Interim Update for April 5, 2019

Out with the old, in with the new

The navy blue (official Ford color: Kona Blue) Mustang in the parking lot will no longer be an indication of my presence at the church. After eight years and 148,00 miles, we have parted ways. It served me well -- it had plenty of head and leg room, had good power (305 hp), delivered good gas mileage (up to 34 mpg on the highway), and, well, it was a Mustang. In its place, look for a "Silk Blue Metallic" VW Golf. It has some amazing tech, including auto slow down on cruise control, lane assist (let's you know if you veer out of your lane) and auto high beam dimmer.

Seminaries to Graduate Pastors this Spring

I received this information in one of my emails, with relevance for congregations in the call process:

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will graduate 108 pastors from its seminaries this Spring. The most recent report from the ELCA’s bishops indicates that there are 258 first call vacancies in the church, which means 150 will go unfilled. ELCA Region 6, of which the Northwestern Ohio Synod is a part, has need for 22 first call candidates and received 5. The Northwestern Ohio Synod received one pastoral candidate from the group. In this synod, at least 13 parishes are actively seeking a pastor (first call or otherwise), with others somewhere in a study process. Pray for those souls whom the Holy Spirit is stirring to follow God’s call. Do you know someone? Personally encourage them.

Update on our people/prayer list

Dean and Arlene are home. Haven't talked to them yet -- I was told that they hope to be in worship on Sunday. If not, will definitely stop in to check up on them. Stuart is continuing his recovery in Florida -- I have been told that speech has not returned, and swallowing is still a challenge. Sharon K. continues with her outpatient rehab several times a week, and is improving slowly but surely. I visited Tonya H. on Friday evening -- she is off the ventilator and has begun sitting on the side of the bed. Immediate future on where she will go next still being determined. Alohoea is doing much better -- still at Willows rehab, Tom still at assisted living at Providence Commons in Sandusky.

Church by the Numbers

"The number one reason for the decline in church attendance is that members attend with less frequency than they did just a few years ago." That's one of several observation on church attendance and vitality mentioned by Pr. Clint Schnekloth, an ELCA pastor in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Yes, there are Lutherans in Arkansas!) To read all of Pr. Clint's thoughts on this subject, you can go here.

Next Healthy Congregations Workshop next Saturday

Don't forget that Pastor Rob will be back next Saturday to lead us in our conversation and work regarding our vision and mission at St. John's. Also remember that our time is a bit different from previous workshops -- we will met from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm.

Palm tree planting party

Palm Sunday is a week from Sunday, and we need to plant some palm trees. Actually, we just to move the artificial ones from the basement storeroom to their assigned spots in the front of the sanctuary. The Worship and Music team is asking for assistance in this task, and have suggested 9:30 am next Saturday. That should be plenty of time before the Healthy Congregations workshop at 10:30.

Fundraiser for Kennedy wraps up

The fundraiser to assist Kennedy Black with her expenses to attend a mission trip to Uganda this summer has wrapped up. Bidding ended Thursday afternoon, and many picked up their treasures. I outbid Paul W. for the quart of Wilson maple syrup donated by Hannah M. If you got outbid, you can still contribute to Kennedy's cause -- just give Terri a call, or you can also leave a gift with Kristen in the church office.

Heavy trike traffik

St. John's Preschool kids pedaled their way through the halls, around obstacles, and past railroad tracks, all the while learning good triking skills as they raised money for St. Judes hospital. It's called a Trikeathon, and has long been a regular event at many preschools. St. Peter in Norwalk also did it every year. The preschool has a acquired a number of new bright yellow trikes that they will be able to use every year for this excellent activity and fundraiser.

Lent Series Continues - return to Fellowship Hall

We held our fourth midweek supper and worship on Wednesday evening. Many thanks to Minetta for some heavenly potato with ham and cheese soup, and Nancy and others who brought desserts. Our theme this year is "Continuing in the Covenant of Baptism," and focuses on the promises we make in the Affirmation of Baptism service. I have listed the themes below, and for the dates already concluded, linked my message for that service. Time is 6:00 for supper and service at 6:30. Done by 7:00 pm. Plan to come!

• March 13 To live among God's faithful people
• March 20 To hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper
• March 27 To proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed
• April 3 To serve all people, following the example of Jesus
• April 10 To strive for justice and peace in all the earth

Adult Bible Study continues

In our Sunday morning 9am and Thursday morning 10am gatherings we are getting into Bishop Daniel's study on the Sermon on the Mount. You are welcome and encouraged to join us!

First Thursday (and Wednesday) Committee Meetings

First Thursday of the month is a busy day, as three committees meet. Here's brief summary of our discussion/action items:

• Worship and Music
  • 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
• Stewardship
  • Continued discussion of theme resource "How Much is Enough"
  • Developed a month-by-month plan for the team's stewardship activities through the year
• Education and Youth
  • Reviewed plans for VBS, June 24-28
  • Discussion of Confirmation program plans for 2019-2020. Planned to invite parents of next year's sixth, seventh and eighth graders to a meeting on Wednesday, May 8, 6:30 pm to discuss options, including expanding the program to include 6th graders.
  • The Birthday Bags prepared last summer during VBS have been very popular at Fish and Loaves. This involves supplies (cake mix, frosting, candles) to make a birthday party cake. We will do another appeal for supplies to make more bags. Stay tuned for more details.
  • Sunday School kids will present "The Third Tree" of their "Three Trees" series on Palm Sunday (guess what the third tree was used for!). Also, last Sunday for Sunday School will be May 19. Sunday School kids will assist in leading worship that day.
  • Confirmation is May 5. We need to find someone to make cake and to be "official" photographer
• Evangelism
  • Met with Carol and Vickie at 5pm on Wednesday -- main area of discussion was what to do about Connection Cards. Possibility of returning to pew pads? Will bring it up for discussion at next Council meeting (April 25).

Bishop Daniel's weekly message

You can read it here.

Latest issue of NWOS eNews

You can read it here.