Pastor Peter 2016 Annual Ministry Report The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd March December 2016 2017 Good Shepherd Brethren, as we head into our New Year the following considerations require our prayers and input at our next Congregation meeting (TBA): (1) Church Sign (outdoor) Avoid any borrowing or debt procurement Various approvals, permits, neighbors, town, state Cost $10,000 $28,000? Other options (trial sign types) (2) Mission Giving of (5% per year) Monthly to five organizations approximately $100.00 per month Samaritans Purse Franklyn Graham Children s Christmas Box Carmen Ministries Tony Wood Juvenile youth Family Guidance Center of Warren County mental health, sobriety Day Spring Ministries Carol Hawthorne Haiti Orphanage LCMS Eastern District Social Services (3) Elder(s) Church Bylaws state the need of three elders, at present we have two Should we have four to cover emerging needs and ministries Elder Board has been considering two men who feel called to this position Will need further input from Church Council at next meeting (11 th ) and then Congregational approval at next meeting (TBA) (4) Church Membership Role. Elder Board has been updating our church membership roster Contacts are being made per Church Bylaws Will update progress at next Congregational meeting (5) Music Ministry. Remains a work in progress and yet is developing into two wonderful & blended units Choir Singers directed by Carol Kraemer & Praise Singers directed by Steve Yeager Open to music of various talents and types both vocal and instrumental, group and solo We will be discussing and or voting on these ministry dynamics at a soon to be scheduled congregational meeting. If you have any questions or would like further information please touch base with Pastor Peter, or any Church Council member or Elder. Thank you. 1
Blessings Overview 1. Full time unanimous call for pastoring LC of the Good Shepherd starting in May 2016. 2. Received LCMS Eastern District blessing for pastoral call from Dr. Anthony Steinbronn. 3. Completed LCMS application process. Waiting to hear next step from LCMS St. Louis. 4. Church of the Lutheran Brethren authorized call to serve LC of the Good Shepherd continuing pastor Peter s ordination on Lutheran Brethren Clergy Roster. 5. Well attended Wednesday Lenten Soup Fellowship. 6. Well attended VBS. 7. Well attended October Harvest of Memories Fellowship Dinner. 8. Children s Christmas Boxes 90 wrapped, filled to the brim, and sent Thank you Jesus and Judy! 9. Well attended Charlie Brown Christmas Cracker and Caroling Fellowship. 10. Very well attended Christmas Eve Candle Light Worship Service. 11. New Church Members = (5) 3 adults, 2 baptized children. Official church members (on church denominational roster) who also have voting privileges 12. New Communicant Members = (15) 11 adults, 4 baptized children. Weekly Sunday Worship & Holy Communion attenders 13. Souls being saved through baptism and God s word (3) 14. Church transitioning well from a liturgical worship format to a more relaxed and informal blended confessional & relational worship. 15. Integrating two musical worship styles of (1) Choir Singers (piano/organ/violin) directed by Carol Kraemer, (2) Praise Singers (guitar) directed by Steve Yeager. 16. Enlarging our church mission tithe hopefully (per congregational vote) to 5% towards specific mission efforts (1) LCMS, (2) Warren County Family Guidance, (3) Day Spring Haiti Orphanage directed by Carol Hawthorne, (4) Carmen Ministries directed by Tony Wood, (5) Children Christmas Boxes directed by Franklin Graham of Samaritans Purse. 17. Seven (7) Confirmation Students Lauren Brown, Braeden Nacino, Kourtnie & Samantha Dwornikoski, Daniel, Zwerver, Jaedon Wolfrun 18. Blessed Water Gap Singers Concert. 19. Blessed church Yard Sale. 20. Praying and seeking God s will and direction for a new church Elder(s). 21. Praying and seeking God s will regarding our church youth ministry and leadership team. 22. Praying and seeking God s will regarding our church deaconess ministry and leadership. 23. Praying and seeking God s will regarding better church sign and street visibility on HW 94. 24. Hoping to receive $3,000 by December 31 st, to complete love offering for church Educational Fund $2,200 received. 25. Trusting God to bring into our lives those who need His (our) help, love, friendship and forgiveness. 26. Utilizing all of our spiritual gifts for God s coming Kingdom and Eternal Heavenly Glory! 2
BASIC PASTORAL MINISTRY VITAL SIGNS Preaching & Teaching God s Word 40 Sunday Messages February December 2016 Give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching take pains with these things; be absorbed in them. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:13 16 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:14 Sunday Messages = 38 Maunday Thursday & Good Friday Services = 2 Teaching = 54 Classes Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing, and the laborer is worthy of his wages. 1 Timothy 5:17 18 Sunday Adult Christian Education (weekly began in May) = 29 classes Heaven 5 Week October Discovery Classes Book of Acts Tuesday Confirmation Education (weekly began in September) = 14 classes 7 Confirmants Vacation Bible School (July 25 th 29 th ) = 5 classes 3
9 12noon with two combined classes = approximately 15 20 students Wednesday Lenten Services = 6 Training & Equipping for Ministry 24 Classes May December 2016 And he gave as some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11 13 Saturday Elder Board Training Fellowship (began in August) = 7 Sessions Pastor Peter, Maureen, Rich, Pete Thursday Men s Discipleship Fellowship (weekly began in September) = 16 classes 7 Men Deaconess Fellowship (just beginning) leading towards a Certificate of Training = 1 class Relational Visitation 45 Visits March December 2016 shepherd the flock of God among you, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples of the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 1 Peter 5:2 4 4
Special Church Events = 10 Church Easter Egg Hunt Easter Sunday Breakfast Pizza & Game Night Yard Sale Harvest of Memories Charlie Brown Family Thanksgiving Water Gap Community Choir & Orchestra Christmas Carol Family Fellowship Christmas Eve Candle Light Service Preschool (3) June Graduation Ceremony, Thanksgiving Devotional, Christmas Program Educational Seminars Fast Facts Preaching 40 Sunday & Lenten messages Teaching = 54 classes Training & Equipping = 24 classes Relational Visits = 45 Home (H) = 40 Nursing Home = 1 Hospital & Hospice = 4 With Holy Communion = 2 Special Church Events = 10 Baptism = 1 Salvation Confessions = 3 New Members 3+2 = 5 New Communicant Members = 15, 11+4 Lutheran Brethren Pastor s School Tuscarora Conference Center Topic: Conflict Resolution Training 8 19 16 INR Professional Seminars Topic: Understanding Addictions 9 22 16 New Church Members = 5 Monica Salvatore & Children (Helena & Johanna) = 3 Sandra Dorrell = 1 Steve Yeager = 1 Committee Meetings = 12 Church Council = 7 Worship = 5 Funeral = 0 Memorial = 1 Marriages = 0 Educational Seminars = 2 Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice = four 8 hour days Resigned December 2016 New Communicant Members = 15 Marlies & son Bill (Sayer) Jung = 2 Steve & Lisa Sopko family with daughter Erica & son Caleb = 2 Joe & Rachell Palazzo with sons Joey & Frankie = 4 Mike & Diane Laracuente and family = 2 Scott & Tracy Brown with daughter Lauren and son Christopher = 4 Joyce Csezmadia = 1 5