Pastoral Letter and Prayer about the Election (October 31)

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Blessed forthcoming All Saints’ Sunday to you all and to your loved ones. 

Well, Reformation week was just something else! The amount of participation, service, and volunteering was stirring. October 31 is the actual date when Dr. Luther nailed those theses to the walls of the Wittenberg church. So we “finish” reveling in Christ’s reforms today! I thank the more than 120 church leaders and servants who partook in making this past weekend and week happen!

Numbers aren’t everything, but here are some for you to consider from this past week: 

• Sunday morning indoors: based on ALL who attended, including musicians and worship assistants: 36 
• Saturday morning outdoors: based on ALL who attended, including our assistants and musicians: 71
• Sunday afternoon indoors (Confirmation service): 53 (including worship leaders)
• Podcasts: 157 (highest week of downloads): 54 (Friday, October 30: highest single day of downloads)
• Video of the Reformation service: currently about 600 views and continuing to surge. Our fall high is 727 on September 6. Our all-time high is 1,102 on August 9. This video may crack our top 5. It’s estimated by some churches that 1 view = 2.5 people as an average. Many of our families gather to worship in 1 view. 
• Video of the latest Midweek Recharge, released a few days ago (Colors of the Church): currently about 200 views and rapidly climbing

Based on this attendance, the registrations for All Saints’ Sunday indoor worship, the resources of time and personnel available, recommendations from staff and core and support ministry leaders, and feedback from the Board of Servant Leaders, we will proceed with this schedule of in-person worship services. 

November 1 (Sunday) – indoor 

November 7 (Saturday)– outdoor

November 15 (Sunday) – indoor

November 21 (Saturday) – outdoor

November 29 (Sunday) – indoor

As the weeks go by, we’ll be able to chart more participation and gather additional feedback, and continue to plan and schedule services and gatherings. Multiple additional indoor worship, such as Saturday baptisms, memorial services, weddings, etc., are under way.   

We’ll be in touch about Christmas 2020. Much discussion and planning on the team has begun in earnest. Suffice it to say, in and for these challenging times, we will do our very best to bring the Savior’s comfort to so many people’s hearts. Be ready to invite, share, mourn, remember, celebrate, and worship!

Peace + Hope through Christ Jesus!

Pastor Johann

Prayer about the Election 

O Lord,

As we approach election day, we lift up this country, the many candidates, and the future of this nation under God. We pray for civility, honesty, and unity in a nation that is divided in many ways. We pray for peace and your divine favor. 

Lord of the nations, we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our localities, states, and country.

Let the Gospel compel us to respond as faithful citizens in our communities.

We ask for eyes that are free from blindness so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters, one and equal in dignity, especially those who are victims of abuse, violence, deceit, and poverty.

We ask for ears that will hear the cries of abandoned children and of men and women oppressed because of race, creed, religion, or gender.

We ask for minds and hearts that are open to hearing the voices of leaders who will bring us closer to your Kingdom.

We pray for discernment so that we may elect leaders who live out your love, and keep the ways of your truth.

Help us to follow in the steps of Jesus and his Apostles and guide us to your Kingdom of justice and peace.

We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, a victim of abuse, violence, deceit, abandonment, and injustice, who overcame all and is victorious with you in heaven. Amen.