1-800-590-6001
PO Box 8202
Saint Paul, MN 55108
email: info@reclaimlutheranworship.org
www.ReclaimLutheranWorship.org
Dear Friends in Christ,
ReClaim Resource’s mission is to help congregations make Christians through solidly Lutheran worship services, hymns, and other devotional materials. From weekly lectionary prayer resources to hymns that help teach and proclaim the faith, we have worked diligently to bring you worship materials that build on deep scholarship and the rich traditions of the church.
Through your generous support we have been carefully gathering the resources needed to produce a hymnal for church and home that you and so many congregations have been looking and asking for. When we began, we were told we would need more than $500,000 to create a full hymnal. This past year you have blessed our work at ReClaim with more than $225,000. Praise the Lord! It has truly been a miracle, thank you!
This has helped us build a new system that will not only produce our hymnal, but has also created a technology that will bring the same hymnal resources into the digital age. Our research, including congregations of all sizes, told us worship planners are looking for more than a book alone can provide. They are also looking for internet-based, electronic worship materials of all kinds to make bulletins and to project worship services.
We know the Gospel never changes, but the delivery system can, and often does. This has led us to develop what we are calling the I Am Worship Planning Tool. You will be hearing a lot more about the I Am Worship Planning Tool in the months to come!
In our last letter we shared with you a hint at some of the coming technologies with a special key fob that had a QR code for smart phones. This special code led people to use Luther’s Really Small Catechism with a webpage or iPhone application, called the I Am Prayer App.
This technology might not be for everyone, but it does help us reach out in new and exciting ways to a new generation that does connect that way. Go to www.iamprayerapp.com or download it directly from iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com. We will be adding Android support and some other fun new features as funding allows. Share the I Am Prayer App with your confirmation kids! It is an excellent way for them to learn and play at the same time.
We would like to introduce you to something new called “Faith-filled Technologies.” Join us today at www.faithfilledtechnologies.com. We hope to engage church staff and members in an ongoing exchange of dialogue about how technology is shaping the way we plan the elements of worship. This blog is dedicated to exploring how technology is creating new opportunities to share the Gospel. This is another way we can be leaders for today and tomorrow.
We are now loading our content into the I Am Worship Planning Tool and moving into the final testing stages. The tool will enable congregations to layout and print weekly service bulletins as well as the ReClaim Hymnal for Church and Home, which many of you have already pre-ordered. Although we have made significant strides in developing the Worship Planning Tool, it is critical we receive your financial help in time so we don’t face any more setbacks. When we run short, things slow to a crawl until we can secure enough funding to continue. Our tentative launch date is mid-February.
As we look to this New Year, we are going to need $225,000 in order to finish strong. We will be fine tuning the system, marketing, and distributing the hymnals and online tool. We also need to undergird the whole mechanism with the infrastructure to do business right, and serve our customers in ways we have not been able to do with all volunteers. The books won’t sell themselves unless people hear about them, and we believe what we have to offer needs to be shared with the wider church.
All of your donations go to bring these valuable resources to congregations eager to hear the gospel clearly in their weekly worship services. Your regular donations of $25, $50, or $100 have helped a lot. Other donations of $500 to $1,000 and even a few of $25,000 or more have really moved us along the path to completion. Remember that ReClaim Resources is a 501(c)3 tax exempt, non-profit organization.
Many congregations and individuals have prepaid ($15/each) toward the full printed hymnal price. They will receive coupon codes for discounts and information on how to order the books when things are ready. Others have given through Thrivent® Choice Dollars™ or given securities to further ReClaim’s work. Or if you are able to provide us with a loan, we will be glad to work with you to arrange the terms.
After all these years of preparations, mutual partnership, and persistent prayer, we are now standing together at the launch pad, ready for the hymnal’s lift off. The promised classical Lutheran hymnal is ready and needs only to be fueled by your financial support to get it out there and into your hands. Will you fill in the gap for us today? Please fill out and return the Response Form, and if you have any questions, please call 1-800-590-6001 or visit our website to donate online at www.reclaimresources.org.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Daniel Baker Executive Director
Gracia Grindal Vice President, Editor-in-Chief
N. Craig Werling Board President
ReClaim Resources for Lutherans is a charitable, 501(c)3, tax exempt organization
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