VBS Meeting Held Tuesday
Planning continues for our week of VBS July 11-14, beginning at 6:00 pm at St. John's. Hayes UMC will not be participating this year. Our theme is "Compassion Camp -- Changing the World with Lovingkindness." Stay tuned for ways that you can participate in this important ministry for kids in our congregation and community.
Revelation Bible Study Underway
My Wednesday evening Bible Study (6:00 - 7:00 pm) is using the Bible study resources on the book of Revelation written by Bishop Daniel and other synod staff for this year's synod program theme "Vision." Here's an explanation of the year's theme from the NWOS website:
Welcome to 2022: The Year of Vision. Our focus this year will be on God’s vision and promise to make “all things new”. At the end of the Book of Revelation, God paints a picture of a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem, and a new Eden. God is in the business of making all things new and invites us to be a partner in the renewal of all things. The mission of the Northwestern Ohio Synod culminates in the renewal that God promises to bring.
It's not too late to join our group. We've been having some good discussion while learning some important things about this often misunderstood last book of the Bible. You can take a look at our Bible study Participant Guide HERE.
Great Hymns of Faith being Resurrected
I'm sure that many of you remember the choral program that operating at Grace and in the area in recent years called "Great Hymns of Faith." The program has its roots with Pastor Joe Leas and his very musical son and daughter-in-law, and which brought together many voices, mostly from LIFT congregations and other church choirs in the Fremont area, for a two-day choral festival, capped with a concert.
Great Hymns of Faith reached a zenith on October 29, 2017 when the program included the Firelands Symphony Choral and was held at The State Theater in Sandusky. This was one of many other events that celebrated the 500 anniversary of the Reformation. You can read a Port Clinton News Herald piece about the event HERE. The article includes a very nice photo of Pastor Henry.
The program has been shut down since the last concert in 2019, which was held at Grace. Plans for 2020 and 2021 were shelved because of the pandemic, but now, leaders at Grace, LIFT, and others are putting the pieces together of a resurrected program. Fitting for the Easter Season!
An initial organizational meeting was held at Grace on Wednesday. Michael Shirtz is returning as the primary musical director, and was present at the meeting. Part of the agenda of Wednesday's meeting was to settle on tentative dates, which will be Saturday and Sunday, November 12 and 13, and will carry over the planned theme from 2019, which will focus on thanksgiving and gratitude. The format will be similar, with a Saturday rehearsal, and Sunday afternoon concert. Grace will host the event.
Update on Synod Congregations in Call Process
There are currently 15 congregations in the Northwestern Ohio Synod who are in the call process, have completed their Ministry Site Profile, and have their congregation names, locations and Summary Mission Statements posted on the "Openings" page of the ELCA website. Area congregations in addition to Grace that are on the list include:
- St. John's Bellevue
- Trinity Sandusky (Venice)
- St. John's Port Clinton
- St. John's Oak Harbor
There are an additional six congregations in the synod that are in the Transition and Study process, including local congregation Bethlehem Pemberville.
Should You Get the Second Booster?
That's a question I have been asking, as I am in the over 50 range as far as the CDC guidelines are concerned. You can read the guidelines HERE. Dr. Osterholm addresses this question in this week's Covid-19 podcast, posted on April 28, and entitled "Class in Complicated Times." Dr. Osterholm and host Chris Dall also discuss the state of the pandemic in China, South Africa, and the U.S.; the latest data on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine; and CIDRAP's Coronavirus Vaccines Research and Development Roadmap. Dr. Osterholm shares a beautiful place from one of their listeners. You can listen to or download this episode HERE.
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