Mission to Mexico
Our congregation has an ongoing relationship with Casa de Los Ange- les, a day care for children of single mothers in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. We regularly send mission teams to serve at the day care with students like Ximena (left), Fernanda, Vanessa and Diego. People returning home gain a new understanding of the need to reach beyond our borders. Andrew Kjos, Cross of Glory Lutheran Church, Homer Glen, Ill., photographer
Smith, 27, awaiting his fi rst call at a church in Brevard, N.C. He imagines a church where worshipers aren’t expected to dress in business casual, where they can share doubts and questions, and where youth and young adults are visible and given a voice. “Where ministry is shared and passionate,” he added. T ough nearly 60 years separate Smith and Nansen,
these Lutherans both yearn for a place where all ages are honored and ministered to, where they can share their faith, spiritual needs and doubts, and fi nd help during the rough spots in their lives. “Who are you going to call in time of need? Will it be
your college alumni, your neighbors?” Nansen asked. “T is is my church and I’ve given so much to support it, but what is it giving back, spiritually and in the way of moral support? Somebody should be checking up on members.”
Filled with gratitude, worry Readers also expressed gratitude for the work churches can accomplish despite dwindling membership and fi nancial resources. Others worry about the lack of volun- teer support, resources within the church and maintain- ing a sense of community. Sometimes, challenged by lackluster worship atten-
dance, they fi nd themselves overwhelmed by the grace- fi lled, unexpected responses by non-church members, and they wonder if a nontraditional worship time can be incorporated into service opportunities. “Our pastor’s time is increasingly monopolized by
ministering to ill and homebound members, leaving little time for teaching, outreach and continuing education,” said Karen Taylor, an associate in ministry serving St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Lakewood, Calif. “We must ask the Holy Spirit to ‘empower [each of] us for the work of ministry’ (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 579). “But when we tackle big projects together—i.e. vaca-
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tion Bible school, refurbishing the organ, fundraising for Lutheran Social Services—we’re oſt en assisted by our congregation’s friends and relatives, the resident Boy Scouts and lapsed members. Can we include a little wor- ship at these community events? Can we pray together before we snack? Can we abstain from discussing divisive politics? Can we sincerely say ‘thank you,’ even to those workers who arrived late or hardly worked? “ ‘Where two or three are gathered’ might be outside
of our sanctuary or beyond our property line.” Readers wrote that they’re worried about declin-
ing membership and hope they can carry on, despite increasing age and decreasing energy. Doreen Rollag, a member of Palisade Lutheran Church, Valley Springs, S.D., has for 60 years taken her home-baked lemon bars to prospective members—she has been called the “lemon bar evangelist.” “I’m playing the organ and see all the empty pews. I’m
the only organist and pianist, so I hope God continues to give me the health to do this,” wrote Rollag, 89. Christine Marie Pozega wrote glowingly about the
work of staff and volunteers at her church of 33 years, First Evangelical Lutheran in Lorain, Ohio. But she is well aware of the challenges confronting churches and the world today. “Yes, the work of the church has changed in the last 33 years,” she said. “We have fewer members now and we have less money to work with. We seem to have more work to do in the 21st century. God is not done with us yet.” Ann Taylor, a member of Cameron Emmanuel
Lutheran in Kendrick, Idaho, wrote with enthusiasm about the urgent need to keep up with an ever-changing culture so the church can grow eff ective disciples: “If we consider ourselves the church—the arms and legs of the body of Jesus Christ on this planet—our mission is clear: Be that body, joyfully bring others into it, and proclaim the salvation it represents.”
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