August 2024
On Sunday, August 18, 2024, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Elgin, Illinois celebrated a milestone. Reverend Martin Balzer has served in ministry for 50 years. Perhaps even more amazing, is the fact he has served his entire ministry at Good Shepherd!
Pastor Balzer was installed at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on August 18, 1974 (The 50th anniversary celebration was
able to take place on his actual installation anniversary date.). It was a wonderful added touch that Reverend Harold Ross served as lector for the service. Pastor Ross previously served as the Circuit Counselor (now called Circuit Visitor) for the Elgin/Dundee Circuit in 1974, and he was the pastor who installed Pastor Balzer 50 years ago.
The celebration service included beautiful music from the Shepherd’s Voice Choir, Adult Bell Choir, Children’s Bell Choir, Brass Ensemble, and the Praise Team.
The Rev. Dr. Allan R. Buss, President of the LCMS Northern Illinois District, preached a sermon entitled, “The Perfect Servant…and the Rest of Us,” which included several of Pastor Balzer’s beloved Scripture verses and ended with the congregation joining in singing Pastor Balzer’s favorite hymn: “I Am Content! My Jesus Ever Lives!” (LSB 468).
The service was very thoughtfully planned, including worship elements from Pastor Balzer’s 1974 installation service. Worship ended with the Common Doxology, and those in attendance were welcomed to a celebration luncheon.
A pastoral ministry of that length of time leads to an indeterminable number of interactions with church members, other clergy, and the community around Good Shepherd. Pastor Balzer has baptized 750 children of God, conducted over 200 weddings, was involved in the instruction of nearly 1,000 confirmands, and has conducted 573 funerals. These, of course, are in addition to the countless times he has shared the Lord’s Supper with the Good Shepherd family, the hundreds of Bible studies he has led, and the thousands of sermons he has preached!
Pastor Martin Balzer has been, and continues to be, a faithful servant of the Lord’s Church. He still serves as Visitation Pastor at Good Shepherd, Elgin, as well as continuing to preach at Good Shepherd and at his home congregation of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Addison, Illinois.
We are thankful for Pastor Balzer’s long ministry and pray for God’s continued blessings on him and those he serves!
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