http://www.lutheransonline.com/centralblueridgechapter]

We are in our infancy and the web site will continue growing and getting more informative. In fact if you are willing you can volunteer to administer it for your chapter.

We hope to include special announcements, Church Congregation Activities that are Thrivent Financial driven, and to promote unique events in the chapter, in order to keep all our members informed and current concernig  the direction your chapter is taking, and the way your money is being distributed to your community.

We are doubling the number of Church Congregations in the Chapter. Next year your Chapter will consist of the following Western North Carolina Lutheran Congregations

    Abiding Savior Lutheran Church   801 Charlotte Highway Fairview NC  (828) 298 2608

    Emmanuel Luthern Church 51 Wilburn Place Asheville NC  (828) 252 1795

    Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 808 North Broad Street Brevard NC (828) 883 3680

    Grace Lutheran Church 1245 6th Avenue West Hendersonville NC (828) 693 4890

     Lutheran Church of the Nativity 2425 Hendersonville Road Arden NC (828) 684 0352

     Mt Pisgah Lutheran Church 2606 Chimney Rock Road Hendersonville NC (828) 692 7027

     Our Savior Lutheran Church 785 Paragon Parkway Clyde NC (828) 456 6493

    Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 749 Highway 107 Sylva NC (828) 586 2084

    St Mark Lutheran Church 10 North Liberty Street Asheville NC (828) 253 0043

    Church of the Savior Lutheran Church 2118 Elk Park Highway Newland NC (828) 733 2513

    Messiah of the Mountains Lutheran Church  HIghway 19 Micaville NC (828) 675 4291

    St Mathew Lutheran Church 241 West Court Street Marion NC (828) 652 7699

    Church of the Good Shepherd 131 Franklin Plaza Drive Franklin NC (828) 371 1951

    Grace Mountainside Lutheran Church 129 South Main Street Robbinsville NC (828) 479 1599

    Living Waters Lutheran Church (Locust Street) P O Box 2230 Cherokee NC (828) 497 3730

    Lutheran Church of the Holy Family P O Box 1564 Highlands NC (828) 526 9741

    Peace Lutheran Church 10912 Georgia Highway Otto NC (828) 349 0907

    Resurrection Lutheran Church 38 Wayah Street Franklin NC (828) 524 5996

    St Andrew Lutheran Church P O Box 1491 Andrews NC (828) 321 5772

If you are not a member of the one of Churches in your neighborhood visit that Church soon you will be blessed.

The chapter system provides opportunities for members to "make a difference" by helping others through fund-raising or service activities. It also is an integral part of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' mission and vision because it helps maximize the good that we do for others.

As chapter members, we help fulfill the "caring for others" portion of Thrivent Financial's mission: "Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a faith-based membership organization called to improve the quality of life of its members, their families, and their communities by providing unparalleled solutions that focus on financial security, wellness, and caring for others."

In addition, we have the opportunity to play an important role in Thrivent Financial's vision: "Our vision is to be the organization that Lutherans, Lutheran congregations and Lutheran institutions seek first when pursuing their financial goals. More than creating financial solutions, we add the unique capability of enabling Lutherans to demonstrate their care and concern for others."

Through use of our chapter Care programs, we are able to "demonstrate care and concern for others."

Next year we will need to involve "new" leaders in order to maintain a smooth flow of leaders coming on the board and leaving the ministry. There is a limit of the number of years a person can serve. Five of the chairs will reach the limit and must be replaced in 2006. Please give serious consideration to this plea.

Through the exciting chapter Care program called Care Abounds in Communities™, Thrivent Financial provides funding to members who form community service teams to conduct fund-raising or hands-on service activities to help individuals, families and/or qualified not-for-profit organizations.

So, do you want to help, but don't know how to get started? It's as easy as ABC 1-2-3.

This online tool—located at www.thrivent.com/ABC—is available to help you translate your desire to help into an action plan for making a difference. It provides easy steps to guide you as well as ideas, checklists and tips so you can successfully form a community service team and execute an activity through your Thrivent Financial for Lutherans chapter.

Here's a glimpse of topics you can read about:

Getting things started
1. Identify recipient of funds or service project.
2. Form your community service team.
3. Explore your capabilities; select your activity.

Making a plan
1. Request chapter leadership board funding approval.
2. Plan activity logistics and details.
3. Get the word out.

Do it! And Celebrate!
1. Do it! Carry out your plans to help others.
2. Celebrate completion of activity and recognize your volunteers.
3. Tell us what you did. Then pay bills and provide funds to recipient.

If you have questions about forming a community service team, conducting an activity or the Care Abounds in Communities™ program, please contact one of our chapter leadership board members.

      This is your chapters mission statement! This is the only thing we do! This is why you should help!
       This is a partial record of activities!
                     ...thru August of this year with the fourth quarter remaing to be tallied and entered