Friday, April 12, 2019

Interim Update for April 12, 2019

Transition Team Meeting

The Transition Team met on Sunday after worship. We watched the video "When Anxiety Strikes" featuring Dr. Pete Steinke -- this is the video we watched at our Council workshop last fall. We have schedued an Evening of Historical Reflection for Wendesday, May 15, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. This event will review the history of the congregation, and we will ask the important question "What does this mean for us as we look to the future?" For all you ice cream lovers out there, his event will include an ice cream social.

Healthy Congregations Workshop Saturday

A reminder that Pastor Rob will continue his work with us with regard to vision and mission at our next workshop, tomorrow, Saturday, April 13. The time is 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. Because of the funeral lunch in the Fellowship Hall, we will need to meet again in the Lounge. As a reminder of what we discussed at the last workshop, I have transcribed the responses that Pr. Rob wrote on the giant Post-It notes, which you can read here. I will be coming a bit late to the workshop, as I will be conducting the funeral for Ray Beier beginning at 10:00 am at Auxter Funeral Home.

Death of and funeral for Ray Beier

Received word Monday of the death of Ray Beier, as the result of being thrown from his three-wheeler ATV. He died at the scene. Many will remember Ray and Marlene as regular attenders at St. John's, sitting a pew or two in front of Dean and Arlene. Marlene preceded Ray in death in 2014. Visitation will be today (Friday) from 3-7 pm at Auxter Funeral home in Bellevue, and the funeral will be at 10:00 am tomorrow (Saturday), also at the funeral home. Burial will be at Bellevue City Cemetery, and a luncheon will follow at the St. John's Fellowship Hall. The obituary for Ray can be seen here.

Lent Series Concludes

We held our fifth and final midweek supper and worship on Wednesday evening. Many thanks to Jan L. for some most excellent chicken noodle soup, and to our dessert person as well. Mini-cheesecakes, yum! The final promise in the Affirmation of Baptism service is "To strive for justice and peace in all the earth." Here are all the messages, linked:

Schedule for Holy Week

  • Palm Sunday (and Saturday) -- we will do the Procession with Palms - after announcements the congregation will be invited to move to the narthex where the service will begin -- we will enter the sanctuary singing "All Glory Laud and Honor." "The Streetsweeper of Jerusalem" will bring the message, reporting on his perspective of that first Palm Sunday.
  • Maundy Thursday - 7:00 pm. Individual pronouncement of forgiveness will be a feature of this service
  • Good Friday - 7:00 pm. This service will feature a Reader's Theater reading of John's passion, a sermon, the Bidding Prayer, and the Solemn Reproaches at the end.
  • Easter Sunday - Continental breakfast at 8:30 am, festival worship at 10 am

People Update

Tonya has been gaining her strength at St. Clare Assisted Living in Perrysburg. Hopefully, she will be ready on Tuesday for the procedure she originally went to UTMC for. So she's doing much better, but still needs our prayers. Spoke with Dean on the phone -- they are hoping to get to church -- if not will stop at the house and visit. Emma K. has been giving us updates on Stuart M. in Florida. He still is not able to speak clearly. His family is planning to help bring him back to Ohio soon. Alohoea is now home, and is hoping Tom will be able to join her there soon.

Virtual Interim Pastors meeting

Once a month I have an online meeting using Zoom with other interim pastors around the US. This is through an organization called the Interim Ministry Network. Last June I attended this organization's Annual Conference. The April meeting was held today from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Similar in purpose to our synod interim pastors meeting, we meet to offer each other support, ideas, problem solving and prayers.

Bishop Daniel's weekly message

You can read it here.

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