Interim Associate Pastor

Posted on Jun 30, 2022 in Uncategorized |

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.

Peace in Christ,
Linda Nicolosi
Congregation Council President
Lord of Life office: 281-367-7016
 
Call Committee Members:  
Deb Spiess – Chair
Pastor David Bauser EMAIL
Rich Kreitz
JJ Minarcik
Charles Payton
Emily Vacha
Zach Wirt
June 2020
 
Dear Lord of Life,
 
It is my pleasure to announce to you that the Congregational Council has voted to extend a contract to Ms. Cassandra Nagle for the position of Interim Associate Pastor. The base period of the contract will run from July 12 through the end of this year with monthly extensions possible afterward.
 
Cassandra is a native of Houston and comes to us as a recent graduate of Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. During her studies she spent a year as a pastoral intern at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Renton, WA. When her internship was complete, she continued working for this community while she finished her coursework. To Lord of Life, she brings a fresh energy, a diverse perspective and a strengthening of our ministries. During this contract period she will also be working through the Ordination process. The Synod office has indicated they will extend to Cassandra approval to fully function as an Associate Pastor at Lord of Life for the referenced period.
 
Please join me in welcoming Cassandra into our Congregation.
Joe Cox
Lord of Life Council President

Spam Emails

Posted on Jun 7, 2022 in Uncategorized |

 

Dear Lord of Life,

We are aware that there are more attempts to scam our members by someone pretending to be me. The email/text message claims to be from “Pastor David” and generally asks you to respond in the same manner because there is a “confidential issue” I need to speak to you about.
 
Unfortunately, because the emails are “spoofs” (emails that pretend to be from someone they are not) there is very little we can do as a staff to prevent this. However, there are a few easy things you can remember to protect yourself:
 
1) If you ever have a question or concern about something you receive from the church, you can call the church office at 281-367-7016 or contact the staff/volunteer member directly. We will never communicate with you about money and refuse to talk to you in person about the same issue.
 
2) DOUBLE-CHECK THE EMAIL ADDRESS and not only the “name” that appears. Spoof emails are often some form of “pastor” + random numbers @gmail or other email providers (yahoo, hotmail, etc.). Whenever possible LoL staff will use our staff emails coming from @lolonline.org. If you see a different domain please contact the church or staff directly to confirm the information.
 
3) All the staff at Lord of Life have access to funds to make purchases in emergency situations. We will never ask you to purchase gift cards or process other funds by simply claiming an “emergency.”
 
Thank you all for your patience and continued faithfulness to God’s ministry at Lord of Life!

Peace,

Pastor David

Uvalde

Posted on May 25, 2022 in Uncategorized |

Dear Lord of Life,
I, for one,  feel broken and empty.
 
I find myself grieving for the community of Uvalde, grieving for the teachers and staff of our local schools, grieving for the students – like my daughter and all our kids at Lord of Life – for whom this has become a reality, and grieving for our communities that are weary from the regularity of these tragedies.
 
I am exhausted.
 
I am at a loss for solutions.
 
I am at a loss for explanations.
 
One thing has become clear to me: we have a spiritual problem. Some may point to guns, or to mental health, or to some other issue. I believe these are merely symptoms of an underlying cause. Our spiritual sickness prevents us from seeing one another as beloved children of God, it prevents us from reaching across divides to search for common ground, it entrenches us in our idolatry of political posturing, and it distracts us with anger at our neighbors rather than a love that seeks healing.
 
As you have heard me say over and over, at Lord of Life we cling to a vision of a world in which “all have life through the love of Christ.” Yesterday at Robb Elementary 19 children and 2 adults had that life stolen away. We hold firmly to the promise of the resurrection and that life does not end with our final breath on this earth.
 
Yet we also believe that life through the love of Christ begins now and so, as we pursue this vision, we must seek healing for our spiritual illness. We must see one another, even those who call us enemies, as children of God. We must treat others with humanity even when they deny our own. We must turn to one another in community when we are told to draw lines and choose sides. We must stretch beyond the boundaries that separate us — those we choose and those placed upon us. I have been in prayer for the community of Uvalde, for the teachers of our community, for students across the country.
 
The reason I pray is not for God to fix some problem on my behalf. I pray so that I may be drawn closer to the heart of God. When this is my aim, then I become the agent of God’s mercy, love, and justice on this earth. In prayer we feel God’s heartbeat, we are held close like a newborn on their mother’s chest, and our life echoes that beat into the world.
 
So, I encourage you to join me in prayer. Prayer for the victims and the perpetrator; prayer for leaders who will work for change; prayer for our friends and our enemies; prayer that our very lives would echo God’s heartbeat and “that all have life through the love of Christ.”
 
God loves each of you and I do too,
Pastor David
 
P.S.
If you or anyone in your life needs a place to process or discuss these incredibly challenging issues, please know that I, and the entire staff at Lord of Life, are here for you.
Call us. 281-367-7016
Do whatever you have to.
But always remember that we do not need to walk these roads alone. We are here for one another.

Covid Update 3-2022

Posted on Mar 9, 2022 in Uncategorized |

We are following the CDC’s updated guidance which currently puts our area at “Medium Risk” for transmission.
 
We encourage all our members to take appropriate precautions for their health and the well-being of the community.
 
As always, if you are feeling unwell (cough, sneeze, fever, etc.) please stay home and take advantage of the live-stream of all our worship opportunities and most of our adult education courses.
 

Pastoral Response to Ukraine and Transgender Youth

Posted on Feb 24, 2022 in Uncategorized |

2/24/22

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This morning we faced two crises developing in our world that a few weeks ago we may well have thought to be unimaginable.

First, we awoke to the news of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. I will not pretend to be an expert in the geo-political situation that is at play in this war and these acts of violence. I will stand as a disciple of Jesus and say that we are called to stand with the poor, the oppressed, and those suffering at the hands of political powers. I encourage us all to be in prayer for the people of Ukraine. Those fleeing their homes. Those hiding in shelters. And those fighting for their country. I will also remind us that as followers of Jesus we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. So, we are also in prayer for President Putin and the Russian leaders that they would turn away from their violent actions and seek a path of peace. As far as it is possible for us, we pray that God would make us instruments of peace in our own lives and for our communities.

Second, in our own community new directives were handed down by Gov. Abbot regarding policies for the Department of Family and Protective Services and children/teens who identify as transgender. Again, I do not claim to understand all the legal implications of the Governor’s directive. But I do understand what a parent would feel if they told that caring for their child who identifies as transgender is now a crime. I do understand how teachers, counselors, social workers, doctors, and others who are considered mandatory reporters would feel if they now have to choose between following a law or providing a safe and loving environment for a child who is already facing innumerable challenges in society.

I don’t know what will come from Gov. Abbot’s directive, but I want to say as clearly as I can that when we at Lord of Life say in our mission statement that “we seek and welcome all” we do not put an asterisk after “all.” All truly means ALL. We believe in a God who loves, embraces, welcomes, and redeems ALL people. And so, as God’s people on the corner of Panther Creek and Glen Loch, we follow God’s lead to do the same. If you identify as transgender, you are welcomed and loved at Lord of Life. If you have a child, grandchild, neighbor, friend, co-worker who identifies as transgender, they are welcomed and loved at Lord of Life.

In times such as these, when so much pulls our focus away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it can be tempting to curl inward. To build up our walls and try to protect ourselves from outside dangers. But our call as followers of Jesus is not to stay hidden in the upper room; it is to be led boldly by the Spirit to proclaim God’s reign of justice, peace, love, and healing for all of creation. May God grant us the strength and wisdom to be instruments of this proclamation. May we endlessly pursue the vision of our community, “That ALL have life through the love of Christ.”

God loves each of you and I do too,

Pastor David

Senior Pastor
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
The Woodlands, TX 
Lord of LIfe Lutheran Church, 3801 S. Panther Creek Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381
Telephone: 281-367-7016

Note From President Joe Cox

Posted on Feb 9, 2022 in Uncategorized |

February 10, 2022


Dear Lord of Life,

I am writing to re-cap and summarize what I heard in our recent round-table and Congregational meetings.  First, it came across clearly to not reduce our current level of ministry at Lord of Life and to move forward with calling an Associate Pastor as soon as regular giving is sufficient. In addition, the majority of the meeting participants believe that starting a capital campaign soon to cover replacement costs for some of the roof and HVAC equipment is a good idea.

You will recall from our discussion that the average monthly giving through December in the current budget year has averaged $87,000  (12 months). Adding a second pastor, together with accounting for expected inflation will require average giving to be $100,000 per month (a 14 percent increase).  We are up for this challenge, but it will take everyone’s participation. To that end our Stewardship team will be reaching out to you to see how we can partner together to meet the challenge over these next weeks and months. We should all view this as an opportunity for Spiritual growth.

Likewise, watch for some scoping and planning meetings for a capital campaign later on in the year.  This is an exciting time to be a member of Lord of Life.  We have the opportunity to set our church on a solid course for next 50 years.

Yours in Christ,
Joe Cox
Council President

Veterans Update

Posted on Jan 6, 2022 in Uncategorized |

Year-End Veteran’s Update
 
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all who supported our burger fundraiser in November in coordination with the veteran’s group at Del Webb Retirement Community. Our friend Joe Welge and his family, plus Thrivent Financial supplied the food and cooking equipment. We were able to raise our most significant amount ever: $7,500, which was presented to the folks at Tri-County Healthcare in support of veteran mental health. Nearly $1,000 was included from Lord of Life.
 
During these difficult times, it was heartwarming to see the turnout for those great cheeseburgers and a great cause.
Tri-County vets are so grateful.
Thanks again for your support and a happy and healthy new year to all!
Jim Meszaros
USMC veterans and member at Lord of Life
 
 

Covid Update

Posted on Dec 29, 2021 in Uncategorized |

12/29/21

Dear Lord of Life,

Your congregation leadership continues to closely monitor information related to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. As has been true since this all began in March of 2020, this continues to be a fluid situation and we hope to respond appropriately as new information becomes available.

 
At this time we are seeing a high positivity rate for COVID testing (above 19% at the time of this writing). This percentage is approaching the rate that we were seeing last fall. The death rate in our area remains low but we are also learning that the Omicron variant is more easily transmissible, though less likely to result in death. We continue to follow the CDC website for up-to-date statistics regarding our local county.

 

We are currently recommending that all people attending worship or other events in the building wear masks while indoors and especially when in close proximity to others. We are also reminding our entire community of the importance of maintaining social distance even when in worship. Ushers will be reminding us to space ourselves out as we are seated for worship. As always, if you are feeling unwell (cough, sneeze, fever, etc.) please stay home and take advantage of the live-stream of all our worship opportunities and most of our adult education courses.

 

We deeply value being able to fellowship, worship, and serve in person. In order for this to continue to be a possibility, we all share a responsibility for protecting one another. We thank you for your faithfulness to our shared life together and our mission to seek and welcome all to connect celebrate and serve in God’s love.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor David Bauser, Senior Pastor

Joe Cox, Congregation Council President

Linda Nicolosi, Congregation Council Vice President
 

Tammy Fincher Retirement

Posted on Aug 18, 2021 in Uncategorized |

We write this letter with a mix of sadness and celebration to inform you all that Tammy Fincher, Coordinator for Worship Support, has announced her retirement effective September 1, 2021.

 
She assures us that she will still be around Lord of Life but will not be serving in the same official ca
pacity. Tammy has been a gift to our staff team and to our entire congregation throughout her five years at Lord of Life. She has been instrumental in helping us cultivate the meaningful worship life that we have all come to appreciate. While we will certainly grieve her departure, we want to celebrate her many years of ministry as she moves into this new stage of life!
 

To that end, we hope you will join us in worship on August 29, 2021 to celebrate Tammy and to bless her as she follows the Holy Spirit into the next steps of her life. We hope these next two weeks will provide all of us with time to thank Tammy and share the ways she has impacted our own faith.


The Personnel Team and the Congregation Council will be working to determine the best path forward for the Coordinator or Worship Support role. We will keep you updated as information is available.
Grace and Peace,

Pastor John VanHaneghan
Pastor David Bauser

Associate Pastor Call Committee

Posted on Mar 18, 2021 in Uncategorized |

Congregational Survey from Associate Pastor Call Committee

The Call Committee

The Church Council of Lord of Life has appointed seven members of the congregation to serve on the Associate Pastor the Call Committee. This is a critical part of the process as Lord of Life moves into the future. The Call Committee will function as the search team to prepare documentation describing Lord of Life to potential candidates and then interviewing and recommending a candidate to Council to bring to the Congregation for a vote. 
 
Please keep the Call Committee and the call process in your prayers through the coming weeks and months. 
 
The Call Committee will provide regular updates on their progress that will be shared in the weekly Happenings e-mail and on this page.

Pastor David Bauser

 
As the Lead Pastor at Lord of Life, Pastor David serves on all Call Committees to that bring additional pastoral presence to the congregation. 

Richard Kreitz – Vice Chair

 
Rich and his family have been attending Lord of Life since 2016. Since that time Rich has worked with the youth group and served as a member of the Adult Faith Formation team. Rich is eager to help Lord of Life fill this important position so that the congregation is prepared to continue reaching out to help all in our community.

JJ Minarcik – Secretary

 
JJ and her husband joined Lord of Life in 2012 after just a few months of worship with the community. Now, you’ll find JJ playing in the Bells of Life handbell choir on Sunday mornings. Previously, JJ has served multiple terms as the Congregation Council Recording Secretary, as well as being a confirmation mentor and supporting a variety of outreach projects. She is confident that finding the right person for this role will help Lord of Life explore the next stage of our life together, living into our vision “that all have life through the love of Christ.”

Charles Payton

 
Charles has been involved in church leadership throughout his life. He has been on congregation councils both at Lord of Life and in previous congregations including a stint as council president at a former church. You’ll find Charles often singing with the choir at the 8:30 service. He and his wife have been a part of Lord of Life since 2002.

Deb Spiess – Chair

 
The longest term member of the Call Committee, Deb and her family have been members at Lord of Life since 1982. In the 40 years she has been at Lord of Life she has been connected to just about every area of ministry including previous councils and call committees, teaching Sunday School, serving as a confirmation mentor and more. Deb looks forward to working with the Call Committee to find the person God is leading into this important position.

Emily Vacha

 
Emily has grown up at Lord of Life and brings a unique perspective of someone who has been around the church for a long time and looks forward to being connected to the church for many years to come. Emily has been connected to the confirmation program and high school youth group, attending the mission trip to Wyoming in 2022. Outside of Lord of Life, she gives of her time to a number of organizations including NCL, the Montgomery Country Foodbank, and Mercy House. 

Zach Wirt

 
Zach has been at Lord of Life since 2014. He has served on previous congregation councils and is currently a non-council representative to the Personnel Committee. Zach brings a wealth of knowledge in best practices for hiring and building successful staff teams. 

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