Westminster!
I hope you’re doing well and I’m praying for you today. I talked about gratitude last week, and with Thanksgiving coming up, thought I would say a bit more. If you were here 2 years ago, it was about this time in 2019 that the search committee was telling you about this guy named Ryan Falls and his family. I remember sitting with Liz and Mim on the front steps of our house making a short video telling you about our family. It’s pretty surreal to think about that time.
Then we moved here and the year of all years happened. So much trauma, so many things we never saw coming. I know a lot of people in ministry that aren’t in ministry anymore because of the stress of what started in 2020 and how it has continued into 2021. The last few years have been hard. I’ve felt all of the weight of that season and still sense that I’m recovering from it. I know you have, too. Many of you got sick or have lost loved ones. That is so hard. Some of us were home trying to help our kids figure out school online. Many were raising young children and experienced isolation as we quarantined. Many in our congregation have family all over the world and they’ve not been able to visit or see them for an extended period of time. Some of you are still working remotely. There’s been cultural tension. There has been so much.
It would have been easy for that tension to spill over at Westminster. A new leader, unprecedented stress, and so many other things going on in this season of the life of our church. But God has been faithful and you have been so gracious, so loving, so supportive. How can I thank you enough, Westminster family? Think about all that God has done and what he is doing. My eyes are literally filled with tears as I write these words to you. I truly love this church and am humbled to be one of your pastors. I thank God for each of you, and am excited about what he has for us in the days ahead!
This Sunday we will wrap up our study of the book of Hebrews. I’m looking forward to hearing from our Minister of Care and Equipping, Holly Pankratz, as she leads us through Hebrews 13.
Together,
Ryan
THANK YOU!
To our students and leaders who served on Veteran’s Day, you are such a blessing! Check out the pictures on Instagram here.
WEEKLY GIVING:
As of 11/14/21
Expectation for the Week: $43,900
General Giving for the Week: $44,635
Expectation to Date: $1,200,600
General Giving to Date: $1,230,728
Annual Expectation: $3,400,000
NEXT CHAPTER GIVING:
Original Project Cost: $22,000,000
Payments to Date: $19,721,700
Current Mortgage Balance: $2,278,300
