Trip to Minnesota
My trip to Hendricks, Minnesota last weekend went well -- it was lots of time on the road - Google maps says 861 miles, 14.5 hours, but it was all well worth it. Eleven of my 23 high school Class of 1971 classmates were present at our 50th reunion dinner on Saturday night, along with two teachers and spouses, for a total group of about 20. We met at the Hendricks Golf Club, 9-hole course situated on the Minnesota/South Dakota border a mile west of Hendricks. Arriving a few hours early on Saturday afternoon, I was able to visit with my step-cousin Wanda and her husband Manuel. Wanda is one of the last living family members who has personal memories of my grandfather, Jay Bogen, who died in 1952, a year before I was born.
On my trip back on Sunday I made two stops. The first was in Eagle Lake, Minnesota, where I attended Sunday morning worship at Epiphany Lutheran Church, my 2015 interim assignment. The pastor whom the congregation called at the end of my interim had recently resigned to pursue another career goal. It was good to see and worship with this group of God's people again, including three youth, then in grade school but now in middle and high school.
The second stop was to visit Sue Bogen in Madison, WI. Sue was married to my cousin Jay, who died in 2015. Sue and Jay's adult children and families also came, so was a small Bogen family reunion. After a couple of hours there I got back on the road, and arrived at home in Huron at about 2:00 am Monday morning.
Stewardship Team Continues Plan for Fall Campaign
The Stewardship Team met on Tuesday for the second of six Zoom meetings led by Jennie Wolf, an associate from GSB Fundraising, who we have contracted with to provide coaching, guidance and content for our fall stewardship campaign. This program goes by the title "Building a Culture of Generosity (BCG)," and ecnourages congregation to initiate or enhance practices that inspire rather than inform. I have said in previous posts how we are encouraged to tell "outcome" or "impact" stories, which are more inspiring than simply sharing information and facts about upcoming or past events. In these stories, tellers speak of the impact a congregation activity or ministry has had on their lives. Mike Ward, one of the GSB Partners, describes these stories in a 7-minute video that you can find HERE. Would you be willing to try writing one? We will need some to include in future mailings that will form a part of our campaign. Just email it to me at mark@bogen.org.
In our Zoom meeting this week, we reported on impact stories that we had been challenged to tell. Grace was able to talk about the Thankoffering Service which celebrates the gifts that Grace women create in the form of quilts and health and nursery kits for Lutheran World Relief. We were also able to share the story of a homeless person who joined Grace for worship that day, and received one of those quilts, as well as encouragement from members of Grace.
In the next part of our Zoom meeting, we were encouraged to recruit persons who could give temple talks during one of the Sundays of our Campaign which would be a response to one or more of these prompts:
- What was the most generous thing you ever witnessed?
- Who taught you generosity?
- Describe generosity as a component in your faith journey.
These can also be recorded so that they could be posted on our Facebook page. Would any of you be willing to provide such a talk? About three minutes, no more than five. Let me know if you'd be willing to do this. Email me at mark@bogen.org.
Our campaign will be a combination of direct mail letters which will include brief outcome stories, inspirational pieces, and an Intent Card (Plan for Giving). The campaign will be carried out over six Sundays, using the schedule below:
- October 17—First Sunday/Appeal launch/Insert #1/Pastor shares personal generosity story
- October 24—Second Sunday/Insert #2/mission moment story of generosity
- October 31—Third Sunday/insert #3/mission moment story of generosity
- Novermber 7 —Fourth Sunday/insert #4/mission moment with an example of how to grow in generosity
- November 14 —Intent Sunday
- November 21—2nd intent Sunday and celebration—share results
I hope that you will all follow this campaign closely, and participate to the fullest extent of your ability. The result will be a strong affirmation of the ministry that is carried out through Grace.
I found a blog post from Breeze, a church managment software company that also provides ministry tips, that speaks about stewardship, and includes some of the ideas and methodologies that are being encouraged in our participation with GSB in the Building a Culture of Generosity program. You can read that blogpost HERE.
Visit to Joann with Jan
Jan H. is one of Grace's eucharistic ministers (visits and brings Holy Communion), and one of the persons she visits is Joann H., who lives near Green Springs with her younger sister and nephew. It is my indestanding that Joann's husband Merle was a key leader and worker at Grace until his death several years ago. It was a good visit, and I hope to make more of this kind -- it really helps to have a familiar person accompany visits like this to persons who I have never met. Thanks Jan, for your ministry, and to all who do continue to keep these members of Grace connected to the congregation.
Synod Assembly Tonight
The Northwestern Ohio Synod Assembly meets in Assembly meets tonight via Zoom, beginning at 6:00 pm, and concluding by 8:30 pm. This will primarily be a business meeting, including elections. Grace's very own Heather is a candidate for lay voting member from the Eastern Conference to the next ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Lay members from Grace are Richard and Nelda B., Maureen, Ed, and Kristen L.
Reminder about our Small Group Meetings
In last week's post I explained the plan the the Transition Team has developed to gather input from the congregation for the Ministry Site Profile. You can review that plan HERE. Review the available options, and be sure to plan to attend one of them. The first meeting will be a week from Wednesday, October 6, at 6:00 pm during Spirit time. Attending this meeting could include a tasty meal and Dinner Church worship beginning at 5:00 pm!
Links for You
- Seeds Monthly - A monthly newletter of resources for congregation leaders. September Issue
- ELCA Worship News - September issue
Latest Osterholm Podcast
Dr. Michael Osterholm, founder and Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, continues to deliver solid scientific analysis of the Covid-19 pandemic in his weekly podcasts. In this episode, posted on September 23 and entitled "Corrected Science," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the uncertain future of the pandemic in the U.S. and abroad, the FDA Advisory Committee's new recommendation on booster doses, and vaccinations and cases in children. You can listen to or download this episode HERE.
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