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Words of Wisdom – Encouraging Word – Month DD, YYYY – TEMPLATE

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Provide an Ongoing Flow of Information about the Congregation’s Work

“In a communication-saturated age, churches need to find and utilize multiple avenues for getting their message across.

“As an ongoing follow-up to a new member informational packet, the congregation would do well to publish a monthly newsletter, as well as written quarterly reports from all the boards, committees, and organizations of the congregation. Since every member shares in the mission of the congregation, it is vital that every member be kept informed about that mission and what the congregation is doing to fulfill it. Communication—from the voters’ assembly, from the church council, from organizations, from the pastor, from the Lutheran elementary school principal, from boards and committees—helps to keep the work of the church before the eyes and in the hearts of the members of the congregation.”

Valleskey, David J. We Believe – Therefore We Speak. Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1995.

Deadlines for Offerings and Statistics – Encouraging Word – January 2015

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Deadlines for Offerings and Statistics

The turn of the year means deadlines for submitting congregational offerings and statistics to WELS:

  • Remittances of 2014 offerings are due by Jan. 8. Meanwhile you should receive in early January your coupons for remitting 2015 congregation mission offerings (CMO).
  • Your congregation’s CMO subscription for 2015 (the amount you pledge to give) is due Friday, Feb. 6.
  • In early January congregations will also receive a letter with instructions for submitting your 2014 statistics online for the latest WELS Statistical Report. The deadline for submitting statistics is also Friday, Feb. 6.

Thank you as always for your cooperation!

Helpful Hint – Encouraging Word – January 2015

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Share WELS’ 2014 Annual Report

WELS recently published its 2014 annual report, which summarizes key developments across all areas of synod ministry. This report is a great way to inform WELS members of the Lord’s work we are doing together as a synod. It’s also a helpful reference as the congregation begins planning their support for worldwide gospel endeavors during the coming year.

There are several ways to access and share the report through WELS Communication Services’ Resource Center:
  • Download the report in PowerPoint format. Someone at your church may give the presentation or you can invite your local WELS Christian giving counselor to do it.
  • Share the link to the annual report in “flip book” format through your church’s e-newsletter or Web site.
  • Five copies of the report are being mailed to each congregation mid-January for distribution to leaders with the option to order additional copies (free besides shipping) through Northwestern Publishing House. (Note that an annual report is also going out with each giving statement to individuals who made direct gifts to WELS in 2014.)
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Words of Wisdom – Encouraging Word – January 2015

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Looking at Life as Jesus’ Redeemed Servants

We are Jesus’ hands and feet and mouth during this time of grace before he comes again. He served us and gave his all to redeem us for himself. So we live to move and act in his name and for the benefit of the rest of his mystical body on earth. That is a high honor indeed, to serve him in serving his mystical body for the short time that we have here. Looking at life that way is a mark of having found the middle road between excessive love for the world and ungrateful contempt for it. With such an attitude, we do not imagine that the goal of life is just to get more for my own indulgence; nor do we look at life with sour and grumpy ingratitude for God’s blessings to us in the world and the good reasons he has for being so generous to us.”

Deutschlander, Daniel M. The Narrow Lutheran Middle. Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 2011.

Stewardship Sundays – Encouraging Word – November 2014

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Possible Stewardship Sundays/Emphases for December through April

While our “Stewardship by the Lectionary” resource offers stewardship-themed devotions for all weekly lectionary readings, some weeks are particularly strong for a stewardship-themed Sunday. Following are some ideas for a stewardship Sunday or emphasis in Advent/Christmas, 2014, and Epiphany/Lent, 2015. Refer to “Stewardship by the Lectionary” for further development of these themes.

Advent 1 (November 30) – Serve Jesus Faithfully in Your Life’s Tasks (1 Corinthians 1:3-9 or Mark 13:32-37)

Advent 3 (December 14) – Proclaim Christ through your Words, Prayers, and Gifts (Isaiah 61)

Epiphany (January 6) – Devote your Lives to the Light of the World (Matthew 2)

Epiphany 3 (January 25) – Freely Share Christ’s Love with Everyone (Jonah 3:1-5, 10)

Lent 2 (March 1) – The Lord’s Promises Compel our Commitment (Genesis 28:10-22)

Lent 4 (March 15) – Power and Purpose for our Service (Ephesians 2:4-10)

Palm Sunday (March 29) – Praise the King of Salvation (Mark 11 or Philippians 2)

Easter (April 5) – Our Labor in the Living Lord Is Not in Vain (1 Corinthians 15)