Great news!  Your church council has requested the Upstate NY Synod to call Pr. Paul Schwartzkopf to act as intentional interim pastor for Christ the King.  Pr. Paul and his wife, Ann, come to us from Quincy, IL, where he retired about a year ago from serving more than 10 years at Christ Lutheran church.

After traveling more than 33,000 miles in nine months of retirement, the Schwartzkopfs agreed that Pr. Paul could return to parish ministry, but in a supply capacity.  He happened to meet our Bishop, Karen Jerge, at a conference of the Central/Southern Illinois Synod, which is a "sister" to our Upstate NY Synod.  He let Pr. Jerge know that he might be available to supply in our synod, since he travels through NY periodically to visit a son's family in Vermont.  The Holy Spirit had larger plans. 

[A former parishioner] gave a glowing report about Pastor Paul.  She said he was very successful in getting the youth involved in their church and while he was there, many families with children joined.  She said that his greatest gift was his unlimited knowledge of The Bible and life in Bible times and making it relevant to today.  She found his sermons to be very insightful and helpful.  People find him very approachable.  She also added that Ann pitches right in to do whatever needs to be done and her involvement is a real asset to the church.  [She] said over and over again how lucky we are to have him. 

We have asked him to start on September 1^st.  Please join

Council in welcoming the Schwartzkopfs!