Fall Gatherings and Bishop's Bakeoff
This is a repeat from last week, but repeating it to be sure we get a good turnout from St. John's: Register Today! Do you like homemade desserts and finger food? Are you looking for a fun, relaxing evening? Are you interested in connecting with people in your community and sharing ministry ideas? Then join us for the annual NWOS Fall Gatherings! We will be coming together to share communion, prayer and conversation. We will celebrate how the Holy Spirit is moving through our communities. We will look to the Book of Acts to see how we can renew our commitment to be Christ in and for the world! (Copied from the flyer, which you can view here. This is an excellent way to connect with others in our synod who are in our area. The meeting for our area is Faith in Fremont, on Tuesday, October 22, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. You can register online here.
Photography by Kleins begins next weekend
Over the past several weekends, you've seen Cindy Klein and Pat Olsen in the narthex doing signups for our new congregational picture directory before and after services. If you haven't signed up yet, be sure to do so this weekend. Cindy and Pat will begin making phone calls to families who have not yet signed up to ascertain their participation and to schedule a sitting time. The Kleins will be photographing Saturday, Sunday and Monday, October 19th , 20th , and 21st , and Saturday and Sunday, October 26th and 27th. Some things to remember: Each family who sits for photography will receive a complimentary 8x10 portrait, and additional portraits will be available for purchase, with delivery before Christmas guaranteed. The directory will be available online on a password protected web page, and hard copy directories will also be printed and made available.
Bishop Daniel Confirmation session canceled
You may remember that Bishop Daniel came to St. John's in November for an Eastern Conference confirmation youth event, with many youth from our conference attending. We scheduled Bishop Daniel again for this year, but at Zion Sandusky, for Wednesday, November 20. Unfortunately, another commitment arose which made it necessary for him to cancel our event. We'll try again next year.
Confirmation - Move to Second Table
Do you know the Two Tables of the Law with regard to the Ten Commandments? We have finished the first three commandments which comprise the first table of the law, which speak of our relationship to God. This week we began our study of the second table, Commandments 4-10 which speak of our relationship with our neighbor. We began with the Fourth Commandment: Honor your Father and your Mother. What does this mean? We are to fear and love God so that we do despise or anger our parents or others in authority, but respect, obey, love and serve them. Since we spent much of our time reviewing the first table of the Law, we will begin our study of the second table with the Fourth Commandment next week.
Transition Team gathering
On Sunday afternoon, Paul and Karen Lieber hosted members of the Transition Team and spouses/friends for a cookout and potluck at their home. This continued the tradition of tasty treats at our Transition Team meetings from February through the end of September. Many thanks to team members Paul, Dale, Mike, Tonya, Sue for their hard work and service, amidst the challenges of some health issues, and deaths of family members. The fruit of their labor, the Ministry Site Profile, was passed to the Call Committee on Sunday, September 29.
Call Committee Update
The Call Committee met after worship last Sunday, with the main agenda being review of the Ministry Site Profile. They will hopefully have the review completed and ready for approval by Council at the Tuesday night meeting. Other work that the Call Committee will need to do is review and plan questions to ask candidates, and do a mock interview with a neighboring pastor (Pastor Scott, perhaps?) as the guinea pig. The Call Process facilitators are meeting twice this month to interview candidates who are looking for new calls. Once the MSP is submitted and approved by Bishop Daniel, and the written reference is submitted, synod can begin to share St. John's profile with possible candidates.
Visit to Willows
On Thursday I headed to the Willows to visit our members there, including the most recent (hopefully temporary) additon, Carol H., who is recovering from a fall resulting in a broken shoulder and hip. Ellen D. is still there, and looking ahead to some doctor appointments. Ellen hadn't seen Carol yet, so I wheeled her down the hall and around the corner to Carol's room, where I was able to offer Communion to both at the same time. On Sunday afternoon I visited Marabelle at Countryside in Fremont. She seems to be resting comfortably.
Rocky's new Green Beast
I was making a cup of coffee in the lounge kitchen when a Green Beast motored by the window. It was Rocky riding his new John Deer lawn tractor, cutting the grass. I chased him down to get a closer look at this very fine machine. It is huge and beautiful, and according to Rocky, brand new. I don't remember the model number, but it has three cutting blades and cuts a 60" swatch. Get that church lawn done pronto. Thanks, Rocky, for this generous in-kind contribution to St. John's!
First Wedding planned
My first wedding since coming to St. John's as interim is scheduled for January 4 for Alohoea and Tom Lowrey's daughter Melissa and her fiance Donnie. I'll be meeting with them on Sunday to begin the plans for their wedding, which will take place in Sandusky.
Fundraiser for Pastor Brown through October
We'll keep the fund raiser for Pastor Alan Brown and his family, who lost everything in a house fire recently through the month of October. Pastor Brown was installed as pastor of Solomon in Woodville in July. Want to give something right now? Go here, which is a link to St. John's online giving page. On the first line, in the "To" drop down box, click the dropdown arrow and choose "Pastor Brown Family". If you add your current address, Breeze will find you and automatically add your contribution to your giving statement. Note that you can give using either your credit card or your bank account (ACH).
Zoom Interim Pastors Meeting today (Friday)
Every second Friday of the month I meet on Zoom (online video meeting) from 11:00 until 12:30 with a group of interim pastors from coast to coast including one in Germany. We discuss what's happening in our interim congregations, and share questions and resources, and pray together. This is organized through the Interim Ministry Network, an interdenominational organization that provides training and resources for pastors working in transitional (interim) ministry.
Diakonia group finishing New Testament course
Our Diakonia group has been on a whirlwind tour of the New Testament, taught by Pr. Jim Lehmann of St. John's in Port Clinton. The last two sessions are comprised of each class member making a presentation on one or more New Testament books. The Second course on Church History, taught by Pr. Scott, will begin on October 17. I still need to plan a "Diakonia Sunday" where our participants can tells us about the experience.
Busy week next week
- Sunday - Call Committee meeting after worship
- Monday - Stewardship Team meets to assemble packets (Stewardship letter, giving card, giving statement) for the Stewardship program in November
- Tuesday - Executive at 6 and Council at 7 pm
- Wednesday - Confirmation at 7 pm
- Thursday - Bible study at 10 and Synod Interim pastors at 1pm
- Saturday - Kleins begin photography
No comments:
Post a Comment