"Why I Give" Statements and Upcoming Stewardship program
I will be completing early next week the printed preparations for our stewardship program, "Make it Simple" which will be included with Commitment Cards that will be distributed next weekend, November 10 and 11. As a part of that printed information, I have asked you to write a few sentences on the theme "Why I Give." The plan is to print these and include them with the commitment cards. The purpose is to inspire others to answer the same question "Why I give." So far I have received one, and would prefer about ten. You can email yours to me at mark@bogen.org.
The plan for our Stewardship has been to have four bulletin inserts (October 28, November 4, 11, 18), distribute Commitment Cards on November 11, and receive them back on November 18, culminating with a simple lunch of "Stewardship Stew" (or soup) prior to our Annual Meeting which will follow.
Seeds Monthly
"We’ve all heard it, and perhaps even said it: “Go jump in the lake!” Yet few realize that originally, according to some etymologists, the phrase was really “Go jump in the lake of fire,” a euphemism for “Go to hell” that comes from the book of Revelation’s descriptions for the final judgment of Satan and his followers (19:20)." This quotation for the current issue of Seeds Monthly, a resource for ELCA leaders, refers to a recent article in Living Lutheran about how the ELCA understands heaven and hell. You can read the issue in its entirety here.
ELCA Global Links
The latest issue of ELCA Global Links, a newsletter from Churchwide that highlights a number of things that are happening with the Global ministry of the ELCA and its companion churches around the world. You can read all about it here.
Prepare Workshop
One of the challenges that I encountered in my first call in Western North Dakota in 1981 was how I would prepare couples for marriage. Lucky for me, I learned of a new program that had recently been developed that used a pre-marriage survey, a computer printout summary of the results, and a method to share the results with couples. The program was called Prepare-Enrich. LSS in Bismarck offered a training day, and so I signed up, completed the training, and began using it with my pre-marriage couples. After using Prepare several times, I became a trainer and started to share this tool with other pastors. Over the past 35 years I have hosted dozens of training workshops, and trained hundreds of pastors. I don't charge for the training, only the cost for their training materials, which also makes them certified users of Prepare.
On Tuesday of this week, I led a workshop from 9am to 3pm for six synod pastors and a certified pastoral counselor at Zion Lutheran here in Huron, who offered space at no cost.
2019 Budget ready for review
Shaun, working with Council and the various Ministry Teams of the the congregation, has completed the proposed budget for 2019, scheduled to be presented for approval at the November 18 Meeting of the Congregation. A copy of the budget has been prepared for each active family, and will be available at this weekend's worship services. Those not picked up this weekend will be sent out in the mail on Monday morning.
Confirmation Mentors almost ready to go
On Wednesday evening, we had an initial meeting of mentors that we have recruited to work with our confirmation youth on a one-to-one basis beginning this month, and continuing through the month of April. There will be a total of ten 1/2 hour mentoring sessions on Wednesday evenings, form 6:30 to 7:00, dovetailing with either confirmation class sessions or Advent or Lenten worship services. So far we have found four mentors for our six youth. One more male and one more female are still needed.
Installation for Pastors Schroeder
No, that's not a misspelling of the word "pastor."For about the last three years, both St. Paul Sandusky and Zion Huron have been in the call process for a new pastor. Recently, a clergy couple was called to St. Paul's and Huron: Pr. William Schroeder to St. Paul, and his spouse, Kristine Schroeder, to Zion in Huron. A service of installation was held Thursday evening, which was begun at Zion, during which Pr. Kris was installed. Then everyone traveled to St. Paul for the service of installation for Pr. William at. Refreshments were served in the St. Paul Fellowship Hall following the service. It was an inspirational evening celebrating ministry of Word and Sacrament in our Eastern Conference.
Ministry Matters Link
The latest issue of Ministry Matters sent by Terri includes reflections on the recent massacre at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsurgh, including the questions and issues of anti-semitism, violence in our places of worship, and answering the question "Who is my neighbor?" You can retrieve the issur from Terri's email, and you can also view it here.
Visits
Visited Rich and Linda B. on Sunday prior to Rich's hip replacement on Wednesday. Followed up with Rich at Fremont hospital on Wednesday afternoon. He's doing well and should be home by now, but both could use our continued prayers for healing and recovery.
What is the Discipleship Initiative?
In his weekly email, Bishop Daniel quotes the letter written by our Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton in response to the Tree of Life Synagogue shootings. He also speaks of a new synod program, The Discipleship Initiative. This initiative will help members of our synod congregations to
- Grow in their own discipleship;
- Learn and practice the skills to make disciples who make disciples;
- Transform their communities with the promise of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Discipleship Initiative Exploratory Team is hard at work on the planning for this initiative. Stay tuned. Hopefully this will be a valuable resource for St. John's. You can read Bp. Daniel's message in its entirety here.
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