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.
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