Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Rev. Dr. Christopher Jackson has declined our call to serve as pastor at Messiah. An excerpt from his letter to us follows below.
"I regret to inform you that I am returning the divine call to Messiah and cannot at this time serve as your pastor.
"While I believe that I would be able to serve Messiah well, accepting this call would require my family to make some significant sacrifices, and this fact determined my decision.
"Messiah has a bright future ahead of her. To my eye, you appear to be a healthy, loving, Gospel-centered, and hard-working congregation in a great mission field. I am confident that the Lord will bring you together with the right man to serve you as pastor, and that he will be blessed by serving you, even as you are blessed in his service."
We thank Pastor Jackson for his prayerful consideration of our call. We pray for God's blessings on him, his family, and those he currently serves at Saint John's Lutheran Church in Algoma, Wisconsin and Saint Peter's Lutheran Church in Forestville, Wisconsin.
Messiah's Call Committee will be meeting soon to consider our next steps in the call process, in consultation with Pastor Peterson. Members of Messiah, please keep an eye out for updates by email and in upcoming newsletters.
In the meantime, we ask that all of you continue to keep our Church Council, call committee, staff and membership in your prayers. We turn to Lutheran Service Book to provide a model for our personal prayers:
O gracious Heavenly Father, You instituted the office of the public ministry, and instructed Your Church to call ministers to proclaim Your Word and faithfully administer Your Sacraments. Bless the Rev. Dr. Christopher Jackson and his family, as he continues Your ministry in Wisconsin.
Grant to us the continued guidance of Your Holy Spirit, along with patience, humility and trust in You. Have mercy on us and help us to call a suitable pastor according to Your will and timing, for the blessing of Your Church in this place.
Give us grace to trust You during this time of widespread distress. In mercy put an end to the epidemic that afflicts this nation and the world. Grant relief to those who suffer from COVID-19, from other illnesses, from natural disasters, or from unemployment; comfort all that mourn or struggle. Sustain all government and medical personnel in their labors, and cause Your people ever to serve You in righteousness and holiness. Grant Your peace to our world, our nation and our community.
Hear us for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Jonathan Chaffer, President
Mark Altemann, Chairman, Call Committee
