10-20-2019 Pastor John Fehrmann with the sermon.
Recently Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tell City welcomed a new pastor and his wife to their congregation. The Pastor was officially installed Sunday, October 20 during a special church service. The church welcomes Pastor Nathan James Rusert and his wife Lori to their congregation and to the community.
Pastor Rusert was born to the Rev. Dr. Lyle D. Rusert and Josephine Rusert as his father served in Crown, Minnesota. Then in 1966 his family moved to Appleton, Minnesota, where he attended Appleton Elementary School. In 1973 his father accepted the call to Peace River, Alberta, Canada. After a year and one-half the Lord called his father to Redeemer Lutheran Church, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Pastor attended 8th grade at Trinity Lutheran School in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. In 1979 he graduated from St. Cloud Apollo High School. During high school he was active as a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol. In order to serve his nation he enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard during his senior year of High School. He attended infantry basic training and advanced individual training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. That fall he entered Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota. He also enrolled in the Army ROTC at the University of Minnesota. In June of 1981 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Field Artillery Officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard. In April of 1982 he attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He continued to serve with the 1-136th Infantry Battalion in St. Cloud, Minnesota. In May of 1983 he graduated (magna cum laude) from Concordia College, St. Paul with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a minor in Biology and a minor in Christian Thought. In September of 1983 Pastor Rusert began his studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN. His vicarage year was spent in Burr Ridge, Illinois where he served Trinity Lutheran Church and School. During his years at Ft. Wayne Pastor Rusert continued to serve his nation with the 1-293rd Infantry Battalion of the Indiana National Guard. Pastor Rusert graduated from the Seminary in May of 1987 and was called, ordained, and installed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Schaller, Iowa on June 28th 1987. Pastor continued to serve his nation as an Army Reserve Chaplain transferring from the Field Artillery branch in 1989. He served with the 830th Station Hospital, Des Moines, and the 394th Corp Support Battalion, Ames, Iowa. In December 1996 he ended his chaplaincy service. The Lord called Pastor to serve St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church and School in Truman, Minnesota in February 1998. He was installed there on March 26th 1998. He served there for 21 years, also teaching 11th grade religion for 13 years at Martin Luther High School, Northrop, and serving on their Board of Directors. Pastor Rusert married Lori Schroeder at Immanuel Lutheran Church Marshfield, Wisconsin on July 30th, 1983. The Lord has blessed them with 5 children and 6 grandchildren; Kristin (& Lance Halverson of Eagan, MN – Seth, Elijah), Joshua (& Abby Rusert of Bellevue, NE – Hailey, Emilyn, Annylease, Madisen), Timothy of Minneapolis, MN, Jonathan of Iowa City, IA, and Rebekah of St. George, Utah. Nathan and Lori have served as EMT’s for 29 years. 8 years volunteering with Schaller Ambulance in Schaller, Iowa. 21 years volunteering with Truman Ambulance, Truman, MN.
On July 16th Pastor Rusert received a divine call to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tell City, Indiana. After searching the Scriptures and prayerful consideration the Lord moved him to accept the Holy Spirit’s call to serve on August 25th of this year. Pastor Rusert preached his last sermon at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church and School, Truman, MN on September 22nd. Pastor and Lori indicate they look forward to getting to know and serving our Lord Jesus and their new community of Perry County.
Pictures:1194: Pastors helped install Emmanuel Lutheran Church’s new Pastor, Pastor Nathan Rusert. Pictured are pastors who assisted with the ceremony that took place Sunday (starting at left): Revs. Mark Moog, Robert Reinhardt, Roger Sassaman, Nathan Rastl, Nathan Rusert, John Fehrman, Rodney Schmeltz, Kirk Horstmeyer, and Robert Schneider
1196: Pastor Nathan Rusert and his wife, Lori, recently moved to Tell City. Pastor Rusert was installed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church this past Sunday.
