+The GOODNEWS Letter+
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
3300 Benham Ave
Elkhart, IN 46517
office :574-293-5332
www. elkhartredeemer.com December 2015 Volume 55 Issue 12

CONNECTions:
Preparing Our Hearts for Christ
As I write this, it is not yet Thanksgiving, but this newly-devoted vegetarian is looking forward to a day of family and friends without turkey. It will be a different kind of Thanksgiving without turkey—a little like continuing a church without a pastor. But we have so much to look forward to….
We have a new vacancy pastor, Karen Strietelmeier from Zion. As our CONNECT Coach, she will also help direct our renewal and transformational growth process. And when the time comes, she will help us create our congregational profile for a pastoral search. As you know from the biennial meeting, the council’s goal for that process is six months. That means that we will need to increase sacrificial giving. It means, as well, that the CONNECT team will be doing several things to serve the community—both in and outside the church.
CONNECT’s first priority is to re-energize our prayer life. Secondly, we need to get to know each other on a deeper level, sharing faith stories and the ways in which we see God working in our life. You’ll be experiencing several means through which to deepen our personal connections through prayer in the coming weeks. As part of the CONNECT Covenant, we have agreed as a church to begin all events with prayer. We already do this, but now we will do it more intentionally. Intention deepens our connections to each other and those around us.
CONNECT’s first “assignment” is to bring Bible study back into the church. The first Bible study will be an Advent study called “Christmas Mourning: Grief and the Holidays” Meeting on Wednesday mornings (10:00) or Thursday evenings (7:00), this series will focus on the loss of loved ones and how they sometimes “cloud” the joy of Christmas.” Using the familiar Christmas story found in the second chapter of Luke, we will focus on hands-on ways to feel, release, and grow spiritually within our grief, while still preparing our hearts for the birth of our Lord Jesus. If needed, this four-fold study on the imagery of the Christmas Story can be facilitated as a whole-family session (two-hours) in homes or at the church. Perhaps your family would like to prepare your grief for the holiday season during Thanksgiving weekend when the family is already gathered? Times are flexible and I’m willing to meet at church or in homes. I feel a very strong call to this ministry of grief, and as a church family, we have experienced many losses in the past few years.
Please pray for this Bible ministry. Pray for those who are led to come from outside this church that they may fine a warm and welcome spirit. Please come; so many of us have lost personal- and church-family during the past few years. I promise it will be an uplifting time of sharing sadness and moving into peace.
Randi Marie

Inside this Newsletter:
Page 1—-- CONNECTions
Page 2 — Redeemer Events
…….___ Wedding Anniversaries
Page 3 — Noisy Offering updates
— Prayer list
Page 4&5—- Redeemer Happenings
Page 6 — Dec birthdays
— Servant Schedule
— Dec altar flowers
— Altar Guild
Page 8 — Calendar of Events
Page 9— Redeemers Mission Statement & Vision Statement

December
Anniversaries
Cookie & David Stenberg 12/5
Greg & Krista Lee 12/19
If we missed your anniversary, please make a note and place it in the offering plate.

Redeemer Events for December

Christmas Mourning:
The Holidays and Grief
You are invited. Bring a friend.
Where: Redeemer
When: Starting Dec. 2 at 10am or Dec. 3 at 7pm.
Are you dreading the holidays because you are grieving the loss of a loved one? Join Randi Mochamer as she leads a four-part Advent Bible study. Taking an unconventional look at the Christmas Story, Randi will give you hands-on ways to feel, express, and release your grief in ways that treasure memories and foster healthy family discussion.
Bible Study: Wednesday 10:00 A.M.
Thursday 7:00 P.M.
Don’t be shy about your grief: this is a going to be a powerful new look at Luke’s famous Christmas Story….
Short Stories in Mentoring
(I invite you to share stories about those by whom you have been mentored. I think it would be fun to put together a devotional book from our congregation based on how we have been blessed by others. Contact Randi at 574-536-1035 or write them and email them to rmochamer@comcast.net)
Winterlude-Café Noel at Elkhart Civic Theater-
Thrivent's final event for 2015 is the Christmas Winterlude-CAFÉ NOEL SHOW by the Elkhart Civic Theater at the Bristol Opera House in Bristol, IN. This is just for our group, it will be held on SATURDAY DECEMBER 5th at 2PM. Everyone is invited. This is a wonderful Christmas show . It is the perfect thing to get you in the Christmas Spirit as it features new and old Songs of the Season.
Sunday, Dec. 13th will be our Christmas program during worship service. And, to continue the holiday spirit, we will host our 2nd annual Christmas Cookie Exchange.
Many of you are cookie baking enthusiasts so why not share your special Christmas cookies with the congregation. Bake a dozen (or so) of your favorite cookie and bring them for fellowship. Then others can sample or take home several varieties of cookies for their holiday party (or self-consumption). Recipes can accompany your cookie if desired. Rumor has it there may be hot chocolate served.

Christmas Eve Candle-light
Services: 7:00pm and 11pm
Invite your friends, family and neighbors

Upcoming Noisy Offering Project
The noisy offering for this quarter will go to Food Pantry to purchase special holiday food. If you have extra change or missed your noisy offering chance you may give to the bucket at any time.
October 4 $62.55
November 1 $75.38
December 6
Thanks for all contributions to this cause .

Noisy Offering is the 1st
Sunday of every month! These are special offerings that the children collect.

Staff:
Choir Director: Chris Beyer
Organist: Mary Harder
Sexton: Jeanne Balogh
Church Secretary: Cindy Minnie

Congregational Ear-
Please speak with a council member if you have any thoughts or concerns about Redeemer. We will be trying different Pastors and if there is one you really like let them know. We Could request them back. The plan is to have communion as often as possible but at least twice a month with a hired pulpit supply pastor.
NEW Contact:
Our vacancy pastor, has been assigned and its Pastor Karen Strietelmeier. She is for emergency calls of the sick and hospitalized. She will also be our pastor that will perform any Connect meetings, weddings or funerals. Redeemer pays her a monthly rate and mileage. She can be reached at 219-381-6039
Church Chores ~ We are in need of men and women to help the keep the church maintained. Everyone is invited to join EVERY Thursday at 9am at Redeemer. There are many areas that need some attention. If you have some free time, please stop by and help with some gentle maintenance of our church to help make it welcoming and inviting every Sunday.

If you are not a member and would like to be a member of Redeemer, send a message to the office. We would love to help you to become a member

Those who are struggling with cancer:
Tane Adams, Yamilette Martinez, Nancy Schneider, Gary Ricard, Dan Fuerbringer & Jay Clutter
Those in need of God’s healing and guidance:
Tim Anderson, Fred Adams, Cameron Sue Pletcher & Edie Mitchell
Those in need of comfort, care and love:
Shut-ins and Homebound:
Loretta
Jane
June
Jeanne
We give glory to God for all those who are able to be taken off the prayer list, for their healing. All prayer requests will stay on this list for six weeks. If you would like continued prayers for a request longer, please let office know.

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THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS
Matthew 25 tells the story of a man who, going on a journey, entrusts his three servants with his wealth while he is gone: “To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”
The first two servants invested their master’s money, and received praise in return: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
However, when the master learns the third servant buried his portion out of fear, he receives a rebuke. Which servant do you identify with most? Do you tend to recognize your blessings and seek ways to multiply them? Or are you inclined to be more cautious, holding tightly to what you have been given so you don’t risk losing it? This simple parable models how to wisely care for what has been entrusted to us. Through this parable we are challenged to:
Acknowledge God’s generosity. Everything the three servants had was from the master. We also need to recognize that all we have is a gift from God.
Reflect on God’s heart. What seems to have inhibited the third servant was his fear. But when we reflect on the heart of God we encounter love and are empowered to cast out fear.
Act according to God’s grace. What distinguishes the first two servants is that they took action to multiply what they received. What is one action we can take to grow what God has given us?
Trust God’s provision. Although each servant was given a different amount, they were given what they needed. Although each of us has received different gifts from God, we can multiply them and make a difference in the world.
This article provided compliments of Thrivent Financial and Cheryl C Avery, Financial Associate,
574-862-2815, Cheryl.avery@thrivent.com .

Connect, a Congregational Renewal Process
from the November 11,2015 News from IN-KY Mission Territory, ELCA email
A CONNECT transformational ministry program is designed to provide congregations with a system of spiritual discipline to stay spiritually vital and active participate in what God is doing in the community.
Essentially, the process is designed as a journey for the development of a congregation’s Missional plan. Participants learn to contextualize the system for the distinctive cultures/contexts present in their own congregations and communities.
Sponsored and facilitated by the I-K Renewing Mission Table, seven congregations participated in the CONNECT Link 1 event at Pleasant View Lutheran Church in Indianapolis last weekend. Participating congregations signed a Covenant of Transformation, a two year commitment consisting of four “links,” of gatherings. The recent event was Link 1.
Each congregation received a coach who will work with the congregation’s Transformational Ministry team. The team consists of the pastor and four lay persons. The next gathering will be April 29-30,2016. This will be Link 2

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Visitation ministry (Help needed):Redeemer is in great need of two or three members to help visit home bound members alone or with a team. If you are available once a month or just once a year, your help is needed. This a great opportunity with our visitation ministry to show fellow members that people matter to both God and to you. Visiting them lets them know you care. A Script is provided to help. All materials are provided. Please see Cindy if you are interested, or send the office a message.
Line Dancing Classes
The classes are on Mondays at 1pm and Thursdays at 7pm will move to Sundays at 4pm starting in January. Come to one class or both. $5 a class.

Thinking about
Christmas Shopping--Scrip Cards make nice gifts.
Gift cards will be ordered on December 6, will be the last chance to order cards to make sure you receive them in time for Christmas. Otherwise, you will have to come to the office to pick up before Christmas.
Each gift card purchase earns money for Redeemer.

Food pantry:
September : served 41 families (148 individuals)
October: served 36 families (121 individuals)
November: (1st two weeks): 22 families (79 individuals)
Thank you to everyone who donated items, made items, helped with and attended the bazaar. To date we have made $1526.20. Items are still for sale in the fellowship hall. Stop in and take a look.
Order your Poinsettia Today
Place your order now for the poinsettias that adorn the altar area each Christmas season. The order must be placed by December 6. The cost for each plant is $7.00. There is a display & envelopes to fill out to place your order on the table in the Narthex.
Committee Reports for the Annual Meeting due NEXT MONTH!
Liaisons and chairs of all of the committees/ministries of Redeemer are asked to submit a written report on the year 2015. These reports are due on December 15 so the Annual Report can be completed prior to the meeting. You may email your report to the church; redeemerlutheran@frontier.com or place it in Cindy’s mailbox. The reports include council president, council vice-president, worship/music, finance, stewardship, spiritual formation, fellowship, social ministry, evangelism, youth & family, property, food pantry, Knitwits, WOW -Women of Worth, and any other event/activity that may not fall under any those listed above.
Candidates for Council
The congregation elects new members to the Congregational Council every January. If you would like to submit your name for nomination. If you are interested in running for council, there are Council Candidate Information forms available for you to fill out on the Narthex bulletin board. Please fill it out and place it in Cindy’s mailbox in the hallway.

December Birthdays

Donna Dobbs 12/3
Irene Vescelus 12/7
Jane Jernstrom 12/9
Cheryl Mann 12/15
Vance Beyer 12/18
Tom Craven 12/19
Elainna Papandrea 12/26
Berdine Adams 12/27

Altar Flower’s for December

December 6 *** Cookie Stenberg in celebration of their anniversary and in memory of loved ones & George & Ruth McCrary
December 13*** Ed & Mary Lou Boomer in memory of loved ones and Ken Canen in memory of his sister, Elaine
December 20*** Jonathan, Ellena and Ian Beyer in celebration of Daddy’s birthday. We Love You!
December 27*** Fred & Berdine Adams in celebration of Berdine’s birthday & Jesus’ birthday
*If nobody sponsors the flowers, there will be silk arrangements that adorn the altar in their place. This is a way we can be good servants of Redeemer’s finances and members do not feel obligated to give to flowers and may give in other ways or places. The altar flowers may be given to family members for birthdays, to a neighbor as a hello or they can be scheduled to be delivered to a home-bound members, just let the office know.

Altar Guild for December: Mary Harder & Mary Lou Boomershine

Sunday Servants Schedule for December

Volunteers are always needed for all Servant positions!!
If you would like to help fill the openings, please sign-up on the bulletin board.
December 6 9:30am
Pastor: Tim Diemer
Acolyte: Open
Assistant: Randi Mochamer
Greeter: Donna Dobbs
Lector: Sharla Kinney
Usher: Brent Robertson
December 16 7pm
Carols and Candles
Mosaic
Dec 13 9:30am
Christmas Play & Cookie Exchange
Acolyte: Open
Assistant: Barry Beyer
Greeter: Pat Johnson
Lector: Randi Mochamer
Usher: Brent Robertson
December 20 9:30am
Pastor: John Holten
Acolyte: Open
Assistant: Sharla Kinney
Greeter: Open
Lector: Open
Usher: Brent Robertson
Christmas Eve:
December 24 7pm & 11pm
Pastor : Tim Diemer
Acolyte: Open
Assistant: Randi Mochamer
Greeter: Open
Lector: Open
Usher: Open
December 27 9:30am
Carols & Lessons
Acolyte: Open
Assistant: Open
Greeter: Open
Lector: Sharla Kinney
Usher: Brent Robertson

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December 2015

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1	2 / 10a Bible Study	3 / 9-11Food pantry / 9am Chore Crew / 6pm Vocal practice / 7pm Bells practice / 7pm Bible Study / 7pm Line Dancing Class	4	5 / Poinsettia’s order due tomorrow
6Second Sunday of Advent / 9:30am Worship Service / 10:30am Fellowship/Cookies / 11am Sunday school / Scrip orders Due	7 / 1pm Line Dancing Class	8 / 1pm Finance Meeting	9 / 10a Bible Study	10 / 9-11Food pantry / 9am Chore Crew / 6pm Vocal practice / 7pm Bells practice / 7pm Bible Study / 7pm Line Dancing Class	11	12
13 / Third Sunday of Advent / 9:30am Worship Service/ Christmas Play / Cookie Exchange	14 / 8:45-noon Heartland Quilters / 1pm Line Dancing Class	15 / 9-noon Blanketeers / Annual Reports Due	16 / 10a Bible Study / 7pm Carols and Candles with Mosaic	17 / 9-11Food pantry / 9am Chore Crew / 6pm Vocal practice / 7pm Bells practice / 7pm Bible Study / 7pm Line Dancing Class	18	19
20Fourth Sunday of Advent / 9:30am Worship Service / 10:30am Fellowship/Cookies / 11am Sunday school / Scrip orders Due	21 / 1pm Line Dancing Class / 6:30pm Council Meeting	22 / Newsletter Articles Due	23 / 10a Bible Study	24Nativity of Our Lord / Christmas Eve / 7pm Worship / 11pm Worship	25Nativity of Our Lord / Christmas Day	26 / Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
27First Sunday of Christmas / 9:30am Carols & Lessons / 10:30am Fellowship/Cookies / 11am Sunday school	28 / 1pm Line Dancing Class	29 / John, Apostle and Evangelist	30	31 / New Year Eve

Lutheran Church of The Redeemer
574-293-5332
3300 Benham Avenue
P.O. Box 27
Elkhart, IN 46515

Mission Statement of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
We are a family of God faithfully and joyfully sharing Christ’s love
Guiding Principles/Vision Statements
As God forgives us and blesses us, we:
Forgive others, seeking to help through prayer and a giving Spirit.
Joyfully open our hearts to the care and needs of others.
Love others because God first loves us.
Help and bless others with our time and resources because God blesses us.
Are grounded in Bible Study, worship, and the sharing of Sacraments.

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Blessings Corner

Thank you to those who have been able to come to the “gentle cleaning” Thursday. Mary Lou Boomershine, Donna Dobbs, Carolyn Conley, Janice Conrad, Janet Wiggins and Pat Johnson for working on cleaning up the church in varies areas. Everyone is invited to join Thursday’s at 9am.
Thanks to all who helped with the Special Meeting. Lots of information was shared with the congregation.
Thanks to the Energy Conservation committee (Pat Johnson, Donna Dobbs, Barry Beyer & Gordon Sherven) for putting a lot of energy and time looking at various ways to conserve energy and save church money.
With out the support and help of many members, these community activities are not able to happen. Please consider helping at the next event.

Where do you see God present and at work in your life?
Where do you see God present and at work in the life of your church?
Where do you see God present and at work in the life of your community?
These are simple, yet profound questions. The answers to these questions are bound to be a varied as the people who respond to them.
At this year’s Synod Assembly in Indianapolis, these questions were asked and discussed among the pastors and delegates present one afternoon. First, people were asked to answer and to listen along with one other person. Then, they were asked to join another pair and to answer and listen again. Stories were exchanged, experiences shared, insights were spoken and noticed.
The next morning, some of the Synod’s guiding team and prayer/discernment team, who are leading these conversations (I’m part of the prayer/discernment team) met with groups of people from all the synod’s conferences and received feedback about their discussions. In most cases, people were quite excited and energized by these questions and by what had been shared. And, at least in the group that I related to, the Lafayette conference, a good number of people were enthused about having these conversations in their home congregations.
The Synod would very much like for all congregations to have these conversations too, including, ours. Our bishop feels that in asking these simple, yet profound questions, we are inviting the Spirit to help us notice what God is doing among us, and that may give us some direction in moving forward both in our congregation and as a Synod. In essence, we are asking, who is God calling us to be, and what is God calling us to do? Maybe this is what comes out of the questions about what is God doing in our lives, our church and our community.
I think this conversation could take place in a number of ways. Groups that already meet on a regular basis– the women’s group, men’s group, council and varies committees– could take some time out of their meeting to discuss the three questions and then to report back results.
I’d like to propose that we set aside some time to have these conversations in September– (Cindy says : Maybe at the Rally Day meal. )Where we are already around tables and having time to share conversation about what is going on in our lives. I feel these questions are good questions to keep asking ourselves, and to take the time to notice when and where we see God active in our lives, church and community.
I trust that in asking these important questions, God’s Spirit is moving the church forward, to looking out beyond our own walls, and engage the neighborhood and the community around us– some of which we are already doing. We trust that God is already present out in our neighborhood and the community around us– some of which we are already doing. We trust that God is already present out in our neighborhoods and community, present and active among us, even among those who may not acknowledge God. And perhaps, in our noticing, we may also sense the Spirit’s nudge as to what we might do to reach out in the love and compassion of Christ, because that is our mission as Christ’s disciples.
Blessings,
Pastor Steve
This is from Augustana News (August 2015 issue) with Pastor Steve’s permission to print. Cindy Minnie

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IK Synod

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Blessings Corner

Sun
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Wed
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1Seventh Sunday of Easter
Travis Minnie Baptism
SCRIP Orders Due
9am Worship
10am fellowship
2
1pm Line Dancing Class
3
5:30pm Guiding Team
4
6 pm Bible Study
7pm Worship
5
9am Gentle Cleaning Group
5:15pm Music and Worship Meeting
Synod Assembly
6
Synod Assembly
7Vigil of Pentecost
Men’s Breakfast
Synod Assembly
8Day of Pentecost
9am Worship
10am fellowship
10:30am Banner Work Day
9
8:45-noon Heartland Quilters
1pm Line Dancing Class
10
6:30pm Finance Meeting
11Barnabas, Apostle
6 pm Bible Study
7pm Worship
12
9am Gentle Cleaning Group
13
14Flag Day
Hall Reserved
12-5p
Mochamer
2pm KnitWits
15First Sunday after Pentecost
SCRIP Orders Due
9am Worship
10am Father’s Day celebration
16
1pm Line Dancing Class
6:30pm Council Meeting
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6 pm Bible Study
7pm Worship
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9am Gentle Cleaning Group
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21Summer Begins
22 Second Sunday after Pentecost
9am Worship
10am fellowship
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News Articles due
8:45-noon Heartland Quilters
1pm Line Dancing Class
24
John the Baptist
25
6 pm Bible Study
7pm Worship
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9am Gentle Cleaning Group
27
Rummage Sale (8a-3p)
28
Rummage Sale (8a-2p)
29 First Sunday after Pentecost
9am Worship
10am fellowship
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1pm Line Dancing Class—cancelled
NEXT Month:
Red Cross Blood Drive July 2 (2-6p)

Energy Conservation at Redeemer

Realizing How Much God Loves You
Luke 15:11-32
How do you see God’s love in your daily life? Jesus’ parable of the prodigal is an example of the deep and profound love between a father and his son (and, God with God’s people). This parable could be named the parable of the prodigal father. It is the father who is a central character. The selfish and jealous behavior of the two sons is a sharp contrast to the loving behavior of the father. Similarly, God’s most basic character is love.
What experiences in life are brought to memory by this parable? Has there been a time in your life when you wanted to go off to a far country? It was not unusual for younger Jewish sons to venture into the Dispersion. Centuries later in colonial England, it was not unusual for younger sons to venture to the colonies to start their life. And in our own country, it was not unusual for younger sons to respond to the challenge, “ Go west, young man.”
These ventures were often undertaken because there was sense of love and security at home, and a loving relationship with God. The life of Jesus was a venture to live in a “new creation”, a “new age”. It was difficult for the disciples to leave their settings and follow Jesus. It was even more difficult to grasp the significance of Jesus’ teachings. Yet as their experiences evolved there were revelations that showed God’s love and presence in every day life.
The older son struggled to see the loving relationship with his father and brother upon the brother’s return. Yet the father’s love was free, unmerited and unconditional to both sons. It is this kind of love that God has for God’s people. Continued on page 5.

Stewardship is a spiritual issue not a financial issue:

Pentecost prayer written by our Sunday school kids:

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July 2014

Blessings Corner

Vacancy Pastor’s Message

Listen Christian
I was hungry
And you formed a humanities club and discussed my hunger.
I was imprisoned
And you crept off quietly to your chapel in the cellar and prayed for my release.
I was naked
And in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.
I was sick
And you knelt and thanked God for your health.
I was homeless
And you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God.
I was lonely
And you left me alone to pray for me.
You seem so holy; so close to God,
But I’m still very hungry
And lonely and cold.
So where have your prayers gone?
What have they done?
What does it profit a man to page through his book of prayers when the rest of the world is crying for his help?
Copywritten: Bob Rowland. Used with permission
Children rewrote this to reflect a reply that would have Jesus saying well done:
I was hungry and you fed me
I was imprisoned and you worked to free me
I was naked and you gave me clothing
I was sick and you cured me
I was homeless and you let me stay in your home
I was lonely and you stayed with me
Going back to the old saying “ you cant give Christ’s name without the cup of water, nor the cup of water without Christ’s name.” We need to not only believe but act.
Submitted by Cheryl Mann and the Sunday school children

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Blessings Corner

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2015 Graduates of our Redeemer Family:
Graduating from High School:
Elizabeth Balogh—will be attending Purdue in the fall
Ben Cauffman—Carrol High School
Zackary Stauffer—Concord and will be attending IUPUI in fall majoring in Business/Sports Marketing
Graduating from College:
Michael Balogh—with a degree in psychology and going to grad school
Garrett Brubaker—Ball State with a communication major
Connie Kutschbach—Southwestern Michigan with a 4.0 with an Associate in Arts

Living in the Next by Randi Marie
We might still be wondering, “what happens next?” But I think most of us have relaxed and are in a comfortable “waiting to see what happens” attitude. Unfortunately, that’s not the attitude in which we need to be. We need to be “Living in the Next.” Without excitement, our adventurous spirits and active prayer life, we’ll never achieve our goal of growth.
And yes, we can grow without a permanent pastor. After all, a new pastor is coming—in God’s time. I’ve been thinking about this question, “how do we grow without a pastor?” I think the answer is both clear and easy. We just do it. A pastor alone does not create a body of believers, a family, a church. We, the family of our church create a congregation. We are still here. We are alive, active, and joyfully serving our community. So the ever-present question remains :How do we grow?
Like I said, the answer is clear and easy: one person at a time. If over the next year, each of us links a person to our congregation, we will grow. That does not mean giving a single invitation to come to a church service. On the contrary, I believe that God will put one single person in each of our paths (young and old) with whom we are placed to mentor— to teach, guide, and love— into a new place with God. Mentoring is not a quick fix or a fast means to growth. It takes time, prayer, and lots of patience. But it is the only thing that truly works.
Taking on a mentoring role is comparable to becoming a disciple and sharing God’s love. It is no small task, and no small responsibility. Indeed, we are all called to be disciples, and in our modern vocabulary, that might translate into being a mentor. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and a person will be chosen for you through whom you can make a difference in his or her life. Perhaps you’ll provide a meal, babysit a few times, bring a friend to line dancing, or make continuous contact with someone who has left the church. Just listen and react upon the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. Last week Gordon called me and offered to do something for me. He reacted to the voice of the Holy Spirit and I am blessed by his offering to me. Id like to think I will do the same for others. And you know what? This kind of mentoring is a blessing in and of itself—for the giver, as well as the receiver. Whether your person comes to Redeemer or not, you’ll be fulfilling our mission statement: faithfully and joyfully serving God.
So, each of us are being challenged in this time of transition. We’re challenged to be excited, not complacent. We’re challenged to move forward and not wait to see what happens. We’re challenged to act, share, and bring others to Christ. If these things are the desires of our hearts, then God will fulfill them through growth. He promises us the desires of our hearts. As covenant sons and daughters of the Most High God, we can expect no less. Our God, Jehovah Jirah, remains our provider over the course of all time. Remember always, He is a faithful God, just waiting to give us the desires of our heart and extend the size of our congregational family.

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