Pastor's Message

Dear Friends:

Here we are on the cusp of the Christmas season and the year 2010. In this transitional time, I want to do a little update on three areas of ministry in which I am called to some leadership. They are stewardship, adult education, and worship.

As I write (December 8), today’s Denver Post reports that in Colorado we have lost approximately 100,000 jobs in 2009. As we know (some from very direct experience, sadly), this has been a very tough economy. In spite of these difficulties, however, we are deeply grateful for the support of First Lutheran’s ministry. We have been able to follow our budget plan and have sufficient resources to this point in the year! Thank you for helping us finish up with generous year-end gifts. In terms of giving commitments for 2010, we are currently slightly ahead of last year’s pace in terms of the number of pledges, and slightly behind on the projected gift totals. This makes raising the total of number of pledges most important—let me encourage each household to join over 300 others and turn in a giving commitment for 2010. Thanks!

There are several new adult education opportunities beginning in January.

1. On Sunday mornings in January (9:45 a.m., Big Room) Pastor Leta will lead a class on Household Faith.

2. A new session for adult learners will be held on Wednesday evenings, beginning January 6, 6:00 p.m. (also in the Big Room): a course called “Learning Luke: The Apostolic Gospel.” This new study, designed by Dr. David Tiede, a noted expert on the gospel, will help all of us to grow in faith as we listen to Luke’s gospel at most of our worship services this year. [Remember that you may come for supper from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, and stay for a brief worship (7:00 – 7:19 p.m.) following. Young and old together, we gather on Wednesdays!]

3. A new members’ group will have a five-session sequence on Sunday mornings (9:45 a.m., Fireside Room), beginning January 24.

In worship planning, we are starting a new venture for 2010. Most of our 9^th graders and many of their parents have met two-three times to do seasonal worship planning for Epiphany. We want to make youth worship leadership not an exceptional thing (youth-led worship once or twice a year), but a normal part of life together at First Lutheran. The group has helped to choose hymns and songs, develop ideas for art and the visual environment, find leaders for reading, musicianship, children’s time, etc. We intend to also form teams (all ages welcome) for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter season.

Blessings to you as we look to Christmas and Epiphany! Thank you for your participation in the stewardship of monetary gifts and all of life, in learning and applying Scripture, and in worship centered in Word and Sacrament.

In Christ,

Steve Berke, Pastor

Volume 53, No. 1