Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Pastor's Weekly Blog

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Jesus,

I am very excited as we begin moving to become a Biblically healthy congregation. Planning is going on now and the selection of the "Catch the Vision of Christ" task force. Our beginning date will be announced soon - so begin praying now if you haven't already. We will need lots of prayers and participation as we move.

In our Gospel of Luke Bible study we have been listening to Jesus talk about what it means to be Christian. It is work, patience, compassion and love all tied into one. The power of the Holy Spirit is the only way we are able to be what God wants us to be. I invite everyone - children to great-grandparents - to join us on Sunday mornings at 8:45am at the Turtle Tap restaurant.

I have been working through the pain that comes with the cold weather. God has given me the strength to carry on each day to be what God has called me to be. All of your prayers have been a great help to me, thank you.

With Jesus' Compassion,
Pastor Randy

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Pastor's Weekly Blog

Blessed New Year Sisters and Brothers!

I pray that your celebration of our Savior"s birth has been uplifting for you. As we look to a new year - 2011 can you believe it?- we have the traditional opportunity to make New Year's resolutions. But New Year's resolutions do not have to be exclusively for ourselves, they can be group resolutions. My prayer is that we would collectively make a resolution to pray for and with each other more than last year, study God's Word more than last year, join a Friends Christ Care small group this year, and do Jesus' mission in our everyday lives more than last year.

A few of us were able to be educated on the process that we need to begin this year to help us regain our focus on doing the mission of Jesus Christ in our community. We attended a seminar by the LCMS's congregational refocusing expert. His name is Rev. Dr. Waldo Werning (yes he has heard every "Where's Waldo?" joke there is). Dr. Werning is a 90 year-old pastor of the LCMS. He was ordained in 1945 and continues to be as active as myself. He is utterly amazing. The process will be laid out in more detail in person. This is not the communication avenue to present it. Everyone will know when and where this presentation will take place.

I am feeling refreshed and ready to tackle this next phase of Friends In Christ moving closer to Jesus, each other, and our community.

God's Continued Blessings,
Pastor Randy