Update on people
On Saturday visited Sandra W. at Admiral Pointe in Huron, and Tom L. is getting resettled at Providence Commons in the same unit that was in before he went home. Sandra is in the rehab department at AP, so not sure if or when she will be returning to her home in Bellevue. On Thursday traveled to Fremont to visit Anabelle S., who moved there from Willows recently. Tonya H. is scheduled for surgery on May 30, so will need to touch base with her before then. Been good to see Diane and Stuart M. back in church. Stuart's sister will be staying with them while her husband is in the hospital, as she is unable to stay home by herself. Diane is asking for prayers. I've made an attempt to check on Charley and Sandy B., but haven't made a connection yet.
Computer Wifi upgrades almost complete
ACC, our IT service and support provider, has been finishing up the work we have contracted them to do. They noted that the virus protection on my computer hadn't been updated, so all I had to do was refrain from using my computer for a few minutes while the ACC tech person logged into my computer remotely, updated the virus protection, and that was it. One thing that still needs done is a cable to be run to the narthex area so that a strong wifi signal can reach there and the sanctuary. To do this, a hole needs to be drilled through the concrete/plaster wall. Lenny will be doing this, hopefully sometime next week, and once that's done the job can be completed. There are now two wireless network names - StJohns and StJohns-guest. Both are password protected, but the StJohns-guest is the network that anyone other than office staff will connect to. It has a simple password, which I'll be happy to give to anyone who wants it.
Plans for Senior Summer Celebration continue
At our last Council meeting, Pat suggested that we plan a lunch/celebration event for seniors and singles in the congregation, and a motion to hold such an event was unanimously approved. On Wednesday, we held our first planning meeting, with Pat, Marlene, Minetta and I in attendance. Our initial planning is going well -- preliminary info will go out in the June newsletter. I have contacted activities directors at Orchard and Bellevue Care, and they sound interested in bringing some of their residents. We now have an entertainment "Main Event" for this activity -- The Harmonica Man from Fremont. Randy has presenting harmonica performance shows for the past 58 years. He was performing for the residents at Parkview Care Center in Fremont on Thursday when I went to visit Annabelle there. I was so impressed and entertained by his performance that I told him about our event in July for seniors, and asked him how much he charges. $150 he said. Checked with Pat and we agreed that this was a good idea. For more info about Harmonica Man, go here. Scroll down to the "about" info. The date for our event is Wednesday, July 17, noon - 2pm. Not that it matters, but Randy, Harmonica Man, is a Lutheran, a member of St. John's in Fremont.
ELCA Worship News
You can read the lastest issue of ELCA Worship News here.
ELCA Pastor arrested and detained by ICE
You can read about this here.
Best Church Websites
I think we could have a better website than we do. Our current one is not even under our control. Yes, Andrew has made a few requested changes, but perhaps a do over is in order. Want to see what a good church website looks like? You can see some examples here.
What is wrong with the church?
We sometimes ask that question, don't we? Not only THE church, but OUR church. Pastor David Hansen, an ELCA pastor in Texas, and a frequent writer and presenter on effective communication for congregations in the digital era (I attended one of his workshops during my time in Minnesota in 2015), offers some ansers to that question here.
Funeral today for Pr. Vance's wife, Barbara
Today I attended the funeral for Barbara Vance, wife of Pr. Ray Vance. Ray has been a colleague and friend for many years -- during the years I served at St. Peter in Norwalk, Ray was the pastor at Zion in Huron, from which he moved to retirement several years ago. I would see him regularly at Eastern Conference pastors meetings. The funeral was held at St. John in Port Clinton where both Ray and Barbara were members as children, youth and young adults. Barabara's brother is Frank, and is married to Mollie, who were members of my first interim congregation - Trinity in Vermilion. So it was good to see them again. Also present was Pr. Paul Stengel. During the fellowship time after the service, Pr. Paul told of how he grew up in Bellevue while his dad was pastor at St. Paul's Lyme from the '20's through the '40's, I think Paul said. Your can read the obituary for Barbara here.
Seeds Monthly May issue available
Seeds Monthly is an ELCA publication of ministry ideas and resources for congregations. The May issue can be read here.
Bishop Daniel's weekly message
You can read it here.
Terri B. requesting prayers
Terri B. has requested prayers for her daughter, Kennedy, who boards the plane for mission trip to Africa this Sunday, May 26th. She will be there for a month.
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