Ministries
Cross of Grace
March 2010
Snow! Snow! Snow! What an incredible year of winter weather. It certainly has affected everything we have done. However, the Mission continues to be a blessing and to demonstrate that God's word does not come back empty.
We have completed the first month of worship services. It went well. After the initial service, twenty worshippers came the next two weeks and then twenty-four. The last weekend was a joyful surprise. While many communities of faith were closed because of the snow, Cross of Grace hosted seventeen. Praise God!
We are thankful to Our Saviour Lutheran Church for letting us worship with them on Sunday, February 7. Unfortunately the Senior Center had already made plans for that Sunday before we made arrangements and we were able to display our banner during the worship service. I was invited to preach.
The Advisory Group has been outstanding in helping to develop the mission and to assure that we are always ready for worship. The Jonesborough Area Senior Center has been very responsive. We are now storing all of our worship needs at the Senior Center. It is especially helpful not to move the altar and baptismal font back and forth, along with candle sticks, missal stands, and banners. We pay a little extra in rent, but it is well worth it.
Cross of Grace will be observing weekday worship services during Lent. Interestingly enough, because of Senior Center scheduling, our Ash Wednesday service will be on Thursday at 7:00 PM. Then, on the ensuing Thursdays, at the same time, we will have Lenten devotions, discussing the basic understandings of being Lutheran.
One personal note: Conference 6 will be meeting for its Spring Assembly on March 6. St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Maryville, will be the host, beginning at 9:30 AM with fellowship. I have been asked to provide a brief workshop on Making Initial Calls.
Ed Wolff, Mission Pastor
1103 Miller Dr.
Jonesborough, TN 37659
Cell: (423) 833-8932
(423) 833-8587
Where Does OSLC Benevolence Go?
Every year, we, at OSLC, give 15% of our budget (minus the mortgage amount) to the Synod. This is called our Benevolence. We pay this budgeted amount whether we collect the full budget amount of offerings or spend the full amount.
There are always questions about how this money is used. Provided here is a breakdown that shows how the Synod puts the money to use. Note that it is not all used for administration at either the Synod level or the national level.
These numbers are based on percentages provided by the Synod and the ELCA. Please note that other moneys are given out but budget descriptions are not definitive enough for their inclusion.
Contribution to our Synod this year: $52,650
Used for:
-- Pass-through to ELCA: $25,272
-- Begin mission congregations: 2,527
-- Lutheran Social Service organizations within synod: 1,322
-- Other grants to organization including education institutions: 5,265
-- Operating Synod office, staff and commissions: 17,925
Distribution of money ($25,272) passed through to ELCA:
Used for:
-- Global Missions*: $5,115
-- Evangelism outreach: 7,929
-- Church in Society*: 2,046
* Includes some funds for World Hunger
Total given to help others worldwide (46%): $24,237