We just had our 1/4ly congregation meeting last Sunday. It was a good meeting by most standards. Each council member who headed up a board or committee gave a report that indicated how the Lord was blessing the activities and plans for which they were responsible. Our average church attendance is up over last year, and the congregation is growing. The treasurer and financial secretary had the books in balance, all the bills are paid, and, after the usually dry summer months they were able to report that there is a balance in the check book.
I gave my report and discussed various plans and opportunities for us as we looked forward to Thanksgiving, the Advent season, and Christmas. I talked about a recent trip to Milwaukee and the work of the WELS Special Ministries Board.
Then the chairman gave his report and suggested that there were a couple of areas in the congregation's life that he felt needed some attention: 1) was the need for men to stand in nomination for the up-coming elections, and 2) the need for families to step forward to help with the weekly cleaning of the church. As he gave his report I was prompted to think about the challenges we face as Special Ministry Board chairmen and district coordinators. His story seems to apply to us as well.
To illustrate his plea he told a story about a lady he had known in the past. He told of having met her as they came and went from the grocery store. It appeared that she had been having a difficult time of things, temporary sickness in the family, people interrupting her schedule so she ended up getting behind in her plans, and the increase cost of butter and milk at the grocery store.
At the time of her presenting her complaints another person joined them and it happened to be Father Brickl the local Catholic priest. After he had listened quietly to her frustrations, she noticed him and turned to him, (he was her spiritual leader), and said, "And I suppose you're going to ask me to help out with altar guild."
To which the priest simply responded, "Why not you?"
Our chairman's point was well taken. Each of us has things that are annoying in our lives, sometimes others interfere with our plans, and yes, the cost for goods and services effects all of us, yet, in the midst of it all we have the blessed assurance that we are covered by the righteousness of Christ, and through faith in him we have the sure hope of eternal life.
The chairman's way of puting that was: "Jesus died for us, the least we can do to say "thank you" is keep his house clean and serve a couple hours a month to share his love with others." His final exhortation was simply: "Why not you?"
Our sharing in the work of Special Ministries is like that sometimes. We may be tired, sick, or have our schedules interrupted. But there still remains for us the fact that Jesus died for our sins and restored each of us to a position of grace. To share that good news is a privilege and a great need.
One of the areas of service and ministry where this goes on in our synod is the Committee that is called the Committee for Health and Wellness.
That committee works to develop education materials, handbooks, and programs to assist congregations, pastors and individuals with the work of taking care of the physical health of individuals in our congregations and our communities. Further information about its work may be received from its chairman Pastor Fred Kogler at Kogler@comcast.net by sending a note with your questions or requests.
For our scripture growth today: Please read Matthew 28:16-20.








Recent Comments