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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

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)

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

Rev. Harste’s Retirement

Hello Family of Faith,

Faith’s first pastor, Rev. Ken Harste, will be having a retirement celebration this Sunday at his parish in MN. In recognition of that, I have written the following letter and shared it with Rev. Harste on behalf of the saints at Faith Rogue River.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Laws

Rev. Harste Letter

Holy Week

Greetings, dear Family of Faith.

Please find below our schedule of Holy Week services:

4/13 (Sun): 8:45 am – Bible Study, 10:00 am – Divine Service for Palm/Passion Sunday

4/14 (Mon): 10:00 am – Spoken Service of Matins for Holy Monday with the Passion Reading from St. Matthew. Individual Confession & Absolution available following service.

4/15 (Tues): 10:00 am – Spoken Service of Matins for Holy Tuesday with the Passion Reading from St. Mark. Individual Confession & Absolution available following service.

4/16 (Wed): 10:00 am – Spoken Service of Matins for Holy Wednesday with the Passion Reading from St. Luke. Individual Confession & Absolution available following service.

4/17 (Thur): 6:00 pm – Maundy Thursday service with Holy Communion.

4/18 (Fri): 6:00 pm – Good Friday Tenebrae service.

4/19 (Sat): 6:30 pm – Vigil of Easter service of readings & prayer at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (865 NW 5th St) in Grants Pass.

4/20 (Sun): 10:00 am – Divine Service for the Resurrection of Our Lord.

You are invited this week, as you are able, to gather together around Christ’s Word & Sacraments preached and administered for you to know not only that Christ has died & is risen, but that He has done these things to redeem you from your sins!

– Pastor Laws

2024 Oregon March for Life

Hello Family of Faith!

On Saturday, May 18th, LCMS Life Ministries (our synod’s pro-life organization) will be joining the Oregon March for Life in our state capitol, Salem, from 2:30-4:30 pm. I hope you are able to join us in time of prayer for the unborn of Oregon and of protest against unjust laws in our state which sanction  the murder of children in our state.

Here’s how to register and get a bright green beanie & t-shirt, courtesy of Vicar Zachary Kreitler of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Gresham, OR:

2. Click the black “respond” on the right side of the page.
3. Click “sign up” to make an account (this will share info with them to send your march material and swag)
4. Plug in your information
5. Click continue (x2)
6. Answer response questions at the bottom (emergency contact, shirt size, etc.)
7. Click “submit community response”
8. You’re all registered!
Please let me know if you are planning on attending by signing up on the Narthex fridge. We may look into carpooling if that is desired.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Laws

Services for Lent 2024

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

This Lent we will be diving into the Psalms for our midweek services. Specifically, the 7 Penitential Psalms. This season we will reflect on various themes in these Psalms, including sin, repentance, confession, the Law, faith, the Gospel, and especially Christ’s redemptive work to forgive your sins.

This season of Lent, we will be field-testing two midweeks, a 10 am and a 6 pm one for Ash Wednesday through Lent 5, for those who let me know they cannot drive at night. They will both be the same service/sermon. If these are well attended, I will consider doing this in future years.

Please join us at the following times:

February 14th: Ash Wednesday (Psalm 51), Services @ 10AM & 6PM, NO Soup Supper

February 21st: Lent 1 Midweek (Psalm 6), Services @ 10AM & 6PM, Soup Supper @ 5PM

February 28th: Lent 2 Midweek (Psalm 38), Services @ 10AM & 6PM, Soup Supper @ 5PM

March 6th: Lent 3 Midweek (Psalm 32), Services @ 10AM & 6PM, Soup Supper @ 5PM

March 13th: Lent 4 Midweek (Psalm 130), Services @ 10AM & 6PM, Soup Supper @ 5PM

Marth 20th: Lent 5 Midweek (Psalm 143), Services @ 10AM & 6PM, Soup Supper @ 5PM

March 28th @ 6PM: Holy Thursday Service

March 29th @ 6PM: Good Friday Service (Psalm 102)

March 30th: Easter Vigil Service of Readings @ St. Paul’s in Grants Pass *CHECK BACK LATER FOR THE TIME*

March 31st @ 10AM: Easter Sunday

The Lord bless and keep you all this Lenten season as we reflect upon our need for His redemptive work.

– Pastor Laws

Services for the Christmas Season and Epiphany

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, greetings!

As we prepare for the Twelve Days of Christmas (Dec 25th-Jan 5th), I wanted to share with you all our special services which will take place beyond our normal Sunday morning Divine Service:

– Christmas Eve service: 6 pm on Sunday, 12/24.
– Christmas Day Divine Service: 10 am on Monday, 12/25.
– Matins service for the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs: 10 am on Thursday, 12/28.

and to start the season of Epiphany, which runs from Jan 6th to Ash Wednesday:

– Vespers service for Epiphany: 6 pm on Saturday, 1/6/24.

I pray you will be able to attend some or all of these services and hear of the gifts which Christ brings to us in His Incarnation and Nativity!

Peace in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Pastor Laws