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| Prepare The Way of The Lord (Luke 3:1-20) |
| Written by Pastor Fausel | |
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Grace mercy and peace … Today is all about preparation. Preparing the Way of the Lord. Earlier today you heard about our planning session this afternoon, which could well be called a workshop to prepare ourselves for the ministry God is calling us to do in 2010 and beyond. And we heard about the Preparations we can make as a congregation to supply the needs of many on the backside of Churchill Downs in just a couple of weeks. And, in a moment, I am going to invite our Stewardship Chairman to talk to us all about preparing ourselves to meet the needs of those who are depending on us as a congregation in the coming year. Preparing the Way of the Lord. Here’s a thought to consider. Our Gospel for today shows us one of the examples from Scripture where people seem to be saying: “I’ve been saved! Now What???” We hear the people in crowd asking that question, “Now what?” … and John the Baptist speaking to them about sharing both food and clothing. We hear Tax Collectors asking that same question, and John the Baptist telling them to make an honest living, as he also instructs the soldiers … both groups known for using their power and authority for dishonest gain. And so, in our day … we could also say: “We have been saved! Now what? How am I supposed to act?” When it comes to life in the church … and how we are supposed to act … the God pleasing, giving-Glory-to-God use of who we are … our time and talents and our resources… is what we call Stewardship of God’s gifts … or just “Stewardship” for short. And so … to help us all better understand what preparing the way of the Lord, preparing our hearts, and our lives, and our church for doing the Lord’s work is here … I introduce to you … Larry Ashley, our Stewardship Chairman…. "IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES --- IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES ( A Tale of two Cities - Author – Charles Dickens Let’s change the title of this a little to: IT WAS THE BEST OF TIME --- IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES (Our Savior Lutheran Church – Louisville, KY 2009) Since this is a Stewardship “special Report” I am going to start With Our Savior current Budget process. GOD’S BLUEPRINT FOR OUR MINISTRY says it all for our budget process Your church council every year prepares the budget spending long hours With the final budget printed and delivered to you, the members of the congregation Once discussed and finally approved, the NEEDS OF THE CHURCH are established and Your stewardship gifts of TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE are set in motion. Right now we as a congregation are about 18% behind our approved budgeted needs. Yes, I realize the state of our economy and have to tell you that Our Savior is doing much Better than many other area church’s. You are seeing Christian Day schools merging, programs being Either reduced in size and some completely stopped! PEOPLE WHO NEED THESE SERVICES ARE BEING FORGOTTEN ABOUT. The domino effect is cruel! ************************************************************************************* Our Savior is NOT even considering this avenue. You heard Karen Osborne earlier requesting Christmas gifts for the children at the backside of Churchill Downs. We just sent a large number of Christmas packages to OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD. Our Angel Tree is alive and Well! Redeemer has Received many items for their food and pantry needs. AND MANY MORE GREAT PROGRAMS Continue to happen thanks to all of you, the members of Our Savior Congregation SOOOOO These are not really the worst of times for Our Savior, even though our giving is down 18% WE ARE GREAT STEWARDS! **************************************************************************************** Let’s look at another page on defining Stewardship— A short story showing OPTIMISM! EVEN WHEN THINGS don’t look so good On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a little league baseball game that was being played in a field near My home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was— “We are behind 14 to nothing” he answered with a smile! “Really”, I said --- “ I have to say you don’t look discouraged” “Why should we be discouraged? We haven’t been up to bat yet! Now that is real Optimism!! ********************************************************************************************* We have many folks depending on us and so now we need to be optimistic and play catch-up on our giving. WE CAN AND WILL DO IT !! Our turn at bat is now! Watch the mails for a stewardship package with more details on how you can help with the “catch-up program”. Enough of the worst times bit -- how about “It is the BEST OF TIMES” ******************************************************************************** Did you know that we support several different mission requests? We had 24 REQUESTS for the 2009- 2010 budget year! We honored 9 of those requests with This committee spending hours in determining those to be approved. Those requests will be In your package that you will soon receive. Take a look at the people DEPENDING ON OUR SAVIOR! How many of our members spend hours helping others, not just in Kentucky, but even world- wide! Just to mention a few: Heritage Girls, Cub Scouts, Golden Oldies, Braille Team, Christ Care Groups, Habitat for Humanity, Radio Broadcast Ministry and the list goes on & on to almost 50 SUPPORT GROUPS!!! Every single one of these a direct Gift to many-many folks from all of you, members of OUR SAVIOR!! ************************************************************************************* What’s in the making for the year 2010 at Our Savior that is really exciting? “DAY CARE was started just 2 years ago and we are already full with a waiting list! Active Plans are in the making with a slight hold up only because of the giving deficit. Working this plan will put us into an immediate GROWTH STATUS servicing another 20 + day-care children, who by the way Could conveniently feed into our wonderful k-8 program that is now GROWING BY 8 – 10 Students each year! Our student count is up to 206 for this year with new student inquiries still coming in! Our Savior’s CUP IS OVERFLOWING! We are making a difference. You are making a difference!! Mission Requests – Small support groups helping other – DAY CARE! Our Savior’s DOMINO AFFECT IS CONTAGIOUS! We are seeing a lot of SMILING FACES! ************************************************************************************* SOMEONE ELSE CLUB----- Hey what is that club? Here is a great example of the members of the SOMEONE ELSE CLUB – Dave and Ginny Jahnke Take a look around you right now – You are in the presence of GREATNESS – YOU ARE SITTING NEXT TO “SOMEONE ELSE” -- Are you “someone else”? Here is how this works. As you can see, I am drinking out of this glass that is half full. Aaah! Now it is empty. Now – I need some HELP from SOME ONE ELSE TO HELP ME MAKE THIS GLASS HALF FULL AGAIN. Look, help has arrived and SOMEONE ELSE HAS arrived to once again make this glass half full! Our newest member of the SOMEONE ELSE CLUB! *********************************************************************************************** THE ½ FULL CUP! As you leave the sanctuary this morning, you will see a table with RED & BLUE CUPS -- I just wanted to have BLUE CUPS (Ky), But to be fair, I broke down and got an equal # of RED CUPS (Louisville)! Take your Red/Blue cup home -- fill it ½ full and put it in plain view for you to constantly see. If you empty it, FILL IT UP AGAIN! When you are ready – Think about the giving deficit, empty the cup and fill it with your gift towards the removing of this deficit ( Actually, please use the special envelope that you will find in your Stewardship package). Also remember – Your STEWARDSHIP GOALS include your TIME & TALENT GIVING to Our Savior. Your smiling face at our Savior, seen by others, tremendously enhances the “SOMEONE ELSE CLUB”! Our School children will always relate to members helping at Our Savior. Together, let us remove this financial short-fall and move onto proudly shout “THESE ARE THE BEST OF TIMES”! Pastor, THANK YOU for allowing me this “pulpit time”. & to all of you --- THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE, ARE DOING NOW, & WILL CONTINUE TO DO For Our Savior – As I leave and return the pulpit to Pastor Fausel, enjoy a “special presentation” by YOUR STUDENTS from YOUR SCHOOL! & remember--- THESE REALLY ARE --- “THE BEST OF TIMES” PEACE!" Let us pray. Lord, come into our hearts this morning and prepare the way. Clear out our old comfortable ways of thinking, move aside the obstacles we see in our way, and give us a vision for what you would have us do. Make us thankful people for the gifts you have given us … especially the gift of the a loving, intimate relationship with You, proclaimed by John the Baptist … and now a reality … as we have been baptized in Your name. Give us courage, individually and as a church, to follow when and where You lead. And use us to bring others into Your kingdom and to bring glory to Your name. For the sake of Jesus, we pray. Amen. |