September 23rd, 2007 – Sunday Services

Pastor Dayle, after the announcements, spoke in both services about what came up at last Thursday’s council meeting. We are $7,000 short of making payroll for the month.

We want and need to step up our pledged giving for this year. At the council meeting short and long term solutions were discussed but the shortfall is upon us. There are two Sundays to give the $7,000 needed. Executive Council will meet this week and the leadership is focused on gearing our expenses to fall within our means as a church and to find the dollar amount of the budget that defines our means.

Pastor Fred gave the sermon today. The topic of the sermon was God Will Provide. During Children’s Time there were many laughs as Pastor Fred showed the kid’s some M&Ms he had and immediately ate. When he shared the M&M’s older kids were scooting up the aisles into the group.

As I listened to Pastor Fred's sermon I thought about the variety of sermons we receive from the Pastors tied to this congregation.

Pastor Fred's sermons take their strength in the great Lutheran tradition. He provides story and humourous anecdote to make his point. There is laughter and reflection after his sermons and he makes a strong connection with all ages in the congregation.

When I listen to Reverend Al's sermons I feel I am comparing notes with a fellow sojourner on the way. Al has a passion for honesty and reveals pieces of ourselves that can be hard to look at.

Pastor Mark impresses me with his courage to go with the spirit and tie his insights with the physical environment. The toy lamb was a recent example and I still remember one of his first sermons on the circle around the altar. He said when our communion rails were up that they are in the semi circle he is used to seeing in Lutheran churches. He let us know this was not by accident but by design. It is actually a circle for the communion of saints and that we do not see the complete circle in the physical world but through faith. This is another layer to we can take to the Lord’s Supper each week. That thought sticks with me during communion.

Finally Pastor Dayle's sermons always seem to accurately reflect the where we are as a congregation and she often preaches about our future. Her emphasis on social justice and God's love is persistent and clear.

All our pastors contribute greatly to Creator's understanding of the good news and challenge us to spread the gospel.

Today, to emphasize all we are doing at Creator there was a Ministry Fair between services. Toni organized it as a tour “Through the Heart of Creator, Adventures in Ministry”. Three guides led groups through the sanctuary, the maintenance area and to various tables to find out what the various Creator ministries do.

On the Italian porch Mary and I worked on the Outreach table and we talked about OFB donations and made people aware of the other outreach efforts going on at Creator. Nancy gave details about Backpack Buddies. Larry let the groups know about Fellowship and Joel went into detail about the Blessings Auction.

There is so much dependence we have on one another to support all the work in the various ministries. There is that same dependence for monetary contributions. There were lines in this week’s Sending Song that we sang both at the Bishop’s Installation and at our Sunday services that resonated all this weekend for me:

The Lord now sends us forth with hands to serve and give, to make of all the earth, a better place to live.

The angels are not sent into our world of pain to do what we were meant to do in Jesus’ name; that falls to you and me and all who are made free.