Zion Lutheran church, school expands staff

Zion Lutheran Church and School in Seymour has expanded its staff in the past two months.

The expansion and restructuring of positions was the result of an extensive ministry assessment and planning process that began more than a year ago.

Jessica Coulson will be inducted as Zion's director of Christian education intern on Sunday at both the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services.

Coulson studied family life ministry at Concordia University in Nebraska. She grew up in Winfield, Kan. Her duties will include adult education, children's ministries, confirmation instruction and outreach. She will assist with a new ministry of Zion Lutheran School known as All Star Families that is designed to strengthen families.

Caleb Funke was installed as the congregation's director of parish music and youth ministry on June 1. He is a 2007 graduate of Concordia University in Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in K-12 choral music education. He grew up in Sanborn, Iowa. In addition to coordinating and planning the overall music program of Zion Church and School, he will conduct a hand bell choir and work with various instrumentalists and soloists to enhance the worship life of the congregation.

During the school year, he will teach music to every preschool and kindergarten class in Zion Lutheran School. He also coordinates the youth ministry program of the congregation.

The Rev. Allen Wolka, who retired as Zion's senior pastor in May 2007, now serves one day per week as the congregation's visitation pastor. In that position, he makes homebound and hospital calls and provides leadership for the congregation's outreach program.

The Rev. Jeffrey Stuckwisch, who served as Zion's associate pastor since September 2003, was called to the senior pastor position. He was installed on May 18.

"I believe that the Lord of the church has guided our planning process in such a way to bring the right people to the right place at the right time so that Zion might be well-equipped to be ‘Servants of Jesus Building Relationships for Eternity,'" which is Zion's mission statement, Stuckwisch said of the personnel additions.

School enrollment

Zion Lutheran School is now enrolling preschool 3s, preschool 4s and kindergarten students (half-day and full-day) for the fall.

All five of Zion's teachers hold bachelor's or master's degrees in early childhood education. The school also provides an extend care program for students.

For information, call Roy Stuckwisch, director of Zion Lutheran School, at 522-5911.