Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This past weekend, Rev. Eric Black informed us that he is accepting the call we extended on Sunday, October 29th to serve as Messiah's pastor!
As details regarding Pastor Black's move to Messiah become available, we will share them with you. Please keep the entire Black family (Pastor, his wife Allison and their children Eleanor, Theodore and Lucia) in your prayers during this time of transition. Also, please pray for St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kalkaska and St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mancelona as they prepare to bid farewell to the Black family and discern their path forward.
Thanks to all of you for your help, support and fervent prayers during this process! Special thanks also go out to:
Our Pastoral Call Committee (Tammy Ahrens, Mark Altemann, Gina Griffis, Kristen Kaminski, Melanie Kirchhoff, Michael Kutch, Ken Martin and Peter Tessin);
Messiah's leadership - staff members, the Board of Elders, Church Council, Finance Committee and Voters' Assembly, and all who contributed to this blessed outcome;
Those representing the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and its Michigan District during the process, including Circuit Visitor Rev. Glenn Schaeffer, Rev. Randy Johnson, President David Davis and the staff at the District office.
Rev. Jason Peterson will continue to serve as our vacancy pastor until Pastor Black's installation, with Rev. James Blain and Rev. Terry Hoese presiding over worship services during December.
Above all, we thank our gracious God for His goodness to us. Again, a prayer from our Lutheran Service Book expresses our gratitude and the tasks before us wonderfully well.
Gracious Father, we thank You for hearing our prayers and granting us a shepherd, Pastor Eric Black, to guide us in the paths of righteousness. Help us to await with joy his arrival, and protect him in the coming days. Bless his ministry among us, and grant that we may ever be willing to hear the voice of Your servant speaking in Your name so that he may joyfully carry out his ministry to Your glory and our welfare; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant
