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Congregational Meeting Update

- We approved a budget for fiscal year 2023-24 of $1,448,134 including the following items:
- Anticipated increases in utility costs;
- Moving the 11:00 am worship musicians from restricted spending to the budget;
- Funding for a new full-time staff position, the Director of Faith Formation, who will lead adult faith formation ministries and supervise our existing faith formation staff.
- We approved a motion to explore what it would mean for Lord of Life to become a Reconciling in Christ congregation including the following steps:
- The council will appoint a “Core Team” to lead the process;
- The process will include a variety of conversations and opportunities for input;
- Finally, the team will bring a recommendation back to the congregation.
Several updates about future and ongoing plans were also shared with the congregation.
- Director of Outreach Jenny McKenna introduced us to Lydia, the mom of one of the Ukrainian refugee families that we have been helping to resettle in the United States. Lydia’s moving story allowed us to see our values in action.
- Pastor David shared how our mission, vision, and values drive our ministry together, along with a staffing model that will allow our ministries to grow and operate more efficiently.
- Tim Donoughue from the Development Campaign Strategic Leadership Team shared that the first two HVAC units are scheduled to be replaced within the next few weeks.
- Ed Spaulding, one of our Synod Assembly delegates, thanked the congregation profusely for the way in which you all showed up to volunteer and welcome in over 250 people from across our region of the ELCA for their annual assembly.
Development Campaign Update

Date |
Prayer Topic |
1-Apr |
For members of Lord of Life who have died |
2-Apr |
For members who are at Lord of Life now |
3-Apr |
For members who haven’t yet walked in our doors |
4-Apr |
For children of God who walk past our building and never walk inside |
5-Apr |
For children of God who will never know we exist |
6-Apr |
For children of God who have been hurt by the Church |
7-Apr |
For children of God who have been told they can’t be loved by God |
8-Apr |
For the students of Kids of the Kingdom |
9-Apr |
For the parents and families of Kids of the Kingdom |
10-Apr |
For the staff of Kids of the Kingdom |
11-Apr |
For space that Kids of the Kingdom uses |
12-Apr |
For the Fellowship Hall |
13-Apr |
For the individuals who will use the Fellowship Hall |
14-Apr |
For the Sanctuary |
15-Apr |
For people who experience God in our Sanctuary |
16-Apr |
For people who haven’t been able to experience God in our Sanctuary |
17-Apr |
For our Lord of Life building in total |
18-Apr |
For our congregation council |
19-Apr |
For the staff of Lord of Life |
20-Apr |
For the pastors of Lord of Life |
21-Apr |
For this Leadership Team |
22-Apr |
For the individuals who will support this Development Campaign |
23-Apr |
For the individuals who will refuse to support our work |
24-Apr |
For the contractors, designers, and laborers who will help complete the work |
25-Apr |
For the values that guide our congregation (Welcoming All, Finding Connection, Experiencing Grace, Serving God’s World, and Celebrating Life) |
26-Apr |
For the mission of our congregation (We seek and welcome all to connect, celebrate, and serve in God’s love) |
27-Apr |
For the vision of our congregation (That all have life through the love of Christ) |
28-Apr |
For Hannah Mello, our consultant who will be leading our retreat |
29-Apr |
For the retreat and our time together |
Interim Director of Children’s Faith Formation
We are excited to announce that Nicole Forester has been hired as Interim Director of Children’s Faith Formation at Lord of Life. Nicole comes to this position as a long time member of the Children’s Faith Committee and several years of helping to organize Vacation Bible School and other critical ministry areas. She will be helping ensure that we continue to offer high quality opportunities for the youngest in our community to grow in their faith during this time of transition.
Over the next several months the Personnel Team, along with representatives from Children’s Faith, will be conducting a search to fill the permanent role. Nicole, while serving as an interim, would be eligible for this position should she be interested in putting her name forward. When the time comes, Personnel will be advertising the position with in and beyond the congregation to find the right candidate. We thank you for your continued prayers and support of Children’s Faith during this time of transition.
Proposed Campaign
January 9, 2023
Dear Lord of Life Members,
We are writing to you today to inform you about a proposal coming to you for approval at the upcoming congregational meeting on Sunday, January 29, 2023, and to invite you to informational forums on Sundays January 15 and 22.
Some Context:
You will recall, at our last meeting in May 2022, the Council commissioned a Capital Campaign Study Team. The purpose of this Team was to determine if a capital campaign would be appropriate, and, if so, to define a scope for the potential campaign. The Study Team met weekly for the last 8 months and proposed to the Council a campaign scope, timeline, and fundraising goal. At its December meeting, the Council unanimously approved the proposal. The Study Team is now preparing to bring the proposal to the congregation for approval.
A Summary:
At the direction of the Council, the Study Team’s work began by evaluating existing facility needs and by soliciting feedback from staff and committees regarding building usability. Possible funding solutions were discussed and evaluated by the Team, and they determined that a campaign would be the most appropriate path forward. Then, with Council approval, the Team engaged the help of outside professionals to further define the scope of the campaign and develop cost estimates for several projects. In that process, the Team discerned that the projects were integral to our present and future definition and expression of our congregation’s affirmed Mission and Vision.
We owe this team our gratitude. They have worked diligently and faithfully to vision for the future of our congregation. Now, with Council’s full approval, the Team is proposing a development campaign to fund projects in three areas:
- Brand Identity Refresh (including website and communications plan),
- Facility Improvements, and
- Facility Maintenance.
You’re Invited!
We are excited to share the work of the Study Team with you and to answer your questions about their proposal.
We invite you to join us for one of two forums hosted by the Council and Study Team on Sundays January 15 and 22 at 9:45 am. Then, please plan to join us for the congregational meeting on Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 12:30 pm, as we make a decision on this proposal and other matters that will be identified in the meeting agenda that will be sent out ahead of the meeting.
Thank you for your partnership and faithful support of God’s ministry at Lord of Life. May we continue to boldly pursue our Mission “to seek and welcome all to connect, celebrate, and serve in God’s love.”
Peace in Christ,
Joe Cox
The Council’s Campaign Study Team Members are:
Nick Brown – Chair
David Bauser – Lead Pastor
Craig Bourgeois – Finance Liaison
David Harris – Property Liaison
Rick Janacek – Staff Liaison
Bruce Mestemacher – Member at Large
Ed Spaulding – Council Liaison
Carrie Kessler


Interim Associate Pastor
February 27, 2023
Dear Lord of Life,
I am pleased to announce the Associate Pastor Call Committee has completed its work and has recommended Cassandra Nagle for the position of Associate Pastor at Lord of Life. At its meeting on February 21, the Congregation Council unanimously approved their recommendation, and we now bring Cassandra to the congregation for approval.
This letter serves to inform you of an officially called congregational meeting to take place at 12:15 pm on March 12, 2023. The only agenda item for this meeting will be the Associate Pastor Call. Any voting member of the congregation is welcome to attend. This meeting will only take place in person, and we are not able to accept absentee voting.
Please join me in thanking the Call Committee for their dedicated work over the last 7 months. If you have questions about the meeting or about the call process, please feel free to contact Pastor David, any of the Call Committee members, or myself, and we will be glad to help. We hope you will make a point to join us for this exciting opportunity in the life of our congregation.
