Epiphany Lutheran Church Pastors’ Annual Report – 2011

What then shall we say to this?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him?    Romans 8:31-3

Dear Friends in Christ:

These words are often read at funerals.  We hear them to counteract the pain of grief.  Sometimes it is only in the wilderness of grief that our hearts are opened to receive the Gospel.  And when that good news hits our marrow it provides comfort, hope, and trust in that which is beyond us.  When we embrace this truth, that God is for us because we know His Son, it re-aligns our lives.  When this news lands deeply we cannot do anything except receive it and say thank you for it.

The following pages detail our thanks.

I am amazed at the multitude of ministries that this report chronicles.  As I reflect on this past year I see so much to be thankful for.  Our church has not shrunk behind its walls to escape the challenges and changes facing our community but has rather done the harder work of addressing them.

A new ministry has begun in Rockdale and Newton counties because of our witness.  Family Promise of New Rock is addressing the issues of homelessness in our greater community.  It would never have started without the profound dedication and leadership of one of our own as well as so many others who stepped alongside to care for those families who need a helping hand.

An after school program was begun due to the calling that one of our Christian sisters felt and pursued through members of our congregation.  And our church listened and opened its doors to partner with this new ministry.  And now each afternoon a score of children come to play, eat a snack and receive homework help in a safe and nurturing environment.

In addition to these new ministries others have been maintained or strengthened over this past year.  Each day our doors are open and harried parents are met with smiles and welcome as their little ones enter our church home.  Can you think of a greater compliment than to have a parent entrust their most precious gift to you?  Eighty children are entrusted to our Preschool each week and up to 16 in our Parents Morning Out program.

And whereas these outreach ministries have put our church on the map in this county I would be remiss not to mention the countless other ministries and groups that serve so faithfully in this church.  This place operates smoothly because of so many willing to shoulder the burden of keeping this place witnessing and working on behalf of Jesus Christ.

As we reflect and rejoice at the work that has been recorded on these pages let’s not think that God is through with us.

We have growing edges.  We need to pay attention to our worship life.  We need to be committed to hearing the word and sharing the sacraments.  We need to remember our promise to God and to our new parents that we will help them fulfill the vows taken during their children’s baptisms.

We need help in our Youth area.  We need help in our Sunday school are.  We need help in caring for our aging seniors.  We need to stop being shy about what God is doing in this place.  We must be more deliberate in our welcome of those whom God is leading to our church.  We must exert proper stewardship of our resources and invest in the upkeep and appearance of the wonderful facility that we use.   We need to trust God to lead us to step out from our comfort zones into new areas of faithfulness.  God is for us.  We know this.  So many do not.  Our path is clear but it is up to trust and step out…in faith.

Shalom,

Pastor John

P.S. I have intentionally left names off of this report because of the danger of missing someone.  So too, I have not mentioned our staff and vicar.  My feelings about them are all well known – they are simply the best.  And as for all the other disciples whose work and witness is recorded in these pages - know this – It is both humbling and inspiring to walk alongside you.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews and Greeks, slaves or free – and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.  Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many … If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.  Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.  1 Cor 12:12-14, 26-27 NRSV

These past four months have provided me with so many opportunities for learning, growth, and friendship that I can hardly recount them all, and I thank God every day for the incredible blessing of having been assigned here.

One of my greatest joys has been getting to know the members of this congregation through home visits, hospital visits, and communication calls.  It has been my privilege to be welcomed into your lives and homes, and I look forward to continuing these visits throughout my internship.

Teaching adult Sunday school, confirmation classes, and Bible studies has been another source of great joy for me.  Together, we have explored God’s word, shared our faith stories, and gained insight into what it means to be members of the Body of Christ.  Epiphany is such and active parish in this regard, with numerous classes and Bible studies going on throughout the week.  I encourage more of you to take advantage of these opportunities to grow closer to God and to one another.

Of course, we also grow closer to God during our worship services, when we gather as the Body of Christ.  It is such a privilege to take part in Epiphany’s worship, to be given the opportunity to preach on a regular basis, and to have led both the Blessing of the Animals and the Lessons & Carols services this year.  Your encouragement and feedback are truly appreciated as I continue to grow in these areas.

I am also tremendously blessed to be able to witness Christ’s body at work here every day.  Epiphany Lutheran Church truly embodies what it means to come to the table to be fed so that we can feed others.  This church has so many outreach ministries, and new ones continue to be added.  As my internship project,  I am in the process of adding an in reach ministry to focus on our new members.  The Congregational Care Team will soon be in place to contact those who are missing from our community so that we can share our love with them and find out if they have specific ministry needs.  It is important  to take care of the individual members of the Body of Christ, both because we are called to love one another and because the body functions best when all members are well and working together.

I especially want to thank Pastor John, Barb, Kim, and my internship committee for all of their help and input.  I have been so blessed to know each of them individually and to work so closely with them as I learn more about what it means to be a pastor in Christ’s church.  I so appreciate their honesty in sharing their own experiences and insights with me.

I thank all of you for welcoming me so warmly and making me a part of your family.  I am looking forward to continuing to grow in ministry with you, as we experience Christ’s love in this very special place.

Blessings,

Vicar Lynne