Pastor and Staff

at Grace Lutheran Church, Woodstock, Illinois

Sharing some good news! By Rev. Ken Gibson
Now I am sure that some of you are noticing that I did not capitalize good news in the title of this article, and that is because the best Good News of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ is not directly what I hope to address in this article. The good news I want to share with you has to do with the good news that is a result of what I believe is our definite ability to grow in that love given and thus shared by all of us to be all that Jesus hopes we can and should be as a community of believers. So here is the good news that we all can rejoice in as said people.

Grace Lutheran is reversing trend lines in some very key areas and that is very good news indeed. These areas include Average weekly attendance, Average weekly giving and overall Growth in members. As we look at these lines let us rejoice in realizing that as we continue to follow Jesus’ mandate that we love one another and truly feel and live this mandate, more and more people will desire to share in our life together and that is what Jesus hopes for all believers.

Let me highlight some of these areas.

Increased Worship Attendance: When we ask ourselves: “What is the one thing we do as a community each week?” We look at worship, for worship is that which all of us do together and it is that which compels us into mission and all else we do in Jesus name. The figures are as follows: In 2008 our average weekly attendance stood at 322 per weekend. In 2009 our average weekly attendance was 427 and increase of 25%. This is a trend that I believe is continuing into 2010. Thanks be to God!

Increased Weekly Giving: In 208 our giving level at Grace was also up and for that good news we also give thanks to God.

Increased Growth in Members: In 2008 Grace membership stood at 1569 in 2009 Grace membership stood at 1608.

All in all there is indeed good news amidst our commitment to the Good News of life in Jesus Christ. I thank all of us for the effort we are mutually putting forth in growing God’s Kingdom on earth and our living out the Gospel message in sharing God’s Grace.
Grace Lutheran Church is blessed in so many ways and as we live out our lives together following Jesus’ mandate to love one another, our blessings most certainly will be felt and shared. Thanks be to God. And let us continue to Share God’s Grace.