August 8, 2025
Dear members of Augustana Lutheran Church,
In January, the Call Committee began the search for a pastor to find the right candidate for our current moment as we live into God’s future for us. We refined the Ministry Site Profile, our congregation’s resume. After numerous interviews, Pastor Michael Tassler emerged as the final candidate filling the vacancy left when Pastor Caitlin became Senior Pastor.
On Sunday, August 24, at noon, please attend the Congregational Meeting to vote on extending a call to Pastor Michael. We hope that you and all Augustana members will be able to attend. He and his wife, May, will be at Augustana for a meet-and-greet with us earlier that morning—Sunday, August 24, 9–10:30 a.m.
The Rev. Michael Tassler is currently serving at Zion Lutheran in Salt Lake City. Check out his preaching and worship style via their livestream worship link at ZELC.org.
Pastor Michael brings experience, excitement and a passion for congregational ministry. He is gifted to lead our confirmation youth, communications and media, and actively tend to pastoral care. In addition, Pastor Michael has a passion for evangelism, mission, and stewardship, which complements our Welcome 150 efforts. When describing him, words such as genuine, focused, and compassionate all seem to fit. A cradle Lutheran, Pastor Michael especially enjoys building up community, equipping lay leaders for ministry, preaching and worship, visitation, and administration.
Since March 1, 2023, Pastor Michael Tassler has served as pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Salt Lake City, UT – a vibrant, loving, and growing community he has deeply loved leading. After much prayer and conversation, he entered a time of discernment about a new call in order to reunite with his wife, May. During his two and a half years in Salt Lake City, May remained in Colorado Springs, unable to find meaningful work in Utah despite extensive efforts. This season of living apart has been challenging, and the time has come for them to live together once more, fully supporting one another in daily life.
Michael and May have three young adult children. Hannah, a flutist, begins her Doctor of Musical Arts at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University this fall. Andrew, a CU Boulder graduate, lives in Denver and works as a mechanical engineer. Peter, recently moved to Denver and will begin his senior year at Metro State, playing on the baseball team after stints at Dodge City CC and Southeastern University in Florida.
Michael and May enjoy hiking, especially when accompanied by their dog, Porter. A music major in college, Michael occasionally breaks out his trumpet. He also tortures himself daily with a suite of New York Times games: Wordle, Connections, Strands, and Spelling Bee.
We’re excited to see what God makes possible through Pastor Michael’s call to Augustana!
In Christ,
Katy Lunsford, Chair of the Call Committee
Roger Lipker, President of the Congregation
Caitlin Trussell, Senior Pastor