The Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary held her annual Call Service in Christ Lutheran Church, St Catharines on Saturday the 25th of May. In this service seminarian Markus Peschel was sent to do his vicarage in Redeemer Lutheran Church, Waterloo (ON), and Matthew Fenn received his first call to serve as the pastor of St Peter’s Lutheran Church in Stratford (ON).
The Call Service is an occasion for the Seminary to also show special appreciation to the individuals who have benefited the church and helped the seminary in an exemplary manner. This year the Delta Chi award for service to the church was given to the last District President of the LCC East District, Rev. Paul Zabel. The Friend of the Seminary award in turn was given to Rev. Brian Dunlop, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Desboro, ON. Among his other duties in the service of the church, Rev Dunlop served fourteen years as member of the Board of Regents of the CLTS.
Preacher in the Call Service was the Rev. Dr Robert Bugbee, pastor of First Lutheran Church in Windsor. Preaching on the exhortations to prayer in 1 Tim. 2, Rev. Bugbee underlined the importance of prayer in the lives of all faithful Christians, but especially those in the ministry. “Expect more to come out of your prayers than of your sermons”, he passed on the wisdom he had learned.
Although the Call Service is not, properly speaking, a graduation celebration, the president of the Seminary, Rev. Dr Thomas Winger also noted that this year two students are graduating from the Master of Theological Studies program (MTS): Mrs. Laurin Fenn has completed her academic work, and Mrs. Susan Knowles is all but finished.
Click here to watch the recording of the Call Service.
With the course work of the academic year 2018-19 coming to a close, the seminary community gives thanks to all the supporters for this year, and prays that the Lord of the Church would richly bless those called to work in the pastoral ministry!
Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary 