Senior Pastor’s Letter
“Contribute to the needs of the saints and
seek to show hospitality.”
- Romans 12:13
At my childhood home (also the place where
Woodbury Lutheran Church was born) there
is a red gate that leads to the front door. I have
always loved that red gate — but not because it is
beautiful or fancy. The gate has always been a bit
of a mess as it never quite shut properly, and you
would have to lift it up to get it to latch. The wood
was always somewhat beat up and rotÝng, the
paint was a bit faded, and it squeaked when you
opened it. Yet, the reason I love that red gate is
because of what it represents.
I have clear memories of hearing that red gate
squeak as neighbor after neighbor would come
knocking at the front door. They understood that
our home was a safe place to find respite from
whatever they were struggling with or to share
the joys of how God was at work in their lives.
Simply put, our home was a place of hospitality
where hundreds and hundreds of people have
seen what it looks like to follow Jesus. (Thank you,
mom and dad!)
Sometimes we make sharing our faith and being
a good neighbor so much more complicated than
it has to be. Could it be as simple as having a “red
gate”? A home where our neighbors know they
are welcome? A place they can share the ups and
downs of life and see us as we model Jesus to
them?
Our neighbors need more red gates. Throughout
this magazine you will read updates and stories
and we hope you will be inspired to see the
incredible impact you can make on your neighbors
as you live out the [Disciple] Life.
Filled with Hope,
Pastor Tom
Connect in
Small Groups!
Chosen POV’s on
Tongi, Bangladesh
12
“Neighbors in Faith”
Oak Hill
Campus Update
14
WL Preschool
celebrates 55 years!
18
Simple Acts,
Meaningful
Connection,
with Mike Sabbann
24
On Mission with Jesus:
Mission Experience
Recaps
28
A Joyful Retirement
for Miriam Kostecki!
31
Celebrating and
Remembering
32
40 years of Bible Study
Fellowship at WLC!
14
18
INSIDE
@woodburylutheran
Vol. 1 :: No. 2
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