From where I sit

The Gift

God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. …Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:8,10-11,15

In my sermon Sunday, April 20, I included these words: “Sunday, March 30, we began a series of presentations on the gifts of Time and Talents we have all been given and we can give them to the work of Christ’s church. After the 11:00 service, we met as a congregation and talked about how we can best use our treasure here at St. Andrew—a discussion both passionate and cordial. After last Sunday’s Adult Forum, with presentations by three of our ministry teams, a council member sent an email: ‘We really are a giving congregation. Whether it’s providing our time, talent, prayers and/or monetary gifts, that all equals stewardship. I’m so proud of our congregation and I’m looking forward to the future. We may have a few rough subjects we’re working on, but Christ will see us though these times of trial.’”

I was personally very pleased with the discussion at the special congregation meeting. Steve Haller and the Support Ministry Team had done excellent work in addressing the concerns of our deficit budget for 2008. Among the recommendations made were 1) to refinance our mortgage for a longer term at a more favorable rate; 2) to pay our Synod Mission share only when our receipts have exceeded our expenditures; and 3) to suspend the internship program for the 2008-2009 term. The congregation voted to approve refinancing the mortgage; the other recommendations were to be finalized by the congregation council.

At the congregation council’s regular meeting April 1, the council voted to approve the recommendation for the synod mission share payments. However, I am very pleased to say, that the council voted to maintain the internship program for the next school year. This was made possible by individual gifts that will cover the $8,000-9,000 anticipated additional expenditures for the internship program from August 16 through December 31 this year. This does mean, however, that to continue the program, we will need receipts in 2009 that will enable the continuation of our ministry in our Jubilee year—our fiftieth anniversary.

Friday, April 25, I will receive the name of the intern for 2008-2009; Monday, April 28, the intern will receive his or her assignment to St. Andrew. Wednesday, April 30, I will travel to Chicago for the Intern Sending Service, as all the interns from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago will be “sent” to their internships. (Of course, our new intern will not arrive until August.)

I am extremely grateful that there are those who were able to help support the internship program for the beginning of the coming year. And I know that the congregation as a whole will continue to support our ministries in the coming year. “You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.”