News

Motion on KRRC for Spring Voters’ Assembly

Dear Family of Faith,

Faith Lutheran Council would like to share a motion for consideration by the Voters’ Assembly this upcoming Sunday, April 26th.

The motion and explanation was made into a handout that was placed in your mailbox on April 19. Extra copies are in the Church Narthex.

Please read through the document before the Voters’ Assembly, and bring questions, amendments to the main motion, etc. with you for the consideration of the Voters’ Assembly.

The text is as follows:

The Matter at Hand

Effective March 27th, Jeff Smith stepped down from the Station Manager of KRRC. The station is currently running on auto-pilot, as far as this is possible.

Faith Lutheran congregation now has an important decision to make. We have put this off for a while, but now we must decide whether to remain operational or to close the station.

At the Summer Voter’s Assembly last year, Pastor Laws brought an update concerning KRRC. At that time, it was stated that we needed an Underwriting Agent to secure funding for the station in order to pay the bills and to compensate Jeff for his time. Since then, there have been no members who offered to take on that responsibility. Surveys taken at that time suggested that while we value the station, much of our membership is outside the broadcast range (3 miles from the tower in Rogue River) and do not stream the station online at www.943thebridge.com.

A decision now needs to be made. If we go another year without fixing our Emergency Alert System, we will lose our broadcasting license in 2030, and we continue to risk a large fine from the FCC. Because the station is not its own non-profit organization, Faith is liable for any fines, debts, etc. incurred by KRRC.

Therefore, Faith Lutheran Church Council, at their meeting on April 12th, 2026, passed the following resolution:

Faith Lutheran Church Council recommends that Faith Lutheran Church Voter’s Assembly close KRRC the Bridge due to lack of personnel and resources to continue operations.

This resolution is now presented for the consideration of Faith Lutheran congregation. The next two pages will detail (1) What continued operations of the station would take and (2) What closing the station would involve.

Please note: Prior to the passing of Kathy Timbs, the financials for KRRC were in the process of being handed off to Bob Hulse and Pastor Laws. The accounting is, therefore, incomplete at this time. That cannot be remedied before our Voter’s Assembly, but we do have a general idea of the expenses and are in the process of getting access to the bank account and statements.

Remaining Operational

For KRRC to continue broadcasting, we need:

  1. Funding

Consistent financial support. Annual expenses include:

  • Music licenses ($1,087 for 2025)
  • Power for Radio Tower (unknown)
  • SRN News subscription ($1,200)
  • Misc. software and computer subscriptions (unknown)

It costs approximately $2,500-3,000 a year to operate the station. This year’s annual bills have been paid.

  1. Personnel & Skills

Volunteers with the time & skillset to manage its operations. Positions include:

Station Manager (Daily commitment, 5-10 hours a week)

  • Set up the broadcast schedule each day, oversee programming
  • Maintain equipment and arrange for repairs/replacements
  • Complete annual compliance tasks and documentation

Underwriting Agent (Quarterly commitment)

  • Visit local businesses to secure underwriting sponsorships
  • Maintain relationships with community partners

Bookkeeper (Monthly commitment)

  • Maintain records, pay bills, and make reimbursements
  • Communicate finances to Council, Voter’s, and Underwriter.
  1. Regulatory Compliance

Address non-compliance with federal broadcasting regulations by:

  • Repairing/updating Emergency Alert System
  • Begin submitting required annual EAS reports to the FCC

Closing the Station

To close KRRC, the congregation will need to:

  1. Determine the future of our Low Power FM License

We cannot “sell” our LPFM license. We may sell the broadcast equipment and transfer the license to a non-profit. Interested parties may include: RR High School, area Churches, or anyone interested in starting a community station. The licence is for use in our current area. This license is unlikely to be issued by the FCC again.

  1. Determine the future of our equipment

After inventorying our equipment, sell/donate broadcasting equipment. Keep recording equipment for recording projects.

  1. Determine the future of our radio tower

We will need to decide what to do with our radio tower, located behind the large cross on the hill. It is on an easement. If the license is transferred, the easement will need to be redrawn with Jackson County. If the license lapses, we will need to decide what to do with the tower.

  1. Notify the FCC

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will need to be formally notified when we cease broadcasting.

  1. Close the Financials

The books will need to be closed for 2026 after completing the above items and cancelling all bills & subscriptions. Then it must decided what to do with remaining funds and to close all financial accounts for KRRC. Faith Lutheran Council suggests giving a gift to Jeff Smith in recognition of his time at the station.

  1. Discuss the Legacy of KRRC

Finally, we will give thanks for the work of KRRC and consider what to do to honor and remember the work that went into operating KRRC and the hours of edifying programming and music which was produced and broadcast from our radio station.

PDF of Handout: 2026-04-19 KRRC Motion & Explanation

April 12th Special Voter’s Assembly

Dear Family of Faith,

Yesterday, Council met briefly following our Potluck and is requesting a Special Voter’s Assembly on April 12th after the Divine Service.

Kathy Timbs is stepping down from doing the books for KRRC, our congregation’s radio station. We need to put someone else on KRRC’s bank account to assess where the station is at financially. Council is recommended adding myself and Bob Hulse to the account. We will need minutes from an official meeting of the congregation to do this.

If you have any questions, please let me know via email ([email protected]) or text (541-218-2046).

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Laws

Holy Week 2026

Dear Family of Faith,

We have daily services during Holy Week, March 29th – April 5th, 2026. See our schedule below:

  • Palm Sunday (3/29) – 10:00 a.m., Divine Service (followed by our 5th Sunday Potluck)
  • Holy Monday (3/30) 10:00 a.m., Matins (St. Matthew’s Passion Reading)
  • Holy Tuesday (3/31) 10:00 a.m., Matins (St. Mark’s Passion Reading)
  • Holy Wednesday (4/1) – 10:00 a.m., Matins (St. Luke’s Passion Reading)
  • Maundy Thursday (4/2) – 6:00 p.m., Divine Service
  • Good Friday (4/3) – 6:00 p.m. Good Friday Service
  • Holy Saturday (4/4) – 6:30 p.m. Easter Vigil Service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Grants Pass, OR (865 NW 5th St, Grants Pass, OR 97526)
  • Easter Sunday (4/5) – 10:00 a.m., Divine Service

I hope you are able to attend some or all of our special services this week! If not, check out our podcast feed to listen to the sermons!

– Pastor Laws

2026 Continuing Education Class

Greetings!

Faith Lutheran Church is hosting a Continuing Education Class this Summer! Details & registration are available through CTSFW, click here.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Laws

Lenten Services A+D 2026

 

Hello Family of Faith!

During the Season of Lent, we have the following extra services:

LENT

  • Ash Wednesday (2/18) – 6 p.m., Divine Service
  • Wednesday Lent Midweeks (2/25—3/25) – 5 p.m., Soup Supper, 6 p.m., Vespers.
    • During our five Wednesday midweeks, we will be meditating upon the Passion of Christ according to St. Matthew’s Gospel.
    • Unless noted, our normal Thursday schedule will continue as normal (9:00-9:45 am: Individual Confession & Absolution, 10:00-10:45 am: Matins, 11:00 am-12:00 pm: Bible Study).

HOLY WEEK

  • Palm Sunday (3/29) – 10:00 a.m., Divine Service followed by our 5th Sunday Potluck
  • Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (3/30—4/1) – 10:00 a.m., Matins
  • Maundy Thursday (4/2) – 6:00 p.m., Divine Service
  • Good Friday (4/3) – 6:00 p.m. Good Friday Service
  • Holy Saturday (4/4) – 6:30 p.m. Easter Vigil Service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Grants Pass, OR
  • Easter Sunday (4/5) – 10:00 a.m., Divine Service

I pray you are able to attend some or all of these extra opportunities to “Listen to Him”!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Laws

Update on the Website

Hello Family of Faith,

I have shared some of this at our last Council and Voter’s Assembly, but I wanted to give you all an update on our new website.

A New Website???

  • Why a new website? Our current setup has been having a lot of problems, particularly as we have been experimenting with self/digital hosting to save on hosting costs.
  • Bryan is working on the server, purchasing equipment and getting the technical/hardware side set up, as mentioned in our January Voter’s Assembly.
  • I am working on building the website and writing the pages for it.

Status

  • In the early weeks of January (when we had Bible class on break), I began writing and designing a new website for Faith.
  • It will be launched in the next month or two in a simple state, and in the coming months it will be expanded.
  • Content from our old site will be moved over, with special attention to Pastor McCoy’s Scholia audio and e-books.

A Few Final Notes

  • Our sermon feed or website may have times when it is down in the meantime. This is due to our initial move to self/digital hosting not playing well with WordPress.
  • Moving to a static-site generator (Hugo) will reduce/eliminate those problems. In the last decade, static sites have grown in usage due to how fast they can run compared to bulkier sites.
  • Since this is not my (Pastor Laws’) primary field, things are taking a while, but I am excited to learn this new skill and about the potential for this new website for communication and catechesis.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Laws

Fall 2025 Voter’s Assembly

Dear Family of Faith,

Our Fall Voter’s Assembly will take place on November 2nd, 2025.

Please find attached my report, along with a resolution I will be bringing to our Voter’s Assembly. There is also a paper copy in your mailbox at Church.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Laws

Fall 2025 Voter’s Report

To Establish Evening Divine Services on Certain Church Festivals (2025)

Luther Classical College Visit

Dear Family of Faith,

This Sunday, October 26, 2025, we will have a special presentation during our Sunday School hour, 8:45-9:45 am.

Pastor Timothy Rossow will speak about an Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation in Wyoming which started a college, and now has students applying from all over the country, and even internationally. This college is founded on the new/old practice of classical education and is at the forefront of this growing movement in the country and in the LCMS. This is the very philosophy of education used by the Lutheran Reformation and by C.F.W. Walther from the founding of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Pastor Rossow will also be preaching for our Divine Service.

Come and join us for this fascinating presentation, and to celebrate the Reformation’s rediscovery of the Holy Scriptures and justification by grace through faith in Christ!

– Pastor Laws

Check out Luther Classical College’s website for more information, and to subscribe to their quarterly journal (Christian Culture) and monthly newsletter (Ad Fontes): https://www.lutherclassical.org/

Adults’ Sunday School: Studying Luther’s Large Catechism

Greetings!

This year, our Adult Sunday School will be walking through Luther’s Large Catechism, exploring the Scriptures and the chief teachings of the Christian faith. Each week we’ll read about 20 paragraphs together—about one commandment per session for the Fall Quarter.

If you don’t already own a copy of the Large Catechism, let Pastor Laws know and we’ll get you a paperback copy. If you have a Book of Concord, you already have it inside. Pastor will be using Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord). If you use another translation, you’ll still be able to follow along, provided your edition has paragraph numbers.

Recommended editions (available from CPH or Amazon):
1. Luther’s Large Catechism (with Study Questions) – Paperback
2. Martin Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms – Leather Cover Edition
3. The Book of Concord: Reader’s Edition

Fall Reading Plan
We’ll begin September 7 with Luther’s Prefaces and then move through the Ten Commandments this Fall. You can download the full Fall reading plan here:

Fall 2025 Large Catechism Study (PDF)

I look forward to learning, praying, and growing together as we sit at the feet of Christ’s Word and hear how Dr. Luther taught the Word of Truth in a simple and clear way!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Laws

Summer Voter’s Assembly

Dear Family of Faith,

The documents below were placed in the mailboxes of every member this past Saturday. Please read these and give your consideration to them before our upcoming Voter’s Assembly on August 3rd, following the Divine Service.

The first is an update on KRRC, and the second is a motion to host a Continuing Education class at Faith next summer. They will both be revised based on any feedback I receive from now until August 2nd, and then presented to the Voter’s Assembly for consideration.

For the KRRC update, we are looking for member(s) of the congregation to come alongside myself to seek underwriting for KRRC. KRRC is not paid for by the Church budget, and requires outside funding to stay open. In order to keep our radio station operating, we will need volunteers as we had in the past. If you are interested, please speak to me.

Peace in Christ from Grass Valley, CA!

– Pastor Laws

A Ministry Decision Before Us

Continuing Education Motion