Introducing Alpine’s Interim Pastor
On October 12, 2023, the Alpine Church Council met with and approved The Rev. Don Wink as interim pastor.
Pastor Wink has been serving as pastor to the Lutheran Church of the Atonement in Barrington, Illinois for over 20 years. As he approaches retirement, he is entering a new phase of his call to ministry.
Pastor Wink’s first Sunday with us will be December 3, 2023. It is appropriate that December 3rd is the first Sunday in Advent, the start of the church year. While Pastor Don prepares to leave his long- time call, Pastor Rick Meier has offered his service to the Church Council to fill in until Pastor Wink can join us. The Church Council gratefully accepted Pr. Rick’s offer. The task of scheduling supply pastors has become increasingly difficult and time consuming.
Pastor Don will be returning to Barrington after the December 3rd worship services for his farewell event with his Atonement church family. Our welcome event will be scheduled later.
After Pastor Wink starts his ministry with us, Alpine will officially be able to start Phase 2 of the call process: transition. A transition team will be selected by the Church Council to lead us through the self-study process resulting in the creation of our Ministry Site Profile needed for Phase 3 (the Call Process). Congregation members will be asked to assist with determining what we want for our church and what we need from a pastor.
Pastor Don Wink may be able to join us for the 11:15 AM Thanksgiving worship service and Feast on Tuesday, November 21st. Although he can’t officiate at the worship, you may be able to meet him that day. It is the only Thanksgiving worship this year.
The Church Council feels the Holy Spirit has answered our prayers and is moving us to know how to better fulfill our mission to share God’s love. We are excited to welcome Pastor Don Wink to join us in that mission.
(Alpine Church Council)