September 2025
The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.
– Proverbs 16:9
Peace be with you! There are things happening in our midst, and we should rejoice that God sees fit to guide us in these times.
In August the council headed to Advent Lutheran Church in Citrus Heights. I want to thank Pr. Gabrielle Schroeder, Dean of the Capital Valley Conference, for being gracious in allowing us to use Advent’s fellowship hall for our meeting.
The council’s goal as representatives of you, the congregation, was to select three goals for the coming 12 months, September 2025 to August 2026. We used the SMART Goals method, specifically selecting goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. (That last one is easy: 12 months.)
Your council brainstormed a lot of great ideas, some of which are sure to be goals in the coming years. Some we were able to combine, others were separated into multiple parts, and when they were done, they had the three goals that are going to guide the efforts of St. Luke’s through the next annual council retreat, when three new goals will be selected. The goals are as follows:
Goal 1: Increase regular worship attendance (attending worship at least two weeks each month) by 20% (12 people).
Goal 2: Offer one additional adult educational opportunity each week.
Goal 3: Increase the visibility of St. Luke’s in the community, including replacing street-facing signs, increasing social media use, and having a presence at four community events per year.
These goals aren’t just the council’s goals: these are the goals for the whole congregation. These are guideposts for our programming for the next year, and I have faith that with God’s help and trust in God’s guidance, we can achieve them. I invite discussion, discernment, and prayer. How can our boards further these goals? How can the staff? How can worship and events?
There will be adjustment and probably some discomfort, but this congregation has already been talking about these goals in different words. Most of these have been part of side discussions. Setting them as measurable, time-bound goals moves them to the front of the conversation. We can consider what we are being called to do as we recognize the needs around us.
I look forward to discovering how God directs our steps down this path.
Blessings,
Pastor Rob