|
Strengthen Faith, Build Hope, Share Love in Christ Our Savior
|
Christ Our Savior
Lutheran Church
ANDY KELTNER, PASTOR
5 South 8th Street
Louisburg, KS 66053
(913)837-4502
[email protected]
Worship 8 a.m. 10:30 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Sunday School 9:15a.m.-10:15a.m.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pastor Andy Writes...
 |
|
Pastor Andy Keltner
|
Hope
Hope is a fruit of the Spirit. As we begin the New Year we look ahead in hope. As individuals we look forward in hope. As a congregation we look forward in hope.
As a congregation, we hope we can hold onto our youth and young adults. We hope that we can find funding to keep the church doors open. We hope that we can find volunteers to keep important programs rolling. We hope that God will add new members. We hope that we can work together avoiding tensions and conflict.
We know all too well society has changed. Where confessing Lutherans were once marginalized by society, now we find opposition. Biblical views on the sanctity of human life and marriage are not just mocked, but in some quarters, considered hateful. It's hard to be hopeful when you know you're swimming upstream against the currents of culture.
The corporate church started sounding the clarion call about our decline over a decade ago. Average worship attendance is still declining. We're still losing a frightening percentage of our youth once they reach adulthood. The cost of funding a church building, pastor and ministry continues to rise faster than offerings. Between the pressures of society and the steady decline, congregations are experiencing a sense of powerlessness.
Fortunately, I hold out hope for our congregation. I hold out hope that we can make a positive impact in our community. Am I hopeful that our church will double in attendance? No. Am I hopeful in the next five years we will plant sister congregations? No. I'm too much of a realist to make such claims. Still, I am hopeful the Church has a future.
Our sense of powerlessness in the face of our challenges is reason for hope. If we hold out hope, then we can overcome obstacles ourselves, we risk trying to meet the challenges by our own wisdom and strength. We need to admit we can't. As a result, we confess we are fully reliant upon God.
Furthermore, we are longing for hope for our church, not for our eternal salvation. This is because our church still places its hope in Jesus. The foundation of, "grace alone," "faith alone" and "Scripture alone" is strong in our congregation. Because of God's grace given through Jesus, we are confident God has made us His people.
Finally, God is already leading the congregation to tackle the obstacles we face. People with no real background in church are being catechized and baptized. The Church is working on funding programs that go beyond our historic means. Millennials are joining our church. I'm committed to finding ways for our church to encourage and equip one another to address our challenges.
I look forward to the coming year. It will have its challenges. It will also be filled with opportunities for us to share the gospel. There will be opportunities for us to share the reason for the hope we have. We have hope as a gift. We are the redeemed and chosen children of God. Our help is in the name of the Lord. Christ is the reason for the hope we have.
Pastor Andy
This was adapted from an: Article by Pastor Kevin Wilson, the President of the Ohio District, LCMS
|
|
We have so much to be thankful for!
Sandy Barsh would like to thank everyone who purchased Poinsettias to adorn the Altar this CHRISTmas season. They always look so beautiful and it is very much appreciated.
Sandy would also like to thank everyone who helped put up the new trees and decorate the church for CHRISTmas. She always thinks it looks so beautiful when it is finished and she wouldn't be able to do it without your help!
We would like to say a BIG thank you to the Meals on Wheels group, the Youth Group, Christine Fauss and Paul Richards for providing and serving all of the meals during Advent! The food was amazing every week and the fellowship was priceless!
We would also like to thank everyone who participated in "From the Heart".
Another generous Christmas gift giving! Christ Our Savior donated 12 gifts for each of the four kids in our adopted family through From the Heart. Thank you to COS individuals and families - Norris, Nay, Keltner, Roth, R Varns, Jim Bell, E Bell, Rangel, Burton, C Brown, LawRance, Walania, Axmann, B Smith, Grove, Ramsey, Wimberly, Fauss, Murray, Shaffer, Eickhoff, Barsh, Waite, Sweyko, Muckenthaler, Towne and A Brown.
|
|
Children's Christmas Program was a huge success!
"The CHRISTmas Story" was presented by the children of Christ Our Savior at the 7:00 p.m. service on December 16th. The service included CHRISTmas hymns and the story of Jesus' birth in words and actions. The children did an amazing job!
A big "Thank You" to Mindy Bell, Stacy Grove and Tricia Walania for all of their hard work. They had to scramble to find costumes for the children when they discovered many were ruined when the basement flooded and others couldn't be found. Thank you to Michelle Eickhoff for playing the keyboard and Gerry Eickhoff for helping with the sound. And a thank you to all the others too numerous to name who helped make the program a success.
A big "Thank you" as well to all of the parents who made sure their children were at practices and the program.
|
|
Church Planning Meeting - February 9, 2018
Ben Franklin is credited with saying: "Failing to plan, is planning to fail." This year there will be a congregational planning meeting on February 9
th from 9:00 a.m. - Noon. At this meeting we will plan for upcoming activities in the church and community. If you are interested in helping with Education in the Congregation, you should attend. If you want to participate in the music ministry at the church, you need to attend. If you want the congregation to be more involved in community activities, for example the Labor Day parade and Fourth of July activities, you need to attend. If you are interested in the congregation having more fellowship activities, you need to attend.
I hope all of you will participate in this meeting. There is so much we can do as a congregation. Let us plan to make an impact in our community and on our families. Hope to see you there!
Pastor
|
|
Biscuits & Gravy Fundraiser
| What: |
Come on down for our monthly "All you can eat" Biscuits & Gravy, eggs, hash browns, cinnamon rolls with fruit, coffee and juice.
|
| Cost: |
Suggested $5 donation
|
| For: |
Help the Youth Group raise funds for District & National Gatherings
|
| When: |
Sunday, January 6th
|
| Time: |
Between church services (9-10:00)
|
| Where: |
COS Basement
|
| Youth: |
We are asking youth to bring 1 bag of hash browns, 1 can of biscuits (already baked please!) along with milk or juice. We are also asking that you be in the basement at 8:30 a.m. to help prep, cook, serve the meal and clean-up.
|
|
|
Youth Group - Family & Friends Activity
Sunday, January 13 (11:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.)
Meet at the church after the 2
nd
service
$8 to skate - $3 for Skate rental
(but you're welcome to bring your own skates!)
Receive $1 off your admission when you bring a canned or non-perishable food item for the Jewish Family Services Food Drive: Crackers, Canned Fruit, Tomato Products, Crackers, Canned Fish and Chicken, Canned Vegetable Soup, Peanut Butter
Active service members and veterans receive $1 off with Military ID.
Bring $ for lunch- we'll eat at Burger Fi first!
All who are interested need to sign -up in the Narthex or the Youth room in the basement.
During our time together, we will discuss
Kansas Event at NYG; February Servant Event - Valentines for Nursing homes; Fundraiser - Casseroles!
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
