Pastor's Page
Sisters and brothers in Christ,
It’s that time of year again - time for the 2025 Annual Stewardship Campaign.
Each year in the fall, I take a few weeks to cast a vision for ministry that I hope
inspires our membership to contribute generously, even sacrificially, to the
ministry we do together as a congregation. Like any well-run household or
business, the Give Table, that small ministry team that manages the financial
affairs of the congregation, needs to know what kind of income the congregation
will have this coming year with which to do all that we want and need to do. And
so we come to you the membership. You are our only source of revenue.
Not all congregations have annual stewardship campaigns. Indeed, because I am a
believer in them, several years ago, I led our Mahoning County Lutheran Cluster
Congregations through the process and together we came up with a campaign.
Why am I a believer in annual stewardship campaigns? I am so glad you asked.
The answer is revealed in this year’s campaign.
It is simply a fact that we are sinful human beings. We are self-absorbed and think
mostly about ourselves and those who are dearest to us and we consume most of
our resources on ourselves. It has always been that way. It is the human condition
from the Garden of Eden to today.
However, this is not the godly way or the Christ-like way. I see it as my task each
year to remind us to live lives worthy of our calling and to encourage us to use our
resources in ways that are pleasing to God.
I am a big fan of the contemporary Christian singer and songwriter, Steven Curtis
Chapman. This year’s campaign is inspired by a song he recorded back in 2018
entitled, “Remember to Remember.” About this song, Chapman writes, “I was
reminded over and over again of the incredible power and importance of
remembering. In the Old Testament, God told His people to tell and retell to each
other the stories of His faithfulness, and even build monuments (stones of
remembrance) to help them remember the places where He had showed up in
profound ways on their journey. He knew how much they-and we-would need to
have those tangible reminders. As I’ve realized in a deeper way than ever why
remembering is so important, I’ve also come to realize that redemptive
remembering goes both directions…backwards and forward. As important as it is
for us to remember God’s faithfulness for every step of the journey so far, it’s just
as important, and maybe even more so sometimes, that we remember into the
future…remembering God’s promises for the journey ahead.”
Over the four weeks of the campaign, we will be reminded of four amazing stories
of God’s faithfulness and be reminded of what God has done for us in the past and
be reminded that God is still with us today to protect and bless us as we journey
forward with Him.
You will hear the song as a sermon starter each of the four weeks of the campaign
as the lyrics challenge us to remember where we’ve been and where we’re going.
Spoiler alert: without God revealed in Jesus Christ, we are lost in sin and destined
for hell. But because of the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ, we’re all headed
for a glorious unfolding. I encourage you to attend each week and be inspired by
these great stories of old, and be reminded that God isn’t finished yet. We need to
remember to remember that God is faithful, and we need to be faithful to Him.
With you on the journey of faith,
The Rev. Duane A. Jesse, Pastor
It’s that time of year again - time for the 2025 Annual Stewardship Campaign.
Each year in the fall, I take a few weeks to cast a vision for ministry that I hope
inspires our membership to contribute generously, even sacrificially, to the
ministry we do together as a congregation. Like any well-run household or
business, the Give Table, that small ministry team that manages the financial
affairs of the congregation, needs to know what kind of income the congregation
will have this coming year with which to do all that we want and need to do. And
so we come to you the membership. You are our only source of revenue.
Not all congregations have annual stewardship campaigns. Indeed, because I am a
believer in them, several years ago, I led our Mahoning County Lutheran Cluster
Congregations through the process and together we came up with a campaign.
Why am I a believer in annual stewardship campaigns? I am so glad you asked.
The answer is revealed in this year’s campaign.
It is simply a fact that we are sinful human beings. We are self-absorbed and think
mostly about ourselves and those who are dearest to us and we consume most of
our resources on ourselves. It has always been that way. It is the human condition
from the Garden of Eden to today.
However, this is not the godly way or the Christ-like way. I see it as my task each
year to remind us to live lives worthy of our calling and to encourage us to use our
resources in ways that are pleasing to God.
I am a big fan of the contemporary Christian singer and songwriter, Steven Curtis
Chapman. This year’s campaign is inspired by a song he recorded back in 2018
entitled, “Remember to Remember.” About this song, Chapman writes, “I was
reminded over and over again of the incredible power and importance of
remembering. In the Old Testament, God told His people to tell and retell to each
other the stories of His faithfulness, and even build monuments (stones of
remembrance) to help them remember the places where He had showed up in
profound ways on their journey. He knew how much they-and we-would need to
have those tangible reminders. As I’ve realized in a deeper way than ever why
remembering is so important, I’ve also come to realize that redemptive
remembering goes both directions…backwards and forward. As important as it is
for us to remember God’s faithfulness for every step of the journey so far, it’s just
as important, and maybe even more so sometimes, that we remember into the
future…remembering God’s promises for the journey ahead.”
Over the four weeks of the campaign, we will be reminded of four amazing stories
of God’s faithfulness and be reminded of what God has done for us in the past and
be reminded that God is still with us today to protect and bless us as we journey
forward with Him.
You will hear the song as a sermon starter each of the four weeks of the campaign
as the lyrics challenge us to remember where we’ve been and where we’re going.
Spoiler alert: without God revealed in Jesus Christ, we are lost in sin and destined
for hell. But because of the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ, we’re all headed
for a glorious unfolding. I encourage you to attend each week and be inspired by
these great stories of old, and be reminded that God isn’t finished yet. We need to
remember to remember that God is faithful, and we need to be faithful to Him.
With you on the journey of faith,
The Rev. Duane A. Jesse, Pastor
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