Pastor’s Perch
Joel 2:29 Even on the servants, both male and female, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
Many hands make light work. This is a well-known proverb to demonstrate the need for many people to join in a task to make it easier to accomplish. Think about the Old Testament work of the prophets. There were not many true prophets in Israel. Those few prophets like Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, and Jeremiah had a workload that I think most of us would agree, it was too much. At times in their ministries, they might have wondered why God would put so much work on them. Even the great prophet, Elijah, was ready to give up because the mission work was too much for him.
Pentecost has dramatically increased the mission workload. Now God’s word is no longer contained to only Israel. Jesus has now opened the mission field to the entire world. Now imagine if God only had one prophet to bring his word to the world! It is too much Lord! And we would be right. But God had a plan in mind. He tells us long ago through the Old Testament prophet Joel, “Even on the servants, both male and female, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” God has included each one of you in the Pentecost mission.
But you might be thinking, “Who am I? I am not trained. I don’t have time. I am stuck in a hospital room.” God has poured out his Spirit on you just as he did on the disciples on Pentecost. And God has you in this world right where he wants you. The Spirit will supply you with the words to say. And what words will he give you? You have been blessed with the word about Jesus. You have the privilege to tell others what Jesus has done for you. But the best news, Jesus has died and rose for them as well. The Spirit will use you to tell others about Jesus and the confidence in the forgiveness and life he won for the world. The Spirit will work on the hearts of those you talk with to bring more people into the Kingdom of God! This is why you are still here. You are a vital part of God’s ongoing Pentecost Mission!
Dear Father, thank you for pouring out your Spirit on us. Give us confidence in the forgiveness and life Jesus won for us so that we can tell others what Jesus has done for them. Bless our words and bring more people into your kingdom through our message! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
A servant of Christ,
Rev. Patrick Feldhus
Grace’s News
We are offering a Family bible study on familiar Sunday school stories, after worship on Sundays. The Last Sunday morning bible study is 5/24.
Our online bible class will continue on Tuesday nights at 7:30 pm. The last bible study is 5/26.
Celebrate the Festival of the Ascension on May 14th at the Joint Ascension service. The service is at Trinity Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine. The celebration begins with a joint potluck beginning at 5:30 pm and continues with the service at 7 pm. We are looking for choir members and musicians to join in the service. If you play an instrument and would like to participate, please let your pastor know or contact Pastor Glowicki at 763-244-9926. Joint rehearsals for choir and musicians are on May 3rd and 10th at 4:30 pm. Practices are at Trinity.
The Women of Grace will meet on May 20th at 10:30 am.
Our next Jesus Cares meeting will be on May 21st at 6:30 pm.
The Church cleanup date is 5/23 at 10 am.
Pastor Feldhus will be on vacation from 5/4 to 5/16.
Pastor’s final Sunday is 5/31. There will be a get-together after worship to say farewell to Pastor and his family.
Synod News
Women in world mission fields gather for support and encouragement
Under the theme “Rest,” the conference included worship, devotions, Bible studies, and free time for fellowship. Guest speaker Don Patterson, WELS’ South Central district president, developed Bible studies to help the women find “Joy in the Journey.” “Every part of the conference was planned with the idea of missionary wives connecting with God’s Word and each other,” says Linda Marquardt, who serves alongside her husband in the Asia-Oceania region. “My favorite part was seeing missionary wives from different countries connecting, having meaningful conversations, praying with each other, and forming lasting friendships.” Those connections are important as these women deal with the unique situations that occur when living in a mission field, including learning the local languages and customs, discovering their own vocation in their distinct setting, and finding creative ways to connect with faraway family.
“A handful of the attendees are called to serve in public mission roles, but all are the unsung heroes of the work we carry out,” says Larry Schlomer, administrator of WELS World Missions. “In unique overseas settings, they learn how to live out their faith and carry out personal ministry, often in quiet and unseen ways. At the same time, they give up US careers and familiar school systems for their children and manage homes in places where it can feel like all the rules have changed, serving in so many ways as the backbone of mission work around the world.” Started in 2017, this conference occurs once every three years. “Before having these conferences, we might know the few other missionary wives in our region or meet some others at Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society conventions, but now we have friendships with other sisters in Christ around the world,” says Marquardt. Between the conferences, missionary wives continue to support and encourage one another in monthly Zoom meetings.
Conference of Presidents spring meeting
The Conference of Presidents (COP) met for its spring meeting April 8-9. Here are some of the items they discussed or decided:
- Three new COP members were chosen as COP representatives on the Synodical Council (SC). Pastor Joel Heckendorf (Arizona-California), Pastor Michael Seifert (North Atlantic), and Pastor Dennis Klatt (Minnesota) will attend their first SC meeting in November.
- The COP spent time preparing for the upcoming assignment days at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., and Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn., in May. They will be facing the continuing challenge of a shortage of called workers. The number of teacher candidates at MLC is smaller than in recent years. The class at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary is the largest in several years. The candidates are all blessings from God and will reduce—but not eliminate—the many vacancies in congregations and schools. The COP continues to encourage all members to help recruit future pastors, teachers, and staff ministers.
- The COP proposed a standardized interview process and supporting evaluation tools for district presidents to use in carrying out a review of someone in pastoral, teaching, or staff ministry seeking re-entry into the ministry. The process is intended to seek increased clarity, consistency, and communication in the process.
- The COP currently grants provisional minister of the gospel status to called teachers who enroll in MLC’s Teaching Ministry Certification program (a program pursued by individuals who already hold an accredited teaching degree). MLC now offers online degree programs that include both professional training and the full set of ministry certification requirements. The COP monitors these programs.
- The COP discussed the importance of maintaining a “living” procedural document for COP use entitled “Divine Call Policies—Procedures—Guidelines.”
- The COP received a number of reports from Congregational Services, highlighting record levels of adult confirmation and efforts to reduce backdoor membership losses. A complete analysis of congregational statistics, along with a summary, will be released later this spring.
- Pastor Kurt Lueneburg will be retiring this summer as the director of the Ministry of Christian Giving. The COP thanked him for his 21 years of Christian giving experience. Calling for his replacement will take place later this spring.
- Total Congregation Mission Offering subscriptions for 2026 surpassed actual giving in 2025 (although it did not keep up with inflation).
- The COP will lead training for district constitution committees in light of differing governance models being considered by congregations.
This was the last regular meeting of the COP for four district presidents as they will be completing their time of service as district presidents at the district conventions this summer. Pastor Donald Patterson (South Central) has accepted a call, Pastor Charles Westra (South Atlantic) is not seeking reelection, and Pastors Joel Zank (Northern Wisconsin) and Douglas Free (Dakota-Montana) are retiring. We pray for God’s continued blessings and thank them for their service. With new district presidents to be elected this summer, the COP will experience significant changes in its membership. We pray for God’s blessings as those conventions elect their leaders.
Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder