Dear friends,

I am writing from home recovering from knee survery. While the surgery was relatively minor, "scoping" the knee and trimming some cartilage that was wedged in the left knee, I still can't do what I would like. Ice on sidewalks is a terrifying thought; falling and getting up again is an adventure. In a small way I am experiencing what many of our members daily face when their bodies and limbs don't respond as they once did, and you have to alter your life style. Hopefully, I will recover soon, and I don't want to forget empathy and compassion for those suffering from impaired mobility or degraded health.

You will be reading this about the time of our Annual Meeting on January 31st after the youth breakfast in the parish hall in the basement. One major item for discussion is the possibility of Our Redeemer having a Director of Christian Education. As with any major addition to church staff, expecially in difficult financial times, a great deal of prayer and thoughful analysis is needed. To bring our wants, needs, and resources, for a Director of Education into a clear focus, the Church Council is recommending to the Voters' Meeting, conduct an in depth study. This study will have many dimensions. The study will examine what other congregations are doing for youth ministry in our area, and will have several "focus groups," like, but no limited to, the Elders, Board of Education, parents of youth and children, the Church Council, and others. These "focus groups" should bring out what are our strengths and weaknesses in youth ministry, our goals and expectations. It will be an opportunity for great congregational input.

Another phase of the study will be to determine our demographics. Just how many youth and children are out there that we can reach? Additionally, we want to evaluate the way we do things such as confirmation ministry and perhaps do it in such a way that we reach and keep more youth, children, and families.

The Church Council recommends that this study be conducted over the next three months with a final report to the congregation by April 15th. Carolyn Grohn Hackman, a daughter of Our Redeemer, and a synodically trained DCE with years of experience in a variety of congregations, would be asked to conduct this study. The cost would be $1,800 paid from funds of the Mildred Thalacker Estate.

At the conclusion of this study we should have a good vision for youth ministry at Our Redeemer. We should be able to clearly state our goals and expectations. I urge everyone, whether at this time you highly favor a new position at Our Redeemer or are opposed to it, to support the Church Council's recommendation to conduct this in depth study.

Lent begins on February 17, Ash Wednesday. Before Lent we will send a special mailing about our Lenten season services, both Sundays and Midweek. Also, this mailing will include information about Ablaze and Fan into Flame, a renewed mission emphasis in our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the offeting that accompanies it. Our Voters' meeting will be acting on a five year plan to support this effort at our Annual Meeting. So, be watching for this informative mailing.

+cwkangas