Justice Peace Event
As I explained in last week's Update, local church leaders, primarily from the Bellevue Alliance Church, organized a local event to speak to show "that we stand with those who serve, those that are hurting, angry, fearful, etc. We stand to have a voice for justice and peace. Prayerfully seeking God in what our part is in all this, whether to pray, speak out, or stand along our brothers and sisters in Christ believing God will heal this land."
The event was held at Central Park from 3-4 pm today (Friday) and featured a message from Pastor JB Heckock from Bellevue Alliance, Mayor Strecker, and Zach Emly, an elder at Bellevue Alliance, and one of our St. John's Preschool parents. There were about 50 people present for this event, with me and Jan L. from St. John's in attendance. All the speakers spoke effectively and from the heart.
Commemoration of the Emanuel Nine
Last year, voting members of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly of adopted a resolution designating June 17 as a commemoration of the martyrdom of the Emanuel 9 — the nine people shot and killed on June 17, 2015, during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. Wednesday marked the fifth anniversary of the killings. "May God continue to guide us as we seek repentance and renewal, and racial justice and reconciliation among God’s precious children." ELCA Churchwide observed the occasion with a 90 minute memorial service beginning at noon. You can read more about the ELCA observance here. Consider taking the ELCA Anti-Racism Pledge, as I have done recently. Our Northwestern Ohio Synod observance was held on Tuesday afternoon at 4pm, which I did not participate in as I was doing a Zoom Continuing Education event (see Continuing education paragraph below).
Drive Through Communion
I'd like to try adding something to our weekend worship, and that is drive-through Holy Communion. My plan is to offer this beginning this Sunday from 11:00 until 11:30. I will announce this in my Saturday email, and again on Sunday morning during the YouTube livstream - that those desiring to receive Holy Communion can come to the church between 11 and 11:30. I will instruct them to enter the semicircle driveway from the right side, where I will have set up a station near the Sacristy door. I will distribute the Celebration Cups that we are using at the 10:00 service, say the Words of Institution, invite drive-through worshipers to partake of the elements, and then give a blessing. If there get to be a number of cars, they will line up in the semi-circle, and the parking lot if necessary. I'm not expecting a lot, but the only way to find out is to offer it and see how many come. If it goes well, I'll send out a letter to the 30 or so who don't have email, some of whom may want to come and receive communion this way.
Cool it on the singing
One of the announcements that I forgot to make this past Sunday morning was the reminder that we are not recommending singing and speaking, and that Jan L. will be our designated speaker/singer from her location in the back of balcony using a microphone. The result was that quite a few peopel were singing and speaking the parts they normally have done in pre-pandemic days. I think we need to keep emphasizing this, as many of the recommendations I've been hearing recently have focused on limiting the spread of the virus through the wearing of face coverings and activities which force aerosol into the air.
A recent resource I've found that explains the risks that are still with us is an interview with our Lutheran epidemiological expert. Dr. Michael Osterholm. You can read a summary of a recent interview with him on NPR, or listen to the interview (about 40 minutes) here. Dr. Osterholm downplays the risk of contact spreading, but highlights the more common way for this virus to spread through the air.many of the recommendations I've been hearing recently have focused on limiting the spread of the virus through the wearing of face coverings and activities which force aerosol into the air.
Zoom Continuing Education
In recent week's I've been partaking of some continuing education opportunities via Zoom. Last month I participated in an event called "Festival of Homiletics" sponsored by Luther Seminary in St. Paul. I also participated in a Healthy Congregations May seminar, "Navigating The Rapids - Finding Hope in Changing Times". On Tuesday afternoon of this week, I attended a workshop sponsored the Interim Ministry Network on the Transition Team. This workshop was helpful in providing some good ideas for leading a Transition Team in my next interim ministry assignment.
Council Meeting
Council met Tuesday evening -- no official busines was conducted as we did not have a quorum. I intended to connect the meeting to Zoom, but I left my Zoomable computer behind at home that day, so was unable to make the connection. Our business was limited -- we decided to go ahead with the parking lot sealing and restriping - don't remember the exact about but was in the $5,000 range. Since this was in the congregational budget, it didn't really need Council approval, just the go-ahead for Lenny to put us on the contractors calendar so we get the job done.
Wednesday Night Live!
We had a smaller group for Wendesday Night Live this week, and used the program part of our meeting to listen to Bishop Daniel's message at our synod's observance of the Commemoration of the Emanuel Nine which was held on Tuesday afternoon at 4pm in a Zoom meeting. I recommend that you listen to Bishop Daniel's message -- it begins at about the 6:00 minute mark, and is about 7 minutes long. You can view the YouTube recording of the service here.
Hospital Updates
A couple of hospital updates -- we learned this week that Charley Baum has gone home from the hospital after a long hospital stay following a heart attack. He's still very weak, and will need some cardiac rehab, but the important thing is that he's out of the hospital and on his way to getting his strength back. Also, an update from Cathy O. regarding her brother John who has been battling a stroke and Covid-19, she reports that John is out of ICU, but is still in the Covid unit at Riverside. Our prayers continue!
ELCA Worship News
You can view the June issue of ELCA Worship news here.
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