Good Shepherd, Para Vista welcomes new pastor
On Sunday, 29 June, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at Para Vista celebrated the installation of Pastor Michael Dutschke.
On a day filled with spiritual joy, 250 people gathered to witness the installation, led by Assistant Bishop for Mission Stephen Schultz, with support from pastors Chris Mann and Stephen Abraham.
During our three-year vacancy, Good Shepherd refocused on our Mission and Vision and sought a Shepherd-Pastor to join us on this journey with Jesus.
Pastor Michael will explore ministry models based on a ‘shepherd model,’ which involves mentoring and encouraging lay people to undertake training, thereby equipping them to lead in all ministry areas, including worship. His Spirit-led guidance will support teams in fulfilling our mission statement of ‘Reaching into the community with the Gospel so that all may know and worship Jesus’.
During the installation, Pastor Michael received tokens symbolising the key areas of his ministry. These included a wooden shepherd’s crook (his role as a Spiritual Shepherd), a Bible (Scripture-based preaching), a communion cup (the sacrament of Holy Communion), and a candle (the sacrament of Holy Baptism). The principal and students of Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School presented him with a Children’s Bible, a devotion book, and a torch to represent sharing Christ’s light with the school community. To support his personal growth, he was also given a book to read and a piece of gym equipment for his physical well-being.
With heartfelt thanksgiving, the Good Shepherd Church and school community look forward to a new chapter of ministry under Pastor Michael.
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