Interim Update for October 18, 2019

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.

Church directory photography begins tomorrow

Doug and Cindy Klein are ready to begin the process of photographing members of the congregation for a new picture directory. I hope you've all signed up and if you haven't, it's not too late. Photography will happen again next weekend so if you haven't signed up for a sitting yet be sure to do so.

Call Committee Update

The Call Committee continues its work on finishing up the Ministry Site Profile. They worked for several hours after worship this past Sunday and we'll meet again on November 3rd.

Confirmation Class Studies 4th Commandment

After a good look at the first three commandments, sometimes referred to as the first table of the law, (deals with our relationship to God) we moved on to begin our study of the second table of the law (deals with our relationship to our neighbors), beginning 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 not despise or anger our parents or others in authority, but respect, obey, love and serve them.

You can view the PowerPoint of the presentation here.

Education Team and parents complete planning for fall youth event

The Education Team and several confirmation youth parents met Wednesday during the confirmation session to plan one of several special fun events for Confirmation youth. Our first event will be a scavenger hunt with a Holloween theme on Sunday, October 27, from 4-7 pm. Thanks, everyone, for your time in planning this. Looks like it will be a fun event.

Stewardship Team preps for program

The Stewardship Team met on Monday for a work session to assemble the mailing for this year's Stewardship Program, focusing on the theme "How Much is Enough." We are spending the four weeks of our emphasis focusing on four stewardship principles to guide and direct our lives as Christian stewards. Those principles and the accompanying events are as follows:

• October 27 -- Gratitude as one’s basic approach to life: All stewardship begins in gratitude to God as the Giver of life, salvation and health. Bulletin insert
• November 3 -- Stewardship is counter-cultural: Our culture tries to convince us to measure our worth by the impressiveness of our possessions. We are blessed to be part of a community of faith that helps us resist the lure of measuring our lives according to material riches. Bulletin Insert
• November 10 -- Stewardship entails a life of care for the neighbor: The Gospel sets us free for sharing God’s love with others. Stewardship packets will be distributed and mailed
• November 17 --Giving as a spiritual discipline: The value of giving for us is that it is a freely chosen spiritual discipline to help us worship God above everything else. Congregational luncheon after worship, with annual meeting to follow

Interim Pastors meeting and visits

On Thursday I attended the synod interim pastors meeting at synod office in Findlay. These are always helpful and inspiring meetings. On the way home I visited Cleora B. at her assisted living residence in Tiffin. At age 92 she does very well, and appreciates receiving Holy Communion, as it is not something that is provided by the facility. In another visit this week, I brought communion to Debbie C., mother of Vanessa K., who is her primary care giver in her home. On Saturday I visited Marabelle in Fremont -- she seems to be holding her own, but still under hospice care.

Diakonia begins new course

Our Diakonia participants (Jan, Rocky, Nancy, Joyce, and Rebecca) began a new course this week -- Church History. Instructor is Pastor Scott. Just a reminder, each course lasts five weeks, six courses each year, for a total of 12 courses. Would still like to do a temple talk some Sunday about this program, but not ask everyone to participate, maybe one or two.

Busy week ahead

• Saturday - Photography begins
• Sunday - Photography continues
• Monday - Photography continues
• Tuesday
  • Preschool temple talk
  • Orchard Grove and Bellevue Care communion
  • Fall Meeting with the Bishop (see registration info above)
• Wednesday
  • Preschool temple talk
  • Mandatory pastors meeting with the Bishop in Fremont
  • Confirmation
• Thursday
  • Preschool temple talk
  • Bible Study