Dear friends in Christ,

I came across some interesting and rather startling data the other day. It was a report of average worship attendance and membership in La Crosse area ELCA churches. The data reported average worship attendance over the years and if the church is increasing or decreasing in worship attendance and membership. Some of the information is as follows:


The concerning part of this report is that a large number of the churches in La Crosse are experiencing a decrease in worship attendance, and/or membership, or both. Over the last 7 years, one of the churches had a decrease of over 70% in worship attendance. In another church, membership decreased over 23%.

Please lift-up these fellow churches, their pastors and members in your prayers for a renewed sense of mission and outreach. Also, please thank God for our continued zeal and commitment in outreach and evangelism. Olivet's worship attendance has increased over 100% - please thank God for all that He continues to do at Olivet. I also thank you for your faithful worship attendance and outreach to others.

This summer's worship series at Olivet is called "Alignment." Most of us know how it feels trying to steer a car that is out of alignment - it's not very easy and it's always pulling to the side. It can be exhausting trying to steer a car out of alignment - if the problem is not corrected we will end up in the ditch!

I look forward to a summer of spiritual growth as we learn how to align our lives with God!

This summer we will be talking about how sometimes our beliefs and our actions don't align with the God who created us. This series will explore the possibility of aligning our behaviors with our beliefs. Our beliefs and our actions should align, but often don't. Wrong ideas about God generally lead to wrong responses to life, just as a car out of alignment will drive you right into the ditch. In this series God has some powerful things to say to us about Himself and our relationship with Him. We will be encouraged and challenged by God to align our daily lives with His will and plans for our lives.

Pastor Dave