Midweek Advent Worship begins Wednesday
Our program of MIdweek Advent Worship will begin this Wednesday, December 1, with worship beginning at 5:15 pm in the Dining Room. Supper will be served beginning at 5:00 pm, with services also on December 8 and December 15. Our Advent worship theme will focus on World Hunger. A special offering will be received, with proceeds given to the ELCA World Hunger program.
Email from Mary Satterfield
I received the following message from Mary Satterfield, our Call Process Facilitator:
MSP looks very good. Very well done! Let me know when Call Committee is approved and we will set up the orientation.
The Profile is still awaiting our Confidential Reference Recommendation (Pr. Matt). Pr. Matt has been very busy recently with four funerals, but he assured me last Sunday at the LIFT Board Meeting that he would be completing this soon.
Update on Stewardship Campaign
In last week's post I reported on the initial results of our Live Generously stewardship campaign. I reported a total of 83 cards returned, with a total pledged amount of $185,062. The 83 number included cards which were returned, but did not provide specific amounts -- with messages such as "I'll do the best I can." Over the past week, Linda has received more cards, which came through the offering plate, mail, drop-off to office, and online, and the new card count includes only those on which specific amounts were pledged. So the total nubmer of cards returned with specific amounts is 84, but the total amount pledged has increased to $208,358. Of the 84 cards returned, 29 indicated an increase over their 2020 giving level.
Many thanks to Linda who has spent much time recording, analyizing, and reporting the data.
On Tuesday of this week, the Stewardship Team met with Jennie, our GSB Fundraising consultant, for the sixth and final Zoom meeting of the program "Building a Culture of Generosity." The main topics for this meeting were reporting results, follow up, and thank you's. The Stewardship Team is planning to send form thank you letters with a personal hand-written word of thanks from one of the Stewardship Team to the 85 giving units who returned their cards with their intents for 2022. We are meeting next Tuesday, November 28 at 11:00 am to complete this task.
At the end of our Zoom meeting, Jennie brought up the possibility of participating in GSB's program Stewardship for All Seasons (SAS). This program helps congregations keep working on stewardship throughout the year with special tracks and a fall stewardship campaign that is geared to each participating congregation. Special tracks, which are addressed from January through May include:
- Strategic Planning
- Planned/Estate Giving
- Council Leadership
- Storytelling & Communication
- Recruiting & Inspiring Volunteers
- Special Appeals
Jennie says that many first year SAS congregations opt for the Storytelling track to equip volunteers and lay leaders to better share the outcome stories of church ministry. Our synod has entered into a relationship with GSB and has agreed to pay one-half the cost of two years or participation in SAS. I have presented information to Council at the November meeting, and will have additional information to share, so Council members, stay tuned. The details of SAS, including the "covenant" with NWOS, can be examined in greater detail HERE.
Funeral set for Kathleen Burmeister
We commend to God's everlasting care our sister in Christ, Kathleen 'Kathi' Burmeister, who passed away Tuesday, November 23, 2021. Kathi is survived by husband, Larry, and children, Mark Burmeister and Kay (Brent) Saionz. We pray for God's peace and comfort for her family. Visitation will be held Saturday, December 4, 2021 at the church from 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. with Memorial Services beginning at 11 a.m. You can read the obituary HERE.
Genacross Selling Toledo Campus
For 160 years, Lutherans in Northwest Ohio have been on the forefront of caring for "the least of these," young or old through several social service agencies. In recent years, programs providing care and rehabilitation to troubled youth have combined with other programs that serve the needs of elderly, primarily affordable housing and assisted living in an organization known as Genacross. Recently I received a letter from Rev. Dr. James Dumke, Vice President for Mission Integration for Genacross Lutheran Services. The purpose of the letter was to inform congregations that Genacross has decided to sell the Toledo Campus, which includes the historic Toledo Old Folks Home, which opened its doors in 1906. The reasons for the sale is that Genacross has been unable to raise the capital needed to make needed renovations.
The buyer has been identified as Majestic Care based in Westfield Indiana, that manages facilities in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. Services include short-term rehab, physical therapy, memory care, long-term care, and hospice care. Pastor Dumke closed his letter with words of gratefulness for many years of support from congregations in Northwest Ohio and Souteast Michigan.
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 Wednesday, November 24, and entitled "Thanksgiving Mini-Episode," Dr. Osterholm compares the dynamics of the pandemic this Thanksgiving to last year, and what factors to consider when making Thanksgiving plans. You can listen to or download this episode HERE.
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