Our Redeemer, Yelm, WA, installs Pastor

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Yelm, Washington welcomed its new pastor at an installation service on January 14, 2007. The Rev. James Braun was installed as pastor by the Rev. Glenn Obenberger who also conducted the liturgy. Pastor Alexander Ring of Lakewood Lutheran Church preached the sermon based on Luke 4:16-39. The Rev. Steven Sparley served as the lector in the service. The Our Redeemer choir sang during the service. They were directed by the church organist Sandra Hresil. Paul Nielsen sang a solo. Also participating in the installation were Reverends Alex Ring, Harry Bartels, Timothy Bartels, Joel Nitz (WELS), and Jerrold Dalke, Jesse Jacobsen, and Glenn Obenderger. Vicar Dale Jaech stood with the pastors during the installation. Pastor Braun replaces the Rev. Glenn Obenberger, who served the Yelm congregation as a vacancy pastor for a year and a half.

Baptisms in Arizona

Two adult baptisms were administered on Sunday, December 17, 2006, at the Sun of Righteousness Lutheran Mission in Queen Creek, Arizona, by Pastor David Jay Webber. Estreia Roth and Angela Carlile were baptized and received as communicants. Thirty-five people were in attendance for this joyous event. Following the service, the celebration continued with a pot-luck supper at the Cheryl Roth home in Queen Creek.

Sun of Righteousness Lutheran Mission is a preaching station of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. Worship Services in Queen Creek were begun on Trinity Sunday in 2006. They are held each Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Frances Brandon-Pickett Elementary School. More information is available on the mission's web page: sunofrighteousness.vze.com

Board for Home Missions Meets

On January 30-February 1 the ELS Board for Home Missions conducted its biennial home missions seminar in Orlando, Florida. The Rev. Steven Petersen addressed the subjects of stewardship and “Encouraging Lay Leaders” in mission congregations, Rev. Nathan Krause emphasized how mission churches should build relationships between congregation and the community, Rev. Bradley Kerkow addressed the subject of effectively welcoming visitors, Rev. Matthew Crick presented a pamphlet “How Do I Study the Bible?”, WELS Missionary Steve Blumer dealt with Blended Worship Planning, and Reverends Richard Wiechmann and David Russow spoke about time management.

Resurrection Lutheran Celebrates 10 years

On January 21, 2007 Resurrection Lutheran Church in Winter Haven, Florida celebrated the tenth anniversary of the dedication of its sanctuary. Former ELS president, the Rev. George Orvick, preached the sermon, basing it on Romans 8:31-39 and using the theme: “Certainty in Uncertain Times.” The Rev. Mark Wold, a former pastor of the congregation, conducted the liturgy. Several other pastors from the circuit read the lessons. Special guests included the Rev. Matthew Thompson, along with many former members of the congregation. A catered dinner was served after the service.

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod sponsored exploratory services in Winter Haven, Florida beginning on September 11, 1994 in the Admiral’s Inn on Cypress Gardens Blvd.

The founding pastor was the Rev. Matthew Thompson, who was commissioned as a Home missionary to Winter Haven on May 15, 1994, and served the congregation until August 1999. The congregation was chartered on November 11, 1994. Construction of the church building was competed in the fall of 1996. Resurrection Lutheran Church dedicated this sanctuary on February 12, 1997. The Rev. Ervin Ekhoff, the Chairman of the ELS Board for Home Missions, preached at that service and the Rev. Steven Petersen performed the rite of dedication. In 1999 the congregation hosted the third triennial convention of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference. The Rev. Mark Wold next served the congregation from November 1999 to the fall of 2003. The Rev. Charles Keeler was installed as pastor on January 19, 2003 and continues to serve the congregation.