Opening of a MeetingRead: Matthew 25:14–30

A Confession (For one, two, or three voices)

C: Lord, we confess our sin:

L: The sin of looking too often over ourneighbours’ fences, wishing we hadthat, too. Help us see with thankful eyeswhat we already have at home.

L: The sin of feeling too oftenoverlooked, wishing we had thoseother gifts too. Help us lovewholeheartedly the designs youalready have for us.

L: The sin of acting too often as ifyou were not here—wishing, whenonly prayer will do. Help us livewith faithful purpose, knowing allthings already come from you.

C: In Jesus’ name, Amen

Sing: With One Voice (WOV)771 Great Is Thy Faithfulness orLutheran Book of Worship (LBW)469 Lord of All Hopefulness

Pray:C: O LORD, let us act faithfully inthis world on your behalf, withoutfear, trusting in your grace, throughJesus Christ our Lord, empoweredby the Holy Spirit, enjoying all yourgifts in their appointed time, andseeking our true joy in the pursuit ofour neighbour’s well-being, forJesus’ sake. Amen

Read the Gospel: Mark 6:32-44

L: What have we read? What wasthe need?C: food for more than 5000L: How many were disciples?C: twelveL: And the hour was late.L: What was Jesus’ challenge?C: “Go and see.”

L: And the resources?C: five loaves and two fish L: But look again. How many doyou see with compassion?C: one L: with faith?C: oneL: with vision?C: oneL: with leadership ability? C: oneL: with a thankful heart? C: oneL: with a giving attitude?C: oneALL: Jesus—the One we need, theOne who died for us, the One whorose again, the One who lives in us!

C: How many ate? L: everyone!C: Who received abundance?L: everyone! C: Who heard the message?L: everyone! C: Who recognized the Lord?L: everyone! C: Who joined with the disciples?L: everyone! C: Who was a part of the miracle?ALL: everyone!

L: It’s still true today! Look for it inthe agenda of this meeting, in thereports, in the plans, in the people ofour congregation, our conference,our synod, our church.ALL: Amen!

Closing of a MeetingA Litany of Celebration

L: Some of us hurried here. Somehurry away. All have shared Christ’scompassion and love.

C: Some of us have felt remote;some connected. All have gatheredin Christ’s word and spirit.

L: Some of us have helped to plan;some will gather up after. All have heldthe broken bread and eaten to our fill.

C: Some of us have been surprised;some put off by the demand. Allhave seen anew the gifts at handamong us here.

L: Oh Jesus, thank you for thischallenge. Thank you for this work.Thank you for the teaching flowingfrom your heart. Thank you for thepeople, gathered near in need, andthank you for your merciesscattered here like seed.

ALL: We celebrate the five, wecelebrate the two. We celebratethe wonders of all that you can dowith people you’ve forgiven, withpeople you’ve made new and sentinto the whole world todemonstrate what’s true.

Sing: WOV 776 Be Thou My Visionor LBW 406 Take My Life, that I May Be

Pray:ALL:

O Lord, so that all may hear thecall and give their all, take me. O Lord, take all, my all. Remove, remake. An empty vesselfill—with joy and love, to celebratethe fulfillment of your will. In Jesus’name. Amen

L: Let us go in peace and serve the LordALL: Thanks be to God!

These devotions were written by Rev RonBestvater, Chaplain at Lutheran CollegiateBible College, Outlook, SK and edited byBarb Fast, ELCIC Coordinator ofStewardship and CommunicationDevotions copyright 2004 EvangelicalLutheran church in Canada.

Scripture quotations are from the New RevisedStandard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989by the Division of Christian Education of theNational Councils of Churches of Christ in theUSA. Used by permission.

Published in cooperation with the LutheranLaity Movement for Stewardship—Canada.Printed in Canada.

Logo copyright 2004 EcumenicalStewardship Centre. Used by permission.

Devotions for a Congregational Annual Meeting

A Church in Mission for Others

Mark 6: 34–38a: As [Jesus] went ashore, he saw a greatcrowd; and he had compassion for them, because they werelike sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach themmany things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him andsaid, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late;send them away so that they may go into the surroundingcountry and villages and buy something for themselves toeat.” But he answered them, “You give them something toeat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundreddenarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” And hesaid to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.”

The National Staff of the ELCIC and your NationalChurch Council have a lot in common with those earlydisciples. They, too, have seen a great crowd: 625congregations, 183,000 members, 5 synods, partnerchurches and missionaries in 8 countries overseas, 9national committees, 2 seminaries, 3 schools ….

They, too, know that the people need to be fed. Theyare extremely conscious of being good stewards of thegospel … of providing the food of faith.

They, too, have gone to Jesus in prayer, concernedwith the needs of the people.

National Staff travels often “into the crowd” to listen,discuss, debate, report, visit … at conventions, meetings,consultations, celebrations, assemblies, conferences,studies, seminars, workshops, worship services ….

And while they are there, they look for the loaves andthe fish—the resources that will feed the church, makingit strong enough to continue in service with Christ.

Mark 6: 38b: When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”

What loaves and fishes do our disciples find in theELCIC crowd gathered to listen to Jesus?

• Gifted people willing and superbly able to serve.• Strong faith in Christ.• Thoughtful opinions, questions and requests.• Spirit-filled worship.• An economically blessed population.• A strong understanding of the value of

ecumenical partnerships.• A common vision.

Mark 6: 41–43: Taking the five loaves and the twofish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and brokethe loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set beforethe people; and he divided the two fish among themall. And all ate and were filled; and they took uptwelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.

The early disciples took the loaves and fish to Jesuswho blessed them AND SENT THEM BACK INTOTHE CROWD where they became enough for all.

National disciples want to do that—to direct and use our resources, blessed by Jesus. They carry them to you in baskets called “Vision” and “StrategicDirections.” If you are willing to reach into thosebaskets, we should have enough for everyone.

With Jesus’ help and your prayers and partnership,2005 can be a year in which the crowd will all eatand be filled!

Please include National Staff and National ChurchCouncil in your prayers.

Vision:The ELCIC exists to be a church in mission for others

Strategic Directions:1.To raise up strong leaders who can inspire,

engage and equip others to share in leadership.

2.To be public about who we are and what we believe.

3.To contribute our Lutheran uniqueness to the interchurch community.

Money comes to the National Church in twobasic ways:

• As directed gifts, sent specifically to a ministry such asGHDA, or Mission in the World; as a Canada Lutheransubscription or registration for an event.

• As undesignated donations made by individualsto their congregations. Congregations send part ofthat on to their Synod. Synods share with theNational Church. The National Church sendsmoney to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

2004 Annual Report

Just as Jesus demonstrated on that hillside so long ago, there is no need to be afraid.There is no need to stop the ministry andsend the people away. Work is getting doneand there are baskets of resources left over!Parochial reports show that congregationshave rainy-day funds, own land, buildingsand other material resources. The churchhas a record of planned gifts—annuities,bequests, endowments, etc. Our membershiphas donated more to their congregationseach year since 1995.

Yes, there are problems. Yes, someministry has to be postponed. Yes, thecost of living ever moves upward. Will wesit, stalled and worried that there is notenough to go around? Or will we, in faith,continue to generously share our loavesand fish … in support of our church … inmission for others?

Note: For a detailed report of income,expenses and budget projections, contactthe Director of Finance at National Office.

Being a church in mission for others is also a financial challenge. Beyond all the hours of volunteerwork, beyond all the prayer support, beyond all the meetings and discussions and disagreements andforgiving … the work of the church needs cash.

In Mark, it isn’t mentioned where the disciples find those five loaves and two fish. In John, it seems to have been the lunch of a boy who was willing to give it all away because the Lord needed it. The point is that someone was willing to contribute.

The ELCIC depends on that same spirit of stewardship. Your gifts make your church’s ministry happen.