Sneak Peek: Annual Meeting Report

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
and Preschool
51 Years of God’s Grace + Christ Is Our Cornerstone

Pastor’s Report
Annual Meeting, May 17, 2009


The Lord has blessed St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. He has gifted us with the best news ever and asks us to share it with our world. There are plenty of challenges, to be sure, but we meet them with the victory already in hand, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

I would use this forum today to hold the following things before you:

1. We have a mission to fulfill. You will hear a lot about being “externally focused” in the months ahead. We want to be faithful to the mission Christ has given His Church: to make disciples. Please pray about becoming involved in an externally focused activity. In the near future we will evaluate ourselves as a congregation and develop strategies to be even more effective in fulfilling Christ’s mission.
2. Fulfilling this mission takes resources. In order to realize our potential as a mission-minded church, we need every family’s contribution of time, talent, and treasure. God’s Word tells us that our giving should be done with a thankful and cheerful heart; it also says that the Lord does not desire our “leftovers.”
3. Christ is present to help us. This is true at all times but especially in worship. The introduction and use of Lutheran Service Book has, from my perspective, gone very well. There are more services worth exploring in LSB, and we will do so with the patience such change deserves. I pray you are thankful for and blessed by our Scripturally-sound, Christ-centered way of worship.
4. We have excellent volunteers (and a strong church staff, including our Preschool Director and teachers). Across the board, we are blessed to have gifted Christian men and women who give generously of their time and abilities to further the work of God’s Kingdom. There are quite a few unsung heroes among us, without whom things simply would not happen. I am grateful for your willing service.

It is a privilege to serve you with God’s Word and Sacraments. I sincerely appreciate all the ways in which you care for my family, and I thank God daily for your faithfulness and friendship in Christ. God grant us the desire to joyfully share His gifts with our world!


Official Acts and Statistics
May 2008—May 2009

Baptisms: 9 (2 adult)
Funerals: 4
Weddings: 1
Confirmed: 7
New Members Received: 30
Worship Attendance Average (per weekend): 192
(More than double the average Ohio District LCMS congregation)
Over 400 pastoral care visits made
Approximately 165 worship services conducted
(includes Advent, Christmas, Lent, & Holy Week)
Approximately 150 Bible Study sessions offered
(includes Confirmation Classes, Saturday night, Sunday morning, and Life Group)


I currently serve the Church-at-Large in the following ways:

· Circuit Counselor, Ohio District (Northeast 7)—term up as of June
· Our Shepherd Lutheran School Board
· DELTO Mentor to Jimmy Riley—ends this summer
· Breakout Session Presenter, Ohio District Lutheran Educators Conference
· Bible Study Presenter, Ohio District Convention
· Leader of Closing Worship @ Ohio District Pastor’s Conference
· Chairman, Ohio District Board for Student Aid
· Participant, Boar’s Head Festival
· Participant, circuit-wide Ascension Day and Reformation services
· Participant, Ohio District Transforming Congregations Learning Community




Joyfully Serving Christ and His Church—

Pastor Matzke