Strategic Planning | Joel Gawrisch

Joel Gawrisch

Strategic Planning and Worship Enrichment

Almost without fail corporate worship is evaluated as a congregation’s most important aspect of ministry. And yet when it comes to congregational planning for enriching corporate worship and dedicating the necessary resources, worship plans and needs are often marginalized. This session will discuss how to avoid this pitfall, explore specific blessings that come with a strategic approach to worship planning, and provide resources to do so.

This session is a version of a session offered in 2017. It is available only once.

Bio | Joel Gawrisch

Pastor Gawrisch has served at New Life in Shoreview, Minn., for the past nine years. He is the Minnesota District Worship Coordinator and has also been involved with the Schools of Worship Enrichment and the rites committee for the WELS Hymnal Project.

A Congregation’s Worship Ed Story | John Bortulin

John Bortulin

A Congregation’s Story About Worship and Education—Could It Be Yours?

Every congregation is going to “do something” when it gathers. An age-old axiom is “How you worship affects how you believe, and how you believe affects how you worship.” This presentation will tell the story of how one church family has navigated Sunday mornings in a way that seeks to serve the lifelong Lutheran as well as the first-time attendee. Emphasis will be given to intentional and subtle ways to teach “why we do what we do.” Pastors, worship planners, musicians, teachers, and laity alike will hopefully benefit and leave our time together with something to think about and something to implement in their unique ministry settings.

Bio | John Bortulin

Pastor Bortulin serves at St. John’s, Mukwonago, Wis. In the past ten years, nearly 350 adults have joined the church through its adult instruction class. This has created the dynamic of a large, established congregation with many weekly attendees who were not previously familiar with liturgical worship. John also serves on the Board for Ministerial Education and as second vice president of the Southeastern Wisconsin District. He was a member of the rites committee for Christian Worship.

Hymnology | Kevin Bode, David Porth, and Kate Tiefel

Kevin Bode David Porth Kate Tiefel

No Time for Hymnology?

Among worship conference attendees, a strong majority would likely endorse the idea that every WELS elementary school should be teaching hymnology. And yet only about 25% of our schools are using any part of the Hymns for Life hymnology curriculum, and many seem unaware that it exists even after four years of availability. The mission of the Lutheran elementary school is embedded in the mission of the church, which includes inculcating a deep love for hymns. This session explores 1) the high value of teaching hymns in the elementary years, 2) reasons why some schools aren’t teaching hymnology, 3) how to approach the topic with fellow faculty and the school board, and 4) how some schools have successfully begun using the curriculum when there was nothing before. Attention is also given to a related theme—Creative Ideas Create Beloved Hymns. Running side by side with hymnology is the incredibly important performance aspect—involving students in opportunities to perform hymn melodies.

Bio | Kevin Bode

Kevin BodeKevin serves Emanuel, Tempe, Ariz., in a 50/50 position with both teaching and music roles. He is blessed to direct/work with instructors for group and private guitar lessons, chimes, a band program and private instrumental instruction, ukulele, male and female and chamber choirs at high points in the church year, junior/adult choir, and ensembles for all the musical instrument families. The Lord is using these individuals to touch hearts with the gospel, and to show that the songs kids learn in school can run with and even outrun many new and popular Christian songs currently in vogue.

Bio | David Porth

David PorthSince 2014, David has served Pilgrim Lutheran Church and School, Menomonee Falls, Wis., as grades 7-8 teacher and worship coordinator. These duties include worship planning, serving as head organist, directing the adult choir, and including a wide variety of instrumentalists. He holds a Master of Church Music degree from Concordia University Wisconsin. He also serves as the district worship coordinator for the Southeastern Wisconsin District, was a curriculum writer for the synod’s hymnology curriculum, is a member of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM), and is an associate organist and member of the Fine Arts Committee at St. Marcus, Milwaukee.

Bio | Kate Tiefel

Kate TiefelKate Tiefel, director of music at Emanuel, New London, Wis., holds a BS in music education and an MM in choral conducting from Michigan State University. She has 20 years of experience teaching music and is a founding member of the Lutheran Institute for Music Education.

Windows into the Wedding Feast | Jon Micheel

Jon Micheel

Windows into the Wedding Feast: Philip Nicolai and “Wake, Awake”

“Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying” is one of the most beloved Lutheran hymns, often called the “king of chorales.” This workshop looks at the fascinating story behind the hymn and examines the rich imagery within the hymn’s text. Numerous cultural factors influenced Philip Nicolai, the hymn’s author, and we will see how the hymn opens windows into these worlds. We will also discover how Nicolai’s creative process suggests useful models for spiritual care today.

Bio | Jon Micheel

Prof. Micheel teaches preaching and church history at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, where he has served since 2020. Previously he served congregations in California and Utah. He is one of the moderators for the Preacher Podcast, produced in conjunction with The Foundation worship resources from WELS Congregational Services. He was the chairman of the rites (liturgy) committee for the WELS Hymnal Project and contributed chapters to Christian Worship: Foundations. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Concordia Seminary (St. Louis) in homiletics.

Pastor/Musician Relationship | David Porth and Aaron Winkelman

David Porth and Aaron Winkelman

Nurturing and Sustaining a Healthy Pastor/Musician Relationship

As the foundation of all parish health and activity, corporate worship is the most important function of any congregation. This practical workshop will focus on the critical importance of pastor(s) and musician(s) working seamlessly together to provide high-quality worship each and every week. It will focus on practical organizational matters, philosophy of ministry consensus, and relational respect for each other’s roles.

Bio | Aaron Winkelman

Aaron WinkelmanPrior to joining Pilgrim in January 2023, Pastor Winkelman previously served congregations in Waupaca, Wis; La Porte, Ind.; and Fort Atkinson, Wis. With parish experience ranging from large churches with schools to mission congregations, he has presided over and prepared corporate worship to meet a variety of needs and to use a broad range of talents and abilities for the weekly divine service of Christ’s people.

Bio | David Porth

David PorthSince 2014, David has served Pilgrim Lutheran Church and School, Menomonee Falls, Wis., as grades 7-8 teacher and worship coordinator. These duties include worship planning, serving as head organist, directing the adult choir, and including a wide variety of instrumentalists. He holds a Master of Church Music degree from Concordia University Wisconsin. He also serves as the district worship coordinator for the Southeastern Wisconsin District, was a curriculum writer for the synod’s hymnology curriculum, is a member of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM), and is an associate organist and member of the Fine Arts Committee at St. Marcus, Milwaukee.

The Passion for God’s People | Mark Tiefel

Mark Tiefel

The Passion for God’s People

In 2024, Lutherans observe the 300th anniversary of Bach’s St. John’s Passion, both a musical masterpiece and a remarkable example of creative worship. Throughout the three centuries that followed its publication, preachers and worship planners have sought creative ways to bring Jesus’ death to life in their celebrations of Lent and Holy Week. This session will draw on historical perspectives and offer practical ideas to help people get to the heart of Jesus’ passion.

Bio | Mark Tiefel

Pastor Tiefel serves at Emanuel, New London, Wis., and is worship coordinator of the WELS Northern Wisconsin District. He previously served in Houston, Texas, and as worship coordinator of the WELS South Central District. He was a member of the hymnal committee and has contributed to past worship conferences in service design and presentations on the practical history of worship.

Michael Praetorius | Nathaniel Biebert

Nathaniel Biebert

Michael Praetorius and a Flowering of Lutheran Worship

A century before Bach (1685–1750), Michael Praetorius (1571–1621), son of a Lutheran pastor, was a singular and pioneering musical force in the Lutheran world. This presentation provides an overview of his life, work, and influence. In doing so, it will also show how principles and strategies evident in Praetorius’ work can still inform our choices today—resulting in a creative and vibrant worship that is distinctively Lutheran.

Bio | Nathaniel Biebert

After serving as a tutor in Nebraska and ministering to congregations in central Wisconsin and Austin, Texas, Nathaniel Biebert now shepherds Trinity in Winner, S.D. He has visited Praetorius sites in Germany, including Wolfenbüttel, and his translation Heaven Is My Fatherland (Wipf and Stock, 2020) is the first stand-alone biography of Praetorius in English.

Practical Planning . . . Worship Space | Todd Dvorak

Todd Dvorak and Mike Tiefel

Practical Planning Steps to Renew Your Worship Space

As a building ages, there can be many challenges to address in order to best serve both congregation and community. Some projects may seem approachable, such as audio/video upgrades or new flooring and paint. Other challenges may feel more daunting, such as accessibility improvements, lighting, or expanding your building, while also being sensitive to the historical character of the church. Sometimes these goals can feel overwhelming. This presentation will help congregations, no matter the financial starting point, develop a roadmap to renew their worship spaces. We will take a closer look at the renovations planned for Emanuel in New London, Wis., and learn how design professionals can assist a congregation’s leaders to determine a meaningful path forward. Projects from other churches will also illustrate possibilities.

Bio | Todd Dvorak

Todd DvorakTodd Dvorak, AIA, ACLS, is an architect and senior project manager with GROTH Design Group. Todd has over 20 years of experience in the architecture and construction industry and has been blessed to serve many WELS congregations on their journey toward expanding or renewing their worship spaces. Todd is currently a member at St. Paul in Appleton and serves on the church’s properties committee.

Bio | Mark Tiefel

Mark TiefelPastor Tiefel serves at Emanuel, New London, Wis., and is worship coordinator of the WELS Northern Wisconsin District. He previously served in Houston, Texas, and as worship coordinator of the WELS South Central District. He was a member of the hymnal committee and has contributed to past worship conferences in service design and presentations on the practical history of worship.

School Chapel Worship | Joel Gawrisch and Michael Marquardt

Joel Gawrisch and Michael Marquardt

School Chapel Worship

As many of our schools grow through an influx of students from outside of our denomination and outside of our country, how do we nurture new students, not only as Christians, but also into the strengths of Lutheran worship? This session will share research into current practices with chapel services in our elementary and secondary schools. It will address preaching, liturgical ideas, using the lectionary, music, encouraging young musicians, and ideas for creating a worshipful setting in gyms or other multipurpose spaces. This session will apply to any who participate in or have an interest in worship in our schools.

Bio | Joel Gawrisch

Joel GawrischPastor Gawrisch has served at New Life in Shoreview, Minn., for the past nine years. He is the Minnesota District Worship Coordinator and has also been involved with the Schools of Worship Enrichment and the rites committee for the WELS Hymnal Project.

Bio | Michael Marquardt

Michael MarquardtMike has been the choral director at St. Croix Lutheran Academy in West St. Paul, Minn., since 2017. Before that he enjoyed 14 years as a teacher and music director at Peace in Hartford, Wis. He has served on district worship committees in the Southeastern Wisconsin and Minnesota Districts, the hymnology curriculum committee, and the WELS Hymnal Project. He holds a Master of Church Music degree from Concordia University Wisconsin.

21st-Century Preaching | Caleb Kurbis

Caleb Kurbis

21st-Century Preaching in a Mission/Outreach Setting

Do you think it’s getting easier to preach? Listeners are living frenetic lives inundated with news and distracted by the noise. Parishioners and prospects recall more about recent social media feeds than the lives of Abraham or Moses and teachings of Jesus—and all of this in a post-Christian culture that breeds apathy, skepticism, and anti-institutionalism (read “anti-church”). Does today’s preacher need to be a perfect combination of scriptural and societal exegete, apologist, compelling communicator, and winsome storyteller all in one? That wouldn’t hurt. But is that realistic or even necessary? Whether your ministry setting is best described as “mission” or “traditional” or “diverse” or “visitor-friendly” or whatever, this presentation will explore how God has given us exactly what we need to reach the products of these modern times.

Bio | Caleb Kurbis

Since 2011 Pastor Kurbis has served at Living Savior in Asheville, N.C. In 2017 Living Savior started a second location in Hendersonville as one church in two locations. God continues to provide many visitors and opportunities to reach people who come from all backgrounds. This quickly growing population is an eclectic mix of traditional Southern, weird hippie, skeptical transplant, culturally diverse, and professional meets blue collar. Caleb also serves as circuit pastor and coordinator for the South Atlantic District Discipleship Committee.