Christian, Evangelical, Protestant, Lutheran
Church
Mount Calvary Attends LCMS English District Conference
This October, pastors and vicars from across the Eastern Region of the English District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod gathered in Ocean City, New Jersey for their annual Pastors’ Conference, a time of study, fellowship, prayer, and renewal under the Word of God. Representing Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Pastor Christopher Seifferlein and Vicar Michael Usner joined their brother pastors for this three-day event that strengthens and refreshes those called to serve in Christ’s Church.
The English District, one of the historic districts of the LCMS, continues its mission of supporting faithful Word and Sacrament ministry among its congregations across the United States and Canada. Under the guidance of Bishop Jeffrey Miskus, the Eastern Region remains steadfast in its confessional Lutheran identity and in its commitment to uphold the Gospel in all its truth and purity.
This year’s conference gathered pastors around the theme of the resurrection of our Lord in Matthew’s Gospel, with featured presentations by Dr. Jeffrey A. Gibbs, Professor Emeritus from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Dr. Gibbs, widely known for his theological clarity and pastoral insight, led the pastors through rich Scriptural reflection on the resurrection accounts and their meaning for both the Church’s proclamation and the Christian’s daily hope. His sessions reminded all in attendance that the risen Christ remains the heart and center of all preaching and pastoral care.
Serving as Conference Chaplain was Rev. Kurt E. Reinhardt, pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kurtzville, Ontario. A native of Ottawa and a graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston and Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Rev. Reinhardt has faithfully served in the parish ministry since 1999. Known both for his devotion to the liturgy and his gift for sacred poetry, Rev. Reinhardt is the author of My Light and My Salvation and Through the Valley, as well as the beloved hymn “Baptismal Waters Cover Me” found in the Lutheran Service Book.
Throughout the conference, Rev. Reinhardt led the pastors in daily devotions, centering them in prayer, confession, and the comfort of the Gospel. He also held regular hours for private confession and absolution, reminding all that the ministry of Christ is first and foremost a ministry of forgiveness. His meditations and prayers guided the participants to see anew how Christ continues to serve His Church through His called servants, bringing peace to troubled consciences and strength for the work ahead.
These gatherings of pastors, under the faithful leadership of Bishop Miskus, are vital for the life of the Church. They allow pastors to be ministered to—to receive from the Word of God what they themselves are called to give. In study and in conversation, they encourage one another to hold fast to the Gospel amid the many challenges of modern ministry.
Pastor Seifferlein and Vicar Usner were grateful for the opportunity to represent Mount Calvary Lutheran Church at this year’s conference. The time spent together in prayer, study, and fellowship with fellow servants of the Word renews and deepens their ministry among the people of Mount Calvary.
At Mount Calvary, this same Gospel-centered focus is seen every week in the traditional Divine Service, where Christ’s people are gathered around His Word and His Sacraments. The beauty of the liturgy, the faithfulness of the hymns, and the steadfast preaching of God’s unchanging truth anchor the congregation in the life of Christ Himself.
Mount Calvary is more than a building or an institution, it is a church family, a community of believers who live from the grace of Christ and share that grace with one another. From Sunday worship to Bible studies, choir practice, and fellowship events, all that happens at Mount Calvary flows from the altar of the Lord and returns to Him in thanksgiving and praise.
The congregation rejoices in the opportunity for its pastors to take part in such meaningful gatherings with the wider Church. The lessons and encouragement received at the LCMS English District Eastern Region Pastors’ Conference will continue to strengthen the preaching, teaching, and pastoral care offered at Mount Calvary.
As a Lutheran Church in Lancaster, PA, Mount Calvary stands as a beacon of confessional faith and traditional worship, serving not only Lancaster but also the neighboring communities of Lititz, Manheim, and the greater Lancaster County area. Those seeking churches in Lancaster, PA or a Lutheran Church in Lititz, PA will find at Mount Calvary a congregation deeply rooted in Scripture and centered in the saving gifts of Christ.
For those longing for a traditional church service and a faithful church family grounded in the historic liturgy and confession of the Lutheran Church, Mount Calvary warmly invites you to join in the Divine Service. Here, Christ Himself serves His people with forgiveness, life, and salvation.
