Last Sunday for 7:45 and 10:00 Worship
A reminder that this Sunday will be the last chance to worship at 7:45 and 10:00, at least until September. Our summer schedule will go into effect next Sunday, June 4, with one service at 9:00 am. Saturday's schedule stays the same with worship at 4:00 pm. Haven't determined if or at what time Lounge Sunday School Class would meet with the new Sunday Schedule.
St. Mark and Emmanuel Planning Joint Congregation Meeting
Members of St. Mark and Emmanuel are planning to meet on Sunday, June 4, 11:15 at Emmanuel. With Pastor Dennis Wansitler planning retirement at the end of August, These two LIFT congregations are meeting to discuss future arrangements of shared pastoral leadership as LIFT congregations. You can view the LIFT Facebook page announcing this meeting HERE. Keep these congregations in your prayers, as the results of this meeting will have a significant impact on the ministry of LIFT going forward.
Hearts, Hands and Voices Event Taking Shape
LIFT Congregations are sponsoring an "Arts Academy'' under the theme "Hearts, Hands and Voices." The event will be at Grace from Monday through Thursday, June 26-29, from 9:00 am until 12:15 pm. The main audience is children and youth beginning with those will be in Kindergarten in the fall, and includes musical activities including choir, bells, chimes, recorders and drumming. There will also be opening songs with a Bible lesson, and a break for snacks. Participants will be divided into two groups, younger and older, and with the exact age breakdown TBD based on those planning to attend. So far, leaders for the various groups will be from Grace and St. John's. You can find an event flyer HERE, a program schedule HERE, and an online registration form HERE.
Correction on New Hymnals
In my pastor message for the June issue of Grace and Truth, I reported on the history of hymnals in our Lutheran denominations, both past and present, and noted that our current "green hymnals," Lutheran Book of Worship, were published in 1978, and are looking very tired. I also reported that Worship Committee recommended to council to begin planning to purchase new Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnals, published in 2006, and now used by most congregations in our synod and across the ELCA. However I misstated the number of hymnals needed, mentioning 300. We will actually need closer to 400 hymnals to fill the pews at Grace. Again, the cost per book is $24.50. The church office has already received a call from the spouse of a Grace member who has died, pledging to purchase 20 hymnals in memory of his wife. We are hoping that such memorial gifts will go a long way in raising the needed for this project.
Zoom Update on Camino da Vida and Bridge of Hope
On Wednesday, Pastor Paul hosted a Zoom update on two LIFT ministries - Camino da Vida and Bridge of Hope food pantry, with ministry leaders Pastor Mary Carmen and Anne Garcia reporting for us. Pastor Mary Carmen has a current attendance at Camino de Vida of about 12 people in person and 13 online. They also recently observed the one year anniversary of in-person worship in their dedicated space at Hayes Memorial UMC. Director Anne Garcia reported that Bridge of Hope has started delivering welcoming baskets to migrants, and that plans are in the works for a LIFT service project providing a meal at migrant camps. Also present on the Zoom was Pastor Sarah Schaaf, Northwestern Ohio Synod Director for Community Engagement. Living only about fifteen minutes from several of the migrant camps, Sarah has offered to assist with the meal delivery program
Stewardship for All Seasons Update
This week I received the official registration form for our participation in Stewardship for All seasons (SAS). I have completed it and returned it to our GSB Fundraising assiciate, Jennie Wolf Smith. Our SAS orientation Zoom meeting for members of the Stewardship Team is scheduled for Monday, June 5, at 7:00 pm. This meeting will give us clear direction on what we need to do to carry out a successful stewardship campaign in 2023. I may have shared this list before, but it's always good to be reminded of the benefits of Stewardship for All Season, and what we hope to accomplish by participating in this progream:
- Prepare your congregation’s story
- Educate people to tell that story
- Focus attention on your congregation’s mission
- Inspire people to give generously
- Learn tools and methods that really work
- Build a team that enjoys leading stewardship efforts
- Become confident and skilled in stewardship development
- Apply biblical principles to gain more resources for mission
- Experience the joy of asking and giving
- Avoid searching for the latest hot stewardship program
- Increase annual giving by 10 – 15% or more each year
Links for You
- ELCA Global Links
- June issue of Grace and Truth
- Current Issue of Just Three Things
- ELCA Advocacy Action Alert
Prayers from St. Paul Jenera
Earlier this month Grace received a letter from Deb Noll, the SAM serving as pastor at St. Paul Jenera. Deb says this the letter:
Greetings in the Name of the Holy Trinity,
Every Sunday our congregation lifts up in prayer a congregation of the Northwestern Ohio Synod of the ELCA and its pastor. It is our hope that God will bles the congregation in a special way -- a way in which it has been praying for help or guidance.
On this Sunday, we prayed for you and God's people at Grace Lutheran. May God hear our prayer.
In Christ's Love,
Deb Noll (signature)
Synod Authorized Minister
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Jenera Ohio 45841
Enclosed with the letter was a "Thinking of You" Card signed by 57 members of the congregation. It's nice to know that we are in the prayers of others in our synod. The word synod, BTW, means "walking together."
No comments:
Post a Comment