Worship Anew has started to record its 2025 programs and is excited to announce a new pastor for this season. 

The Rev. Scott Zeckzer, senior pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in New Haven, Ind., will be joining the program with his first program on April 27, 2025. Rev. Zeckzer will be replacing the Rev. Thomas Eggold, who will be stepping back from the program to focus on his home congregation. Rev. Eggold’s last program will be on Easter, April 20, 2025. 

“Worship Anew is blessed by our team of pastors who share with our viewers week in and week out, and we are very appreciative for the work of Pastor Eggold for the past six years and thank him for his ministry on Worship Anew and his continued ministry in the Church,” said Matthew Leighty, executive director at Worship Anew. “Pastor Zeckzer is a wonderful addition to our lineup of pastors, and we believe that our viewers will enjoy his preaching style and his warm personality as he shares the Gospel.”

Pastors, Rev. Dr. Thomas Ahlersmeyer, Rev. Shayne Jonker, Rev. Dr. Walter Maier III, Rev. William Mueller, and Rev. Paul Shoemaker will once again return to our weekly program and will continue to be joined by the Worship Anew Choir and other visiting choirs as well as host Eric Kaschinske. 

Rev. Eggold has served with the program since 2018. He is the senior pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Ind., and will continue to serve in that role after his time at Worship Anew is completed. 

“(Worship Anew) gives you a bigger appreciation for the Church, not just your congregation, but for the Christian church and how we’re all connected,” Rev. Eggold said. 

Rev. Zeckzer joins the program in the footsteps of Rev. Shoemaker, who previously served as the senior pastor at his church in New Haven. He has grown in ministry with Rev. Shoemaker for years and now will continue to do the same through Worship Anew. 

“I’m looking forward to sharing with the audience the Good News of God’s salvation, finding Christ Jesus, and just being part of a great history and tradition with Worship Anew,” Rev. Zeckzer said. 

Rev. Zeckzer is a graduate of Concordia University-Ann Arbor and Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. He has more than 25 years in ministry and has served at Emanuel since 1996. He and his wife Deb have four children; Bethany, Caleb, Nathan, and Micah. 

The start of the 2025 production season will be on Dec. 1, 2024 with the First Sunday in Advent. 

Worship Anew is available to watch on local broadcasts throughout the United States as well as on the American Forces Network worldwide. Worship Anew is also available online through WorshipAnew.org and YouTube. The program is also streaming on AppleTV, Google, and ROKU. Learn more at WorshipAnew.org. 

Since 1980, Worship Anew, headquartered in Fort Wayne, Ind., has been broadcasting weekly worship services for aging adults who seek to help them live an abundant life in Christ. Today, Worship Anew reaches thousands of people each week across the nation and around the world on television and streamed online. To learn more about Worship Anew and other ministries, including the care ministry and Hope-Full Living daily devotions, please visit WorshipAnew.org.