Annual Report
Pastor’s Annual Report, A.D. 2017 A
Thanksgiving and Growth
The annual report is a time to look back upon what God has
been doing in, with, and through our congregation in the preceding calendar
year. And frankly, He’s been busy.
2016 was very generous to St Peter’s. We’ve had several new
families join our congregation in recent months: some bring with them decades
of active experience serving and worshipping in the Church; others have come
surrounded by the laughter and eagerness of their children. All continue to
offer their time and their talents, both enriching and being enriched by our
life together here at St Peter’s. We look forward to welcoming them formally at
our upcoming New Members Sunday.
2016 was also quite gentle. Believe it or not, we’ve gone more
than two years without burying a member of St Peter’s. During that time we’ve
been honored to hold funeral services for friends and family of our
congregation, of course, as well as for those in our greater community.
Funerals provide us with a time to mourn together, and to rejoice together in
the sure hope that only Jesus brings. But it is a great mercy to go so long
between farewells.
St Peter’s is growing in other ways. We’ve got new baptisms
and new weddings on the calendar for 2017. Our Youth Group is going
gangbusters, and Confirmation continues to expand in leaps and bounds! When I
first arrived in 2008, Confirmation consisted of three students; this year’s
class boasts no less than 23 youth, who along with their families and adult
mentors have led to this being our best year yet. I thank God for all the
faithful youth and adults—not only in Confirmation but also in our Sunday
School programs and Adult Education forums—who give generously of their time
and talents that we may live out our faith together in meaningful and lively
ways.
And then there’s worship. We gather every Sunday to hear the
Word of God and to be forgiven and raised to new life in the Sacraments.
Ushers, lectors, musicians, acolytes, greeters, providers of hospitality, and
every member worshipping in the pews together greet the Risen Christ, who
descends from Heaven at every divine service to meet us in His promised Body
and Blood. And then we are sent out—forgiven, taught, fed, and blessed—to
continue Jesus’ work in our world. This steady, holy rhythm of Christian life
is enhanced by midweek Vespers and Holy Week services, which continue to grow
in attendance. Worship also helps us to celebrate throughout the year at
special memorials and festivals, such as our upcoming Candlemas service.
We live out the blessings Christ gives to us through our
many committees and individual acts of generosity. The people of St Peter’s
continue to amaze me with their fundraisers, food drives, charitable giving,
and compassion towards all those who come to us in need. (Not to mention the
everyday acts of upkeep, maintenance, and repair that keep our parish building
warm and clean and whole for all to enjoy! We wouldn’t get very far in our work
together without the steadfast and often anonymous acts of service that keep St
Peter’s running smoothly.) God bless you for that. Truly it reminds us all,
including your pastor, that Christ is still very much alive and at work in our
midst.
All these aspects of our life together—outreach, education,
worship, good works and humble service—outstrip all expectations for a
medium-sized church in a rural Minnesotan small town. We see how wise and true
our Savior was in comparing the Kingdom of God to a tiny sprouting seed or a
pinch of active yeast. It doesn’t take much, just a little faith poured out
upon repentant sinners. And look how we flourish together!
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