Polling Results for Jan. 26 & Feb. 17 Meetings

You can view the polling results for January 26 and February 17 meetings at http://www.ctslutheran-denton.org/polling_results_012608_and_020908.pdf.

Building consultant to share information on February 19...

Pastor Bill Bentzinger, building consultant of the ELCA for our region, is meeting with members on Tuesday, February 19, at 7:00 p.m. Bill works through the ELCA Mission Investment Fund, helping congregations determine building needs, processes for planning, and financial support. This meeting is informational. No plans will be voted on, and no actions will be taken. Pastor Bill recommends the reading of "Re-Pitching the Tent: the definitive guide to re-ordering church buildings for worship and mission,” by Richard Giles, third edition, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota. All members are welcome to the meeting. It is open to everyone. You can read information about Pastor Bill's presentation at http://www.ctslutheran-denton.org/bentzinger_building_packet.pdf.

Focus on the Future on February 9...

All congregation members are invited to hear information and give input Saturday, February 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, as we gather to take the next step in our Focus on the Future at Christ The Servant Lutheran. One of the principles of our Focus on the Future is to include all people of Christ The Servant Lutheran in the process of discerning what God is leading us towards in mission.

Long-range planning day feedback...

On January 26, seventeen members of Christ The Servant Lutheran gathered in the Fellowship Hall to examine our ministry needs in light of our building and facilities. The agenda covered information about the status of congregational membership, finances, Denton area growth, property analysis, and communal discussion about congregational ministries.The participants met in small groups to discuss long-range needs and solutions. Fifteen areas of concern were collated, and participants used sticky notes to indicate their support of meeting needs in six months, one year, five years, or dreams in the future. This Polling indicated that the most urgent, short-term need is signage followed by landscaping. Task forces will be given charge of implementing changes. A report is due to the council and congregation by June 2008. Also available is Feedback of the evaluation of the Long-Range Planning Workshop. Participants answers the following open-ended questions: what were your expectations for this workshop; how closely did the workshop come to fulfilling your expectations; what was the most helpful part; what did you appreciate about the workshop; what would you have preferred to be different; what excites you about the congregation’s ministry for the future; what are your concerns; whom would you include in discussions in the future; and what would you personally commit to for the growth of the congregations’ ministry. Polling Information and Feedback are available as handouts.The workshop was one step in a process of discernment for the growth and development of the congregation’s ministry. Thanks to Monty for providing data about the congregation and Denton, to Don for providing information about blueprints and platting, and to Synette for managing food and lunch.

We start the process of long range planning...

At the Congregational Meeting in December 2007, members voted to authorize the Congregational Council to establish a Long-Range Planning Committee to investigate the future building needs of Christ The Servant Lutheran Church as related to the ministry of the congregation. The Congregational Council set aside Saturday, January 26, 2008, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., for a Long-Range Planning Workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to initiate the process of long-range planning. The day includes prayer, study of Scripture, and dialogue amongst leaders and participants of ministries within the congregation. We will explore the question: what is God calling us to be? And do? All members of the congregation are invited to share their God-given insight and wisdom for the sake of our community of faith. For the health of the congregation’s ministry of today and tomorrow, it is especially crucial that the leader or a designated representative of each ministry in the congregation attend the workshop. Thank you for your leadership and faithfulness in the months ahead and in years past. Your commitment in sharing the journey of growing spiritually and serving others makes a difference in the well-being of the congregation. May Christ be our Guide and Light today and tomorrow, to the glory of God forever.

—Your servant in Christ, Pastor Peggy Ogden-Howe

Welcome...

You are invited to login and use this space to share ideas about the Focus on the Future at Christ The Servant Lutheran, as our congregations explores growth in physical space and in ministry. Submit questions or comments to the church office at ctslc.office2@verizon.net, manager of this blog and the church website. Responses are not moderated, so you are invited to be responsible in what you publish. Before you publish, be sure you consider how others will view it in a text-only world. To get you started, the moderator has re-published here some newsletter articles about what has previously transpired.

May God, who lightens all our paths, accompany you on your journey this day and always. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. May the Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.