Stewardship Packets ready for distribution
The Stewardship Team has been been working hard to prepare the Stewardship packets for distribution beginning this wekend. The packets will include a letter outlining this years theme and guidelines for participation, a Plan for Giving Card, and a 2019 to-date giving statement. Members are asked to complete the cards and bring them with them to worship next weekend, November 16-17. To refresh your memory, here's the info from the October 18 update regarding our theme:
Our Stewardship theme this year is "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. Bulletin insert. 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. Bulletin insert. Congregational luncheon after worship, with annual meeting to follow.
Narthex LCD Announcement Screen Operational
I spent some time this week getting the new LCD announcement screen operational. This included connecting an Android TV box, which connects to the internet. We will create an announcement presentation using Google Slides (the Google Drive equivalent of PowerPoint) and publish it to the web, which is received by the TV. I created an initial slide program that you will see this weekend. If you'd like to see a preview, you can do so here. If you click on this link, it might take a few seconds to load. I have it set to advance automatically every ten seconds. So just wait, and it should do that.
Picture Directory Progress Report
The first draft of the photograph part of our new congregational picture directory is ready. Keep in mind it's still a first draft. I'm hoping that we can get a few more families photographed, either by the Kleins or by family submissions. Right now we've got about 65 pictures. Doug emailed the digital files, and I uploaded them to Breeze, our online church management software. Breeze has directory creating capabilities, so that is the plan, at least for the printed version of the directory. As has been the practice with past directories, the printed version will include both the photographs with names, and a more complete list of names, addresses and contact info (phone, email) after the photograph section.
Then there will be the online aspect of the directory. Once we receive a more complete listing of emails, we will send email "invitations" to create an account in Breeze, (the name of our church management software program), which will enable users to view and edit their own information, check their giving record, and set up online giving (one time or continous). And members can view pictures and contact info form other members. Keep in mind that only those logging into the St. John's Breeze account will have access to this information. You can view the draft copy of the picture portion of the directory here.
Pastoral care update
Alwalys enjoy my visits with Clara Rectenburg, who will be 96 on Tuesday. It's been hard to find a time that she's home and I'm available, but we made a connection this past week. Ernie Blank's wife, Dianne has moved to The Willows, so will see here when visit out there.
Deaths and Funerals
On Tuesday morning I did a graveside service in Milan for the grandmother of one of former St. Peter youth. The family didn't have a pastor that was available to the service, so I agreed to be the one. Long time St. John's member Marabelle Smith died on Wednesday. Private family services will be Monday at Auxter. Keep the family in your prayers.
Confirmation Lesson
We covered the 7th Commandment this week in Confirmation.
You shall not kill.
What does this mean for us?
We are to fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor's money or property, but help him to improve and protect his property and means of making a living.
Call Committee Update
The Call Committee met Sunday during the Sunday School hour and completed the edits to the Ministry Site Profile. It will be presented to Council for approval at the November meeting. Next steps will be to schedule a mock interview, and another meeting with Mary Boals to review questions and interview protocol.
Bishop Daniel's email
You can read the latest word from Bp. Daniel here.
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