Workshop with Pastor Rob
Pastor Rob joined us for the third time to continue our discussion of our vision and mission on Saturday, April 13. We had to meet in the lounge again, as the funeral lunch for the Ray Beier family was being served in the Fellowship Hall. Thanks, team, for coming through again for our grieving family. I was a bit late for this workshop because of the funeral and lunch. Others were helping with the funeral lunch, so our numbers for this workshop were down a bit from our first two.
Rob presented the results of the survey that he distributed at the last workshop, and the group discussed. I have scanned that report, and you can view the analysis here. The original is in color, but you figure it out, as the graph bars are in the same order as the key at the top of the graph.
In the next part of the workshop, Rob asked the question: Why do we do what we do? What are our values? "What values do we want our 18-year-old members to live when they graduate from high school?" The group identified regular worship attendance as a value, with the following sub-notes:
- Spiritual renewal - forgiveness of sins
- Respect/Honor God
- Community/ Social -- strength through human connection
- Transcendence -- contact/connection with God, humility
Additional discussion focused on the question "What are our strengths? What resources are available to us? Congregations should consider their capacity to mourn and offer grace.
Palm Sunday and the Three Days
The Streetsweeper expressed his thanks the opportunity to tell his story on Palm Sunday. Our Maundy Thursday service went well -- attendance was about 35. Hoping for a bit bigger group tonight for Good Friday, but the rain may discourage a few. Plans are good for Sunday -- breakfast at 8:30. This will be a hot breakfast, pancakes and sausage. So hope you can all make it to celebrate our Lord's resurrection!
Chapel Time for Preschool
On Wednesday 9:30 am and Thursday 9:30 am, 1:00 pm I led chapel for the preschool. These sessions are held in the chapel, with two or three classes attending each session. For this chapel time I focused on both Good Friday and Easter. Good Friday can be scary for the kids, but The Spark children's Bible does a good job of telling the story. And the kids seem to know pretty well that Good Friday sadness transforms into Easter joy with the resurrection.
Affirmation of Ordination Vows
Every Tuesday of Holy Week, the synod sponsors a special service for pastoral leaders at which we receive laying on of hand and prayers, and we renew our ordination or consecration vows. We also receive a small vial of olive oil that we can use in our pastoral care ministry. This year's service was held at St. John's in Tiffin, and was followed by a tasty luncheon. I was able to connect with Pastors Jim and Ken, who I will be working with to lead four days of camp at Camp Luther for our confirmation youth June 4-7. I will be attending a planning meeting this week on Thursday morning to help complete the planning for this camp.
Update on people
Tonya H. is still gaining strength at St. Clare Commons in Perrysburg, and is scheduled for her procedure at UTMC on Tuesday morning this coming week. Dean and Arlene were back in worship on Palm Sunday, so it was good to see them. Stuart and Diane are working their way back to Ohio, if they are not here already. Keep these folks in your prayers.
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