Interim Update for February 22

A Lifetime of Faithfulness

On Tuesday of this week I learned that Ruth Paul had been placed under hospice care. I visited her that afternoon -- Roger and Ann had just returned from time with family in Atlanta. Jan L., who had Ruth as a member of the choir for many years, and had continued to visit her regularly at the Willows, was also present. We did a service of Commendation, releasing her to God's care. Ruth died that evening, just a few weeks short of what would have been her 101st birthday. Funeral service will be next Tuesday, February 26, 11 am at St. John's, with visitation from 10 until time of service. Committal service will follow at Bellevue Cemetery, and then luncheon in Fellowship Hall. We thank God for a lifetime of faithfulness by Ruth. She is truly a legacy member of St. John's, having been baptized, confirmed, and married at St. John's. You can read the obituary here.

Preschool Temple Talks

Last fall I arranged with Preschool Director Linda to do the monthly Temple Talk for the preschool kids on an every-other-month basis. This week it was my turn again, so on Wednesday morning and afternoon, and Thursday morning I had fun with the kids. We sang a song about Noah's Ark and I read the story of the flood from the SPARK Children's Bible. I'll get to do it again in April.

ELCA Legal Checklist Webinar

Resources people at ELCA Churchwide broadcast a webinar on Thursday, February 21, at 1 pm. Shaun S. viewed the webinar from the church office, and I viewed it with other synod interim pastors as the first hour of our monthly meeting at the synod office. This webinar provided lots of helpful legal information which is important and even crucial for congregational leaders to be aware of and act on. A checklist was provided which provided the agenda and formed the content of the webinar. You can view a copy of the checklist here, and I would also refer you to the ELCA website Legal page, which, although does not provide legal advice, nevertheless provides valuable and helpful information regarding Employees and Volunteers, Financial issues, Property, Sexual Misconduct and Taxes.

Site Evaluation by Advanced Computer Connections (ACC)

On Tuesday, Drake from ACC in Norwalk came to evaluate our computer, network and wireless internet connection situation, identify our pain, and propose some possible solutions. The pains include computers that need OS upgrades (from Windows 7 and 8.1 to Windows 10), a more powerful wireless system to reach all areas of the building, and more functional networking. Part of our problem is not knowing administrative usernames and passwords, especially for our shared drive. Drake will send us an estimate of what needs done and how much it will cost.

Synod eNews

The latest issue of Northwestern Ohio Synod eNews is now available. This issue includes devotions written by synod pastors for monthly council meetings. It comes a bit late, as it is for January through December, and we could have used the one for February written by Pastor Christ Young. Anyway, there's a lot more, and you can read all about it here.

Photos from Winter Park

I had a very good continuing education experience in Winter Park from February 10 through 15. Drs. Barbara Rossing and Michael Chan, who have both taught at our ELCA seminaries, provided insights on the book of Revelation in morning and evening sessions. Worship planned and led by group participants was both inspiring and on the mark. The skiing was unparalleled during a week that dropped about a foot of fresh snow on the mountain, and A ski area that provides over a hundred and sixty runs with 3000 feet of vertical elevation. I have posted some photos here, which are from both 2018 and 2019 events.

ELCA Worship News for February

The latest issue of ELCA Worship News is available here.

Latest issues of STEW-About-It

Pastor Kent Wilson, our Synod Director of Leadership Development for Congregational Vitality, keeps the Stewardship resources coming our way. The latest issues of the STEW-About-It newsletters have been published. They are linked below.

• Issue 7
• Issue 8

ELCA Seeds Monthly

Seeds Monthy is a collection of resources and ideas for congregations to use in their outreach ministries. The latest issue can be found here.

God's Work Our Hands is September 8

God's Work Our Hands is an ELCA-wide event that encourages congregations to plan and execute a day of service. Is this something that we could get together and do this year? You can find out more in the invitation letter linked here.

Interim Update for February 8, 2019

Boiler Update

Yayy!! We are back to full-strength in the boiler room! On Tuesday, a crew from Hartland Mechanical Services installed a new boiler, replacing the failed and "cannibalized for parts" boiler. It's a thing of beauty -- go down and check it out! Along with the other disabled boiler which was repaired last week, we are much better prepared for the next onslaught of extra-cold weather.

Committee Meetings

Three committees met on Thursday, Worship, Stewardship and Education and Youth. Here are a few details from each meeting

• Worship -- more conversation and planning regarding Lenten services and Holy Week services. We decided to go ahead with the plan for a light supper and worship around the tables in the fellowship hall. Time will be 6:00 supper, with worship from 6:30 - 7:00. Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday will all be one service each day at 7:00 pm. We learned of Bellevue Ministerial plans for Lent and Good Friday, but decided not to alter our schedule based on those plans.
• Stewardship -- started making plans for 2019 Stewardship Emphasis in the fall
• Education and Youth -- we asked parents of next years confirmation youth to attend so we could discuss various possibilities for the program in terms of day, time and locati. There should be one eighth grader and four seventh graders, four boys and one girl.

Healthy Congregations Workshop

Our first Healthy Congregations Workshop was held last weekend -- we had a good turnout, and, I thought a good workshop -- the focus was on controlling anxiety in the congregational system. Our next workshop has been scheduled for Saturday, March 16, and will actually be the second half of Workshop 1 -- and the focus will be developing a mission and vision statement for the congregation. The newly appointed Endowment Trust task force and the yet to be appointed Transition Team will be invited to this workshop. And just a reminder -- everyone who receives the weekly blog is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Computer network checkup scheduled

On Tuesday, February 19, a representative from Advanced Computer Connections in Norwalk will visit and evaluate our computer, networking and wireless setup, to evaluate our needs and advise us on what's necessary to improve, upgrade, and update our system. This is a no-cost-no-obligation evaluation. If you have concerns that you'd like to see addressed, let us know so we can pass that on. I know preschool is having less wireless coverage now that their Treasurer office has moved.

Confirmation mini-retreat tonight

Confirmation youth, their leaders and mentors are all here at the church on Friday evening for a mini-retreat, which started out with a very yummy potluck feast. Then a mentoring session, then songs, service project, learning games, and later a movie. In the past this has been an overnight, but we're going to wrap things up and head home after the movie.

Transition of Camp Mowana to new owners

Some of you may know that our beloved Camp Mowana has been sold to the Trust for Public Land with the Richland County Park District the long term steward of the propery. I'm guessing the Fleming Falls Retreat Center will still be available for congregation rental groups, but you can read more about it here. This is one of the marks of the aging of our ELCA and NWOS -- less children to keep all our camps viable. Youth camping will find its focus at Lutheran Memorial Camp near Fulton, and Camp Luther will remain the focus for family camp, all still administered by LOMO (Lutherans Outdoor Ministries in Ohio).

Legal check list

WEBINAR; LEGAL CHECK-LIST FOR CONGREGATIONS: Mon., Feb. 21, at 1 PM Toledo time/12 Noon Chicago time. It’s free but registration closes on Friday, Feb. 15. For further info, go here. Shaun has registered for this seminar, and others are certainly also welcome. The more that we are aware of the legal ins and outs our congregations face, the better.

Building on the Black Church’s Bible Legacy

February is Black History month, and in our churches we should become more aware of how the Black experience shaped their approach to Christian faith, and how we can learn from that response. Some have suggested that the black churches have led our country in Scripture-savvy. Others have suggested that African Americans are the only racial group in the US that sees the Bible as more important for the moral fabric of the country than the Constitution. You can read more about it here.

Family Devotions for Valentines Day

FAMILY BIBLE DEVOTION for VALENTINE’S DAY from Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Ohio Materials needed: Bible – Time needed: 15-20 minutes Read together 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Very time the word “love” is said, have everyone stand up. Read the passage a second time and replace the word love with God For example, verse 4 would read: “God is patient; God is kind....” Read he passage one more time insert your family members’ names where it says love. What does this author seem to think is more important than anything else? What is one of the things that the author says about love? This passage is often read at weddings. Do you think the author is talking about a romantic love or something else? What surprised y ou about this when you replaced the word love with God or your own name? Could yousal all of that about God? Yourself? Close together in prayer.

Synod eNews for February

The February 1 issue of Northwestern Ohio eNews is available here.

Visits this week

Went to the Willows to visit our members there - Carol, Beth, Betty, Hazel, Ruth and Maribelle. Maribelle S. is doing some rehab, and Betty N. had been in the hospital, but is doing better and is back home to the Willows.

Pastor Scott is backup

Remember that Pastor Scott has agreed to handle any emergencies. You can reach him at

• 765.343.2275 cell
• 567.201.2271 home

A reminder of my schedule next week

Just another reminder that I am leaving Sunday morning, February 10, and will return late Friday, February 15. I will be attending a continuing education event called Theoprobe at Winter Park, Colorado.

Interim Update for February 1, 2019

Healthy Congregations Workshop ready to Go

Yesterday I had a phone conversation with Pr. Rob Johnson from Holy Trinity in Toledo. He had a few more questions about St. John's, so that he can tailor the workshop to our particular situation. He will be leading Healthy Congregations Workshop 1, a description of which I shared last week, but will again here:

An introduction to thinking of your congregation as an "emotional field" that can be driven by the wind of anxiety rather than reflective faith and devotion to Jesus, with a focus on strengths, and mission mindedness.

I had asked for RSVP's and some of you replied, but all who receive the Update are welcome and encouraged to attend. We'll get going by 9am, and should be done no later than 1. I'll plan to stop and pick up some bakery goodies, and make a pot of coffee. We will be meeting in the lounge -- that will be the warmest place for us. Hope to see many of you in the morning!

Boiler report

It's been an interesting and challenging time for us at St. John's with only one of three boilers operating as the coldest weather in these parts in decades moved in Tuesday. Sunday School and adult class were canceled last Sunday, and, on recent days when schools have not been closed because of the cold (which automatically closes us at St. John's), the preschool only held school for classes in our warmer rooms. Worship last weekend was held both Saturday and Sunday, although temps in the sanctuary hung little more than 60 degrees. On Sunday there was a better than otherwise expected turnout because of the baptism of Ella Burkhart, with many family members in attendance.

The parts for the second boiler arrived this past week, and were installed and the boiler operating by noon on Wednesday. With the building being so cold, and the near-zero temps hanging around through much of the day Thurusday, there was some warming in the building - the sanctuary is back to 60 degrees, and we expect that to improve with more time. The hallways, and upstairs areas were still very chilly late Thursday afternoon.

With regard to the third boiler, this needed either repaired or replaced, and the company that did the repairs to #2 on Wednesday gave us a verbal quote to repair or replace. We checked with a local contractor who quoted us a price at a much lower cost, and could install a new unit early next week. Thanks to Mike, Lenny and Ron who have been doing lots to get this situation under control. The warmer temps expected for this weekend will be a blessing, also.

Emergency Management Service request

On Monday I received a phone call for Erie County Emergency Management Services. They were looking for churches that would open their doors as shelters as the polar vortex approached. I told the person on the the phone that we were having heating problems in the church. I didn't mention the preschool, because they weren't going to be in the building, but in other situations that, too, would be a factor. I told her no, we couldn't help in that way. I asked her if she had received any positive response from the churches, and she said no. No church has offered to be a shelter, or returned her call from those she left messages with.

Perhaps something to think about. St. Peter in Norwalk has been an officially designated shelter for decades. There are cots stored under the steps going down to the fellowship hall. There were one or two occasions that I remember when it was utilized as a shelter. I don't remember the circumstances -- might have been either a flood or power outage. And Red Cross volunteers staffed the situation, so it didn't require congregational volunteers. I was a little surprised that I was receiving a call from EMS, that such plans had not been in place earlier, instead a day or two before the cold moved in.

Administration Matters

Administration Matters is a bimonthly e-newsletter for ELCA congregational and synodical leaders. It addresses common, practical issues including finance, governance, risk management, tax, legal concerns and topics of interest about day to day operations and management in church settings. You can read the current issue here.

Who will replace Pastor Mark?

As I head off to continuing education at Winter Park, Colorado on Sunday morning, February 10, just a reminder of who my replacements will be. Pr. Richard Weaver will be our supply pastor for both Saturday and Sunday. In the event of a pastoral emerency, Pastor Scott has agreed to cover. You can reach him at

• 765.343.2275 cell
• 567.201.2271 home

Just a reminder that I will return home late Friday night, February 15.

Report Report Report

This past week I have been gathering info and preparing three separate reports:

• The ELCA Congregational Report -- this is an annual statistical report that is sent to ELCA Churchwide Office of the Secretary, and asks for changes in baptized and confirmed membership, numbers of members removed through death and transfer, number of active members, among other things. There are financial figures that are requested, including total income and expense, amounts for mission support and benevolence. Shaun will complete this portion of the report. It is due every year on February 15. A worksheet is provided which we will complete, and Kristen will go online to enter and submit the information.
• Every year, rostered leaders (pastors, deacons) are required to submit a report of their ministries to our synodical bishops. This includes updated contact info, what we feel have been the three (3) most significant developments, events or accomplishments in your personal and professional life, what resources we may need to help us. The form also asks us to list our continuing education and significant learnings thereof. Also info on our compensation agreements. This has normally been due also on February 15, but I see that the new deadline is March 31. Anyway, it's done.
• Pastor's report for Annual Meeting -- I have prepared a written message, and a parochial report, listing all pastoral acts, and have reported on attendance. Although this will be printed in the annual report books that will be available beginning February 17, you can get a sneak-peak here.

Rescheduled Rescheduled Rescheduled

These three words identify what has happened to our next meeting of our confirmation youth with their mentors. There has been no school on the last three Wednesdays, which then has also cancelled Confirmation. A mentoring session was scheduled for the first weather day, and then rescheduled for the second and third times with the subsequent class cancellations. We're one for this coming Wednesday evening at from 6:30 - 7:00 pm after which Cindy and I will try to get caught up at least at bit on our lessons. We are in the middle of a unit on Holy Baptism.

Bible Survey Course will resume on Sunday

The Bible overview course that started last month will continue on Sunday. We're using a video course from Dr. Harry Wendt and the Crossways organization called "The Bible for Busy People." Dr. Wendt gets our toes wet with a quick over view of the Bible message -- for the next two sessions he'll give a more detailed explanation of a "Biblical Timeline," getting us up to our knees, and his hope that we will be inspired to jump into Bible study up to our necks with more in depth and detail study of the Scriptures, become "biblical bloodhounds," as Dr. Wendt likes to say.

Bishop Daniel's latest message

"By now, you may be getting a bit bogged down in your Daily Bible Reading by all of the instructions and details. In the last half of Exodus, we move from the narrative of God and God’s people, to a bunch of commands, ordinances, and regulations." You can read the rest of Bp. Daniel's message here.