Friday, May 12, 2023

Interim Grace Notes for May 12, 2023

Plaque for Pastor Jody Dedicated

A brass plaque commemorating and honoring the service of Rev. Jody Rice was dedicated at last Sunday's service after the receiving of the offering and before the celebration of Holy Communion. Serendipitiously, Pastor Jody was present for a visit unrelated to the recent installation of the plaque. Many Grace members enjoyed seeing and visiting with Pr. Jody and Jeff, if but for a short time. Jody and Jeff issued an open invitation for Grace members to visit some more at The Depot later in the afternoon. In case you missed it, you can view the video of the dedication HERE, and you can view a photo of the plaque HERE.

Picture Directory Goes to Print Soon

Our plan is to send the picture directory to the printer early next week. So far we have about 120 directories ordered, but we will likely order more than that so that everyone who wants a printed version can get one. You may have seen Linda's blast entitled "Last Call." If not, you can view it HERE.

Lift Notes

Be sure to check out the latest issue of LIFT Notes where you will find information about:

  • Hot Dog Fundraiser for Liberty Center of Sandusky County on May 19
  • Ascension Day Worship on Thursday, May 18 with pie fellowship following
  • Trinity Sunday Worship at Trinity Lutheran site, June 4 at 10:30 am
  • Summer Park Tour (third year!)
  • Hearts, Hands and Voices, an arts and music academy for kids and adults led by Grace music director Tom June 26-29

LIFT Leaders Met

LIFT Leaders came together for their monthly meeting on Wednesday. Topics of discussion included some possible service projects and worship experiences. Service project ideas include a workday to build beds for kids. Some area congregations have done this successfully. In September, 2021, St. Peter Blackberry and St. Luke's Curtice (my 2013 interim congregations) worked together to raise $14,690 to build and provide bedding for 50 beds for area children using the non-profit organization Let's Build Beds . You can view photos of this one-day project that took place in the St. Peter parking lot HERE. A similar kind of project can be done to build walls for a Habitat for Humanity house in a congregation parking lot in a one-day service project. We also discussed the possibility of LIFT sponsored worship experiences that don't necessarily conflict with regularly scheduled services at our individual congregations, including possible services at a city park or at the fairgrounds.

Memorial Service for Dan Linder

Maureen conducted the memorial service for long-time active Grace member Dan Linder today (Friday, May 12). You can read the obituary for Dan HERE.

Bishop Daniel Planning Sabbatical

A sabbatical leave for Bishop Daniel from June through early September has been approved by the April meeting of the the Synod Council. You can read more about this time of renewal for Bishop Daniel, as well as other details and minutes from April's Synod Council meeting HERE.

New Worship Setting to Begin June 4

Our Worship Committee tries to provide variety in our worship settings, so after using LBW Setting 2 for a number of months, we are going to move to WOV Setting 4 beginning in June. WOV (abbriation for With One Voice) is a hymnal supplement to Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) that was first published in 1995. This softcover book with a navy cover was purchased and used by many if not most of ELCA congregations prior to the publication of Evangelical Lutheran Worship in 2006. We will begin learning the several musical selections that we normally use in our worship (Hymn of Praise, Alleluia, Holy Holy Holy, Lamb of God) in the remaining weekends in May during the announcements. If you want to take a look at this music, Tricia has prepared an insert with the music that we will rehearse that you can view HERE.

Plans for Replacing LBW with ELW

Upon recommendation of the Worship Comittee, Council is investigating the cost and possible funding to replace the green 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) hymnals with the much newer Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) hymnal. This hymnal was first published in 2006, and virtually every congregation in the Northwestern Ohio Synod as well as the ELCA is now using this hymnal. The cost per hymnal is $24.50, and we will need to purchase 300. Congregation members will be encouraged to sponsor one or more hymnals. Almost all of the hymns that are stilll published in the worship bulletin would be in the newer ELW, saving us some copying expense.

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