2007 REPORT OF THE ASSOCIATE PASTOR FOR CONGREGATIONAL LIFE


     2007 was an exciting year, especially as I witnessed Salem’s continued growth in mission and ministry. Here are some of my favorite activities and experiences of 2007:

• Start of Call as Associate Pastor for Congregational Life, April 1
• Florida-Bahamas Synod Assembly, re-election of Bishop Ed Benoway, May 3-5
• Service of Installation, May 6
• Faith Journey Through Fantasy Lands study, June - August
• Medical Mission Trip, Dade City, FL, Aug. 11
• Young Adult Fellowship Cruise, Sept. 28-Oct. 1
• Completion of the Pictorial Directory, September
• Farewell Reception to Sara Petefish
• Veterans Day Service, Nov. 11th

     2007 also marked the beginning of our DASh Strategic Emphasis. This effort revealed some interesting strengths and weaknesses in our congregation. For instance, it was not much of a struggle to meet our goal for three new service opportunities in 2007. The relief materials given to the Boy Scouts for the Groundhog Day tornado victims, the Medical Mission Trip, and the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child were all successful efforts to make a difference in the lives of others.

     On the other hand, we also quickly learned that our knowledge of the level of participation of our congregation in our ministries was lacking. How do we know if we have a 10% increase in participation in something if we don’t even know how many people participated in it in the past? So we learned that we need to keep better track of such things if we want to be able to determine our progress in that way.

     One of our main goals was to increase our worship attendance 5% from that of 2006. Ultimately we did not meet this goal, as in 2006 we averaged 219 in worship, and in 2007 we only averaged 208. However, the figures for 2006 include an extra Sunday (53 total), and Christmas Eve attendance (being on a Sunday); without those figures our 2006 average attendance was 209.

     Looking ahead to 2008, I can see several challenges and opportunities. Lent and Easter are very early this year. We will need to hire a new Contemporary Worship Team leader, organist and/or senior choir director. Our DASh Strategic Emphasis will need to continue to mature and become totally ingrained in the mindset of the entire congregation. Our congregation must meet the financial challenges that come with the need to staff for effective and faithful growth.

     But no matter what else happens, it is imperative that the congregation of Salem Lutheran Church keeps its focus on the vision of a greater tomorrow, the vision in which we more fully reflect that holy people God has called us to be. Thanks be to God!


     In Christ,
     Pastor Jeff