We have wonderful ministry going at Grace Lutheran and we make plans a year or two at a time, but it's time to ask what God is calling us to for the longer term. This team will ask such questions as: What is God up to in our neighborhood and through our church? What do we do well? Are there things that we could and should be doing better? Are there things that could be strengthened? Planning fo the longer term gives us a road map by which to plan for the future. It doesn't mean that things are set in stone, but it means we are being intentional about what we do and we have plans to grow deeper, wider, and stronger as a congregation.
We will pay off our mortgage in a little over four years. It's time to ask what we might do as our offerings are freed up to do new things or expand on what we are doing. There also are some capital needs that have been put off as we have been playing for our building, our ministry center. While our planning will not be limited to capital needs, we will need to consider what needs to be done to provide a place to do what we are called to do.
A long range vision looks at ministries, staffing, equipping, and supplying. As we ask what God is calling us to do, we first look at the big picture and then as it comes into focus we ask what steps are needed to make the picture a reality. As we take up this process, I ask for your prayers for God's Spirit to guide. We will ask for your input on our future. I ask that you start thinking about what is great about what we might be in the future.
God is always at work growing us and building us. It's exciting to be a part of Grace Lutheran and what God is doing through all the people who worship and learn here and who go out from here empowered to serve in their daily lives.
Thank you for your partnership in the gospel at Grace Lutheran. I so appreciate you.
