The seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas are times in which we are surrounded with reminders of God's physical and spiritual blessings. Just last month we gathered with families and friends to express special thanks for those blessings. During this Advent and Christmas season we look forward to similar gatherings at home and at church to thank God for the gift of his Son.

Congregation Mission Offerings

Our congregations have been expressing their thanks to God through their gifts of love and faith in support of the mission of the synod to proclaim the gospel to more and more people. Congregation Mission Offerings for November were 26% higher than November offerings the previous year. Even in a time when the economic climate is still filled with uncertainty, when many of our members are experiencing unemployment, and when congregations are facing their own financial struggles, Congregation Mission Offerings received through November are at 99% of year-to-date commitments made last January. We thank God for moving his people to express their thanks to him in this way. We thank congregational leaders for keeping the synod's work before our people. And we thank you for your faithful support of our mission to proclaim God's grace in Jesus.

VEBA holiday

We are beginning to see the first gifts from congregations as a result of the VEBA premium holiday that took place in November. So far, more than a quarter of our congregations have submitted gifts as a result of the premium holiday. At the end of the first week of November, total offerings were approaching $500,000. It's expected that those offerings will continue to be received through the end of the year. Thanks again to all of the congregations and other calling bodies that are participating in this effort.

Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder