Faith Alive, May 2nd
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I want to thank each of you who invited your friends to join us on Easter Sunday for worship. Many of those people are now participating in our “Welcome to Faith” seminar for new members because of your efforts. Each and every Sunday is a great time for our entire congregation to ask our classmates, co-workers and neighbors to join us in worship. One recent visitor told me, “I can feel the presence of God in this place.” He is right. God is, indeed, in our midst when we worship Him. What takes place in Christian worship is categorically unique. It cannot be reproduced in any other religion, club or institution. Your unchurched and non-Christian friends need what God provides for us in the gifts of our Christ-centered worship and fellowship!
Faith has been blessed with a gift from two of our members who wish to remain anonymous. In addition to their regular offerings to our congregation each week, this couple has stepped forward with a matching gift. They will match, dollar for dollar, every gift that you make towards the purchase of a church bus for our use. They will match our congregation’s total gifts up to $10,000. In other words, if the people of Faith give $10,000, they will provide an additional $10,000 for a combined total of $20,000. Please consider making a special gift in response to this generous offer. Write your checks to “Faith Lutheran Church” with a memo for “Bus Fund.”
You may have seen two new faces at the church offices in recent weeks. Pat Orell has joined our staff as Communications Coordinator and Stephanie Dosher is our new Youth Minister for K-5. Please do your part to welcome Pat and Stephanie…and feel free to give them a call or stop by to see them.
Finally, I want to wish all of our graduating high school and college seniors the very best as your various commencement exercises begin taking place this spring. Now that you have gained greater knowledge, I pray that God will help you to continue growing in spiritual wisdom and discernment. As Kirsten and I prepare for the high school graduation of our youngest children, Meredith and Melinda, our prayers will be with all of you parents whose sons and daughters are completing their courses of study.
I hope to see you at Faith this Sunday…and every Sunday!
Love in Christ,
Bruce Wilder
Senior Pastor