As we reflect upon the past year, perhaps the best way to sum it up is this: Southwood has continued to be God’s church in ministry and mission. It hasn’t always looked the same as it did in the years prior to COVID-19. There have been many changes, adaptations, alterations, challenges, and then even more changes and adaptations, etc. Yet, despite it all, Southwood is still God’s church worshipping, growing, serving, giving and inviting others to grow in love for God and others.
As I take a look into the future, I see more change and transition coming at Southwood. The most obvious is my retirement. I will certainly be transitioning in my own life and you will as a congregation. There will be much more said about these changes in the weeks to come. But one thing will remain the same. Southwood will continue to be God’s church in ministry and mission.
Keep Southwood in your prayers. Be open to how God will work during these changing and challenging times. Continue to serve and give and care for the sake of others. And above all, continue to grow in your love for God and others in all that you say and do. May God bless Southwood in 2022!
All confirmed, communing, and contributing members of the congregation are urged to join together for a celebration of God’s blessings upon Southwood, and to conduct the annual congregational meeting. At this meeting, we’ll be making decisions about Southwood’s future, including our 2022 budget and election of our Church Council members.
242 participants for the Women's Spring Retreat and the Seniors' Picnic with the Pastors
This new online tool made it easy to find a group 20 groups were open for people to join that included every stage of life, in addition to the long-term established groups
400 participants in pastor-led classes and Small Groups Faith growth thrives when done in community
359 volunteers welcomed attendees on Sunday mornings
441 children registered for Sunday School
New check-in system used for Sunday School to create a secured pick-up procedure for 3 to 7-year-olds
288 people made a difference in children's lives:
$5,000 to support Lincoln Public Schools in need
200+ children and family members attended
250 middle school students and 32 volunteers participated
DELVE, Southwood’s middle school confirmation program, moved to Wednesday nights for all
students
Allowed for greater pastor involvement and resulted in over 80% regular attendance (an improvement over Sunday morning attendance results)
70 students participated in gatherings and/or retreats and mission trips
32 students served in Sunday School
10 students led DELVE groups and as an entire group, served for over 2000
hours in our community and elsewhere
Launched a new ministry for young adults that began meeting regularly
Participants range in age from twenties to mid-thirties
Held at Southwood
252 prayer shawls
46 baby blankets
55 requests received
during Thanksgiving and Christmas (consistent with 2019 and 2020)
Make a donation to Southwood through a one-time gift or as a recurring gift.
98% of budgeted income received totaling $3.18 million
Over $22,000 received
100% dedicated to our global mission partners
$6,000 dedicated to our hunger mission partners
$27,000 received and dedicated to our community mission partners
$32,000 donated by Southwood members to this fund
Used
to help people in financial need in our community
Southwood celebrated 50 years with over 1,000 attendees at a church-wide celebration.
As a church, two gifts were presented celebrating our past ($50,000 gift to the Tanzania Medical Clinic) and future ($50,000 gift to establish a Disaster Fund)
Branded apparel and merchandise offered at Southwood's Pop-Up Store
A congregation-wide "Do 50" campaign encouraged families to: