Christ In All Things

Christ In All Things

by Pastors Lance O'Donnell and Jason Schockman

Season 1

Meet Mary Hickenbottom. Part 1

Mary Kay (Zastrow) Hickenbottom is a “lifer” at St. Paul’s: Baptized, confirmed, married, etc. Oconomowoc community members may know her as a realtor and property manager; many others know her as the volunteer Director of St. Paul’s food pantry, “The Lord’s Cupboard.” In Part 1 of our interview with Mary we explore—even as flawed as she admits that she is—how Jesus Christ began to mold her into a unique servant of The LORD. As you will hear, she comes from great stock: the late +Dennis+ and +Florence+ Zastrow are her parents. (If you listened to our interview with Gary Flanagan you heard about the Christian influence of Denny Zastrow on Gary and many others.) Even more wonderful than the family from which she comes is the Christ who has been at work in Mary her whole life. To meet Mary is to meet the kind of person who Christians of the past would nod and say, “Yes, hers is The Way of The LORD.”

Meet Glenn Leidel. Part 2

Glenn Leidel is a tall, strong, gentle man, This, Part Two of our interview with Glenn, takes us from some very formative childhood experiences, to the exploration of his “pun-y-ness,” to his courtship and marriage to Linda (nee Eggers), to children, grandchildren, the importance of Christian education, and service in the church, where he is—as Pastor Schockman says—“immensely active.”

Meet Glenn Leidel. Part 1

Glenn Robert Leidel is a retired deputy fire chief. That alone tells you a lot about his understanding of life as a call to service, an understanding that is rooted in his Christian faith. Those around St. Paul’s presently may know Glenn primarily as the guy who helps get things done with church properties, but he is also a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a musician, a churchman. This is Part One of a two-part conversation with this fine man of faith, a conversation about his faithful and challenging origins. To listen to this conversation is to gain an even deeper appreciation of Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Worship Whatnot 4.Why We Sing in Church

“Worship Whatnot 4: Why Do We Sing in Church?” is the fourth episode in our Worship Whatnot series. How we answer this question has a deep impact on the music selected for public worship, especially in the Divine Service. Our guest is St. Paul’s Director of Parish Music, Allison Mackie. Her perspective on singing together in the Divine Service is wonderful in the true sense of the word. We sing the truths of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ as God has revealed it. We confess what we have received from God. We receive and give the love and hope of Christ together.

"Contact Holiness," a Reformation Tap Society preview with Nathan Meador

Nathan Meador says that we have “contact holiness” in Christ. What???? To find out that means come hear his Reformation Tap Society talk, “Where Worlds Intersect: Why the Body of Jesus Changes Everything,” on Sunday, December 18, 2022 at Brewfinity in Oconomwoc, Wisconsin. Social time begins at 5pm. The talk begins at 5:30pm. First time guests receive a beverage on us. Brewfinity is located at N58W39800 Industrial Rd. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Search for “Reformation Tap Society” on social media for more information.

Meet Bill Voss. Part 2

Bill Voss is one of the very few living World War II veterans, and there are a lot of interviews with WWII veterans about the war. Those are important conversations, but perhaps even more important is what these folks built when they came home: in the family, in the church, and in the community. Part 2 of our interview explores Bill’s life after the war. It is an ordinary conversation about God at work in common ways… and that is marvelous. We have a good laugh about Bill doing whatever was necessary for him to get his preferred pew in church, and—for a man who lived through the baby boom, the birth of Rock n’ Roll, the Cold War, the civil rights movement, the moon landing, the Vietnam War, etc.--Bill gives a fascinating answer to the question, “What is the most surprising thing you saw since coming back from World War II?” Bill Voss is a Christian who “abounds in hope.” (Romans 15:13) This conversation was recorded on 11 October, A.D. 2022.

Meet Bill Voss. Part 1

For the second-half of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first century people, thousands of people walked by William Henry Frederick “Bill” Voss on the street, worked next to him at the Carnation factory, or sat next to him in church… and likely had little or no idea of the extraordinary story that God was unfolding. Bill was born on June 24, 1922. His father died when he was a fourth grader, and he had to drop out of school, become the man of the house, and take care of the farm. In Part 1 of our interview with Bill we marvel at the faithful resolution of this quiet man, Hear the story of his earliest years, which includes one of the most remarkable accounts of church attendance we have ever heard. We also learn of his courtship of Margaret Roberts and his service as a World War II artillery man under U.S. General George Patton. This conversation was recorded on 11 October, A.D. 2022.

The Michael and Jenny Stollenwerk Story

In June 2021, still in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Lutheran school teacher and wrestling coach, Michael Stollenwerk went in for what was expected to be—all things considered—a minor brain surgery. Things went well at first. And then they didn’t go well… And then Jenny Stollenwerk had a front row seat to a miracle. Our interview with Michael and Jenny was recorded live at St. Paul’s 2022 Biblical Marriage Retreat. This is an account of perseverance, faith, hope, and love. It’s an account of two faithful Lutheran school teachers who were busy doing their thing… and then a marriage deepened through the faithfulness of God and a revelation of what their marriage was. Listeners should note that the beginning of the show is mostly Jenny telling the story of what happened with the brain surgeries and how God was at work. When you hear Michael speak you hear the raspy voice of man putting in serious work to get his voice back. Patient listening will be rewarded with an account of deep faithfulness and profound joy. Michael's story with pictures This conversation was recorded on 13 November, A.D. 2022.

Meet Gary Flanagan. Part 2

This is Part 2 of our interview with a living legend, Gary Flanagan. We take a deeper dive into the youth group activities, Christian education, and other St. Paul’s legends who formed him. And then the conversation swings to the quiet but important ways in which Gary has been led to serve. In all this we see Christ at work in the lives of many, many people. It is an inspiration for our life together. This conversation was recorded on 6 September, A.D. 2022.

Meet Gary Flanagan. Part 1

Gary Flanagan is a fixture at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. A legend. But he’s not the flamboyant, extroverted type. He works with his hands, mostly behind the scenes, faithfully and quietly serving his family, neighbors, and church. In Part 1 of our interview we talk a lot about the faithful and independent parents who formed him… and some very other important people in the life of St. Paul’s. This conversation was recorded on 6 September, A.D. 2022.

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