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After a six-month search, Trinity Lutheran Church in Pleasanton has announced the arrival of its new Senior Pastor Kendall Jeske, whose ordination is scheduled to take place next Saturday (April 13) at the church on Hopyard Road.
Church officials said Jeske’s leadership is expected to inspire the congregation and foster spiritual growth and engagement at the church that has been a cornerstone of the Christian-based faith community in Pleasanton for over half a century.
The incoming pastor reflected on his new role in the community.
“I am new to the role of pastor, though no stranger to working in churches,” Jeske told the Pleasanton Weekly. “I’ve either been working in churches or supporting the work of church leaders since 2009 and I’m absolutely thrilled to enter into this expression of ministry, in this time, in this place.”
“My wife and I grew up at other Lutheran churches named Trinity, at opposite ends of the time zone, so coming to Trinity in Pleasanton already feels like a homecoming,” Jeske added.
The Trinity Lutheran Church of Pleasanton belongs to the congregation of the Sierra Pacific Synod within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. The affiliation connects the church with various other worship communities, camps, universities and more.
The pastor shared his excitement on the local community and culture in the Tri-Valley.
“What are the things you look for when you move to a new area? Friendly people, good food and a welcoming environment? I found early on that those things are all here at Trinity. Plus, these people know and love the Tri-Valley, and they aren’t afraid to show it,” he stated.
Ken Morgan, community outreach director of the Pleasanton church, said the ordination is a momentous occasion eagerly anticipated by the congregation and its members.
“Ordination is the final step to becoming a pastor,” Morgan said. “It only happens once in a pastor’s ministry.”
Morgan explained the search for a pastor began last year after a former leader announced their departure.
“Last year a call committee was formed to choose a new pastor for our church after our prior pastor moved to Bozeman, Montana to lead a congregation and to be close to her parents,” Morgan told the Weekly.
Morgan said next weekend’s event not only marks the official beginning of Jeske’s tenure but also symbolizes a new chapter in the church’s journey.
“In this congregation you’ll find longtime members, even from when Trinity Lutheran began in 1965, new Lutherans, transplants and California natives, retirees and working families,” Jeske said. “It’s this kind of community that helps drive human connection while also exploring and expressing a shared faith.”
“I am thrilled and honored to join this congregation,” he added.