At the November Voters’ Meeting, as we do every year, we passed a budget for the operation of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in 2015. Again we’ve been blessed with a peaceful meeting without a contentious atmosphere but instead with one of cooperation and agreement. For the sake of the Gospel, we continue to be blessed by our Lord!
I’ve mentioned to the Elders – if not to others – that we should consider the congregation’s budget as a document that lists our priorities for that particular year. You have provided generously for the preaching of the Gospel, for the instruction of young and old in the faith, and for the furthering of the mission of Christ’s Church not only in Sherman but also in many parts of the world. Thanks be to God!
As we’ve prepared for 2015 as a congregation, let us also prayerfully prepare our households to support the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments at Good Shepherd. I pray these passages of Holy Scripture will benefit you in this prayerful preparation:
The Lord commanded that those who proclaim the Gospel should get their living by the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:24)
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Schuermann