Montgomery Lutheran Church

Past Reports read chronologically from the bottom of the page
May 12, 2008

Lutheran Missionary Alliance (LMA)

Dear Friends:

It is with joy in the hearts of each saint at Living Savior Lutheran (LCMS) mission congregation here in Montgomery, Texas that I bid you greetings in His Holy Name. What excitement we are experiencing as our small group works together to determine what His plans are for us.

Living Savior is meeting in the Old Baptist Church, a building that is part of the Montgomery Historical Society. This facility was built in 1904 and is truly a blessing from our Living God. Many of the Montgomery residents are embracing our efforts. Our attendance since January 1, 2008 at weekly Divine Services is 42. Our offerings average $998 excluding financial assistance from supporting congregations and other gifts received.

We offer Divine Worship each Sunday at 9 a.m. with Holy Communion at all Divine Worship services. Adult Bible study begins at 10:30 a.m. with a Sunday school class for pre-school and early school age children and another Sunday school class for teens. Appropriately our Adult Sunday School is studying the early church in Acts.

Living Savior has scheduled a Vacation Bible School beginning July 7 for one week. We have had several mini-planning retreats lead by Pastor Alvin Franzmeier to identify who we are and where we want to go. Our emerging vision is “We Will Worship The Risen Christ And Reach Out To All Members Of Our Community With A Ministry of God’s Word and Love”. We also are redrafting a constitution, by-laws, and articles of incorporation. A ladies’ Bible Study group is being planned and we have focus groups forming to determine ministry needs involving such things as how to reach out to our community, building and land acquisition, full time Pastor, and similar areas.

There is so much work to be accomplished in this vineyard but our hearts are open to His guidance and counsel. Living Savior particular needs the prayers of everyone. And we thank you for your continued support. We will carefully meditate on His Word and speak of it to all.

In His Service

Richard D. Wiese Sr.

For the mission congregation,

Living Savior Lutheran Church (LCMS)





Report as of Feb. 15, 2008

A new LCMS congregation was established in the town of Montgomery, Texas, (about 10 miles west of Conroe), thanks to the financial support of Lutheran Mission Alliance, along with support from the congregations of Zion - Anderson, St. Mark - Conroe, Trinity - Navasota, Bethlehem - North Zulch, Zion - Tomball, Living Word - The Woodlands, Grace - Elgin, Salem - White Hall, and Bethlehem - William Penn. (LMA Congregations in blue.)

Living Word Lutheran Church in The Woodlands issued a call to Rev. David Bailes to serve as a part-time mission pastor to the Montgomery area.  The facilities of the old Baptist Church in Montgomery were leased, and the initial worship service was held on December 2, 2007.
 
Montgomery Lutheran Church offers a traditional Lutheran worship service using the Lutheran Service Book hymnal.  Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday, and adult catechesis is offered so that non-Lutheran visitors can be confirmed and communed as soon as possible.

Date          Total Attendance     Communion     Offerings Received
12/2/07          132                       101                $1803.00
12/9/07           62                         48                   $861.00
12/16/07         66                         49                 $1311.00 ($200.00 designated for CD player)
12/23/07         54                         44                 $1079.00
12/24/07       102                         79                   $889.66
12/3007          56                         43                 $1065.00
1/6/08             70                         56                $1,117.00
1/13/08           51                         36                   $848.18

Other good news:  the congregation had its first Baptism on 1/6/08 and hope to have at least one more in the weeks to come.

A mini-retreat was held on January 6 to elect a group of leaders and make plans for the future.  Presently they are working on establishing a 501c-3 status, and considering the purchase of land and building a permanent facility.
 

Report of Dec. 3, 2007

Dear Friends on the Montgomery Planning Committee:

Greetings in the name of our Savior!  For those of you who weren't there, the first service of Montgomery Lutheran Church was a great success!  About 130 people were there, many from neighboring congregations as well as many from the community.  Here is the press release from Ken Jansen which will be in the local papers this week.

Also, please let me know if you have any youth or volunteers willing to help pass out flyers in the community this Saturday.  I'll be printing the flyers at home, so I need an idea of how many people we can expect in order to know how many flyers we'll need.

Thanks for your help.  We'll see you this Saturday (I'm thinking A.M., how's 10:30 sound?).  And then we'll have another committee meeting next Monday night at 7:00 at St. Marks in Conroe.

Blessings,
Dan Schoessow
 


 

Montgomery Lutheran Holds First Service 
 

The walls of the historic Old Baptist Church reverberated with the sounds of hymns, traditional liturgy, and the proclamation of God's Word during the inaugural service of the new Montgomery Lutheran Church. 

"More than five years ago, pastors and lay leaders in this area began talking and praying about planting a new Lutheran Church in Montgomery," Pastor David Bailes told the congregation during his sermon.  "It is as if the star which led the Magi to Jesus was shining forth brightly to lead this group to this very day, the opening Divine Service of this Lutheran Church in Montgomery." 

The congregation of over 130 included members of the eight area congregations which are sponsoring the church, as well as, a sizable number of people from the local Montgomery community.   

"We had a great turnout for the first service.  We had to get out folding chairs to hold the overflow!  The congregations supporting us are excited about this effort:  that is why so many of their members came out for the service.  But, we are even more excited by the people from the community attending.   We look forward to having them here on a regular basis," said Pastor Bailes after the service. 

Following the service, there was an extended period of fellowship among the congregation.  Coffee and donuts were served as people got to know each other better.  After a while, Pastor Bailes led a brief Bible Study for the adults, while another was held for the children.  

Montgomery Lutheran Church is a mission congregation of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.  It meets weekly for Divine Service on Sundays at 9 a.m. in the Old Baptist Church, Caroline and Pond Streets, in Montgomery.  Bible Studies follow the Worship Service. 

Residents of the Montgomery area who are interested in more information about Montgomery Lutheran Church are encouraged to visit the church's web site at www.lutheransonline.com/mlm , email the church at MontgomeryLutheran@gmail.com , or call 939-521-9389.