(Note: This is an edited version of my annual report to the congregation for 2011. You may find the full report in the 2011 Annual Report of the Congregation booklet)
Dear Friends in Christ,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Once again I am grateful to be able to report to you that Lamb of God Lutheran Church despite its many challenges continues to be a place where the love of God is made known every week in word and deed in our community. We neither will allow ourselves to be defeated nor will we be deterred from our clear mission by the limitations of our circumstances. It is a tribute to the faith and perseverance of all of you that we remain - despite our small size - a strong force for hope in the lives of many people every week of the year. We are as I have noted in other writings and sermons a “Good Samaritan Church.” We don’t just stand around wringing our hands over what we don’t have and grieving what we can’t do. And we definitely don’t ignore the needs people bring. Instead, we take what God has so freely and generously given us and roll up our sleeves and go to work in order to give it away in the name of Christ. I pray that our gracious God who has led us this far by faith will continue to inspire in us such a faith that is always so bold and determined. The Lord told his disciples that if they had faith as a mustard seed they could move mountains. I always thought that was meant as hyperbole, but I’m rethinking that in light of my experience here these last six years. I think you have done some ‘mountain moving’ (metaphorically speaking) over the years to keep our ministry focused and even growing! It displays more than a little faith as well as deep trust that God has put us in this place for a reason and has plenty of work for us to still do. I think there is a lot to rejoice about in 2011. Thanks be to God for all we were able to do by his grace. By God’s grace I pray that 2012 will be a strong year for Lamb of God and its ministries. We can never know how it will go. We can only entrust our lives into God’s care and keeping and know that whatever happens he will never forsake us or abandon us. We are his beloved children marked with the cross of Christ and promised a future that will be abundant with God’s goodness and love no matter what else may come. It continues to be a joy to serve alongside you in this place. I always like to use the word ‘partnership’ in reference the ministry we share together. I think it has certainly become just that – a true partnership in the gospel - led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
God has continued to bless us and sustain our work in this place even as we struggle with challenges that have no easy answers or quick fixes. The challenges seem very big and scary (not to be taken lightly), but they need not obscure our hope or limit our imagination. As I said above, we provide hope to people’s lives every week. As long as we do that I believe God will prosper what we do and help us find new and even more imaginative ways to do as the Spirit directs. Let’s stay clearly focused then on our mission priorities and let the Holy Spirit guide us on into 2012 and even beyond. As I have said many times in other writings – the best way to walk into the future is to see it as a continuing adventure of faith of which we cannot see the ending. We don’t know where the coming months and years may take us, but we do know that God is with us and leading us and his love sustaining us along the way. Let another year of adventures in faith, love, and hope begin!
May God prosper all we do now in 2012 to the praise and glory of his Holy Name. Amen.
One more thing: I am touched and very grateful to all of you for the gift you gave me for Christmas. You are as always a blessing to me in many ways. God bless you for your kindness and generosity.
See you in church. – Pastor Steve