Reverend Jon Ellingworth To Lead A Congregation in Iowa
By Susan Stone
Rev. Jon Ellingworth, Pastor at The Lutheran Church of Christ The King in Pawling, has been called to lead the congregation at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waverly, Iowa. Pastor Ellingworth will address his parishioners for the final time on August 27, and will be feted with a farewell luncheon after services. He will be installed in his new position in Iowa on September 10th.
Rev. Ellingworth came to Pawling fifteen years ago, directly from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He and his wife, Lisa have raised three daughters here in Pawling and his leaving the community is “bittersweet.”
Moving to Iowa will place the Ellingworth clan in closer proximity to family, and Waverly, Iowa, a larger community with a larger congregation than Pawling’s, offers opportunity and challenges for service to which Pastor Ellingworth feels drawn. However, he indicated that Pawling, its rural beauty and the kindness of its people will be sorely missed.
Rev. Ellingworth hopes to lead his new congregation toward being “a servant of the community,” much the same way he feels he has been able to do here in Pawling, through encouraging service and good will by congregants throughout their community. Rev. Ellingworth indicated that his new church leadership is looking forward to engaging its congregation in this kind of community outreach.
During his tenure in Pawling, Rev. Ellingworth has served on the Board of the Pawling Resource Center, where he has served as Chairman for the last five years. He has been an active member of Pawling Rotary, and has participated in a weekly radio program, “Clerics Corner,” on WPWL for the last three years, along with other local Clergy.
The Lutheran Church of Christ The King will embark on a search for a new full time Pastor, and will utilize the services of temporary pastors and lay people until the post is filled. Rev. Ellingworth expressed that he is “thankful and appreciative for the faith in him,” that has been shown by the church community, and ended with, “I learned to be a Pastor {here}… I grew with them and was formed by them. It has been meaningful to be part of this community.”
