! Pastor Craig   

Text Box: Pastor’s Corner Text Box: Facts and Figures for February 2008 2007 February offerings: $32,328 $30,521 Year to date offerings: $63,670 $62,977 February’s offerings were ahead of last years, and enabled us to be ahead of last year by $693 on a year to date basis. We are $16,080 behind our needed offerings for the year. Each week we need to receive almost $10,000 in General Fund offerings at St. Peter’s. We are so very close to calling a new Associate Pastor. We need our giving to grow. Please let your giving grow up to the level needed to add this additional person to our staff. Thank You for All You Give!

St Peter’s Clean-up Day is scheduled for April 26th.  All help is greatly appreciated!