January 2026 UPDATE FROM PASTOR MARK
“A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots.” (Isaiah 11)
It is still the season of Advent as I prepare this message for you to read in January. This year we have been learning about the Jesse Tree tradition during our Advent Dinner Church – an Advent practice for the month of December (25 days) where families trace the story of God’s salvation from creation to the birth of Jesus, who is from the house of David (Jesse’s youngest son), using symbolic ornaments. During the time of the prophet Isaiah, this passage addressed a moment when the house of David and the kingdom of Judah appeared to be little more than a stump compared to its larger and more influential neighbors. In that moment, these words offered hope that God would bring forth new life to give God’s people a new future. Through the centuries, and in many different contexts, this passage has continued to offer a powerful image of God's ability to create new life – and inspire renewed hope – from what appears lifeless: a new, green shoot sprouting from a stump that looks as good as dead.
God continues to call us to new life in Christ, whose death and resurrection brings the dawning of a new creation! We celebrated so many signs of life together in 2025, our 75th anniversary year.
• We launched a brand-new website: ouredeemerlacrosse.org – keep sharing this link with friends and family members – and a brand-new logo:
• We welcomed back and shared greetings from previous pastors and shared brunch with them.
• We lent our hands to a special, one of a kind, Handprints on Canvas” work of art that has been installed in the gathering space near the life elevator.
• We created and planted and tended and harvested a community garden in the church’s front yard. (Next year, maybe more tomatoes and less kale? Let me know how you would like to be involved.)
• We gathered with family members and neighbors and friends for a wonderful summer concert on the lawn.
• We took your picture and published a new photo directory for the congregation. Copies are still available.
• We held a special Celebration Sunday time of worship with Bishop Felix, and shared a pig roast lunch.
• Not part of our 75th anniversary, but we still enjoyed our first ever midweek Advent Dinner Church!
It has been a very good – and very busy – year! So many buds and blossoms and branches sprouting from these 75-year old roots that go deep into this neighborhood and region, and that are even more deeply rooted in God’s amazing grace that gives all of life growth!
I wonder what new life God will cause to grow among us in the future that is held in God’s hands – new shoots from these roots and stump? How might you like to see Our Redeemer sprout and grow in this new year? In these challenging times - for ourselves and for our neighbors – what new ministries or emphases could address their needs and make a difference in people’s lives? As a changing congregation, how might we be called to do different things, or to do things differently? How might our congregation reimagine its organization and constitutional structure for more effective ministry in this new day?
As importantly, I wonder in what new ways you might seek to grow individually as a disciple of Jesus, and as a member of Our Redeemer? As you inventory your own gifts and skills and financial circumstances and interests, how do you imagine God might use all of who you are in this place and time? What area of ministry – new, or new to you – would you like to become part of? You might think first about Worship or Social Ministry – lots of opportunities there! But what else? What ministry do we not have that you think might make a difference today, and that you could help establish?
And even in these difficult economic times – with rising food prices and insurance rates and more – how can you grow – by bud or by blossom or by branch (by that 1%) – in your financial support of the ministries of Our Redeemer and those ministries that we support through the La Crosse Area Synod and the Churchwide organization of the ELCA? (I have already reached out for assistance in [re]developing a year-round stewardship ministry at OR in the new year. Stay tuned.)
Finally, as I do each year, I close with a word of sincere thanks to our amazing and dedicated staff: Jane Parsneau, Melanie Timmerman, Linda Krueger. Thanks also to so many of you who volunteer in so many ways throughout the week – you are too many to name (what a blessing!) – but know that your care and service does not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
In Christ’s service and yours,
+ Pastor Mark