By Jonathan Petzold
Dear St. Luke Family,
Greetings in Christ! It has been quite the spring for us! On April 29th, we found out that we are headed to Clio, Michigan for vicarage! We are very excited to return to our home state for a year. With so many other vicarage possibilities, we never anticipated living in Michigan again during seminary.
It will be a welcome change to see family and friends in Michigan again without having to take a several-hundred-mile road trip! Clio is an hour north on 23, just south of Frankenmuth. We’re looking forward to living in the Mitten State again with all the comforts of home – Michigan Football, apple cider, Meijer. We are also thrilled to become an Aunt and Uncle this October as Spencer and Rebekah Young will be having a baby girl! We have some exciting times ahead!
I am very excited to begin my vicarage at Messiah. I start on Sunday, August 17th, on which I will be preaching their four church services that morning! I’m very much looking forward to all the new experiences that vicarage will bring.
As their vicar, I will have the opportunity to preach very often (they have a Wednesday evening service in addition to the four Sunday services), manage the youth group, teach confirmation, lead an adult Bible study, teach a new member class, and make shut-in and hospital visits. It’s going to be a fun ride! I can’t wait to see God work in ministry and finally “apply” all that I’ve learned during my first two years at seminary.
I feel that I have grown a lot during my first two years at seminary. At many times during my education here, I have felt that seminary has done something more profound than simply training me to be a pastor, but has formed me into a more faithful Christian.
I have felt that seminary has done something more profound than simply training me to be a pastor, but has formed me into a more faithful Christian.
Beyond just the pastoral training I received, I consider the extent to which my faith has grown here an incredible gift. After a mere two years here, my worldview has changed, my reliance on God has become more resolute, and my awe at the power and grace of the gospel has increased exponentially. I am humbled that I have been blessed to have this opportunity. I cannot wait to pass on what I have learned about God and the gospel with which he has graced us.
After a mere two years here, my worldview has changed, my reliance on God has become more resolute, and my awe at the power and grace of the gospel has increased exponentially.
As we look forward to vicarage, we are enjoying a peaceful and relaxing summer. I am working full-time over the summer for Stephen Ministries while Christa takes care of Charis at home.
I want to thank you for your contribution to the wonderful gift of this seminary education I have received thus far. Your support throughout my studies in undergrad and in seminary to become a pastor has been incredible, and, beyond that, we consider ourselves blessed to continue to be a part of the St. Luke family.
We are humbled at the warm reception we receive whenever we are with our home church again. And as I visualize myself ministering at Messiah, I think of the many people at St. Luke that I grew up watching, learning from, and being ministered by, whom I can’t help but imagine that I will be modeling and emulating in my ministry.
Our St. Luke family has had a profound impact on me, an impact that the Holy Spirit continues to use to drive me in my studies to be a pastor. Thank you.
