Emmanuel Lutheran Church

February 2020

In 2019 this congregation boldly accepted the challenge to contribute to a “faith budget” that amounted to $9,990 unbudgeted dollars to support our synod, church-wide body and several local ministries. That’s a lot of money! It was a true leap of faith to do such a thing since in 2018, giving through the Benevolence envelopes totaled a whopping $1,800!

Unfortunately, we ended the year shy of our goal – by only $861! That’s actually excellent! One fear that we had was that this might take away from regular offering if people simply shifted some of their giving. That does not appear to have happened. Well done, good and faithful servants of Christ! Well done!

I begin my report with this news because it is important for us to hear how stepping out in faith, not knowing what the result might be or the impact it might have on the regular budget, resulted in a great thing. Fear of the unknown might have squelched the Spirit right from the beginning but look what leaping out in faith accomplished! When we, as Christ’s people, trust in God rather than ourselves, God does wonderful things through us.

I think it is safe to say that as a church in today’s world there are challenges to growing Christ’s church that we have not experienced before. Those challenges can be met with fear or those challenges can be met with faith and trust in the Spirit’s movement and guidance into the future.

People no longer are moving into a community and seeking a church home upon doing so. People call themselves “religious” but aren’t coming to church or devoting time to the church as in the past. For today’s generation, it isn’t as much about “what do I take away from this experience” but “what does this church provide that I want to contribute to.”

The programs of the past don’t work in the present. People of yesterday found social connection in the church as well as spiritual. People today find social connection elsewhere. What they want in a church is to contribute their time and energy to something that creates positive change and influence in their communities while discovering Christ through and in such activity.

In 2020, let’s start envisioning a church whose presence is felt and known in this community in a very real and tangible way. Let’s find ways to be Christ and to show Christ to those around us. Let’s be “church for the sake of the world.*” God will take over from there and grow the church. Let’s keep stepping out in faith and be pleasantly surprised at where God takes us.

Please note that this doesn’t mean ignoring the past. We can continue to provide the programs and support that “seasoned” generations look for in a church and appreciate, but to expect that today’s generation is looking for the same thing you look for in a church is like your parents telling you that black and white TV is just fine. J

Pastor Alan
*one of Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s four identifying marks of the ELCA

God bless,
Pastor Alan