A Word From the Pastor
Rev. L. David Mortenson, Senior Pastor
It is hard to believe that it is already November. The temps are falling. The leaves are changing. Thanksgiving and Advent are right around the corner. As the year is coming to a close, I want to take this month and next month to reflect on this past year. In 2023 we set a goal of raising $50,000 for improvements to the property. We poured concrete, making our parking next to the building better for handicap and older people coming to the church or the senior center. We installed automatic doors on the front and did several other upgrades.
So, this year we set a goal of $50,000 for missions. We started the Table, a meal now twice a month, for those in our community who may need a meal or may need some fellowship with
other people. We help with Baby Grace, the Food Pantry, Harvester's Drop and so much more. We have so many volunteers going into the community, that it shows we are trying to live up to Christ's commission of going into the world and making disciples of Jesus Christ.
In doing this fundraising, we have overlooked another aspect of God's call, the church itself. In Exodus 35:4-5, it says, " 4 And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying: 5 'Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to
the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze."
Our weekly offerings have been down. I have not done a good job of keeping the congregation informed of how we are doing, when it comes to the business part of the church. This past year, we had to replace 3 air conditioners, at a cost of about $5,000 each. The budget took a big hit. To conduct the business part of the church, we need to have around $2,500 a week in offering. Most weeks we are close to that, but some weeks are half that.
With the costs of things going up, our next budget is going to be even bigger, needing around $2,800 a week in offering. Not the kind of discussion you want at the end of the year, when you are looking at what you are thankful for. But I for one am very thankful for this church and all that it does in the community. When asked, the congregation here steps up and goes into full Christ mode into the need. The need is also here, in the church. To continue to be a strong force for Christ in the Community, we need to look at the blessings we have and give back to the church so the church can continue to be that strong force for Christ.
God Bless, and I thank God every day for this congregation, and I know the community is blessed with you in it.
Pastor David