Farewell Blessings

Grace and peace to you,

With many mixed emotions, I am writing to let you know that I am resigning my call as pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Richland Center.  I have accepted a new call which begins in early September.  My last Sunday at St. John’s will be August 23, 2026.

I am grateful for our time together and sad that I am leaving.  I will miss serving with you.  We have shared moments of joy and successful ministry that was clearly blessed by God.  We survived Covid-19 together, times of profound grief, and witnessed repeatedly that Christ is always near and that nothing can separate us from the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

My new call is still in this synod at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Loganville, Wisconsin.  This is the church where my grandfather was baptized, confirmed and ordained; and my great grandfather was an early lay leader.  St. Peter’s current mix of ministry and plans for youth ministry matches my interests.  In addition, I will be serving in a new partnership with St. John’s Lutheran Church in Reedsburg.  I will be serving with another pastor and I am excited about the creative options we are exploring for ongoing ministry in both locations.  I have always longed to live in the Loganville area. I am very happy about this new call, living closer to family, and the connection with my family’s roots.

As I leave, I share with you 2 verses of final blessings the Apostle Paul gave to the churches he served.  To the elders of the church in Ephesus, Paul declared, “And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32).  And, to the church in Corinth, Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Be restored; listen to my appeal; agree with one another; live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11)

Peace,

Pastor Michelle Elfers