From Pastor Petersen:
Pastor Frese’s New Position with Synod, Release from Redeemer
Pastor Frese has served Redeemer as a called, part-time pastor since 2012. For most of that time, he always worked as a chaplain for the Indiana National Guard and found other ways to supplement his income. This past spring he received and accepted a call to work full time for the Missouri Synod as the Deputy Director of Church Relations. The position allows him to work from Ft. Wayne two weeks a month, but also requires him to be in St. Louis two weeks a month. He also needs to travel to other parts of the country and out of the country from time to time. On top of this, he is still a chaplain in the Indiana Air National Guard.
Because of all this, with both my and the elders’ consent he took a break from his duties at Redeemer this fall. It was a long shot, but the goal was to see if he could work out a way that he might continue at Redeemer in some modified, but still part-time role. All involved knew it was unlikely, but we all wanted it to work. Unfortunately, it did not. It simply isn’t possible for him to do this in a way that is good for him or his family. The demands of his duties as Deputy Director and the needs of his family are too great for him to be able to continue to serve us, on a regular basis, as a called pastor while also serving the Synod full time and being a military chaplain.
For these reasons, he requested that Redeemer release him from his call. This was to free his conscience and allow him to serve the Synod. The council voted on Sunday, January 8, 2023 to do so. He and his family remain active members of Redeemer. He will continue to serve at our altar and in our pulpit as do our other clergy members.
Installation of the Reverend Deacons Wietfeldt and Boyle
After six months without Pastor Frese, the elders and I took a motion to the council to obtain some regular part-time pastoral assistance. We haven’t issued a call but we may do so eventually. For now, as we work out the kinks, it is a contractual arrangement wherein both Rev. Matt Weitfeldt and Rev. Dr. Geoff Boyle will provide pastoral support and care to our congregation, particularly in the form of leading services on weekdays, helping with preaching and teaching, and doing some visitation.
The work they will be doing is precisely what the New Testament knows as diaconal work and for that reason we will refer to them as our deacons. This is a distinct use of the term from liturgical deacons, a role that is often filled among us by students, and also from the use of the term for laymen who fill various congregational roles. In the New Testament this is a pastoral office. It is filled by ordained men who work under a parish pastor. The Reverend Deacons will be installed on Sunday, March 12 at both services.
Acolyte Vestments needed
Our acolyte corps has grown both in terms of numbers of young men involved and in lbs. per height. We made a significant investment five years ago in vestments and those are still in great shape, but to deploy as many of our current acolytes as possible, we need more vestments. To bring us to a full set of vestments for all and so that we have a good stock to take us into the future we need 12 cottas or surplices (the white part) and eight cassocks (the black part) at a cost of $2000. To fully equip a single acolyte costs $245. If you would like to support this effort financially, please earmark funds for the acolytes.
Marriage and Singles Seminar: The Power of Words for Good and for Ill Saturday March 18, 2023
We will put on a Marriage and Singles seminar on Saturday March 18, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. entitled “The Power of Words for Good and for Ill.” The Seminar will begin with Holy Communion at 9:00 am. At 10:15 there will be a session targeted toward married couples or those engaged to be married in the undercroft and a simultaneous session targeted toward those who either have never been married or are currently not married. Both sessions will give Biblical and Theological advice and counsel toward relationship skills with an eye toward better understanding our various vocations. The undercroft session will be taught by Pastor Petersen and the singles session by Deacon Boyle. Anyone, regardless of marital status, is welcome to attend either.
Study after study has shown that participation in such sessions has drastically lowered the statistical likelihood of divorce and other family trauma. Which is to say: this is worth a few hours of your time. To aid your attendance, childcare will be offered free of charge. Please help us plan for this by RSVPing by March 12, 2023 at secretary.redeemer@gmail.com or by phone (260) 744-2585 or by leaving a note on Jane’s desk in the office. Please do not tell Jane that you will be coming while standing in the narthex or undercroft and expect her to remember. We need to have an accurate count for childcare.
Workday: Saturday, April 1, 2023 9:00 a.m.: Saturday, April 1, the day before Palm Sunday we will have a workday to prepare the Church for Holy Week and Easter. There is lots of deep cleaning and polishing to be done and we could use your help. We will start at 9:00am. We will stop at 11:00 for Matins, then enjoy pizza together in the undercroft before calling it a day.
Easter Service and Photo: We will only have one service, at 10:30 am, on Easter Sunday, preceded by the Easter Breakfast from 8:30 am until 10:00 am. Immediately following the service, Steve Blakey will take a picture of everyone that we can get to stay in the pews for just a few extra minutes. We have a beautiful black and white photo that was taken of the congregation probably in the 1940s that is currently on display near the elevator. We want to reproduce this shot and would like your help.
Don’t forget to check the calendar on the bulletin board in the hall for upcoming social events!
The Spring Voters’ Meeting will be Sunday, April 23 at noon. This is the annual budget meeting.
There is a group meeting every Monday morning at 6:30 to study the Book of Concord.
The first Saturday of each month at 4:30 p.m. there is a family game time in the undercroft, followed by a potluck. All are welcome to either or both!
Books & Beer next meeting will be Sunday March 12th at 7:00 p.m. This month’s book is Reverence, by Paul Woodruff. As always, the event is open to all the men of our parish of drinking age or friends that you think would fit in.
Easter is coming! The hat library will set up in the coat room off the narthex in the next couple of weeks.