Pastor's Annual Report for 2011

Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me.”  Luke 18:16a ^{TNIV ©}

Zion has always been a congregation that welcomed kids.  But like most other traditional Protestant congregations, each year it seemed like we had fewer of them.  Now, we are blessed with encouraging numbers of small children; nine kids in the nursery at the first service, fifteen kids in the nursery at the second service last Sunday, and that’s not an unusual report.  We are being given a great opportunity to serve families and children again!  If you don’t speak with people from other congregations, as I do, you don’t know how rare this is in a day of shrinking and aging churches.  Are you grateful for what God is up to among us? 

This year I want to highlight this ministry.  We are baptizing surprising numbers of people, both adults and children.  Sunday after Sunday, the water flows with God’s promises, and we all grow.  Will all these folks find a home here?  We are richly blessed by our staff who work with children, with Lacey who makes the nursery a safe and loving place, with Meredith who makes whole families feel welcome and cared about, with Sunday School leaders who make that a positive experience for all.  These people make for a ministry with children that we can be deeply grateful for.  They are God’s gift, not only to the children and their families, but to the whole congregation. 

The Zoo Crew Preschool is a ministry that doesn’t show itself on Sunday mornings, but that is our major ministry to the community where we’re planted.  Pam and Sandi faithfully help children reach their potential and prepare for Kindergarten.  You may not know that Zoo Crew is also our most visible connection to West Valley High School as classes interact with Zoo Crew kids.  Sometimes if you’re here on the right day, you might find the whole class of four-year-olds going to high school! 

Are you grateful for what God is up to among us?  We really ought to be dancing in the aisles!  God has given us opportunity to pass on to the next generation the promise of his love. 

Your Pastor in Christ,

Ladd Bjorneby