Pastor's Page

The Rev. John T. Heidgerd (Pastor John or PJ) is an ordained Pastor in the ELCA for over nine years, serving congregations in both the Metro NY and Southeastern PA Synods. He was called to St. John’s in January 2025 and began serving as St. John’s Pastor in June 2025.  

​

Pastor John believes in cultivating a sense of generosity and joy in the community of faith - one that comes from the love and generosity God has shown us through the presence of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  One of Pastor John’s favorite sayings is “just be generous…and watch what God does with it.”  He also feels called to lead worship as a time of rejoicing in the love and promises of God, as a reflection of that generosity.  Rooted in faith, Pastor John envisions a community of joy and generosity at St. John’s, feeding and sustaining its mission to make Christ known, loved, and served.

​

Previously, Pastor John served Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Souderton, PA for six years.  He guided Emmanuel to a renaissance in community ministry, developing a large feeding ministry, opening the church facility to several partner ministries, building both local and international missions and ministry, with the community growing steadily in faith and in service. He also led a resurgence in children and family ministry.  

​

Pastor John and his wife Natalie were married at St. John’s in May 2026.  Natalie’s daughter, Darla, is a student in St. John’s confirmation class.  Pastor John has two adult sons, Tyler, who lives in Elmsford, NY, and Davin, who resides in Tucson, AZ.

​

Pastor John is a native New Yorker, having grown up in the Bronx and living in various communities in Westchester County and Upstate NY before living the last six years in Souderton, PA.  Prior to accepting the call to serve Emmanuel, he was Associate Pastor at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Jamaica Queens and also served as an interim minister at Our Saviour in Croton-on-Hudson.   Prior to being ordained, Pastor John worked as a Finance Executive for 25 years at the Gannett Company, before branching out into the non-profit sector as the CFO for Lutheran Social Services of New York and CFO for the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary).

​

To meet with Pastor John, just drop an email, text, or call.