“Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generations; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he had done it.”

Psalm 22:30-31

I have occasionally been asked (and wondered myself) why congregations exist.  It’s a good question. Why this emphasis on “coming together” in religious gatherings?

The word for congregation comes from the Greek term “ecclesia” (Hebrews 2:12), itself a product of the Jewish “synagogue” (Acts 13:43), and what the Old Testament calls “the assembly”.  You will even see in some translations of the Old Testament the word “congregation” used (Psalm 22:22).  

One of the Four Core Values of the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) is that we are “Congregationally Focused”. This means our national leadership “strives to facilitate the ministries of local congregations in a posture of servanthood and a spirit of partnership…”.  These ministries exist to bring people together because God’s mission in the world is to bring all people together under the name of Jesus Christ.  

Recall that in Genesis 2:18 God said “it is not good for the man to be alone". We learn what God is like by being with others made in His image.  Congregations exist to bring people together for worship, service in the Lord’s name, teaching the faith, and yes, enjoying one another’s company.  Your faith may be personal, but Christianity by God’s design is public. It is assembly. It is “the congregation” of the faithful.  

Over these next few weeks, we are appealing to you to support our congregation financially, as you have done in previous years.  Pledges are not something we require, but we encourage them because they exhibit a commitment to the work we do together, in Jesus' name, in and through Calvary.  We would not exist without your support. We strive to use that support well and wisely, and we are so very thankful for what you give.  Your contributions make everything we do together possible.  I am sure the leadership of the NALC, being a “congregationally focused” church body, would agree with me that as a matter of first importance, Christians are called upon to support their congregation and its ministries.   

But please recall our congregation’s recent history.

In 2011 Calvary welcomed the opportunity to become one of the first congregations of the NALC. This occurred, in large part, because of the other core values of the NALC – their commitment to being a “Christ Centered, Traditionally Grounded” church body.  This year, we are asking you to make a pledge beyond what you may have planned or normally give to our congregation. Please prayerfully consider supporting the NALC as it strives to carry out those core values and their vision to plant new congregations. In addition they can raise up leaders for congregations in the future. The largest allocation of funds raised in the NALC’s three-year, $5 million campaign (42%) is for seminary education, pastoral development, the call process, and youth and family ministries.  

We are grateful to the denomination that received us in 2011. We support of its wonderful leaders, including Bishop Dan Selbo. I urge each of us to give to this campaign to strengthen our wider church that is so committed to its congregations.  The local church is a gift of the Holy Spirit, where “the gospel is preached in its fullness and the sacraments faithfully administered” (Augsburg Confession Article 7).  

I am grateful to be part of a church body that knows that and wants to strengthen its congregations.   Your gifts and pledges support them both – thank you for them.  

Because of a cross,

Pastor Ken Nelson

2020 Vision Prayer

From Bishop Dan Selbo

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

–Ephesians 3:20-21

 Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we thank you and praise you for the abundance of your mercy and the faithfulness of your grace revealed and given to us in Jesus Christ. We thank you for the calling we have in Him and for the way in which we have been brought together by You in the body of the North American Lutheran Church.

We pray for your Holy Spirit to guide us as we consider the opportunities we have to serve in ways that will honor You and as we share in the work entrusted to us by our Lord. We ask for open hearts to be attentive to Your leading, for open minds to be challenged and transformed by Your love, and for generous and faith-filled spirits to respond to the calling we share.

Lord, we pray for the 2020 Vision of our church, asking for You to continue to work through us to carry out Your will. We pray that our individual gifts will be used in collective ways to offer a witness to the world of the salvation found only in the cross and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

Strengthen our faith. Bless our work. Use our lives, that the life-giving message of Jesus would be proclaimed and heard, today, tomorrow & forever. Amen.