Interim Grace Notes for January 20, 2023

Annual Reports Ready

Be sure to pick up yours, on the table at both worship entrances. Annual Meeting is next Sunday, 9:00 am in the sanctuary .

Confirmation Youth Make Memories at Camp

Last Friday at this time I was getting ready to leave for a confirmation retreat at Hopewood Pines (formerly known as Lutheran Memorial Camp) near Fulton, OH. Driving separately from Huron, I met those attending from Fremont - Heather with three youth from Grace, and seven from St. John's. Our totals were seven boys and three girls. I had the boys in Cabin 1, and Heather the girls in Cabin 2. Natalie Wilfong and Keisa Schwochow helped with transportation.

I was assisted in my cabin by Rev. John Michels, a family member of one of our boys, and a son of Grace, meaning a member of Grace who became an ordained ALC/ELCA pastor. John, officially retired from ministry, joined us from his home in Circleville, OH. Interestingly enough, John knew Marcy and her sister Patty from their mutual time at Capital University, and another interesting connection was that John's seminary internship supervisor was Rev. Peter Rogness at Hephatha Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. Peter has family roots in my hometown in Minnesota, and is my 6th cousin. And, two of the boys from St. John's are nephews/cousins of a St. John's Bellevue family. The wild wonderful web of the church!

Our weekend was filled with games, bible study, campfires, smores, singing songs both silly and serious, crafts, hiking, and much, much more. I'm sure that many memories were created, which camps and retreat do in their own unique way. For my February newsletter Pastor's message, I wrote about the importance of creating memories which help to ground us in our faith. If you want to be among the first to read it, you can do so HERE.

As I mentioned in this message, the boys in my cabin were disappointed they couldn't stay longer, and were excited to learn they could come back for a whole week during the summer. Perhaps an agenda item for our next Exec/Council meeting is to consider subsidies for families who may want to send their kids to summer camps. You can find dates and costs HERE. You will notice the Tier 1 and Tier 2 designations. Tier 1 represents the actual cost of camp, and Tier 2 is a rate that is subsidized by the camp itself.

LIFT Items of Interest

• The LIFT Board meets for its bi-monthly meeting this Sunday at 12:30 at Grace.
• Two LIFT events were covered in recent News Messenger articles. Breakfast in Bethlehem was in the December 16 edition. The Epiphany service was covered on January 11. You can find the links in the latest issue of LIFT Notes, which you can find HERE.
• LIFT Laundry Ministry: Before the pandemic, LIFT would send teams out to a local laundromat to be present in the community and pay for people’s washing. The site for this ministry is at Poly-Clean at 1011 Tiffin Ave. LIFT is restarting this outreach ministry. Upcoming dates are Tuesday, January 24 from 9-11 AM and Tuesday, February 28 from 9-11 AM.
• LIFT February Newsletter - Be sure to check out the latest LIFT Newsletter, which you can view and read HERE. Be especially sure to check out the paragraph on the planned Lenten Devotional under the theme "Sing With All the Saints in Glory." Pastor Paul invites your participation:

As we tell the story of Jesus, we encounter how God is at work in the lives of God’s people. If you choose to write a submission, send a piece roughly between 200-400 words to Pastor Paul Bailie by February 15 responding to this prompt: What person in your life has shown you God’s glory and love? Maybe it’s the person who taught you to pray or invited you to worship. Or perhaps someone who has modeled generosity and service. Or maybe an example of perseverance and faithfulness? We look forward to hearing your stories.

### Where Your Heart Is The ELCA Department of Stewardship is publishing a new blog/newsletter called "Where Your Heart Is." You can read the inaugural issue HERE.

Seeds Monthly

Seeds Monthly is an ELCA publication that brings news about what's happening in our ELCA, along with resources for congregations to use in their contexts. You can read the January issue HERE.

Just Three Things

ICYMI, you can read it HERE.