Dear Members of St. Stephen’s,
With this letter I am formally acknowledging the Call to serve as one of your pastor.
Yesterday in worship I read these words from St. Paul: For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. I am humbled by the grace shown to me—to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, and to now consider doing so in your midst.
While St. Stephen’s and the congregation I currently serve could both be characterized as large, Midwestern parishes, from my initial conversation with Pastor Heyer and the outlined division of duties, I understand that this Call would involve different areas of responsibility and a different scope of ministry than my current Call. I look forward to learning more, and in prayer ask for God’s blessing on this time of deliberation. I will be comparing the needs and opportunities of your congregation with the needs and opportunities of my present service at St. John’s in Mukwonago and in our Southeastern Wisconsin District.
I am thankful for your prayers and ask that you would also include my wife Sarah and our daughters (Andrea, Emma, Naomi, Claire and Maria) in your prayers, as well. Please pray specifically that God would use this time of deliberation for the good of the Kingdom and the glory of His name.
In Christ our Jesus,
Pastor John Bortulin
Photo: https://preschool.stjohnslutheran-muk.org/page/staff-1
