October 25
Area Reformation Service

All members of the Congregations of the Winnebago Lutheran Academy Association are invited to gather as guests to be fed by Word and Sacrament on October 25. We commemorate God’s gracious love in His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ to the world, a truth restored to the Church through the work of the Reformers. In this 2026 year of our Lord we will worship in English using the structure and songs composed by Dr. Martin Luther in 1526. Professor Jonathan Micheel of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary will preach on Romans 3:19-28. Holy Communion will be celebrated and offered to WELS members. Special music will be offered by area choirs, including the choirs from WLA under the direction of Mr. Dale Witte.

In addition to preaching, Prof. Micheel will also present (2:30 pm) on the Deutsche Messe, which is 500 years old this year. In 1526, Martin Luther published a revised version of the main Sunday worship service. This version was in the German language and so was called the Deutsche Messe or “German Mass.” Prof. Micheel will take a brief look at this service and discuss some of the key principles that guided Luther as he made reforms to public worship—principles that we can learn from still. This presentation will serve as a preview of the festival service, which will be a version of Luther’s German Mass.

Reformation Presentation
2:30 pm in the Commons
Reformation Service
4 pm in the Sanctuary

Location: St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and School
1600 South Main Street, Fond du Lac

Guest Presenter and Preacher
Professor Jonathan Micheel

Jonathan Andrew Micheel was born September 23, 1972, in Seward, Nebraska, to Virgil and Mary Micheel. He was born again through the waters of Holy Baptism at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gresham, Nebraska, on October 1, 1972. He was confirmed in the Christian faith at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Watertown, Wisconsin, in 1986. He received his training for the pastoral ministry at Northwestern Preparatory School (1986–90), Northwestern College (1990–94), and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (1994–98). He served his vicar year at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

After his ordination, Prof. Micheel served as pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Modesto, California, and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Salt Lake City, Utah He has also served as district worship coordinator for the Nebraska District of the Wisconsin Synod, circuit pastor for the Western Slope Circuit of that district, on the Hymnal Project Executive Committee, and as chairman of the Hymnal Project Rites Committee.

On July 6, 1996, Prof. Micheel married Cheryl Leach of Milwaukee. Cheryl, a graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran College, currently teaches core math and English classes at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School. The Micheels have been blessed with four children: Emma, who is married to Preston Pflaum and lives in Midvale, Utah; Sophia, married to Seth Jones of West Valley City, Utah; Ezekiel, a senior at Wisconsin Lutheran College; and Noah, a sophomore at Wisconsin Lutheran College.