St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church LC-MS, 601 N. Jackson Street, Morrison, IL, will host an Installation Service for their new Pastor, David Strable, on Sunday, September 28, 2025, beginning at 4:00 p.m. President Allan Buss–at left–of the Northern Illinois District will conduct the church service.
Pastor Strable will offer prayers and the Benediction and oversee the reception for himself and wife Sally. His first sermon will be delivered Sunday, October 5, at 9:30 a.m.
“We are reinstating the 9:30 time, with Sunday School and Adult Bible Class following from 10:30 to 11:30,” he noted.
Four-day office hours “will start Tuesday, September 30, and run through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please leave a message on the machine (815-772-3386),” he encouraged. Ann Ufkin is the Office Secretary. Emails may be sent to Pastor Strable at david.strable@gmail.com. When asked how he would like the congregation to refer to him, he said, “Just call me Pastor Dave.”
He was ordained in June 2009 and served ten years in Fort Wayne, IN. He then “prayerfully accepted the call to minister in” a much different situation–Central South Dakota, 35 miles northeast of the Capital, Pierre. On December 27, 2020, Pastor Strable was installed to serve three small churches in different towns, with populations of 600 (Onida), 300 (Blunt), and 100 (Harrold.) “I started services at 8:15 and finished the third church at noon. For four years and nine months [I] served them. I was able to conduct two funerals before we moved. The last service was September 14, 2025, in Onida.”
Time sped up! Sally arrived in Morrison the 15th. They closed on their new house on the 17th. Dave arrived on the 19th. “My wife and I worshiped last Sunday[, September 21,] and a new member came. It was very welcoming.” The Editor interviewed the new Pastor Thursday, September 25.
The Strables have three adult children, living in Wisconsin and Indiana and a one-year-old granddaughter, Scout Gaughan. Her mother Gennea Gaughan, 29, lives in Cudahy, WI. Faelynne Strable, 27, lives in Yoder, IN. Eleanor Lusty, 25, lives in Saukville, WI. Proximity to them is one factor in their move to Morrison. It takes only 2.5 hours to reach their granddaughter.
“Morrison offers more: people, Sunday School, Confirmation, the Ministers’ Council, and community things. Access to Doctors is a big positive.
“We’re looking forward to all that [Morrison] has to offer. People here have been friendly. We missed the Fair, but are looking forward to that next year. We really are just happy to come and see what God has in store for us.
“We’re ready to start!”