This particular ministry target emphasizes two of our congregation’s core values: witness and life together. As we articulated in last month’s article, a core value answers the question, “Who are we?” Our congregation adopted three core values that are based on a description of the early Christian congregations in Acts 2:42-47. We decided that, consistent with the Christian Church throughout the ages, we are a people of witness, mercy, and life together. This is also consistent with the current mission and ministry emphasis of our Church body, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The witness core value states that “we are God’s redeemed people who bear witness to Jesus Christ.” The mercy core value states that “we are God’s redeemed people who show mercy and compassion to those who have need, especially physical needs.” The life together core value states that “we are God’s redeemed people who gather together around the life giving Word and Sacraments and have fellowship with one another.”
The “aesthetics of the building and grounds” ministry target emphasizes both the witness and life together ministry targets. The Board of Church Properties has already and is continuing to revise a plan that includes particular objectives (how the ministry target will be accomplished) and critical paths (how we will proceed with accomplishing the particular objectives). Already we have seen the placement of owl boxes to help with the gopher problem on our property, the removal of potential property-damaging trees, and the addition of a new Church sign. A landscaping plan as well as other deferred maintenance issues are in the works. Please speak with any member of the Board of Church Properties for more detailed information.
By focusing on the “aesthetics of the building and grounds” our congregation is not only giving a positive witness about who we are as a living, Christ-centered congregation that celebrates its life together in Christ, but we are also giving a clear witness to our living, faithful God.
So as we continue to consider together the details and meaning of our adopted strategic plan, I would like all of you as members of the congregation to ask and answer this one simple question for yourself: “What can I do to help?” As Christians we are “living sacrifices” who live our whole lives in faith toward God and in selfless, sacrificial love and service toward others. May we take stock of the ways in which our God has poured out his grace to us in the form of various gifts, talents, and skills. May we use those gifts, talents, and skills as good stewards in faithful Christian service. So help us, Lord.
In Christ,
Pastor Josh