Lengby Lutheran Parish welcomes new pastor

A beautiful September Sunday was the perfect setting for the installation of Reverend Gene Lilienthal as Pastor of the Lengby Lutheran Parish.  The installation took place at 4:30 pm on Sunday, September 13, 2015 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Bagley.  Serving as liturgist was Reverend Jeff Merseth (Oklee Parish) and the lector was Reverend John Merseth Sr. of Audubon.  The sermon was delivered by Pastor Lilienthal’s son, Reverend Michael Lilienthal of Iola, Wisconsin and was based on John 12:20-33;  “The Lutheran Pastor mentions the Cross of Christ.”  Officiant for the installation was Reverend Nicholas Proksch of East Grand Forks.  A ham supper was served by the ladies aid.

Pastor Lilienthal was born and raised in the Glencoe, Minnesota area.  He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Concordia Lutheran College in St. Paul, Minnesota and went on to further study at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  He later transferred to Bethany Theological Seminary, Mankato, Minnesota.  After receiving his Master of Divinity degree, he was called to serve as pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, Luverne, MN and Rose Dell Trinity Lutheran Church, Jasper, MN.  Most recently, he has been Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Brownsburg, Indiana.  He and his wife Cyndie have four children.  

The Lengby Lutheran Parish consists of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Bagley and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lengby, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), a bible-believing Lutheran synod in fellowship with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).