What’s the Report

What’s the Report

12 January 2022

Tomorrow you will receive via special email the COS 2021 Congregational Report composed by your faith friends leading the charge in our various ministry areas. Waves of astonishment never fail to roll through my heart as I’m reminded of how much “joy and life” the Holy Spirit incarnates through our congregational efforts. What a blessing to serve together! Remember that we’ll gather Sunday, January 23, at 12.10 PM both live and via Zoom to celebrate God’s activity through us, elect new council officers and representatives, and converse together. To get the ball rolling, let me share my report with you now.

SENIOR PASTOR’S REPORT 2021

Pastor Fritz Wiese

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1.5

Darkness is real. John’s gospel is true. We began and ended the year in the darkness of two different strains of Covid causing culture-wide cancellations. The darkness of Covid disconnected us from each other, dampened the resources equipping Jesus’ ministry, stressed leaders and lay alike, decreased worship attendance, and on and on.

Yet, John’s gospel declares the truth emphasizing that THERE IS A LIGHT which shines in the darkness, offering life and hope, the Light of Christ!

Willingness to adapt is woven into our faith DNA. Mary and Joseph expected lodging in the inn; they adapted and found lodging in the stable. The magi expected to connect with royalty in the capital Jerusalem; they adapted and found the Savior in a barn. Jesus’ parents anticipated returning to their home town; they adapted as emigrating refugees “isolating” in Egypt until the virus of Herod’s hatred abated. So, too, COS adapted and thrived in 2021.

Yes, we held neither of our beloved Moravian Love Feasts in the Sanctuary these last two years. But some raved that last year’s pre-recorded hybrid service of dazzling musical ensembles was their favorite feast yet!
Yes, Covid discouraged giving so our offerings are 8% under projections. But COS gave an eye-popping and heart-swelling $17,500 in the Hoops for Haiti fundraiser (only to be barely edged out by a church double our size) and we’ve prudently navigated expenditures.
Yes, our indoor facility saw less use. But our Palmetto Road property rocked with creative worship events, a sensational Family Oktoberfest, and campfires of song and faith-building.

Yes, in-person worship attendance was down, but 10 new families sought life enrichment through membership at COS in the last quarter of the year and new out-of-state worshipers join us online.

Yes, world news discouraged. But in our Lenten “Fruitful Living” series, we determinedly embraced via Zoom groups and worship how the Holy Spirit gifts the world through our love, joy, peace, patience, generosity, self-control, gentleness, goodness, and faithfulness.

Yes, we don’t know the status of some families despite best efforts to keep all of our precious congregation connected. But over 140 family units offered a faith-giving intent in our Following Jesus to Abundant Waters campaign, the most in recent history!

On and on, we can describe how the darkness dampened areas of ministry. But clearly, at COS, the light of Christ has not been overcome. Jesus’s light is shining for all to see—amid and through us!

Time won’t permit you to re-read my weekly Words from Wiese. Time won’t permit you to re-listen to all the sermons prepared by your pastors. Time won’t permit you to re-view all the pictures capturing the ministry moments of all ages and those from our local, regional, and global partners. How deeply we wish to convey moments of encouragement, celebration, and loving challenge.

This annual report will have to suffice, this snapshot of the massive ministry movie God produced and directed this past year on the COS set. I thank each of YOU for playing your role in this God-story – worshipers, singers, lunch-packers, check-writers, bell-ringers, AV-overseers, ministry-movers, encouragement-launchers, greeters, and ushers. On and on God uses YOU, a wonderful cast in a dynamic script in a story of LIGHT shining in DARKNESS.

As happens in congregations, we bid farewell to faithful key actors that God calls to new roles. On Good Friday, Bill Porter accepted a call to return to North Carolina, “head-hunted” for his amazing work launching our technology ministries. In early fall, Director of Contemporary Ministry Sandra Bohlken stepped down to home school both her boys amid Covid concerns. In late 2021, Communications Coordinator Shelley Casey concluded her dynamic run to have more time for parenting and grandparenting, while Director of Youth & Family Melissa Jacobson finished her second COS stint to start serving Jesus kids with autism. COS is richer for each of their wondrous commitments and serving tenures. We pray Godspeed for each of them. We also give thanks to God in sending us new magi with fresh amazing gifts like Brad Milburn as Director of Technologies for Worship and Presentations and Laura Hawkins as Interim Communications Coordinator. Council President Rick Burnett and VP Sue Byers invest hours upon hours as they faithfully steer the council’s oversight with inspiring good humor, effectiveness, and optimism. Additionally, how grateful we are to the dynamic Pastor Miriam and the rest of our top-notch staff. Words can’t describe their value and contributions.

In addition to the joy of my pastoral duties at COS and as one of our synod’s deans, it was my delight to be asked to co-chair the ELCA Senior Pastors of Larger Congregations Conference. So, in early May, our COS team helped me host an all-day seminar in Puerto Zoomo, entitled “Gracism.” With the dynamic key note speaker, Dr. David Anderson, joining us via stream, pastors and church staff nationwide explored how Lutheran churches can maximize Jesus’s inclusion and how with the “G” of God’s grace, challenges like racism can be transformed into opportunities for love. What a timely message this is and so powerful for our days. How proud I was of our COS team to execute superbly the first of its kind seminar for the ELCA Senior Pastors Conference!

Some reports from church experts predict we now live in a post-Covid 30-40-30 world where 30% of church-going Americans have left congregational connections and aren’t coming back, 30% of Christians are dedicated to building into this new reality, and 40% are up in the air. We’ll see.

As for this COS Annual Report 2021, you can decide for yourself. I hope you join me in giving thanks to God for each story and picture! Luke Skywalker and Yoda had their work cut out for them shining light against the dark forces. In 2021 we experienced real darkness. But there was light at COS! And you helped Jesus shine it!

Following light amid the darkness,
Pastor Fritz Wiese