From the Pastor
THEY ARE LIKE TREES PLANTED BY STREAMS
OF WATER, WHICH YIELD THEIR FRUIT IN ITS
SEASON, AND THEIR LEAVES DO NOT WITHER.
PSALM 1:3
I am pleased to join with our HTLC Church Council, our Stewardship
Committee, and this year’s Fall program chairpersons, David Craig and Pastor
David Solberg, to announce our fall Stewardship Campaign: IMAGINE:
God’s Vision Our Future. This theme and accompanying logo remind us of
the basics of life in Christ. In all we do God calls us to “imagine” how the
love and forgiveness of Christ Jesus has changed everything. Eager to
experience and learn more, we live in response to this love as we Pray,
Worship, and Give.
The image of a tree planted by streams of water, as in Psalm 1, remind
us that God creates and sustains ongoing prosperity of protection and growth.
God delights in the yield of fruit which comes as we live in the “living
waters” which is Jesus himself. Even though the environs of life can be
compared to the heat of a persistent sun or the damaging wind of violent
storm, we are as a fruit bearing tree, planted by life giving water.
Our special announcements, brought by our chairpersons, this past
weekend at worship explained this year’s emphasis is twofold. First, we
celebrate the ongoing ministry that God has placed before us. You are asked
to prayerfully imagine what you can share in time, talent, and treasure in the
year to come. Please join in that prayer plan today. As our ministry grows, so
does our giving response. The second part of this year’s drive looks to the
future. Servicing our debt from the last decade remains a major part of our
ministry budget. Our wise and thoughtful leadership has come to recognize
that we will pass on a blessing as we pay down that debt. Simple financial
computation reminds us that gifts given now will greatly decrease the overall
interest expense in the decades to come. We are looking to “God’s Vision” as
we seek to pass on a debt free ministry to “Our Future.” The legacy of a debt
free future opens up even more plans to follow God’s Vision for this
ministry.
In the weeks to come, you will be asked to be part of a process in
which our congregation will make important financial promises for this year’s
ministry budget and offer gifts to reduce our overall debt. When you are
contacted, base your answers and level of participation in God’s Vision and
carefully Pray, Worship, and then Give.
This congregation is like a tree planted by streams of living water. Our
ministry is strong and vibrant and seeks to live in God’s Vision as we are
given the treasure of Our Future. Continue to Pray for direction, Worship in
praise, and the Give in response to the treasure which God has entrusted to
your care. Together we will IMAGINE: God’s Vision and Our Future!
OF WATER, WHICH YIELD THEIR FRUIT IN ITS
SEASON, AND THEIR LEAVES DO NOT WITHER.
PSALM 1:3
I am pleased to join with our HTLC Church Council, our Stewardship
Committee, and this year’s Fall program chairpersons, David Craig and Pastor
David Solberg, to announce our fall Stewardship Campaign: IMAGINE:
God’s Vision Our Future. This theme and accompanying logo remind us of
the basics of life in Christ. In all we do God calls us to “imagine” how the
love and forgiveness of Christ Jesus has changed everything. Eager to
experience and learn more, we live in response to this love as we Pray,
Worship, and Give.
The image of a tree planted by streams of water, as in Psalm 1, remind
us that God creates and sustains ongoing prosperity of protection and growth.
God delights in the yield of fruit which comes as we live in the “living
waters” which is Jesus himself. Even though the environs of life can be
compared to the heat of a persistent sun or the damaging wind of violent
storm, we are as a fruit bearing tree, planted by life giving water.
Our special announcements, brought by our chairpersons, this past
weekend at worship explained this year’s emphasis is twofold. First, we
celebrate the ongoing ministry that God has placed before us. You are asked
to prayerfully imagine what you can share in time, talent, and treasure in the
year to come. Please join in that prayer plan today. As our ministry grows, so
does our giving response. The second part of this year’s drive looks to the
future. Servicing our debt from the last decade remains a major part of our
ministry budget. Our wise and thoughtful leadership has come to recognize
that we will pass on a blessing as we pay down that debt. Simple financial
computation reminds us that gifts given now will greatly decrease the overall
interest expense in the decades to come. We are looking to “God’s Vision” as
we seek to pass on a debt free ministry to “Our Future.” The legacy of a debt
free future opens up even more plans to follow God’s Vision for this
ministry.
In the weeks to come, you will be asked to be part of a process in
which our congregation will make important financial promises for this year’s
ministry budget and offer gifts to reduce our overall debt. When you are
contacted, base your answers and level of participation in God’s Vision and
carefully Pray, Worship, and then Give.
This congregation is like a tree planted by streams of living water. Our
ministry is strong and vibrant and seeks to live in God’s Vision as we are
given the treasure of Our Future. Continue to Pray for direction, Worship in
praise, and the Give in response to the treasure which God has entrusted to
your care. Together we will IMAGINE: God’s Vision and Our Future!