“One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:4 KJV)
Updates from congregations around the Church of the Lutheran Confession
Since our last update, the Lord has continued to provide our congregation with steady growth. It is not uncommon for Sunday morning attendance to reach into the sixties. Families which, when I first arrived ten years ago, used to fit snugly into one pew, now need two or three pews to sit together. The balcony fills up fast with young adults who prefer a bird’s eye view. One newer family has claimed the very front pew as their regular spot, because it was the only one consistently available when they joined!
Our Sunday school has blossomed into a lively flock of two dozen children, half of whom are in the preschool class. Each week after the service—and a home-baked snack—the children race back to the front of the sanctuary for an opening devotion and music, proclaiming with gusto a blend of seasonal Lutheran chorales and VBS favorites.
Children here are still held to a high standard of memory work. As Marvin Hansen used to say, “Their minds are like sponges. It’s our job to get as much in there as we can.” Starting with the Commandments and Creed in preschool, they make their way through the Small Catechism’s six chief parts and the key “mighty acts” of God recorded in Holy Scripture. Steve Hansen leads a Sunday morning confirmation class, challenging students to consider how God’s Word guides and shapes every facet of their lives. Using the same translation and texts their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents learned by heart encourages a multi-generational endeavor.
We have several member households in the town of Hecla, but the majority of our membership travels from farms and towns in all directions of the compass. Since sports schedules across multiple school districts make it impossible to find one time for midweek confirmation class, we meet instead in their individual hometowns, at places like schools, public libraries, even local cafes! Eavesdroppers often comment on our church’s unique commitment to Christian education.
Young members regularly bring boyfriends and girlfriends to services, making clear early on that “church is a deal-breaker.” Several take the advice so to heart that I have started instruction classes with at least a dozen potential spouses over the years.
From the congregation’s start, young men have been encouraged to lead services when needed. This experience has been particularly useful in our support of neighboring Dakota churches without a pastor. Recently, a Prince of Peace member was called to lead a lay service for our Aberdeen congregation. One member later commented, “Pastor, you trained him so well!” I immediately responded, “No, his father did!”
In this future-thinking mindset, one of our Advent services has middle school boys present several of Pastor Walter Schaller’s “Minute Meditations.” For Palm Sunday, junior high and high school boys lead a dramatic reading of Saint John’s Passion.
The motto toward most matters around here is “Back to Basics!” As Marvin used to say, the finest Lutheran sermons follow such an expected, near predictable, Law-Gospel pattern that even if you were distracted for a moment you could still return immediately to what the preacher is saying. There are no fourteen-page bulletins in Hecla. Most members sing The Lutheran Hymnal liturgy from memory; some don’t pick up a bulletin at all. A rigorous Bible study follows each Sunday service, where members show no hesitation to challenge the pastor. It’s not uncommon for the topic to be some question I couldn’t answer (without further preparation) from the previous week!
An early service at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Several new households have joined the congregation. It should be noted, however, that the pastor was not the first to meet any of them! Each had already, somehow, encountered the Gospel through the generosity, work ethic, and bold witness of one of our members. My privilege has been but to connect the dots and point them to the Scriptures which explain in full the faith behind everything which sparked their curiosity.
We have also had our share of bittersweet losses. The Lord has begun fulfilling His heavenly promises to our “first generation.” With names as unforgettable as their personalities—Marvin, Gweneth, Royal, Alvera, Larry—they were probably the Hecla church members best known across the CLC. It’s still hard to imagine Prince of Peace without them, but as the time to meet their Savior drew near, each commented on the somber joy to see pews full of children before their eyes: “This church will keep going after I’m gone.”
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Christmas 2026 program
It is fitting to recognize that we enjoy the fruits of over half a century of their sacrifices: “Other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.” (John 4:38 KJV) But to be more precise, “neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (I Corinthians 3:7 KJV) In the end, it’s all the grace of the Savior, Who sowed our fallen soil with His holy, precious blood, and sprouted up the third day with forgiveness and eternal life. As our congregation’s favorite parable teaches, we sow the Word regardless of the results, trusting the power in that life-giving seed alone to germinate in the hearts of men where and when He wills.
Our first generation may have been blessed to see and hear visible next-generation fruit, but remember, the risen Lord told Thomas, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29 KJV) Keep declaring the mighty acts of God, regardless what you see in your pews, leaving it to Him to keep it going once your final breath turns into glory.
One of several recent Baptisms at Prince of Peace
God’s Word is our great heritageAnd shall be ours forever;To spread its light from age to ageShall be our chief endeavor.Through life it guides our way,In death it is our stay.Lord, grant, while worlds endure,We keep its teachings pure.Throughout all generations. (TLH 283)
is pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Hecla, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Aberdeen, and Redeemer Lutheran Church of Bowdle, South Dakota. He also serves on the CLC Board of Missions.