60th Anniversary- Rev. Ralph Wiechmann

One of the Servant of Christ Awards 

for the Southeastern District

was presented to Rev. Ralph Wiechmann 

in May 2022.

Pastor Ralph is here with his wife-

 Eunice Wiechmann.

Pastor Ralph and Eunice here with 

L to R- son Matt Wiechmann,

Joe and Krista Wiechmann Kumke.

SED President John Denninger and Connie 

brought greetings 

and blessings to Pastor Ralph and Eunice.

Pastor Ralph and Eunice were surrounded by family

 and friends for the celebration of this honor.

On Sunday July 31, 2022 there was also a celebration

 for the church planter, Pastor Ralph, who started 

the mission congregation of

 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in 

Springfield, Virginia 60 years ago.

Festive balloons greeted members and guests 

 from nearby and distant locations

 that attended the anniversary celebration.

Rev. John Denninger came to Prince of Peace

 to serve as Associate pastor in 1988.

  In 1996 Pastor John and Pastor Ralph switched roles.

In the first 50 years of Prince of Peace 

these were the two Senior pastors.

Certainly a wonderful ministry legacy.

Pastor Ralph addresses the congregation in the service

 to remind is that the Cross is the center of our lives.

The EASIER path becomes the story of EASTER 

when the "cross replaces the I" in our lives. 

Jo Stewart was the first Administrative Assistant at 

Prince of Peace and came back for this

 special anniversary celebration.

Pastor Michael Hayes -

Senior Pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

 in Springfield, Virginia

was a wonderful host for the 60th Anniversary celebration

 for Pastor Ralph and the entire church community.

We give thanks for his leadership in 

this congregation at this time.

Friends and family gathered for this special day.

A wonderful tribute to Pastor Ralph and thanksgiving 

to our Heavenly Father for His faithfulness.

Pastor Ralph:

Ordination and Installation of Rev. Richard Parron

 

The ordination and installation of Rev. Richard Parron 

took place at

 Living Water Lutheran Church 

in Baltimore, Maryland 

on July 24, 2022.

Gathered here for this special occasion are:

L to R.- Rev. Stephen Funck, 

Rev. Dr. John R. Denninger- Southeastern District President,

 Rev. Parron, Vicar Sean Tietze,

Rev. George Lippit- Supervisor Pastor, 

and Rev. Jim Banach- Circuit Visitor for Circuit 2. 

Rev. Parron and Rev. Lippit

President Denninger presenting 

the Shepherd's Staff to Pastor Parron.

Pastor Parron here with his wife Tracey 

and children- Caleb and Ella.

It is a blessed time as a family and we pray many blessings

 on their ministry at Living Water.

Extended family gathers around

 on this very special day.

Welcome to Pastor Richard 

as a Kingdom worker in the Southeastern District.

A special thank you for photos

 from a Patron family member.

Installation of Rev. Ethan Stoppenhagen

 

The clergy gathered around the newly installed pastor

 of Messiah Lutheran Church- Rev. Ethan Stoppenhagen.

The Service was at 4 pm

 in Germantown, Maryland.

The Circuit pastors bless Pastor Stoppenhagen 

and give encouragement

 and God's Word of hope for his ministry.

Pastor Stoppenhagen consecrates

 the elements for Holy Communion.

The Installation Service

 had beautiful music and singing.

L to R- Circuit Visitor Rev. Ken Stottelmyer, 

Rev. Ethan Stoppenhagen, 

and Southeastern District President Rev. Dr. John Denninger

Wife Lauren and Pastor Stoppenhagen.

May the Lord bless their ministry together.

Lauren's family- the Marinkos gathered for this very special day.

L to R-Andrew, Maggie, Lauren, Pastor Stoppenhagen, 

Rachel and Renee

Rev. Stoppenhagen and his parents- 

R-Susan and Neil Stoppenhagen. 

and L-uncle and aunt- Ed and Lisa Black.

A reception was held after the service 

and Pastor Stoppenhagen

 opens a gift from the congregation.

A beautiful chasuble was a welcome gift.

A little bit more about Lauren and Pastor Stoppenhagen.

Welcome to the Southeastern District!

Devotions- Ongoing Witness

Colossians 1:1-14

The Lesson for the Fifth Sunday of

Pentecost, July 10, 2022

A tree bearing fruit is a wondrous thing

Gifting us with something to experience

A measurable result that satisfies

Both our heart and our mind

Paul’s prayer for the Colossians

Was that their faith would also bear fruit

Always boldly displaying to the world

The joy of knowing God’s incessant love

Faith isn’t to be kept comfortably quiet

But instead to become a growing richness

Shaping our words and actions

Into an ongoing witness of the gospel hope

This happens when we allow ourselves

To be completely open to God’s presence

Being filled with a  spiritual wisdom

 That grows deeper every day

It begins by gently accepting

The reality of who we are without God

And who we have become because of God’s grace

Beloved, redeemed, and claimed forever

Thus claimed we offer ourselves to the world

As a tree offering fruit to satisfy

An invitation for all to taste and see

That the Lord is good+

A Devotion By Rev. Donald Schaefer,

Southeastern District- Northern Region Facilitator

for Mission Engagement