In review, I believe some exciting things highlighted our year together. Worship included “traditional” elements most of the time, with special musical guests on two occasions: Cheryl Kirking & Jerry Wise. During Lenten mid-week services, we shared mini-dramas with member-actors and messages about “facing down our fears”. Tammy Craker began seminary this past Fall and preached three times, as well as our hosting the Bishop here to preach on Reformation Sunday. We honored Mother’s & Father’s on their day, and servicemen & women on Veterans Day. We honored graduating seniors and witnessed Confirmations & First Communions too. Numerous Baptisms were shared in worship as well as the breaking of Bread and drinking of Wine in the Sacrament. Our Saturday service (5pm) is filling a need for others whose schedules require an alternative. Who can forget the 2 very meaningful services following our return from Mission Trips (to Biloxi & New Orleans – in April & October). The KFC Christmas Program was also delightful with all the young children participating some way, and the youth providing the messages at Easter Sunrise & the first Sunday after Christmas services. Youth also had an outing to Chicago this past summer, before school, sports and work overcame them; and more than a handful of our youth attended Sugar Creek Bible Camp in Ferryville, WI. Then there were funerals and funeral luncheons served, the Ice Cream Social and other meals & pot lucks served before & after services, even on weekdays. YES, an eventful year…filled with fellowship & service…making Christ known…with JOY…in a variety of ways to a variety of people…here and beyond.

My hopes for at least the next six months include:
Being with and becoming more familiar with the children in our KFC. I currently share a message with them (and all the parents & teachers) in their Opening each Sunday morning – along with music provided by Liesa & Jan Stienmetz at that time.
Identifying the needs of our high school youth (Luther Leaguers) for spiritual growth & service, and filling the position Vicky Baumgarten leaves as longtime advisor & friend of the Leaguers.
Having another thematic series for our mid-week Lenten services that includes mini-dramas.
Help to organize another Mission Trip for those that want to go or return to the Gulf Coast and to also be involved with mission-work closer to home (in our community, county and state). For now, though, not one with as big a fund-raising effort as our first two Coast trips involved.
Providing opportunities for parents of young children and older youth to gather and discuss issues that affect them in raising children in Christian homes with Christian values – despite all the set-backs posed by a hostile culture and other dangers to spiritually healthy living.
We also have several “restoration” projects pending financial readiness – digitalizing our pipe organ, resurfacing the parking lot, and erecting a modern sign on our Hwy 23 frontage.
We also have the unique opportunity to financially assist a daughter of our congregation with her seminary education. This is in addition to deciding on how best to invest $16,000 already designated for seminarian assistance – currently held by Wartburg Sem in Dubuque.
I hope that in this new year our worship attendance may increase beyond the 30% of us that worship here (Sat eve & Sun morn) on any given weekend. 200 would be a reasonable goal.
A financial stewardship emphasis would benefit our ministry as well as benefit the attitude-of-gratitude in each giver to this ministry. We are currently staying ahead of our bills, but what would life be like if we exceeded those needs – can you envision such a prospect?

Lastly, I want to acknowledge the service of so many faithful members to the smooth operation of our ministry together. Without listing all by name, there are the WELCA women and Men’s Club, tellers & quilters and KFC shepherds & leaders, the Altar Guild & funeral servers, ushers & acolytes, and youth advisors & health committee folk (with Tammy Koenecke, Parish Nurse), with chairs & committees for Christian Education (Lucinda & Davina), Property (Brian), Music / Worship (Bill) & Cemetery (Melvin). You are all volunteer “staff”.

Our paid staff includes many capable, dedicated members: Kristal Theiding & Carol Myers in the church office; Mike Wobschall, our janitor; Rich Mohr & Isabelle Reimer – financial sec’y and treasurer, respectively; our very talented, qualified and cooperative music staff: Sharon Schlieckau and Dawn Webber, Marge Schmidt & Bonnie Haag. Our Choir & Guitar Service leaders are invaluable to the variety & beauty of our worship services. Our council members & chairs are valuable in creating interest & ideas for the doing of ministry – the leader of which is Shirley Albers – who has attended more meetings than she probably cares to recount – and dealt with issues & concerns she probably didn’t see coming – like a pastoral vacancy with the Call process that follows – to name one.

We want to thank especially Shirley & Isabelle for their services offered for the past 3 years as Congregation President (Albers) and 6 years as Treasurer (Reimer). They have done well their tasks – we have great trust in their daily duties done in a spirit of Mission on this corner of God’s Kingdom. And to Vicky who faithfully worked with our Luther Leaguers for about 15 years in fund-raising & education, with fun-outings & directing numerous ‘skits’; she’s been a model of the Christian faith for these youth.

Finally, not every Pastor’s Report ever has this paragraph – one in reference to a June 2007 congregational vote to extend my Call here indefinitely. However, as you may recall, in June 2005, the congregation extended to me a “term call” of 2 years – as per Synod directive – so that as my having been your Interim Pastor…and now your Called Pastor…you may have an opportunity to decide again if that was as wise or prudent an action as it seemed in 2005.

I want you to know that Donna & I greatly appreciate the spirit of friendship & generosity that you have extended to us these last 2½ years, as well as for receiving my ministry (in its pastoral & preaching & teaching duties) in such a positive way. Also, that you seek to use synodical salary guidelines in proposing my pay-package, I thank you.

If, however, you have concerns or questions about extending my call here, I would first ask that you approach me personally to share such issues…to see if we can resolve them between ourselves. If, however, you think there are others / many who share your concerns, then we might meet together to seek resolution without full-scale chaos and up-roar at that special congregational meeting in June.
I propose this for the sake of the ministry St. Paul says we share = that in all things our actions show love and build up the household of God in Christ’s Church.

Let us, then, continue in peace… and serve the Lord. Sincerely, Pastor Christopher M Miller