Are We Ready for Omicron?
Thanksgiving weekend brought the news of the latest SARS-CoV-2 variant, the novel virus that causes Covid-19. Since it was first identified in South Africa, it has spread rapidly and is now in 36 states, according to a web posting Wednesday by CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of MInnesota). Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director of CIDRAP, said in this week's episode of Osterholm Update: Covid-19, that the spread of Omicron, combined with Delta, will create a viral "blizzard."
Omicron has been found to be much more transmissible, but on the plus side, it seems to be causing less severe disease. The biggest threat is that our health care system will be overrun. I have a friend in my hometown of Hendricks, MN, who was hospitalized locally for Covid pneumonia. She had to wait three days for an available ICU bed in Sioux Falls, 80 miles away. Closer to home, Michigan is currently experiencing its highest hospitalization rate since beginning of pandemic with zero ICU beds available, and here in Ohio Governor DeWine has mobilized 1,050 members of the Ohio National Guard to help relieve the hospital staffing strain caused by the rising number of Covid-19 cases
Dr. Osterholm (along with many others) continues his mantra that vaccination is the best tool we have to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities. Another helpful/informative piece on Omicron was posted by The Atlantic yesterday. You can read it HERE.
Trinity's New Beginnings
Trinity Lutheran Seminary's monthly newsletter for congregations is usually written by the Seminary Dean, Dr. Kit Kleinhans. This month's issue is written by Rev. Mary Ann Harris Siefke, who recently started a new call at Trinity as Director of Congregational Engagement and Advancement. I know Mary Ann well. She was the organist at St. Peter Blackberry and St. Luke's Curtice, my 2013 interim. Mary Ann recieved an MA from Trinity in Church Music, but during my year as interim she decided to return to seminary to earn an M.Div. degree, which leads to ordination for Word and Sacrament ministry. After graduating from seminary and her first call to a congregation in Pennsylvania, Mary Ann, a native of Oak Harbor and a daughter of St. John's, returned to Ohio to accept this call. You can read Mary Ann's message HERE.
Stewardship for All Seasons
At the end of our "Live Generously" Stewardship Campaign, for which GSB Fundraising provided guidance, coaching, and program content, we were given the opportunity to continue to build on what we accomplished in our Live Generously campaign in the coming year and beyond. GSB Fundraising, in partnership with our Northwestern Ohio Synod, is offering congregations the opportunity to participate in a two year program of stewardship growth through GSB's Stewardship for All Seasons program. The synod is subsidizing half the cost for this program, and second-mile gifts are enabling Grace to participate for the calendar years of 2022 and 2023.
From January through May, Grace will join other congregations in five once-a-month Zoom meetings which will help us be more effective with our communications and storytelling. You can find a more detailed description of this learning track HERE. GSB will then provide content and coaching for Grace's 2022 stewardship campaign. This process will be repeated in 2023 with a different learning track. Ed will be joining me and hopefully others from Grace in this process. If you would be interested or know of someone who might be, let me know, please!
LIFT Notes
You can read the current issue of LIFT NOtes HERE.
ELCA Seeds Monthly
ELCA Seeds Monthly is a publication that has ministry ideas and resources for congregations. You can view and read the December issue HERE.
Just Three Things
ICYMI, you can read this week's Just Three Things HERE.
Christmas at Grace
Everything you need to know about Christmas at Grace you can find HERE.
Christmas and New Year's Weekends
There will be no Saturday worship service on December 25 and January 1. On Sunday, December 25 and January 2, there will be one service only at 9:00 am. The service on December 25 will be Lessons and Carols.
No comments:
Post a Comment