Dear Member,
As the leaves turn and the temperature creeps down, once again we encourage you to look ahead towards the next year of ministry in your church family.
As we wind up 2021, we are beginning the discernment process to identify the best staffing plan to meet the needs we have following Pastor Karen’s retirement. We are so excited to be bringing in Pastor Phil Blom to assist us in this important undertaking. We will have more information in the New Year about when he will be visiting us and how we will facilitate those conversations. We’re also delighted to have Pastor Joy Armstrong as our Visiting Pastor! We’re looking forward to our next year of ministry with her on our team, and are grateful for her support and talents during this transitional period.
Please participate vigorously in this process! Your input is needed so that the right path is chosen. If you would like your church to be a vibrant support for your church family, the resources, volunteers and staff need to be maintained to achieve that.
YouTube, Facebook, TV, radio, and in person services have been going strong all year. Our Savior’s Staff did a great job of organizing services and pivoting to the skills needed for some of these new formats. Katie Keller in the office also spends time each week updating our website, so make sure you look there for event information, registrations, updates, and even e-bulletins if you’re worshipping from home!
We have also continued offering ministry options both in person and remotely. We mailed Sunday School materials to over 100 kids throughout last school year, did a joint outdoor VBS with Zion Lutheran, and had many opportunities for youth (including “drive in” movies projected onto the church!) this summer. Middle School Youth Group and Confirmation have started for the year, and we are currently providing Sunday School materials for pickup and video lessons for families to do together at home. We’re also co-hosting intergenerational “Fun Days” with Zion each season. (Fall Fun Day is October 30th at Zion!) As we look forward to 2022, we hope we will continue being able to offer creative and versatile ministries for all ages.
The need for funds continues. As always, the basics of staff, properties maintenance (such as snow plowing), and utilities need to be covered in order to continue the ministry of OSLC. Specifically in 2022, we will also need your additional support for whatever staff configuration is recommended following the discernment process. Please prayerfully consider pledging for the General Fund for operations support, as well as to the Mission Appeal fund, which will support our partnerships with Pastor Phil, Pastor Joy, and any additional staff expenses deemed necessary through our discernment process.
If you are unable to give financially, we encourage you to consider other methods of offering! Jesus said, “If you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give–large or small–will be used to measure what is given back to you.” (Luke 6:38)
That verse is applicable to offerings and financial contributions, but also to any other form of gift to the community. An offering of time, talent, or prayer will support your church family. There are several options/ideas listed on the back of your pledge card.
There are three parts to this pledge card: General & Mission Appeal Pledges, other Designated Pledges, and Additional Giving Pledges. Please prayerfully consider all three. It is through your generosity that we will be able to plan a new year of worship and giving.
Lutherans have a proud heritage built on the grace of God. We give from a place of having received His grace. We love because He loved us first. Because we have received so much from our God, we can freely give.