In 2004, a new lighted sign was erected at the corner of Route 422 and-Rupp Church Road, which not only identifies our church location, but is an evangelism tool for ministry. There were many church members who donated toward the cost of the sign. Other improvements this year were the replacement of two of our large furnaces, accessing city water to replace the well, having the parking lot tarred and chipped and the replacement of roof shingles, downspouts and gutters on the entire church. There were two significant bequests given to the congregation by the estates of Mildred Mergenthaler and Hazel Clark to begin the process of putting air conditioning in the church. Many other monetary donations were also given by various church members for this purpose. We held an Ice Cream Festival in August and a soup sale in November, The money raised from these events helped pay off the loan for the roof and the resurfacing of the parking lot. Air conditioning was installed in the church in June, 2005. In 2006, a new Sunday School class was begun for those ages 18 - 40. A Shepherding Committee was formed, whose purpose was to provide a ‘shepherd’ — one who assumes a caring, oversight-type relationship — for every member of the congregation. We participated with other Lutheran churches in the area in a Reformation Sunday service at Kittanning Twp. Firehall. After a year of, planning and fundraising, our Youth Group attended the National Youth Convocation in San Antonio, Texas. Several members f our parish traveled to Mississippi with a group from our ynod and provided aid to the hurricane and flood victims. -17-