Results to date …

As part of our Stewardship communications late in 2011, we highlighted the good and not-so-good news regarding giving. The good news in 2011 is giving exceeded expenses. The not-so-good news is that 2011 giving did not meet the full ministry needs of the congregation.

Below are results to date of our Saddlebag Stewardship Drive. Again, there’s a mix of good news and not-so-good news.

Not-so-good news: Unfortunately, we still have one Saddlebag that has NOT been returned, so our Stewardship results are not complete. From the Saddlebags returned, 51 families have made pledges totaling $126,755. This amount leaves us well short of our 2012 budget need.

Good news: Many families answered the call to increase giving. In 2010, from the 77 families that contributed $500 or more, the average annual gift was $1,965. From the 51 pledges received to date, the average pledge is $2,485 – a $500+ increase! We continue to have 75-80 active families in our congregation. If we are able to average nearly $2,500 in annual giving from all active families, our budget goal becomes attainable!

A few final notes:
To all those families that completed pledges and participated in the Saddlebag Relay – thank you! A special thanks to all families that pledged to increase their financial support to Norway Grove remember, it’s imperative we increasing giving! Please continue to consider additional gifts to the congregation to support our budget needs and to address ongoing facility needs.

You may have heard that NGMLC is going digital with our member directory. The directory will reside on the church website, but will require a password to get in if you are accessing it from the website. Once it is completed, a direct link will be emailed to all families so that you may add it as a favorite to your internet browser, so you don’t have to enter a password when you  access it directly.A secure link has been emailed to most families, where you can enter your family information as you want it published, including uploading your own photo.  DO NOT share this link with anyone else.  Laura McGoveran (and I) will have a list of all the family links in case you lose yours; the idea is that you can continue to access this link anytime you have changes you would like to make (new phone number, address, etc.).At the bottom of your publishable information, there is a spot for a name, phone and email.  This is for our information only; it will not be shared or published. So if for some reason you do not want your email address accessible to other members, you do not have to list it in the publishable section, but you do need to list it here so we can contact you if there are issues.

Please email or call me if you have any questions, did not receive a direct link via email, or are experiencing trouble with the link sent to you.

Wendy Kirkland

by N. Graham StandishFORMING A CHURCH OF SPIRITUAL PURPOSE, pRESENCE AND POWER”        Chapter 7 - Leading the Blessed Church  Most good leaders have a variety of qualities that make them effective, but the best - especially the best spiritual leaders - appear to share seven specific qualities. Such a leader has become trusting, encouraging, compassionate, visionary, able to articulate that vision, sacrificially selfless, and committed to outreach. Leaders who nurture these qualities usually  accomplish a great deal. They enable people to feel safe amid turmoil, crisis, transformation and change. They let people know that they are valued and supported, despite mistakes and failure. They help people to glimpse possibilities beyond what they had been able to grasp on their own. They give people a sense of purpose and meaning. They lead people to become selfless and sacrificing. They lead people to make reach out to others the main goal of their lives.Quotes from Chapter 7:1. The most fundamental leadership skill is the ability to trust and to build trust.  Leaders who trust others create the conditions for positive things to happen.  A leader who comes to a church, honors what is already in place, praises the members and leaders of the church, generally seems to embrace the church and its members will sow seeds of trust that help the church to grow. 2. Good leaders know how to get the best out of people by continually encouraging them to take steps of faith in their service to God in the church and elsewhere.  An encouraging leader helps people to believe in themselves, and instills in them a sense of        confidence—-for confidence literally means to have faith with another person.3. Compassionate leaders recognize that people don’t fail on purpose.  They fail for a variety of reasons, including not knowing how to do something, trying to do to much, losing sight of the goal, or lacking confidence.  Good leaders have a compassion and let people know it is OK to make mistakes or fail, that a new opportunity will eventually present itself, and that the person is still valued and important.4. Great leaders are those who not only have a vision, but also can articulate that vision simply and clearly. The more often leaders articulate a vision, especially one grounded in God as Purpose, the more the church will become a living reflection of that vision and of God’s purpose.5. The sacrifice of leaders becomes the ground that allows other leaders and the church to become increasingly focused on outreach to others through ministry and mission.  Sacrifice for God in our leadership leads others to experience God’s purpose, presence and power in their lives.  It leads them to serve God the Creator, Christ and the Holy Spirit.6. The final goal of all spiritual leadership, even if it takes years to accomplish, is to lead others to reach out to others in love,     compassion, and God’s grace.  They lead people to acts of love in response to God’s call and presence in their lives. Good leaders lead people slowly, gently, patiently, and lovingly toward outreach.  Good spiritual leaders understand that true ministry and   mission are grounded in faith—a faith that genuinely seeks out God’s purpose, embodies God’s presence, and acts passionately with God’s power. When we lead people to faith, mission emerges on its own.Next month we will cover the final chapter of the book “Leading the Church to Blessedness.” There are no quick, sound-bit ways to grow spiritually. Leaders who want to lead their churches to blessedness must be aware that leading their congregations to spiritual depth means calling people to a life of commitment–a commitment to prayer, faith, love and God—and to the transformation that comes with this kind of commitment.

God’s Peace be with all of you … Veronica Eicher

This month’s Money Leadership Devotion is the final reflection in a series provided for you over the past two and a half years. Our hope is that your path has been guided as You moved toward money leadership. For an ongoing prayer life, the following resources are suggested:

© Prayer Ventures at www.elca.org

© Devotional Guide for ELCA Congregation Councils and Committees at www.elca.org/communication/devotional© Jesus’ Teachings About Money by Loyal Golv (Kirk House Publishers; Minneapolis, MN;  Copyright 2007; www.kirkhouse.com)© Grounded in Prayer—A Small Group Training Guide for Congregational Prayer by Brent W. Dahlseng (Augsburg Fortress; Minneapolis, MN; Copyright 2003; www.augsburg.fortress.org)Witnessing the faith in your heart  -  Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.   - Matthew 5:16There is a story of a little boy who met with his doctor, “Tomorrow morning at ten o’clock,” the surgeon said to the ten-year-old boy, “I’m going to open your heart and see what’s inside.” The doctor was not prepared for the boy’s response, “I know what you’ll find, Doctor. You’ll find Jesus in my heart.”“No, son,” the surgeon continued, “I am going to cut open your chest and see what’s inside and see if it can be fixed.” “That’s fine, Doctor,” the boy replied, “but whatever else you find in there, you’ll also find Jesus in my heart. My pastor says Jesus is in my heart. My Sunday school teacher says Jesus is in my heart. The songs we sing at church say Jesus is in my heart.”The surgeon looked at the boy’s parents and then back to the boy, “No, son, I will tell you what I will find. I will find collapsed veins or arteries, muscle damage and deteriorated tissue. Then I will see if I can fix it so that you can live longer.” “That’s fine, Doctor,” the boy concluded, “but you will also find Jesus in my heart.”After surgery the surgeon had a difficult walk as he dictated his notes, “…damaged pulmonary aorta, muscle damage and tissue deterioration beyond repair. Heart transplant—not feasible. Recommended treatment—pain killers and bed rest. Prognosis—death within twelve months.”When the surgeon reached his office, warm tears streamed down his cheeks as he angrily looked to the sky and shouted, “Why didn’t you answer my prayers? I prayed so hard for this surgery to be successful. Why wasn’t it?” It was as though a voice came from above and said softly, “The lamb, my child, is not only part of your flock but also part of mine. He will be joining my flock sooner than most people. Someday his mom and dad will join him and all of them will have joy and peace they have never known on earth, because they are all followers of my Son, Jesus.”The surgeon was still angry and shouted again, “But you created that defective heart! You knew that he would not live to see his eleventh birthday. Why?” He shook his fists in the air. The soft voice returned, my plan is measured, not by length of years, but by when a person completes his stewardship. You see, the boy’s life is complete because his stewardship was to bring another lamb back into my flock.”It took the surgeon some time to regain his composure. Then he went to the boy’s room. His parents were seated and the boy was sleeping. The doctor touched the boy on the shoulder, and the boy opened his eyes and asked the doctor in a measured voice, “Did…you…open…my…heart?” “Yes…son…I did.” “What…did…you…fin…there…?” “Son, I found Jesus there.”There are probably people who have touched your heart. Where have you found Jesus in that relationship? If the surgeon had to look inside your heart, would Jesus be there?

Prayer: Keep us, Lord, from being silent about our faith. Help us to open our hearts to others that we might be witnesses to you. Make us trust in you enough to speak out for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Money Leadership devotions are developed by the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission Unit of the ELCA.

Keeping perspective in all circumstances  “…for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.”  - Philippians 4:11-12

Paul writes about living in the best of circumstances and in the worst of circumstances. When have you done this in your life? Which circumstances were easier to deal with?

Eddie Ogan tells this story:  Dad died five years ago, when I was 14. My sister Darlene was 16 and my other sister Ocie was 9. We knew what it was like to do without, but we never thought of ourselves as poor. We loved each other. We all pitched in. We were happy.One Sunday our pastor announced, “For the next thirty days I invite you to give a special gift of money for a poor family. Think of every way you can save money, or sacrifice something, or earn some extra money. In thirty days you will make the poor family happy. Mom and we three kids were so excited. Mom said we could buy a 50 lb. bag of potatoes and eat them for thirty days. Darlene said she could clean houses for people. I said I would do some yard work for our neighbors. Ocie said she would pick up pop bottles and turn them in for money. We also bought some cotton loops to make big potholders to sell.That was the happiest month I can remember. Every so often we’d count the coins and see how much we had. We thought about the poor family and how surprised they’d be. At the end of the thirty days, Ocie and I took all the coins to the bank and exchanged them for three crisp $20 bills and one $10  dollar bill. We were so excited. We had never had that much money before.The next day, Sunday, we were so happy. We looked forward to the special offering. Ocie put in a $20 bill. I put in $20 and Darlene put in $20. Mom put in the $10 bill. We celebrated all the way home. We felt so good. When we sat down to eat, we prayed, “God bless the poor family. Thank you for blessing us to be able to give something.”That afternoon, our pastor came to visit us. Mom went to the door and they talked for a minute. Then Mom came and sat down at the kitchen table. She didn’t say a word. “What did the pastor say?” we asked. Mom didn’t answer. She just lifted up an envelope and turned it over. A lot of money fell out. We couldn’t believe it. We were the poor family. Hadn’t the pastor said so? We counted the money. There were three crisp $20 bills, a $10 bill and seventeen $1. That was the gift from the whole congregation. I didn’t like being poor. It was my saddest week since Dad died. That week we went to school as usual, but none of us said much to anyone. On Saturday night, Mom said, “I don’t feel like going to church tomorrow, but we are going. Will you please think of some ideas of what to do with the money?” We said nothing.That Sunday we had a missionary visit our congregation. He told us how his people built their own churches. They often built the walls and then ran out of money to build the roof. The missionary said, “A roof costs more than $100.00 and that is a lot of money for us.” At that moment, Darlene, Ocie, Mom and I all looked at each other and smiled. We put the money into the mission offering. After they counted the money, our pastor announced, “The special offering was $110.00!” The missionary was so excited and said, “We never expected such a large gift from a small congregation. You must have a rich family in your church.” Our family looked at each other, knowing that we had given $87 of the $ 110. We realized that we must be “the rich family in church!” Hadn’t the missionary said so? From that day on, I never again thought of myself as poor.”Reflecting on your childhood, did you think of your family as rich, poor, or in the middle? How did this perception influence your relationship peers? How about your relationship with God?Prayer: Lord God, you have given me so much. There may be times of plenty and times of scarcity, but help me to see that you are always with me. And please give me one thing more - a joyful heart. Amen.

Money Leadership devotions are developed by the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission Unit of the ELCA.

If any of you were around the state capitol early this year I am sure that the Question WHO’S HOUSE frequently proceeded a thundering reply of “OUR HOUSE”, the house of the people of Wisconsin. Should the question be asked here at Norway Grove what would be the reply? I would guess the most common answer would be GODS HOUSE.From this I began to consider the question and ask just where is GODS HOUSE? When Christ taught, just where did he teach? When early Christians met, where did they meet? When early Lutherans met where did they meet? When we meet for Bible study, is it always in a church? Where is GOD, and just where is His house?  I believe Jesus answered that by saying “Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them”. 

Because we care for this place that holds us together in worship and fellowship, we are reminded that God is outside these walls … comforting the homeless, sitting with the sick and lost ones… Our stewardship goes with God, where ever there is need. Our church budget is divided between the needs of our congregation and the Church beyond. The ELCA has sent $25,000 to aid the tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri. Part of that is from us here at Norway Grove. Stewardship is more than our building, yet we need this very building to gather our ideas, prayers and hopes, so that together we can do more than we can do alone. The offering you give goes where God goes.

Death  If recognizing and sharing God’s blessings is the apex, then death is certainly a steep fall to a very low step. Have you met people who have made this fall? Perhaps it was someone who took God’s abundance for granted or simply took the wrong path and went beyond gluttony.Further reflection on Luke 16:19-31 takes us from gluttony to death. As Jesus tells it, not only does the glutton, the rich man, receive punishment, but also his desire to warn his brothers is declined—”They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” In these verses Jesus is telling us how God has already revealed to us how to live. One can struggle to live in righteousness and pursue justice for the poor, or you can be a glutton and meet the same fate as the rich man. If you do not hear God’s Word, “neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”These words may seem harsh, yet this example is intended to be a warning. How are you at listening to warnings? Especially ones that come from God? This is where the struggle occurs. The promise of eternal life is made possible through Jesus Christ. It is up to each person to open their heart and mind to God’s Word and will. How have you done so in the last month?Prayer: O God of abundance, save me from death. Let me not lose this struggle against selfishness, neediness, greed, and gluttony. Keep me from seeking false securities in this world. Guide me to new understandings of trust and responsibility based on a loving relationship with you. Amen.

Money Leadership devotions are developed by the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission Unit of the ELCA.

 South-Central Synod of Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

                                       God’s work. Our hands.

The annual synod assembly was held May 14-15 at the Madison Marriott West Convention Center in Middleton. Here are some fast facts:  

Theme - “Telling a Better Story”

Keynote Speaker Dr. David Lose, Assistant Professor of Homiletics at Luther Seminary and author. Lose asked the assembly if we have learned how to see God in our everyday lives and suggested that the key to seeing God is to live into the biblical story and reconsider some of our assumptions that cause us to separate our lives in and out of the church.  As one attendee shared, “Thank you for the inspiration, and for engaging my heart and imagination!” Bishop Burnside: “What If?” Bishop Burnside asked the question, “What if…?” What if we had what-ever resources are necessary to launch or expand or revitalize; to do something entirely new in Jesus’ name in this synod? What would … What could … What should . . . it be?  “What if . . .?”  What if we gathered up and then released the imaginative and abundant gifts of the Holy Spirit to be a witness and to do ministry in new ways? What might we do that we are not currently doing? What could happen that is not happening now? Share your thoughts with him via email at bruceb@scsw-elca.org.  “The Bishop’s Keynote on connecting to Jesus stirred me up!”

Total Attendance: 423

Photos of the Assembly are available at http://bit.ly/AssemblyPhotos2011Synod Assembly 2012  May 5-6, 2012  at Kalahari Resort and Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI For more information on the assembly, visit the synod website at www.scsw-elca.orgRESOLUTIONS #1- A Memorial & Resolution on Energy Stewardship - passed #2 - The Church to Speak & Act to Prevent Bullying, Harassment & Related Violence - passed #3 - Macedonian Spiritual Discipline - passed #4-Resolution of Thanksgiving for Mission Support-passed #5-Protection of Collective Bargaining - passed #6-Calling the Church to Implement the Message on Disabilities - passedSynod CouncilSynod Treasurer - Bruce Hutler Synod Council Clergy - Rev. Erik JelinekSynod Council Lay Female - Hope Seeger Synod Council Lay Male - Ryun BibroSynod Council Lay Male - Del Norland Synod Council Youth - Lily Zeich

Offering

Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church in India ELCA World Hunger $9,086.13 as of 5/16/11. Of that, $855 was online.Newborn and AIDS/Hospice Kits 2,072 were sent to Global Health Ministries so that we might be helping hands that heal.

Macedonia Project The South-Central Synod of Wisconsin received a $15,000 ELCA grant to connect God’s young adults more deeply to Christ: growing as disciples, increasing their personal generosity and their congregation’s mission support. Based on 2 Corinthians 8, we will be encouraged and equipped to be more like the Macedonian Church which exhibited faithful generosity beyond its means. Initiatives will include: Education Events, Leadership Coaching and Equipping, Telling the Story (at Dane County Farmers’ Market and other), Community Building (including social networking), Electronic Giving, Mission Funding.  All congregations in the synod are welcome to participate.

From the April 10^th, 2011, CONGREGATIONAL MEETING: In the last few months a lot of effort has gone into assessing the building and maintenance needs of Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church. A big thank-you to Jon Meyer, Bud Linde and Tom Nelson for all their help. My report covers three main issues. Short and long term maintenance/repair issues and the need to update our church inventory for insurance purposes. SHORT TERM ISSUES WITH ESTIMATED COSTS1. Flat roof above Cry Room/The Living Room is leading, water damage to ceiling tiles. $3002. Install GFI circuits in Cry Room/The Living Room. Materials and labor will be donated.3. Late last winter, ice fell from the roof and swept the electric meter off its base. Next to the meter are our four air-conditioning units and we have been lucky no ice has damaged these. Nee to build a lean-to to cover all these units. $5004. Repair dry wall next to the first window in the sanctuary, south side of church. $1755. Widen sidewalk by three feet from lower parking lot to church basement to allow vehicles to back up for unloading. There is an emergency exit door as you walk down to the basement that does not have an outside stoop, only small stones. The drop is way below the level required by code. We will install a 3X3 foot cement slab. $600 – cost of cement only.On the south side of the church, to the right of the basement entrance, there are two corners of the building that need brick replacement and tuck point work done.  This is caused again by ice damage.  An outside contractor estimated repair costs at $3000.Items 1 through 5 are material costs only and we will rely on volunteer labor to complete these projects.  Before we start items 1,3 and 6, we will be taking a real close look at the condition of the gutters and eave troughs for this may be the real root of some of our problems.

LONG TERM ISSUES

Our church has six furnaces that were installed in 1994, which allow us to have one heating. One furnace is not working and a second is not functioning properly. Our goal is to get these looked at to make it through another year or so. We do not have estimates yet. In the near future, we will be faced with replacement costs. Our church was built 60 years ago in 1951. We have 17 windows in the older section that various members over the years have scraped, painted, caulked etc. All the sills are rotten, paint no longer sticks to the wood and a lot of the caulk is falling out. Our least expensive replacement cost which includes installation is approximately $3000 per window. Total $51,000.  We can get by a year or two but these window definitely need to be replaced.The rough condition of the driveway has been an issue with our church for many years. We have not addressed repair or replacement costs at this time. We have determined that our lower parking lot is not church property and belongs to the Cemetery Association.

CHURCH INVENTORY

Currently the church building is insured for $1.5 million. The contents are insured for $285,000. With the addition of our piano, tone chimes, sound system, etc. our concern is that the $285,000 figure is not enough. We thank Don Staniforth for taking the lead on this project. The contents of the church will be digitally documented and saved.The church council has approved the property committee to start on all short term projects.  The council needs congregational approval for over $5000.  We currently need a minimum of $4700 to cover the majority of our anticipated costs, but we do not have this amount in the church budget to even begin our needed repairs.

WE NEED YOUR HELP. We have established a church maintenance fund and we ask for you to find it within your hearts to contribute to this fund so we may begin this summer to fix these short term needs. Mark your donations ‘maintenance fund’ on your envelope or check. Thank you for your consideration and may God bless Norway Grove Memorial!

Respectfully submitted, Gary Homuth, Property Committee Chair

Growing Up

“Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith towards God …”  Hebrews 6:1Some people give God the same “dollar a week” in the Sunday offering that they gave years ago. Why is that? How does that happen? Perhaps you have heard about the boy who fell out of bed. His mother asked, “What happened, son?” He answered, “I don’t know. I guess I stayed too close to where I got in.”It’s easy to treat our faith in the same way, to stay where we got in and never move. We often see people whose faith seems not to have changed much over the years. We know many who exhibit little or no desire to grow in their faith. Sometimes we may not be motivated to grow in our own faith.Growth is required to live. Look at nature. We must remember Jesus is with us as we grow. For instance, Paul’s letter to young Timothy speaks of the new believer in Christ as being like a baby who needs milk. Later, a more substantial feeding in God’s Word is needed in order to mature—being a disciple calls for maturity.For many disciples leadership in financial matters occurs after substantial growth and maturity. It includes learning to manage one’s money wisely, as well as growing in giving away one’s money and one’s self. However, spiritual maturity is not the same as giving away a lot of money. Money leadership is not about how much money one gives. What is relevant to money leadership is how each of us grows in our giving from year to year.Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there you heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). If you grow in giving, it seems you will grow in faith. Of course, this is not without struggle. Earlier devotions in this series have addressed some of these struggles. Whatever the level of giving, everyone can count on some distractions and temptations. But God tells us the struggle is worth it. It leads to a blessing, not because of something you did, but because of what God does in you.Pick a time from your past, any time. How does your prayer life now compare with your prayer life then? How about your giving? Have both the amount and the joy increased? What about Bible study? Are you learning to learn? Are you enjoying worship more every year? Remember, don’t stay too close to where you got in. It’s risky resting on the edge.Most everyone is familiar with the song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” How does this song comfort you to the point where you are willing to step away from the edge and accept the challenge to grow in faith? Where have you found joy in doing so?Prayer: Lord God, create in me the clean heart for money leadership, and renew a right spirit of generosity within me. Lead me in the paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. Help me to carry everything to God in prayer. Connect my heart with the faith to give that leads to the faith to live. Amen.

Money Leadership devotions are developed by the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission Unit of the ELCA.