By Pastor Devlyn Brooks
I know that by the time you read this, Thanksgiving will have already passed. But looking back on all that has happened since our last annual meeting, I realized that this would be a wonderful time to take stock of much of what I am grateful for here at Faith Lutheran.
While it’s hard to fathom, this upcoming annual meeting will be the fifth I’ve attended here at Faith Lutheran, and while there certainly has been much that has changed in those four years since my first in 2017, there also is much that hasn’t changed. And that is what makes serving in this church so special.
So here it goes … Pastor D’s 2021 List O’ Gratitude:
First and foremost, I am incredibly grateful for how this entire congregation continues to welcome Shelley and I and our family into your lives. It’s hard to describe to others how the congregation feels like an extension of our family, and that we’ve been a part of it for much longer than four years. So I will be forever grateful how the church council and the congregation continue to value and support our family life as well. This is a special place to be part of, and we know it deep down in our bones!
Speaking of the church council, I must say thank you to all of those who have served and continue to serve on the council during my tenure here. The council members are incredible servant leaders who take the responsibility of being on council seriously, and I am grateful for their hours of volunteered service. It is a great comfort to know that whatever needs to get done so that our church can function will get done. There’s never a doubt, and that isn’t the case everywhere. Thank you!
Our committee volunteers. I am grateful for all of the various folks who bring their time and talents to our list of committees that helps keep this church vibrant. Whether it’s the Education Committee or the Worship and Music Committee or even Faith Women and Faith Men, we have a number of folks who dedicate their time and their talents to ensuring that all of the various parts of this beautiful church keep moving in sync with each other. There is an incredible amount of work that is performed by these committees, and I will never take their service for granted. If you are not currently serving on a committee, please consider it in advance of the annual meeting. The old adage that many hands make light work is very true! Thank you!
Our staff: Mike Nelson, Lisa Miller and Deb Price. The volume of work these three do really is phenomenal. The reason that our church seems to run so seamlessly and easily is because of the work that these three all do behind the scenes. From ensuring that every service will have the proper musical accompaniment, to making sure our holy house is spotless every week, to getting the bills paid on time, this collection of tireless servants go about the work of our church quietly and efficiently. And the reason that our church functions like clockwork is because of the dedication of these three. Words cannot express my gratitude for their hard work! Thank you!
Our church itself, meaning the building and all it means to this community. I shared this story with the church council in November, but on the day of my ordination in October, we had about a half dozen other clergy from around our synod here for the celebration. And all of them couldn’t believe what a wonderful facility that we have! They marveled at the beauty of our original sanctuary, the well maintained entrance, the comfortable library and pastor’s office, the large space dedicated to students downstairs and the welcoming fellowship hall. The splendor of our church even caught some of them off guard as they expected to arrive at a country church that might have seen its better days, and were unexpectedly surprised by this wonderful worship home! I offer up a big thank you to all of the saints who came before us to pass this gem down to us, and I also offer thanks to those who are currently stewarding this beautiful building so that we can keep passing it on to future generations!
Lastly, I am grateful for our Sunday school teachers who continue to show their dedication to offering our youngest members a faithful education that is also fun and joyful at the same time. As all of you who have taught in Sunday school know, getting prepared Sunday after Sunday to teach a bunch of youngsters requires a time commitment, creativity, patience and dedication. Many of you do not get the benefit of seeing the joy on those little faces every week when they come bounding in for Sunday school. But luckily for me I do! I tell you, there is no better way to start a worship morning off then spending a little time with those spritely kiddos! And these kiddos wouldn’t be nearly as jazzed about coming to church as they are without our dedicated Sunday school teachers. Thank you for all you do!
I could go on, of course, because there are a great many things here at Faith Lutheran for which I am grateful that I haven’t got the space to list. But let me just wrap up with this.
I am so excited about our next chapter together. I am incredibly humbled and honored to be your called pastor here at Faith, and I am also incredibly excited about our future together. I know that we are just getting started, and that we’ll continue to work together to continue to make Faith Lutheran Church of Wolverton a place that is welcoming, joyful, faithful and committed to supporting our community. So as always, if you have ideas about things we are doing or should be doing here at Faith, please let me know!
Happy belated Thanksgiving to all of you and your loved ones! I can’t wait to see you all at our annual meeting on Sunday, Dec. 12!
Blessings!
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