Podcast of sermon added 
Pastor’s Desk: Easter! A time for new beginnings. Jesus is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
What are some of the new beginnings for St. Peter’s? Well, by my count there are at least eight major areas for discussion. Let me give you a brief overview:
Our Mission Statement is “Believe in Christ, Belong to Him, Become a Disciple.”
1) First, we need to up-date the Long Range Plan. In the past year, we have accomplished the following: Purchased new hymnals, completed the organ project, purchased new bells, and are in the process of up-dating the sound system. That was for Worship. In Witness and Service, we have developed a Christian Caregiving Calling Team of 21 individuals who make calls on a regular basis. We also sent out three mission teams which did ministry in Alaska and Chicago. In our Youth Ministry, we have called a new youth director. In Property, we have developed four property teams to take care of the physical needs of the church. We are consolidating the offices in one location in the educational wing. We have up-graded the signage for church. In Support, we have developed the position of a business manager. In Learning ministries, we are looking to do a new system called Rotation Sunday School. In Equipping Ministry, we have sent a number of lay members and staff for training to do lay ministry development. In conversation with the Long-Range Planning Committee, our boards will add some new goals to the current 5-year plan.
2) With the exit of Pastor Mike Mandsager to a new call, we are needing to look at a congregational self-study and then to enter into the Synod Call Process as we seek to fill the Associate Pastor Vacancy.
3) We need to look at the physical status of our property. How can our property be better used to serve the needs of our members? This includes developing ideas for the future use of the Administration Building.
4) We have received word that Amanda Olson will be ordained by the St. Paul Area Synod for her ministry in Guatemala. It is our understanding and desire that her ordination will take place here at St. Peter’s. What a landmark event that will be!
5) There is a need to fill in the blanks while we begin the search process and do a congregational assessment of ministry needs. For example, on Sunday mornings, you will see that we now have lay people serving as cantors in worship, and lectors who read the lessons. It is our current plan to bring in a guest preacher once a month to give us a varied perspective on the lessons for the day.
6. Our council will begin analyzing our ministry needs at our April Meeting. They will invite your in-put and suggestions as we move into that process.
7. Eventually, a call committee will be organized as we determine those ministry needs in regard to a job description for the Associate Pastor.
8. Communication or rather, OVER-communication is going to become the order for the day. It is my hope that you will share your insights with myself, our staff, our council, and our boards. We will try to keep you up-dated as much as possible. I would ask that you pray for our shared ministry here. Developing teams of lay people for ministry is becoming our order of the day. To offer people a chance to share their gifts in what they most like to do.
My friends, I feel like Solomon who prayed in a dream, “Lord, I am but a child; ….Give your servant therefore an understanding mind….able to discern…”
I look forward to our mutual conversation. We are called to be ministers together, to be enthused about our joint call to ministry. See you in church! Pastor Craig