Download Pastor's 2017 Report to the Congregation

In the name of Jesus… ...the One who is, the One who was & the One who is to come! Amen.

Dear friends and followers @ New Life, In past years, my report to the congregation has been as short as three pages and as long as nine. This report may be somewhere in between or maybe even less! It is my goal to report both highlights from 2017 as well as point to ministry opportunities in 2018! Here are some highlights for New Life’s ministry in 2017… in no order of significance...  Throughout the year a focus was leading up to the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation!  All our ministries were held together like a woven fabric… worship… education for children and adults… care of neighbors— near and far…. Welcoming strangers and celebrating the lives of those who have been here since the beginning… by the grace of God, the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit…  The efforts by the LEAD team are having an impact on the life and breath of New Life’s efforts!  New Life “dedicated "Annie Bates to be YAGM— a Young Adult Global Missioner for the ELCA!  The October annual BBQ and Craft Fair was one of the best ever in the last 5-6 years!  Faith Milestones were celebrated with over 10 baptisms, 3 & 4 year olds were blessed as they began Sunday’s Cool, many received their First Communion, 5th and 6th grade students were given a Study Bible to use for Confirmation, 3 of our HS students celebrated their Affirmation of Baptism and SR Hi students were blessed along with their parents before heading off to college!  The Hurricane called Harvey brought stress and change to not just our congregation but to 10s of 1000s in the Houston Metro area. New Life exhibited one of its core values—-‘care of other’ once again! I’m deeply grateful to be part of a congregation that responds with love and concern in the midst of crisis. It is one of the things New Life does really well!.  The Christmas Eve offering took us to a level where we have fully funded a 4th water well partnering with Water to Thrive. This well is in Ethiopia and directly affects brothers and sisters of ours in the Ethiopian Lutheran Church of Mekane’ Jesu. Because we have provided access to water in closer proximity to their village, mothers are free to no longer walk 3-4 miles a day collecting water and tend to matters closer to home and their family. Children no longer are used to carry water and are now in school. These may seem like small things to us but these changes forever alter the life-style and economic future of people whose lives are so different than ours. As Church and as we read in The Message… Ephesians 3:20... “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. “

It is no secret that life is filled with highs and lows, ups and downs connected to rhythms that are within our reach and still some that we cannot control. Long ago, I was taught these two truths… 1) “I believe that God created me and all that exists!” along with… 2) “My quality of life is not determined by the things that happen to me but rather by my response to those things and my faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!” Are these two truths present in your life? I think they are because they describe how we live together as God’s people. Without God’s love, mercy and peace connected to the grace and forgiveness only God can offer, our life together would mean very little and the impact we have as “church” would mean less… Consider what St. Paul wrote to the Colossians… “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” It is one thing to be created in God’s own image … it is another to understand that we are the crown of God’s creation… God’s own ‘handiwork’ as St. Paul reported… so that we do good things… the things that God prepared for all people from the very beginning. What might those “good works’ be? Well, they are the faith behaviors Christians claim … the details of life God’s people hold on to in their response to Deuteronomy 6:4ff… that we… “Love God with all our heart, mind and strength” along with what Jesus added (from Leviticus!) “love your neighbor as yourself!” And we do this seven unique ways with seven very powerful verbs... +++ WORSHIP + PRAY + STUDY + INVITE + ENCOURAGE + GIVE + SERVE +++ And in case you have never asked me about “how does one get a good quality of life?”… for those who have entered this disciplined life...will tell you… “focus on these seven verbs… they will give your life all it needs!” Really. And this is what we have been doing for 20 years. It’s my hope that as New Life gets a little older, wider and deeper more and more folks will come to walk alongside us to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. 2018 is here and now it is time to look forward… and this is a model for us to develop… to a be a church that…

1) Offers a place for anyone and everyone access to ‘spiritual direction’! There are people in our world who say they are ‘spiritual but not religious’ OR when asked about their religious preference they reply, “NONE.” This is what Jesus meant when he sent his disciples to “Go, baptize, teach and preach!” It is the way for each person in each generation to take ownership of their own life and offer God one’s very best. What if everyone at New Life and everyone we know took advantage of ‘spiritual direction?’ It would mean that we need more ‘spiritual directors!’ 2) Provides a community of faith where each person has the opportunity to receive CARE when needed and provides a place where from time to time people are called upon to CARE for others. Think of being part of a church where Christian CARE is authentic and no one is forgotten. 3) Connects with other congregations in our conference and synod who provide spiritual direction to teach and practice congregational care so those “strong in the Lord” congregations become a network of grace, mercy and love for those in need near and far! In a world such as ours… who would not want to be part of a community of faith like this? So, let us look ahead… p. 3 (Pastor's Report 2017)

At our Church Council/Staff/Leaders Retreat this year we considered a path forward for being and doing church at New Life in the coming year and the years to come. The theme being considered is: “Responsible Living—-Joyful Giving” It is a theme we can all find a way to be part of… as responsible living includes all kinds of things like… eating well, getting good rest, kindness to self and family, care of neighbor rather than thinking this to be a “moral code” of no smoking, no drinking or no dancing, etc. Responsible living is about how we treat our work and those we work with, living within our means, tending to the environment, finding the right middle path between living a “Spartan” life vs. one that is extravagant and worldly. EX: I qualify for a loan on a new high end Lexus. I drive a used Honda. Lexus and Honda owners don’t take that personally. I don’t drive a 1957 Chevy either as I would be tempted to waste tires and gas on Saturday night drag races. Just talking about responsible living will help all of us make adjustments as responsible living will also lead to joyful giving and part of our walking together this Spring will include an inventory on how we treat our bodies and minds as well as discovering ways to be generous… not just to tend to New Life nuts and bolts day to day ministry but to also seek ways to bless the world around us via our abundance.

We also need to address the congregational membership directory. After being the pastor of this congregation for now 21 Christmases (in case you didn’t know… Pastors mark time by the number of Rally Days, Christmases and Easters in each congregation served!) and if I’m paying attention...God’s Holy Spirit has led many people to New Life… and of those people some are more dependable than others and some are doing wondrous things that sometimes we don’t even know. St. Paul reminds us… “we all have gifts and abilities to share as each member/part of the body serves the whole body!” And as I’ve learned over the decades, “God will provide all the people, ideas, money, time, etc to accomplish all God wants us to do!” But, earlier in my days of serving here we were better at providing a congregational directory each and every year but recently, we have had only two (2) pictorial directories in the last 5 years and despite the face we live in a fast-paced electronic world and even though you rarely look at your phone book or a yellow pages directory dropped at our front door, there is still something good about having the annual (even with no faces) directory with names, addresses and phone numbers available to all in this congregation. It’s my hope to have this ready by Spring break (mid-March) and certainly before Holy Week and Easter. This will help us tremendously as we reach out to all whom we know and have known at New Life and setting the path for “Responsible Living—-Joyful Giving” season on ministry!

And here are some other things to consider as we take time to talk with each other more build a greater sense of ‘teamwork’ and ‘fellowship’… A) Lent will provide a great 40 day window for people to add and subtract the quality of their faith life. Adult classes. Youth and Family Faith Formation moments, activities that allow us to both serve and have fun. B) As we took time to check in with all families in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the Church Council, staff and designated leaders will take time to reach out to all households this Spring… Much will be learned and we will hold each other in prayer! C) What if…  In the next six months clusters and groups of members could gather to meet and discuss faith and daily life? Young couples. Young couples with infants and toddlers (3 and under), families with children Pre-K to 3rd grade and those families 4th grade –7th grade helping each other in shaping the faith of young hearts. p. 4 (Pastor's Report 2017)

 Our HS students going to the Youth Gathering create a 3 year model for ministry. They are younger for the most part. What will happen to them and their families over the next 2-3– 4 years? A service project in 2019? A “see God’s creation/fun trip” in 2020?  We find better ways to serve our college students? Especially the ones farther from home? Same goes for our young men (we have some now!) in the US Armed Forces!  All the ’empty nester’ families at New Life (one of our largest group of adults) gathered quarterly? Two events for fun? Two events for service? EX: host a “wine to water” party for both fellowship and service—- have a wine tasting with music and the money raised is used to build a new water well with Water to Thrive? What would New Life’s sense of community, friendship and service look like if we did that every year for the next 5 years?  New Life sponsored a trip to Germany this Fall? It’s not too late. What would that look like and what would a trip to the Luther sites do to bolster our faith in the decade to come? D) An important question always persists… “Do we have enough space to host/house all the opportunities God sets before us OR does our current space limit us from growing?” E) There is much to be said. And I want to end this report with some brief statements… basically, some things you ought to know...  Thank you for your trust in allowing me to be your pastor. Twenty years in one place = change! Change for you; change for me; change for this community! Yet, Jesus remains the same!  Please forgive me when I have failed you and have not been the pastor you have needed;  It remains my goal to be the best pastor I can be to coach the Church Council, staff & leaders to maintain the unity & harmony of New Life & tend to the ‘mysteries of God!’ I will need your prayers and support; + In order to do that well I will need to : 0—tend to my faith in a healthy way via Bible reading, prayer, study, & support of other clergy; 0— be an example of attentiveness to my wife, Margo and our family—- as it grows and matures; 0—eat & drink with good health in mind and maintain a faithful balance of work, exercise and rest;  I will continue to work alongside the Church Council, staff and congregational leaders to extend the mutual ministry of Word & Sacrament we share in partnership with other congregations in the Gulf Coast Synod and be an advocate for ecumenical efforts in Pearland and the Greater Houston area.  I have reported to the Church Council effective DEC 31, 2017 I am no longer the Coastal Bay Conference Dean. It has been a privilege to serve this synod in this position the past 6 years;  One particular goal of an ELCA pastor is reach out to ALL are Lutherans. Thus, I will seek to reach out to each New Life household in 2018 and ask for their renewal of partnership in this ministry. I will also need your assistance in identifying other Lutherans in our ministry area;  As a rostered partner in ministry and pastor in the Gulf Coast Synod I am expected to “serve” outside the congregation providing a model for New Life members to follow. I do this by serving within and outside the walls of the this congregation by: + remaining a key advocate for Lutheran Men in Mission in the Gulf Coast Synod and the ELCA; and + being a voice for justice with others in the ELCA & around the world to end global hunger;  I ask that you be diligent in finding a way to serve within New Life’s walls as well as outside.  Lastly, people are always more important than paper. Meeting face to face is preferred. A phone call is personal. An e-mail instructs and a text keeps people in touch! Remember, Facebook is NOT New Life’s chief way to communicate. E-mail remains our chief form of communication. Reading your e-mail will help keep you informed about the day to day, week to week, season to season ministry we share together! OFFICIAL ACTS FOR 2017

Baptisms (under age 16) 10

(over age 16) 1

Confirmations (Affirmation of Baptism) 3

Weddings

New Life Member 2

Member Friend or Family 2

Divorces 0

Funerals 3

Members Welcomed/Adult

Letter of Transfer 4

Affirmation of Baptism 8

Members Removed

Letter of Transfer to ELCA 6

Letter of Transfer (other) 2

Worship Services 121

There is no place God is not; we are mysteriously connected to God and to one another by grace , mercy and love. New Life is here for all! New Life; NOW!

P G