Some Bumps in the Annual Meeting Road
Our Annual Meeting of the Congregation went OK last Sunday, although we encountered a few bumps in the road. Because of additional discussion about several matters, the meeting extended into the 10am worship time. The timing of these meetings is always a challenge, but the need to hear the concerns of the congregation members and address them should always be a priority. We are constitutionally tied to holding the meeting on "the fifth Sunday of the year," with Council determining the time and location. Perhaps we should consider a meeting after 10am worship. The sanctuary setting was challenging for me to hear what was being said, so perhaps a meeting in the Dining Hall would work better.
A note regarding the request at the meeting to amend the constitution to say the pastor is not a voting member of council. In the former LCA, congregation constitutions specifically stated that pastors are voting members of Council, and indeed can even serve as President of Council. Many ALC constitutions (likely Grace included) specifically stated that the pastor was not a voting member. The Model Constitution for the ELCA says that the pastor is a voting member of Council, (C12.01.) as does the amended Grace Constitution, which brought it in line with the Model Constitution. However, it is not a required element, and can be amended by the congregation.
One further note regarding amendments to the constitution: There is a very specific process for submitting amendments to the Congregation Constitution and presenting them to and getting them approved by the congregation. I encourage you to review Chapter 16 of the Grace Constitution which you can view HERE.
Stewardship and Worship Teams Met
First Wednesday recently has meant Stewardship at 11 and Worship at 1. Our meetings were small this month, as some members are out of town or home with health issues. At our Stewardship Meeting, we focused on continuing our Grace Stories interviews and reports to publish in a special email and in Grace and Truth. Don't be surprised if a member of the Stewardship Team approaches you and asks if you'd be willing to tell us your story. We're looking specifically for how Grace has played a role in your life of faith. In Worship, we did some planning for Ash Wednesday and Mid-week Lent. Ash Wednesday is on February 22, and Mid-week Lent worship on the following five Wednesdays. Schedule for each week will be the same: Supper at 5:30 in the Dining Room, and Worship in the Sanctuary at 6:30. Our theme for the five Midweek is "Amazing Grace," in honor of the 250th anniversary of the writing of the well known and loved hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Our worship series will tie the words of this beloved hymn to our lives today as Christ’s disciples. Each week, a person in the Bible who experienced the amazing grace of God will help us to realize that though we once were lost in sin, we now have been found by Jesus, and though we once were blind to God’s mercy, we now can see his love at work in us through our Savior’s death and resurrection. Here's the weekly schedule:
- March 1 - Isaiah of Babylon
- March 8 - The Prodigal Son
- March 15 - The Man Born Blind
- March 22 - The Woman at the Well
- March 29 - Paul
Recreation and Revelation February 12-17
Just a reminder that I will be attending a continuing education event at Winter Park Mountain Lodge in Winter Park, Colorado from Sunday through Friday, February 12 - 17. The them for our time together is "Sabbath as Rest and Resistance. Here's a description that registrants received, summarizing the sessions planned by our presenters, Dr.s. Kelly Sherman-Conroy and Ryan Bonfiglio:
This set of presentations will explore the purpose, place, and practice of Sabbath in faith formation and pastoral leadership. In doing so, we will come to understand the ancient practice of Sabbath keeping as more than just a good idea for managing busyness or taking time off. Rather, we will explore Sabbath as divine gift—a disruptive and daring invitation to experiment with meaningful play, restorative rest, sensual holiness, communal feasting, and social justice. Topics addressed in this series include: popular misconceptions about the Sabbath; the historical and theological context of the Sabbath commandment in the Old Testament; the subsequent interpretation of the Sabbath in the New Testament and Christian theology; the relationship between Sabbath keeping and social justice; the role of Sabbath in our spiritual formation; and principles for being a 24/6 pastor. Special emphasis will be place on practical ways in which we can cultivate Sabbath keeping in our everyday lives and church leadership.
You can read more about this event HERE.
Pastor Meetings This Week
I attended two pastor meetings this week, an in person meeting on Thursday morning, and a Zoom meeting on Thursday afternoon. On Thursday morning, Eastern Conference pastors met at the Vita Coffee Shop in downtown Sandusky. This was the largest gathering of Eastern Conference Rostered Leaders in a long time. There were seven of us present from Norwalk, Castalia, Sandusky, Fremont, and Gibsonburg. It was good to touch base with each other as we shared our plans for the season of Lent. In the afternoon I met via Zoom with other Lutheran interim pastors from around the country, a total of 12 in attendance. We identify any issues we may be dealing with in our settings, and offer each other advice and support.
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