It is our joy, privilege and choice during the season of Lent to direct our Wednesday evening offerings to some special project. While we won't be passing the plate on Ash Wednesday, nor during our Holden Vesper Evening Prayer services February 21-March 20, there will be an offering box available at the back during these services.

You may also make special offerings online if you wish. Just designate them as such.

At our congregational meeting last Sunday there was a question about "Why the shortage of younger pastors?" One reason is simply the cost of education. Back in my uncle's day (he went to seminary in the 1940s) the church paid all seminary related costs for future pastors. That is no longer the case. Now pastors, like other graduate level students, face significant education costs both for college and their four years or seminary education.

Of course, students do have help. Many of us support scholarship programs through any of a number of different institutions. With respect to the education of ELCA pastors, our denomination has a program called "The ELCA Fund for Leaders." In the 2023-2024 academic year alone, the ELCA Fund for Leaders will provide nearly $3.1 million in scholarships to 345 ELCA seminary students. That's wonderful!! And, it is possible because of donations from regular church members like you and me.

There are a variety of ways you can give to the ELCA Fund for Leaders if you are so inclined. ​

FIRST,  ALL​ our midweek Lenten service and special offerings will all be forwarded on to this fund. Thank you! 

​SECONDLY​, if you wish to give directly to the ELCA Fund for Leaders, start to make regular offerings to this fund, or include them in your will as a Legacy Gift you can do so. You will find information for doing such things here.

Thank you all for your interest and support of future pastors for Church. May a gift from you add to the many blessing of Lent.

Pr. Dave Brauer-Rieke