Congregational Letter Announcing Change of Call

This is the letter I sent out to the congregation on March 31, 2022, announcing that I’ve accepted a new call and will therefore being resigning as pastor here at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene.

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
-Philippians 1:3-6

Dear people of God at St. Peter Lutheran Church,

I’m writing to let you know that my time as your pastor here at St. Peter Lutheran Church will soon be drawing to a close. I have accepted a call to serve as pastor to two congregations in Wisconsin, Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran Church in Saukville. My last weekend of worship with you will be May 7 and 8.

It has been an honor and a privilege to walk with you for nearly six years. I will continue to cherish and give thanks for our partnership together in ministry. I’ll hold onto the memories of commemorating 500 years of the Reformation, traveling across the country on youth trips, joining with God on the move in a summer of service, installing an elevator and electronic sign, weathering a flood, and of course, navigating a global pandemic together. Thank you for taking the step of faith to call a brand-new seminary graduate to serve as your pastor, and for all the ways you’ve helped me learn and grow!

Thank you as well for all the ways you have blessed our family through your support of Christin’s work and in welcoming Micah into this community. St. Peter will always have a special place in our hearts as Micah’s first church home. There is certainly much grief in leaving this community, yet we look forward to moving closer to family and following God’s call into a new season of life and ministry.

Although you remain forever in my prayers, as I will no longer be your pastor, I will not be available for pastoral visitation, funerals, weddings, or similar pastoral acts after May 8. Looking to the future, staff from the Northeastern Iowa Synod staff will be working with your church council as you discern God’s guidance for your continued ministry.

I look forward to worshiping with you in these next weeks of Lent and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection at Easter together, and I hope I will have the opportunity to say goodbye to each of you. Christin and I both appreciate your prayers in this time of transition. Know that you will be in ours as well.

As St. Peter continues to celebrate 150 years of ministry in Greene, I am confident God will continue to be faithful and bless this congregation into the future as you continue to proclaim the good news of God’s love and make a difference in Jesus’ name.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Daniel Flucke