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Reverend David M.
Deal is in his second decade as the Pastor at Evangelical
Lutheran. |
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As
People of God, the Body of Christ, we have been drawn to the Light which
overcomes all darkness. The Light of Christ has bathed us in the waters
of Baptism, forgiving us and strengthening us for service in Jesus’
name. And the Light is directing us to follow into uncharted
territory. We are reluctant, a little afraid, but there is no need.
For wherever we go, in Christ’s name, the Light will shine over us.
In 2006,
the Light led us to the Katrina-torn Gulf Coast,
to the homes of our neighbors after another devastating flood, to the
pages of a new hymnal, and to the hurts and need of one another. It was
a good year of worship, prayer, fellowship, and service.
We timidly followed the Light and God performed wonderful
deeds through us. We could have done more to grow as a congregation, to
reach our newest neighbors, to speak to the youth and young adults in
our midst. Where we were too timid to go, we ask God’s forgiveness and
pray for the courage to follow.
There are some exciting early indications of where the Light
will lead us: Several “Friendly Visitors” will regularly visit and
touch the lives of our homebound. Our Cluster will seek to provide more
joint worship opportunities, not just for the Lutherans in our seven
congregations, but for all of our neighbors. We will seek to
continue sponsoring a
week-long summer Day Camp for children in the 1st-5th
grades. And we will intentionally seek to learn how to witness to new
and unchurched folks – losing some of our timidity for the Gospel.
Evangelical Lutheran has labeled itself “the church on the
hill, lighting the way to God’s love.” We have a beautiful electrical
light that shines all over the hillside from our steeple. Now, we seek
to follow that light with our bodies, our hearts, our spiritual gifts to
the places God would have us go.
~Pastor David Deal
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