Pastor Paul Preaching This Weekend
Pastor Paul is the preacher at our weekend services on Saturday and Sunday. Maureen to covering for Pr. Paul at St. Mark on Sunday.
An Excellent Afternoon of Kayaking
Last Sunday a group of 16 youth and adults gathered at the Fremont Reservoir for an afternoon session of kayaking. Led and equipped by the local company Ghoulrunnings, participants were fitted with life jackets, a paddle and a kayak and helped by staff to get launched and paddling. Many thanks to Heather who put it all together. We hope to do it again some day! You can view several pics of the event HERE.
ELCA Churchwide Assembly Summary
Now that the ELCA Churchwide Assembly is history, we are learning of the decisions and actions taken by the voting members, including Graces' own Heather Hawn. Perhaps the most significant action was a vote which directed the ELCA Church Council to "establish a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church to reconsider the statements of purpose for each expression of this church, the principles of organizational structure and our shared commitment to dismantle racism, with findings to be reported to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in preparation for a possible reconstituting convention."
What this means is that after almost 35 years of our ELCA's existence, it's time to retool and rethink many things. You can read a more detailed summary of the Assembly HERE.
Deacon Sherry Krieger Notice of Sabbatical
Received from the Synod office. I don't see this as upsetting the call process at Grace in any significant way.:
From August 1 through October 31 of this year, Deacon Sherry Krieger will be on sabbatical for a time of rest, renewal, and learning. She will be focusing her time on Lutheran missiology and how our synod may develop a meaningful missional practice.
During this time, we have arranged for additional temporary staff to provide vital support for congregations and leaders in the Call Process and in Transition of Leadership.
Mary Satterfield, who has served our synod as the Chair of the Call Facilitators since 2015, will serve as the Call Process Coordinator, overseeing the call process and coordinating the work of our Call Facilitators as they interview potential Rostered Ministers and work with Call Committees throughout our synod. We encourage congregations and leaders in the call process to continue to be in contact with their Call Facilitator with any concerns or questions.
Pastor Doris Mars, who serves as pastor of St John’s in Findlay, will serve as the Transition Facilitation Team Leader, working with ministers and leaders of congregations in transition and supporting these congregations with leadership and resources.
For additional questions related to the Call Process / Transitions please contact Jennifer Prueter, Executive Administrative Assistant to the Bishop at 419-423-3664.
Any questions or concerns about congregational conflict or ministerial misconduct should be referred to Jacob Henry, Synod Administrator at jacob.henry@nwos-elca.org, or 419-340-2820, or 419-423-3664.
ELCA Worship Notes
You can read the August issue of ELCA Worship Notes HERE.
Lift Notes
This week's issue of Lift Notes, which you can read HERE, includes
- A message from Pastor Paul
- Sweet Treat Day
- Confirmation
- Blessing of the Animals
- Backpack Buddies Update
- Bridge of Hope Update
- Great Hymns of Faith update
Osterholm Update
Dr. Michael Osterholm, founder and Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, has said numerous times in his podcasts that people are done with Covid-19, but Covid-19 is not done with us. Attendees of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly were required to take a Covid test before coming, and masks in the general areas of the assembly were required. Still, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton tested positive for Covid-19 during the assembly, and had to join the final day of the assembly remotely.
Dr. Osterholm continues to deliver solid scientific analysis of the Covid-19 pandemic in his bi-weekly podcasts. In the episode entitled "A High Plain Plateau, posted on August 18, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the trajectory of the BA.5 wave in the US and around the world, the updated CDC COVID guidelines, and the latest data on long COVID. Dr. Osterholm also provides an update on the monkeypox outbreak and answers a query about polio. You can listen to or download this episode HERE.
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