Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! Elizabeth and I have realized that we have just spent one full year with you and we want to thank you for the openness, support and affection you have shown us. As we move into this new year the congregation faces several significant decisions and we need your continued support.
In the next several weeks we need your presence if we are to move forward. So, here we go. On Sunday, January 5th, a special congregational meeting will be held to vote on accepting the most recent ELCA model constitution for the congregation. It contains changes accepted at the most recent churchwide assembly. Those changes generally addressed issues arising out of the new nomenclature for what were once identified as deaconesses and deacons. There is not much for Faith Lutheran to be concerned with here because we currently do not have those categories within our congregation. Before the vote there will be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have and Tom Landis will be present to provide you answers. If the model constitution is accepted amendments that will make the constitution work better for Faith Lutheran will be offered. Again, Tom Landis will be there to answer your questions.
Next, (you mean there’s a next?! Yep) on January 12th and 19th meetings after the service will be held to answer your questions about the 2020 church budget. We will have resources available at that time so that you can see how this budget was put together.
Finally, on January 26th the annual congregational meeting will be held to elect council members, to vote on the church budget and, if appropriate, to ratify the amendments considered at the January 5th meeting. All of this is a fair amount of work. If we do this now we will have accomplished a great deal but we will also be done with it. We need you to be there and vote on this. Please mark your calendars now.
Again, happy New Year. We look forward with hope and anticipation to what Christ accomplishes through us this coming year.
Peace, Stan