Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Transcription

1 FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH EXPERIENCE FAITH... - Trust Abundantly Act Courageously Live Gratefully Love Unconditionally Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

2 THE JOURNEY OF FAITH The stor y of Faith Lutheran Church began with the courageous decision more than a centur y and a half ago by many Nor wegian immigrants to leave their homeland to settle in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin men gathered to found the Nor wegian Lutheran Congregation of Manitowoc, under the leadership of Rev. H. A. Stub. This led to the establishment of Gjerpen Lutheran Church and Valders West Lutheran Church The first Valders church, an octagonal building west of Valders, was dedicated The congregation of Gjerpen Lutheran Church dedicated its new church Valders and Gjerpen churches were incorporated The cornerstone for Our Savior s Lutheran Church was laid and construction continued through that year The three congregations voted to merge The Rev. Rober t Onkka presided over the Ceremony of Joining Hands, which symbolized the union of Gjerpen, Valders West and Our Savior s Evangelical Lutheran Churches to form Faith Lutheran Church The new Faith Lutheran Church building was dedicated. In the 50-plus years since the merger, Faith Lutheran Church has remained a landmark in the area. Shifting needs in our community and culture require us to adjust how we better respond to these changes. The time has now come to trust and be courageous again

3 Like the Nor wegian settlers who gave our church its beginnings and those who trusted God to help them create the new Faith Lutheran Church, we the members of Faith Lutheran Church find ourselves facing needs of staffing, facilities and mission. We cannot fill these needs without the spiritual, moral and yes, financial suppor t of our members. These new goals will move us into the next chapter of our church s histor y, the one yet to be written. To write it well, we must boldly move for ward together. What is this challenge before us? It is to Experience Faith. Trust Abundantly Act Courageously Live Gratefully Love Unconditionally

4 W H E R E WI LL T H E L ATEST CH A PTER I N O UR FA I T H S T O R Y TA KE US? W H AT I S G O D AS KI NG US TO D O? Together, we can trust, act, live and love to make our vision become real. Faith Lutheran Church has taken the first steps on a new journey led by God. This will move us into a future we can only imagine, but God can see. To realize God s plan, we must: EXPERIENCE FAITH...

5 In our journey together, God is calling us to: Trust Abundantly: Let s be like Peter, who took Jesus hand and stepped onto the water trusting that He would keep him afloat. Our ability to trust may falter at times, but we can put abundant faith in God, take the risk and move for ward. He has been with us from the star t and won t abandon us now! Je s u s sa i d : I came that yo u may ha ve l i f e and ha ve i t abundantly. John 1 0 : 1 0 Act Courageously: Like the People of Israel on their exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land, we are called to follow wherever God leads us. We are challenged to step out of our comfor t zone and make large strides on our faith journey together. Since God is with us we can act courageously. B e s trong a nd co urageo us; do no t b e f r i g hte ned or dismayed, fo r t h e LORD your Go d is with yo u whe re ve r you go. Joshua 1 :9 Live Gratefully: God has so richly blessed us! We must learn from the foreign leper who returned to Jesus to give thanks. As we see our lives from a faith perspective, we find more and more ways to live out of an attitude of gratitude for all that God has done for us. O g i ve tha nks to the LO R D, fo r he is g o od ; for hi s s teadfast love endures f o re ve r. Psa l m 10 7 :1 Love Unconditionally: Our mission as a congregation is to show God s unquestioning love for our neighbors and ourselves. Like the Good Samaritan, we can risk ourselves in caring for the stranger. We are called to reach out to the least, the lame, the lonely and the lost in our community, the nation and the world. Jesus modeled this love for us in ever y way we need only to follow his example. I give yo u a n ew co mman dmen t, t h a t yo u love o n e an o t h er. J u st as I h ave loved yo u, yo u also sh o u ld love o n e an o t h er. J o hn 1 3 : 3 4

6 WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED Our journey began with Vision Through additional input from the Church Assessment Tool, and conversations with congregational members and community leaders, we have learned The congregation desires that we: Develop a strategy to reach out to new people. Make changes to attract new families with children and youth. Deepen our connection to God through stronger worship oppor tunities. Provide high-quality education for ever y age and stage of life. In our surrounding communities, we have: An increased number of single-parent families. 22 percent of public school students on free and reduced-price lunch. A need for a welcoming agency for new community residents. A growing elderly population. This calls attention to the need for additional staffing, expanded facilities and funding for new and renewed ministr y initiatives.

7 With our combined trust, action, gratitude and love, we will find the resources to make the dream real. OUR VISION: Staffing: The vision is a staffing team that consists of a Lead Pastor, an Associate Pastor and a Youth and Family Coordinator. The focus for the Associate Pastor will be to reach out into the community to build relationships, discover unique areas for mission and develop new ministr y oppor tunities as well as sharing in general pastoral duties. $180,000 Facility Upgrade: Several areas will be addressed with our facility needs: an elevator to make our church welcoming and accessible, additional and updated restroom facilities, creating adequate office space for current and future staffing needs, increased area for welcoming, fellowship and communication, and a multi-purpose gathering space to be utilized by youth, small groups and the community. $800,000 Enhanced Communication: Reconfiguration of the chancel backdrop to incorporate a video projection system, installation of a video recording system to make available high-quality recordings to local cable networks and an electronic sign on Highway 151 to more effectively publicize our activities to the larger community. $50,000 Expanded Ministr y Oppor tunities: Reaching out beyond our parking lot to share our blessing and gifts with others through new or renewed community ministr y oppor tunities. $20,000 Benevolent Giving: Financially suppor ting ministries outside of Faith Lutheran Church. 3% of funds raised

8 GOALS FOR THE EXPERIENCE FAITH... APPEAL We are beginning a new era in Faith s histor y. Your generosity is needed to make sure we continue building on the promises of our remarkable ministr y. Prayerfully consider the kind of gift you have never given before. Be a par t of something that makes a difference and changes lives. Know the freedom that comes from living out of abundance and placing your trust in God. Share the incredible blessings God has given you. Become a cheerful messenger of God s love by giving until it feels great. People of Faith, this is a defining moment. The goal for the appeal is to raise $1.1 million over the next three years. This giving char t is designed to show you can give far more than you think by giving it over a period of time. Use this giving char t to help you as you prayerfully consider how God is calling you and your household to respond. GIVING CHART Weekly gift Monthly gift Annual gift 3-year total $962 $4,167 $50,000 $150,000 $641 $2,778 $33,333 $100,000 $346 $1,500 $18,000 $54,000 $231 $1,000 $12,000 $36,000 $173 $750 $9,000 $27,000 $115 $500 $6,000 $18,000 $100 $433 $5,200 $15,600 $75 $325 $3,900 $11,700 $50 $217 $2,600 $7,800 $25 $108 $1,300 $3,900

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10 As you hold this booklet in your hands today, we invite you to Experience Faith, a common and significant action for us as Christian people. But it can be something that we too often take for granted. So, for just a few minutes think about the ways you experience faith and what it means to you. We experience faith when: we take time to read and reflect on scripture or a devotional; offer a prayer for ourselves or for another ; share our spiritual journey with a friend; plan how we are going to spend our money on food, clothing, shelter and our offerings to the Lord s work. We experience Faith Lutheran Church when: we attend worship; bring our children to Sunday School or a Confirmation class; gather in a Bible study; attend a fellowship event; feel compassion from a fellow member ; celebrate a wedding or baptism or confirmation or first communion with our fellow members of our family in Christ. Now we ask you to consider how your gift will help those who journey with you today and will follow after you in the future. We ask you to pray about how you might respond with abundant trust, courageous action, a grateful life and unconditional love. BE WITH US AS WE EXPERIENCE FAITH... Upcoming Capital Appeal Events: May 6 Bir thday Cake Sunday May 16 Outdoor Community Event May 20 Response Sunday to pledge your commitment to the Experience Faith Appeal

11 HOW WILL YOU: TRUST ABUNDANTLY, ACT COURAGEOUSLY, LIVE GRATEFULLY AND LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY?? HOW WILL YOU EXPERIENCE FAITH?

12 FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH 255 ROOSEVELT ST. VALDERS, WI