FROM THE PASTOR
Unexpected Gift
Dear church,
I am delighted to share an unexpected and exciting development in the life of our congregation. Beginning August 12, 2026, St. Luke’s will welcome Hannah Peterson as a full-time pastoral intern. She will serve and learn among us through August 8, 2027.
This opportunity came to us quite suddenly. When the Rev. Erik Christensen was elected bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod in June, one of the first questions that came to his mind was what his transition would mean for Hannah’s internship. Trinity Lutheran Church in Evanston, where Bishop-elect Christensen has served as pastor, had been preparing to host Hannah during the coming year. With his election, a new internship setting needed to be found.
The Synod Office and the LSTC Director of Field Education approached me about the possibility of Hannah completing her internship here at St. Luke’s. After thoughtful conversations with congregational leaders and those responsible for Hannah’s formation, we agreed that St. Luke’s would be a strong and faithful setting for this important year.
A pastoral internship is a major part of the hands-on formation of a future pastor. It is a year of preaching, teaching, pastoral care, worship leadership, community engagement, administration, reflection, and growth. Under supervision, Vicar Hannah will take an active role in the full life of our congregation while continuing to learn how the many dimensions of pastoral ministry belong together.
Many of you know this kind of relationship well because St. Luke’s has hosted interns before. An internship is never simply about a congregation providing experience to a student. It is a shared ministry of formation. We will teach and form Vicar Hannah, and she will teach and form us. She will bring new questions, gifts, experiences, and perspectives into our common life. Her presence will expand our capacity for ministry, invite us to reflect more deeply on our own practices, and give us the privilege of helping prepare a pastor to serve the wider church.
It is an honor that the synod and seminary have approached St. Luke’s with this responsibility and trust. They recognize in this congregation a community with strong worship, thoughtful leadership, and a generous spirit. They believe St. Luke’s can provide the encouragement, challenge, honesty, and care that a pastoral intern needs.
It is also a significant blessing that the synod and seminary have agreed to fully fund the internship. St. Luke’s will not bear an unexpected financial burden in welcoming Vicar Hannah, even as we receive the benefit of her full-time presence and ministry among us.
While this may feel like a sudden pivot, Vicar Hannah will begin on August 12 so that she may continue according to their original candidacy and formation timeline.
A note about names and pronouns: You know that Pastor Julie and I prefer to be called Pastor Julie, Pastor Kyle, or simply Pastor, rather than only by our first names. This title reminds us of the particular relationship we have in your lives. As part of Vicar Hannah’s pastoral formation, we will call her Vicar Hannah. Thank you for your care and attention as we help her grow into this new role. Additionally, Vicar Hannah uses both she/her and they/them pronouns, and either may be used when referring to them.
There will be much more to share as we prepare for Vicar Hannah’s arrival, including opportunities to welcome her and learn more about the internship process. For now, I invite you to receive this news with joy, curiosity, and prayer. Please pray for Vicar Hannah during this time of transition, for Trinity Lutheran Church in Evanston, for Bishop-elect Christensen, and for our congregation as we prepare to enter this new season of ministry together.
The leadership page contains more information about Vicar Hannah
God’s peace,
Pastor Kyle
