January 3rd, 2010 The Journey Continues!

And the Lord said, “I will show my concern for you and keep my promise… I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity…plans to bring about the future you hope for”. Jeremiah 29: 11

“…I alone know the plans I have for you…” Boy, wasn’t that the truth!  Little could we have known what plans God had in store for Messiah Lutheran when we chose that verse from Jeremiah to guide us during our period of congregational transition.  But now we are coming to the end of that journey and he has kept his promise.

Much has been accomplished during our intentional interim ministry.  I would like to express my sincere thanks for the support you have given Council during my tenure as your President.  You will be excited to know that your congregational officers for 2010 will be Frank Leibgott-President; John Duren-Vice President; Pam Allen-Secretary; and Roger Nord-Treasurer.  We are blessed with many talented members that serve Messiah in so many special ways.  In particular, we give heartfelt thanks that God sent his servants Pastor Glenn and Carole to be with us throughout this transitional journey.  We are better disciples because of their gifts to us.

And now we prepare for another journey…a new journey with a newly called Pastor.  Again, who could have known that we would be so blessed as to find Pastor Ed, Brenda, Tate and Annabelle!  “…I alone know the plans I have for you”.

As I thought about all these changes over the last few weeks, I found it particularly mysterious that this was all happening during Advent.

—not because Advent is the beginning of a new Church year,

—not because Advent means “arrival” and we have a new Pastor,

—not because it’s a season of preparation and we’ve been “preparing” the parsonage for occupancy,

—and not because it’s Christmas with the coming of Jesus the Christ in his first Advent, but because it’s also the time that we reflect on the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. In the Second Advent we all participate! With this focus on our involvement and the span of past, present and future, Advent reflects the spiritual journey of us as individuals and as Messiah Lutheran, the congregation.  In Advent we affirm that Christ has come, He is present today, and in anticipation of the future consummation we believe that He will come again in power.

As 2010 unfolds and our congregation embarks on our next exciting journey, let’s remember the foundational work of the past years, the present commitment that we have made to grow in discipleship by Praying, Inviting, Giving, Serving, Studying, Encouraging and Worshiping, and above all let’s live in the joyful anticipation of all that God has in store for Messiah Lutheran…He alone knows the plans He has for us and He alone can bring about the future we hope for!

Peace and Grace,

Rob Fritz – Outgoing Congregational President