Christmas and New Year’s are intimately linked. Christmas means the birth of Jesus in which God is renewing his Kingdom. New Year’s is a time in which we flip the calendar and experience a fresh start. Both Christmas and New Year’s are a new beginning.
It is also a great time for a new vision. Christmas makes us plan for the future with Christ. New Year’s makes us look at the next year with an eye for positive change. Last week, the council voted to work with Lutheran Church Extension Fund in an extensive vision process. We’ve been considering this action for the last six months. In October, Pastor Mark Frith of LCEF, presented to us what this looks like. It involves establishing God’s vision for our congregation, exploring ministry opportunities and creating a dynamic strategic plan, creating a campus plan that matches the vision, and communicating our vision plan.
The council is all for it. We need this visioning. It has been a long time since the congregation worked through something like this. The world post Covid is different and needs to be considered. But the council wants to hear from the congregation. We need to know that you not only support this vision planning but you are willing to help. If you are behind the council’s decision then contact someone on the council (Andy Ryan, Mike Murphy, Lisa Grossenheider, Lauren Mistler, John Lee, James Sowers) an elder (Mike Toney, John Steele, Jason DeBord), your Pastor or the church office. You can email, text, call or write a note on your attendance card. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
