Dear LAC Family,

I hope you will join us this Sunday at 10 AM as Pastor Jeff brings us the message and closes out the series, “Counterintuitive Transformation.” We will be celebrating God’s calling on Pastor Jeff, Jenny, and the Mattesich family at Lake Avenue Church these past twenty-two years. This will be an opportunity to thank them and to express our gratitude for their many years of excellent ministry and faithful service at Lake and to the Kingdom as they transition to their next season. Pastor Jeff has done a wonderful job navigating many of the challenges these past few years as our Acting Senior Pastor, and we want to acknowledge how God has used him and his gifts.

Many have asked about tangible ways to support and show expressions of gratitude to the Mattesich family. I would encourage you to bring a card or note this weekend or drop one in the mail, these are deeply meaningful to Pastor Jeff. Additionally, please know that the Ministry Council has committed to walking alongside Pastor Jeff while he transitions to this next season and completes his doctoral degree. If you would like to share in this commitment, you are welcome to contribute to the LAC Pastoral Transition Fund. Simply make a check out to Lake Avenue Church and note “Pastoral Transition Fund” in the memo section.

As we look forward, please know that Pastor Jeff has assembled a very talented Lead Ministry Team that consists of the Associate Pastors and Senior Staff. This team provides overall leadership to the church and its many functions. This team will continue to play a key role in leading Lake Avenue Church going forward. As part of the transition, the Ministry Council has asked Pastor Scott White to step into the role of the Interim Lead Ministry Pastor beginning November 20. In this role, Pastor Scott will be responsible for working collaboratively with the Lead Ministry Team and Ministry Council to provide leadership to Lake Avenue Church and to the congregation during this interim season. We are grateful to Pastor Scott in agreeing to step into this critical role at this time.

On Sunday, November 21, we will be celebrating Lake Avenue Church’s 125th Anniversary. We have such a rich history of local and global impact for the Kingdom. It is astounding to consider the many ministries both within our church and within our community, the ministries that have been launched from our church, the global outreach around the world, and the many lives that have been transformed and impacted by our community over the years. Please join us as we reflect on God’s many blessings on Lake Avenue Church and as we remember the impact the church has had in our communities and around the world. This will be a rich time together as we look to the next season with great anticipation of what God is doing and will continue to do at Lake Avenue Church as He uses us mightily for His purposes.

Ephesians 1:3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

We hope you will join us in the coming weeks and during this Advent season as we celebrate God’s blessings on Lake Avenue Church.

In Christ,

Dan Crichton
Church Chair