Pastor
Pastor Dennis Lauritsen has served Sts. Peter and Paul since December, 2000. Ordained in 1983 at his home congregation of Bethesda Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Iowa, he has served two previous parishes in the city of Chicago, Bethel Lutheran Church of Humboldt Park (1983-91) and Lake View Lutheran Church (1991-99).
During his years at Bethel, the congregation renewed its liturgical and corporate prayer life, assisted with the organization of the Westtown Emergency Shelter which was housed at the church for six years, provided ministries to area youth, including the support of a Lutheran grade school, along with summer programs, Sunday school and vacation Bible school. The congregation was also one of the first to host members of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps in Chicago.
At Lake View Lutheran Church, located in the Wrigleyville neighborhood of the city, congregational outreach was focused primarily among post-collegiate, young adults through various opportunities for worship, study, prayer, fellowship and service. Again, the congregation moved toward reviving the worship and musical life of the congregation, including the introduction of weekly Communion, alternative musical settings of the Lutheran liturgy, and the addition of a minister of music. During this time the Lake View congregation continued to host and expanded the emergency shelter programs housed in the church facility.
Among his many interests and loves of parish ministry, Pastor Lauritsen values Christ-centered, biblical and relevant preaching; the vitality and integrity of the traditional western liturgy; the congregation as a teaching parish for all ages; solid faith formation practices and vibrant, Spirit-led evangelism; the confessional teachings of the church throughout the ages; the contemplative prayer life of the daily offices; and the compassionate pastoral and congregational care of souls.
Pastor Lauritsen was raised on a farm in Monona County, Iowa, the fourth of five children. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. He received the Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, during which time he served his seminary internship at Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry in Kansas City, Missouri, a year-long, urban experience with a focus on social ministry. In June, 1999 he received a Master of Theology degree in Biblical Studies from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago where his interests centered on the New Testament, particularly the First Epistle of Peter, and other early Christian literature from the post-apostolic period of the second century.
Pastor Lauritsen lives in Riverside with his wife, Jane, and their family. They have three children, Samuel, Isaac and Olivia. Presently he enjoys cycling the area forest preserve paths with Jane, listening to jazz with Sam, attending Isaac’s swim meets, and teaching Olivia to drive!
Reverend Fun Cartoons
Recent Sermons, Pastoral Letters and Articles
"My House is Your House" : A Sermon for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, July 18th, 2010.
Our Walking is Our Preaching : A Sermon for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, July 11th, 2010.
Free to Follow : A Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Pentcost, June 27th, 2010.
Changing Clothes : A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, June 20th, 2010.
The Suffering Servants of I Peter : A New Testament exegetical article written for the Summer 2009 Issue of The Lutheran Forum .
God Gets Personal : A Sermon for the Sunday of the Holy Trinity, May 30th, 2010.
Whispers of the Wind : A Sermon for the Day of Pentecost, May 23rd, 2010.
The Homemaker : A Sermon for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (Mother's Day), May 9th, 2010.
Pastoral Care of a Preschool : A Letter to the Advisory Committee on the Preschool of Sts. Peter and Paul, April 26, 2010.
It was Winter: A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday), April 25th, 2010.
Successful Failures: A Sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter, April 18th, 2010.
"I have Called You Friends": A Sermon for the Memorial Service of Deanna N. Oklepek, the First Week of Easter, Saturday, April 10th, 2010.
Resurrection Rehearsal: A Sermon for Easter Day, April 4th, 2010.
"They Shall Sing for Joy" : A Sermon for the Burial of John Skaritka, March 6th, 2010.