3 September 2008
 
Dear Friends in Christ,
 
It has been over 12 years since a mission congregation, Celebration, Chardon, finished a building project in our synod.   That same year, Rejoice!, Hudson began the formation of a new congregation.  Today they are within two months of completing the next mission congregation's building efforts.  Rejoice! has been faithful in its mission while worshipping without a permanent building for these years.  And while building goes on, they continue to knock on doors reaching new people for Christ. 
 
The members of Rejoice! have been diligently working with an ELCA program called Mission Builders that sends volunteers from all over to assist in the project, and they have been joined by individuals and crews from a number of  our synod congregations in an effort to complete the project.  But, with the increased cost of building materials affected by oil prices and the added costs of building in a community with many additional requirements, Rejoice! will need to help from all of us to complete this project.
 
So, we are asking your assistance in launching a "baby shower" for our new mission baby about to be born.  The list below includes some items you can cover that will make it possible for this building to be completed.  We encourage your congregation to see this project as something all of us can participate in. You may also know of individuals who would become excited about this mission opportunity and contribute a larger sum.  Literally, without your help the members of Rejoice! will not be able to use this nearly completed building. You may check the progress on their website: www.rejoicelc.org
 
To participate in this "shower", please make checks payable to the Northeastern Ohio Synod (1890 Bailey Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221-5259), indicating that they are for Rejoice!  The time is short; the need is great.  We are all in this together.
 
In Christ,

Elizabeth A. Eaton
Bishop
 

SUGGESTED SHOWER GIFTS FOR REJOICE!

  Front sidewalk as required by city       16 sections at $500 each
  Paint for inside of church                     80 cans at $25 each
  Sanctuary seating                                125 chairs at $50 each
  Landscaping-trees and shrubs             125 trees/shrubs at $100 each
  Vinyl siding                                         100 sections at $115 each
  Parking lot lights, extra required           16 lights at $1,000 each
  Lawn grass                                         10 sections at $500 each
  Parking lot paving                                30 sections at $1,000 each

Ten Reasons to help Rejoice Build this facility

1. While Hudson has reputation of being a fairly affluent community, Rejoice is not. Come and see. We meet in a school cafeteria. This is not a very attractive environment for "those with means".

2. Rejoice is primarily made up young working families yet we are good givers and we continue to make benevolence a priority.

3. If we could have built without help we would have done that 10 years ago. There is a reason that we have been unable to build in this community we need the support of the Synod. 

4. We are a mission! We have knocked on over 1700 doors this summer. It reveals that 57% of our community has no church affiliation. We have over 30 prospective families. Most are young working families and unfortunately most are waiting for the building.

5. Building in this day and age is not a easy task. Every community is becoming more and more seeking difficult to build from scratch. We have found that the requirements and restrictions are be difficult to over come when churches are classified as commercial buildings.

6. Missions cannot be independent. When we as a Synod want to start new congregations they will not be supported by the ELCA churchwide unless the Synod Supports them financially and congregations partner with them in Mission. If we want to see new congregations in NEOS we must support them.

7. We have many congregations that are just trying to survive. They have many reasons why they cannot do many things. However, we know from experience that when they look outside of themselves and embrace Mission Congregations  they find focus and become attractive to others and member give more to their own Mission.

8. The ELCA is about Mission. We in the NEOS are about Mission. Bishop Eaton has asked us all to be Mission Stations. When Rejoice completes this project we turn are attention to Spirit of Joy in North Ridgeville. They will need all our help to and Rejoice can help set the standard with your help.

9. We have involved the group "Mission Builders" of the ELCA and it has costs us a little more to use them instead of the traditional General Contractor. This is the first time they have been in NEOS and we hope not the last. Their Witness is about cooperation, support, and faith that is what Rejoice is founded on and commit to the future.

10. Rejoice is committed to the bring the Good News to all people. That means that even the folks of Hudson. There is no distinction of rich or poor and our Lord calls us to reach out to everyone. For your support and prayers we humbly thank you and offer ourselves to you in any way we can help and support you and we plan to be a congregation that can be looked to in the future to lead the way in Mission in the NEOS. 

God is on the loose and so am I!

Peace, Pastor Mike