God Sighting: Bill Peterson

Bill Peterson

As an ELCA Pastor, Bill Peterson has always loved worship. Bill’s spouse, Judy, is a Parish Ministry Associate and church musician, so she has shared in their ministry of worship together. After Bill retired, they began attending Sheridan with their daughter, Emily Fullerton, and her family.

But the life of a retired pastor can be busy, as there is always a need for a good pastor. Bill was invited to be an Interim Pastor at First Lutheran in Lincoln last summer. On August 6, 2021, while fully robed and awaiting worship to start for an ordination, Bill suffered a massive stroke. He spent months both hospitalized and in rehab. His recovery has been slow and steady, but he remains wheelchair bound.

Bill has been able, with some help from family and occasionally Sheridan’s bus ministry, to come back to worship. The God sighting in all of this is not that Bill gets to worship, but rather how Bill worships. Bill comes with so much spiritual joy. His attitude is truly contagious!

Bill was always an enthusiastic worshiper, but he is even more so now. In contrast, many people come to worship solely out of a sense of duty. Others come because someone has “dragged them” here. Still others come willingly, but seemingly joyless, with very low expectations. It has been said, “you never know what you have until it gets taken away.” Bill’s current love with worship is fueled by the fact that he had lost his ability to worship. In his words, “nothing can replace it.”

When you see Bill at Sheridan, please greet him – not for his sake, but for yours. Feel the joy and exuberance of his heart of worship. Let his passion for God and community fill your heart! Worship isn’t an event—it is an orientation of the heart, a lifestyle. Meet Bill and be inspired.

by Pastor Greg Bouvier