through our church or school during my leadership

about what we're doing.  

and gone on to be Baptist or Methodist pastors, that

The goal is approval of the new hymnal by the

number would be at least 17,  Marshall adds.

2004 Synod Convention.

Trinity plays a role in the lives of many neigh 

 By that time, Lutheran Worship will be nearly

borhood children. Its school enrolls 122 in first

25 years old,  said Grime,  and The Lutheran

through fifth grades. The congregation also offers

Hymnal will be more than 60 years old.  The best

an after school tutorial program that is open to 

from those hymnals will be included in the new

worship book, as well as new hymns and

R E A C H I N G   F O R  

liturgical settings. 

 We are also taking a look at what can

1 0 0 , 0 0 0   N E W  A F R I C A N   A M E R I C A N S

be done with electronic means and to develop

 Our dream is 100,000 new African Americans in the Synod by

a platform that's easy to use,  he said.  We're

2010,  says Dr. Bryant Clancy, executive director of the Board for Black

actually one of the first church bodies to be

Ministry Services.  A key strategy is new congregations. 

working on how best to incorporate both

In addition to starting new congregations, Clancy said, Lutheran

print and electronic versions into one, user 

schools are regarded as important to feed students to synodical colleges

friendly package.  

and into church work careers.

The electronic version of the new 

 Our greatest challenge is to stay focused and keep moving on

hymnal will provide texts and music to all

our goals and purpose,  Clancy observes. He adds that the annual Black

hymns and liturgical settings, allowing for

Ministry Family Convocation, scheduled for July 24 28 in Orlando, is

easy insertion into weekly bulletins. It will

important to that focus.  It's a place to find commonality and encour 

include computer searchable information on

agement and whole families are there. We want to involve people,

hymn texts and their biblical backgrounds. 

reach new people and strengthen those engaged in ministry. 

Clancy, who has retired, also prays that the board will find his

Food for body and soul

replacement.  We need to find a new person and get tuned in to a new

A year and a half after they formed a

style of leadership,  he says.

partnership, four rural congregations in 

eastern Wisconsin are amazed at the results

students from nearby public schools. 

of their efforts to coordinate the services 

 I have a little group of eight or nine guys

they offer.

now that range from about eight years old to 15, 

Leaders of the Gillett Area Lutheran

Marshall says.  I call them my `future pastors'

Association of Congregations (GALAC) see their

group. We lift them up before the congregation. We

success as an example of the benefits cooperation

encourage them, and we pray for them. 

brings and a model for other congregations in 

Trinity also makes a conscious effort to

similar circumstances.

involve the members of the group in the life of the

Formed in August 2001, the association

church, he says. The activities range from group

includes St. John, Pulcifer, and St. John, Riverside,

projects and outings to Sunday services.

both served by Rev. John Laatsch, and Immanuel,

 We nurture them all the way,  Marshall says.

Gillett, and Christ, Hintz, served by Ralph

 We can't wait until young people get out of high

Beversdorf, a lay deacon certified by the North

school or into college to ask them to think about

Wisconsin District. The combined membership of

becoming a pastor or teacher. You have to plant the

the four churches is about 650.

seed early and nurture it along. 

In surveying their congregations, association

members identified older adult ministry as one of

Resources for worship

the key needs. So, GALAC began a weekly

Wednesday noontime program that includes a meal,

Just after Easter, a major mailing will request

a Bible study or devotion led by Laatsch or

comments from congregations about the Lutheran

Beversdorf, a speaker (or entertainment), and lots of

Hymnal Project, according to Rev. Paul Grime,

hearty socializing.

executive director of the Synod's Commission on

GALAC celebrated the first anniversary of the

Worship. 

Wednesday gatherings Nov. 6. Laatsch says,  We

With nearly six years into the project, Grime

have grown from 20 or 25 people to 65 or 70.

said,  We have given ourselves time to prepare and

People bring their friends, and they really look 

allow for responses, as well as get the word out

forward to it. 

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