Naperville's Our Saviour's Lutheran Church welcomes two new pastors

Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Naperville recently announced the addition to its staff of two new associate pastors.

Pastor Elisabeth Pynn Himmelman, who has been serving at First Lutheran Church in Kearney, Nebraska, and Pastor Ben Sloss, currently serving at Grace Lutheran Church in La Grange, both will join Our Saviour's later this summer.

Their selection by the members of Our Saviour's, one of the largest Lutheran churches in the area, is the culmination of a months-long pastoral-call process for the congregation.

Since 2020, Pastor Pynn Himmelman has served as a campus ministry leader at the University of Nebraska-Kearney in addition to her role as associate pastor for youth and young adults at First Lutheran in Kearney.

Born in Walnut Creek, California, Pastor Pynn Himmelman has a background in social work and served as an on-call hospital chaplain in Madison, Wisconsin, while attending seminary. In her new role at Our Saviour's, she will have a particular focus on engagement both within the congregation and in the wider community.

Pastor Sloss, who most recently has served as associate pastor for youth & family ministries at Grace Lutheran, also has served at Lutheran churches in Indiana and Ohio as well as with Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Indiana-Kentucky. He received his master of divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, in 2013.

At Our Saviour's, he will have a special focus on youth & family ministries.

Both new pastors will serve the full congregation at both of Our Saviour's central Naperville campuses, preaching at worship services, working closely with Senior Pastor Brian Wise, and participating in Our Saviour's breadth of locally and globally oriented missions and ministries.

"This is a really exciting moment for a congregation, because not only are we adding two amazing pastors at the same time, but our church is actively naming areas that highlight our joy and purpose," Pastor Brian Wise said. "Our Pastor of Children and Youth points us to celebrate the hearts of young people, as Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me'."

"Our Pastor of Engagement position reminds us of our life as disciples, one where we continue to grow in our faith while connecting with and caring for our neighbor," Pastor Wise said. "All of this is centered around worship where God in Christ is celebrated through word and song."

Pastor Sloss will celebrate his first weekend in worship at Our Saviour's June 24-25, while Pastor Pynn Himmelman's first weekend at Our Saviour's will be July 8-9.

Our Saviour's of Naperville believes that all are known, named, welcomed and loved by God, and joyfully invites individuals from Naperville and beyond to participate in its traditional and contemporary worship services as well as its multitude of fellowship and volunteer opportunities.

Traditional worship services are offered at 5 p.m. Saturdays and 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays at the 815 S. Washington campus. Contemporary worship is offered at 10 a.m. Sundays at the Celebration campus, 919 S. Washington St.

For more information, visit oursaviours.com or facebook.com/OurSavioursLutheran/.