|
 Michalsen and his wife, the former Kathryn Zawacki, moved
immediately to Andover, OH, where within the week he assumed the
position of minister of First Congregational United Church of
Christ. A photo of the church and its history are posted at
www.sacredlandmarks.us/Ashtabula/firstcong.htm.
Four United Church of Christ representatives officiated at the
ceremony: the Rev. Richard Reinwald, pastor of St. John UCC; the
Rev. Dave Kniker, interim UCC Western Association minister; the Rev.
Brian Damrow, Western Association vice moderator; and Sandy Fuller,
Western Association Church and Ministry chair. Wayne Mara, president
of the St. John Church Council, presented the candidate for
ordination, and the Rev. David Poe, pastor of St. Peter’s UCC in New
Haven, MO, preached the sermon. Michalsen’s parents, Roger and Jenna
Michalsen of Lincoln, read from the scriptures.
Thirteen members of the UCC ordained clergy participated in the
laying on of hands, the act which symbolizes God’s continued calling
of individuals to lead God’s people.
The new pastor received a black pulpit robe from the St. John
congregation and a white pulpit robe from his grandfather Philip
John Mueller, of Waterloo, IL. He also received a red silk stole
embroidered to his design by his grandmother, Lois Michalsen, of
Elmhurst. Ted Michalsen also drew the image of Jesus calling the
fishermen on the cover of the ordination bulletin.
Michalsen completed his studies for the master of divinity degree at
Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. His seminary experience
included fieldwork at UCC churches in New Haven and Clayton, MO, and
as a chaplain at St. Louis County Detention Center and St. Louis
University Hospital.
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He also studied at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in
Minneapolis/St. Paul and earned a bachelor’s degree in art education
from Eastern Illinois University. He represents seminary students on
the National Local Church Committee of the UCC.
In August 2008, an Ecclesiastical Council convened in Lincoln,
examined Michalsen and voted to ordain him.
Michalsen grew up attending St. John Church, where he was
baptized by the Rev. Elmo Pascale in 1982 and confirmed by the
Rev. Rich Reinwald in 1995. He is the fifth pastor ordained at
St. John United Church of Christ, formerly St. John’s
Evangelical and Reformed Church. His predecessors include
Reinhold Niebuhr in 1913, Elmer Hoefer in 1925, Walter Lauer in
1940 and John Bock in 1965.
A dinner in the church Fellowship Hall followed the ordination
ceremony.
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