New pastor to be installed at Bartlett’s Living Lord Lutheran Church
Living Lord Lutheran Church in Bartlett will install the Rev. Kristian Johnson as its new pastor in a special service at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14.
As a member congregation of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, synod pastoral staff will be involved in the service. This includes the Rev. Yehiel Curry, current bishop, who was elected on July 30 to serve a six-year term as ELCA presiding bishop, beginning in October.
Johnson, who began serving at Living Lord Lutheran Church on July 1, brings close to 25 years of pastoral experience and a passion for outreach and helping others, including leading mission trips to El Salvador.
With his ministry already in motion at Living Lord, Johnson is optimistic for the future. “Everyone here is so excited to work together! We are ready to discover the ways God will strengthen our presence as a community center, where both our faith and impact can grow, in Bartlett and beyond.”
Steve Schwarz, congregation president, will open the service on Sept. 14. “Answering our prayers, God has provided a dynamic new faith leader and partner in Pastor Kristian, as we continue our ministries and missions within our church family and reaching out to the community. We are excited to harness our new momentum.”
Curry will preach at the service, and the Rev. Sunitha Mortha, assistant to the bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, will preside over the rite of installation.
“We are honored to welcome the participation of ELCA Presiding Bishop-elect Curry, and grateful to Pastor Mortha for leading the installation of Pastor Kristian,” Schwarz said. “It’s an exciting time for our church.”
The entire community is invited to attend this special event in the life of the congregation. The color of the day is red. The theme of the day is “Lift High the Cross!” Attendees are invited to bring a cross of any size from their homes for a special blessing of crosses during the service. However, there is no requirement to bring a cross, and all people, of all faiths and backgrounds, are welcome and invited to celebrate with the Living Lord congregation. A reception at Living Lord will follow the service.
Attendees are asked to RSVP for the event by sending an email to mailbox@livinglordlutheran.org, or calling the church at (630) 830-3630.
The church at 1044 Congress Drive is an active and growing Christian community. The large church holds two Sunday services (9 a.m. traditional service; 10:30 a.m. contemporary service) and has a long-standing commitment to youth and family ministry, supported by dedicated staff. The church cultivates a robust music ministry with children’s choirs, a praise team and worship band, and an adult choir, organist, and multiple musicians. In addition to outreach and service activities both within the congregation and in the local community, the congregation equips and sends two mission teams — a youth mission team and an adult mission team — to different regions of the country each year to provide direct, hands-on help to people affected by disasters.
The church also supports global aid and other ministries and missions of the ELCA. Learn more about Living Lord Lutheran Church at livinglordlutheran.org. As a congregation of the ELCA, Living Lord Church welcomes all to participate in its community of faith.