Interim Grace Notes for July 9, 2021

Synod Assembly Registration Open

The 2021 Northwestern Ohio Synod Assembly has been scheduled for Friday, September 24 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend, and will be held via Zoom. This streamlined business-only Assembly will include voting on council and committee nominees, budget, compensation guidelines, and other assembly business matters. There will not be special guest speakers, extended workshops, or breakout rooms as in previous assemblies. Registration is open now through September 10. For links to Asssembly registration and the NWOS Assembly site, go HERE.

Council/Transition Team Workshop Monday

You likely have already read the reminder email from Linda regarding the Council/Transition Team workshop scheduled for Monday, July 12, from 5:30 - 8:30 pm. This meeting will include a brief business time to approve essential reports, but the main event will a workshop to orient Council and Transition Team - those identified so far, to the interim process, and the roles that Council and Transition Team will play in that process. I have not yet finalized the schedule, but expect me to present and invite participation from those attending regarding the following

• A few get-to-know-you-better activities, and sharing of hopes and dreams for Grace
• A broad overview of the interim process, including a more thorough description of the Five Focus Points for the interim
• An introduction to the congregation as an emotional system, by viewing a video talk by Rev. Dr. Peter Steinke, founder of the Healthy Congregations organization
• A presentation on some important scriptural and confessional concepts which help us to focus our mission and ministry as a congregation. I will be using the essay "The ELCA: Serving the Gospel for Tomorrow," by Rev. Dr. Timothy Wengert, Professor Emeritus of United Lutheran Seminary as a basis for this part of the workshop.

A light supper will be served during this event, so no need to eat before you come.

Garry Coleman Memorial Scheduled

The church office received a request from the family of Garry Coleman to hold a memorial service at Grace on Saturday, August 7 at 11:00 am. I agreed to preside and conduct the service. My understanding is that Mr. Coleman was a former member of Grace, but moved with his wife to Florida about 25 years ago, and transferred their congregation membership. Mrs. Coleman died in 2019, and Pr. Jody conducted a memorial service for her at Grace. Grace doesn't have hard and fast policies on who we do church based funerals or memorial services and what we should charge for such services for non-members. For now they ar being handled on a case-by-case basis. It is hard to know what to quote for costs.

Article about Fremont

One of my Fremont Facebook friends posted this very positive article about Fremont. This article could very well provide some valuable information for the Transition Team as they complete the Ministry Site Profile, which includes a section on the characteristics of the community in which the ministry site is located.

Bishop Daniel email

You can read Bishop Daniel's most recent email HERE.