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We have a new Pastor!!! Rev. Matthew Poock – His response.

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Dear St. John’s Lutheran Church,

With great anticipation for our future together, I gladly accept the call to serve St. John’s Lutheran Church in Evansville, WI, as pastor! By God’s grace, we have years of fruitful ministry awaiting us. Again I extend my thanks to the call committee for all of their hard work, fervent prayer, and good discernment.

I accept this call as pastor knowing that our ministry will be a partnership. We will share together the joys and challenges of life and ministry. I am joining a talented staff that gives their very best, a council that cares about the congregation’s vitality, servants in a variety of ministries who offer their time and hearts, and members who are poised for tomorrow. Current and future residents of Evansville and the surrounding community will also be among our important connections and partners. We will need each other as we step into God’s future for St. John’s. I believe that the days ahead for us as a community will be good and blessed.

You can expect that I will give my all as your pastor. I am eager to know you and join you in the ups and downs of everyday life. And I want you to know me and my family. I will strive to lead you and listen to you, to share God’s word with you and bear Christ’s love to you. I am certain that I will also learn from you and laugh with you. In all the responsibilities of my call, I will do my faithful best.

In the days ahead I ask that you pray for me and my family. For our departure from Davenport and our transition to Evansville. For our safety and well-being. And for God’s guidance and wisdom as I begin in ministry with you. I request also your patience and your grace as I learn names and families and find my footing among you.

Becca, Eleanor, and I will be moving into our home in Evansville in the last few days of July. Some early days of unpacking and settling in will help us start to make our home with you. Because I simply won’t be able to resist, you might see my head poke into Vacation Bible School in early August. My start date will be Tuesday, August 10, 2010.

May God prepare the way for St. John’s Lutheran Church, Evansville, WI, and our ministry together.

See you soon.

In Christ,

Rev. Matthew Poock

Rev. Matthew Poock’s response to St. John’s call

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Dear St. John’s Lutheran Church,

Greetings to you from Iowa! Today marks the culmination of a process that began between us on February 17. On that day, over four months ago, Mr. Dave Paugel and I shared our first phone conversation to explore what it might be like for you to call me as your pastor. From that very first introduction, my imagination was sparked for our ministry together.

Throughout the interview process, my enthusiasm for you and for Evansville has continued to grow. If the members of the call committee are any indication of the spirit of St. John’s and the kind of quality people you are, St. John’s has a bright future, one I can hardly wait to be a part of. My sincere thanks to the call committee for their hospitality, thoughtfulness, and diligent discernment. Their work on your behalf began many months before my name entered the picture, and they have served you well.

Saying goodbye to our current congregation in Davenport is not a task we look forward to. We’ve grown to love the people here, and they have brought us close to their hearts. But thinking of you all – of meeting you and jumping into life together – gives us the strength to walk into the future with confidence and hope. My family and I are eager to invest ourselves in you, to plant deep roots among you, and to walk with you on this journey of faith and life. We trust that God has great things in store for our partnership.

I expect that the call committee will share with you plenty of biographical data about me. Let me say a few words about my family, so you can begin to know them as well. My wife Becca grew up in a southwest suburb of Chicago and has earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Wartburg College (Waverly, IA) and a master’s degree in youth and family ministry from Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN). She has served in ministry in congregations, a bible camp, and a residential treatment center. Most recently she has been the Community Engagement Coordinator at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. She loves to cook and is full of life. Our 2^nd anniversary is fast approaching.

The newest addition to our family is our daughter, Eleanor Grace Poock (the last name is “poke”, like the action that siblings do to each other on long road trips.) Eleanor was born May 29, 8 lbs. and 19” long. She spends most of her days eating and sleeping, excelling quite well at both. Eleanor brings tremendous joy to our lives.

In some ways this is the culmination of a long process, but in so many other ways this is a grand beginning. Somehow this lifelong Iowan looks forward to calling himself a Wisconsinite. And it’s because of you, and the faith and hope that we see in you. We value your prayers in the weeks ahead as we transition into life in Evansville, and we anticipate the adventure we will soon share together.

In Christ,

Rev. Matthew Poock

Epistle – July 25, 2010

Upload Now: July 25- 10 (PDF)

Welcome Rev. Poock and Family! They will be moving to their new home on Church Street in Evansville at the end of July. Rev. Poock officially starts on August 10, but he plans to stop in during VBS to share in all the excitement!

July/August 2010 Visionotes

Download Now: July-August 2010 Newsletter (PDF)

Welcome New Members!

Welcome to St. John’s Newest Members:

Kris and Jennifer Schmidt, children: Nia, Liberty, Brinley and Kailey Wells;

Kurt and Becky Bartlett and son Bryan;

Barbara Peterson

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