Interim Grace Notes for March 22, 2024

Holy Week Ready To Go

Many preparations by staff and volunteers have gone into our Holy Week services, which begin Sunday with Palm/Passion Sunday. Here are a few things of what you can expect.

Palm/Passion Sunday

The past two years, we have exited to the narthex and outside with our palm branches to re-enact the Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. With our newly renovated space at the back of the sanctuary, we will gather there - with overflow to the narthex if necessary, for the reading of the Processional Gospel, Blessing of the Palms, and return to our pews singing "All Glory, Laud, and Honor. I think we will greatly appreciate being able to gather in this space, because the weather forecast for Sunday morning is cold and windy. Also, the past two years taking this service outside created problems for my wireless mic. Since I'll be able to stand near the last pew to lead this part of the service, there should be no interruption in the the wireless signal, and there will be more connection with the worshipers who choose to remain in the pews.

Back in the olden days, Palm Sunday was just that - the observance of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. In recent decades, the reading of the Passion gospel has been added, for the disappointing reason that so many Christians choose to not observe Good Friday. Accordingly, it was deemed necessary to tell the story of the crucifixion and death of Jesus and perhaps even preach on it on the Sunday before Easter. In the previous two years, I have chosen to preach on the Palm Sunday text, and then preached on the crucifixion on Good Friday. This year, since there will be no sermon on Good Friday, my sermon on Palm/Passion Sunday will focus on the suffering and death of Jesus, with the theme "The Victory of the Cross."

Palm Sunday will also be First Communion Sunday for two of our church kids who attended a training session last Saturday led by Heather and me.

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday worship will again begin with Confession, and unlike Ash Wednesday, will also include individual pronouncement of forgiveness. The order for Maundy Thursday worship can be found on page 258 of our new hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, and includes the following "rubric" or direction:

The assembly is seated. People may come forward and kneel for the laying on of hands. The minister, laying both hands on each person's head, addresses each in turn:
In obedience to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins.
The person may respond Amen.

Maundy Thursday will be the first use of our new connection between our SOS (Substitute Organist Service) app and our organ, as Susan is taking the evening off.

Good Friday Tenebrae

The Good Friday Tenebrae (service of progressive darkness) returns after a several year hiatus. This is a service of readings from the Passion of our Lord according to John, hymns or choir anthem, prayers, and progressive extinguishing of candles and turning out of sanctuary lights.

Easter Vigil

For the second year, LIFT is offering an Easter Vigil service at 7:00 pm on Saturday at St. Mark. Pr. Paul will be leading this service, with many participating as readers. Here is as description of this service from the LIFT Facebook page:

LIFT will celebrate the Easter Vigil on March 30 at 7 PM at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Fremont. In the early centuries of Christianity, baptisms were only performed at one time a year—Easter Vigil. Persons new to Christianity—catechumens—were baptized at the Easter Vigil and welcomed into the faith. In preparation, the catechumens would have a period of preparation, usually involving prayer, fasting,and acts of charity. This time became Lent. For our LIFT Easter Vigil, we’ll start outside around the fire, then process inside with candles to hear creative retellings of salvation Bible stories. We’ll remember our Baptism and celebrate Holy Communion.

The Resurrection of our Lord: Easter

Grace will observe the Resurrection of our Lord in two services: on Saturday at 4:00 pm and Sunday at 9:00 am. A hot, yummy breakfast will be served by Grace youth in the Dining Hall on Sunday from 8:00 - 8:45 am.

Choir Anthems Return

The choir performed their first anthem last Sunday since Susan came on board and reconvened the group. It is good to have them back sharing their musical gifts! In addition to Sunday anthems, they will sing several anthems during the Good Friday Tenebrae. Thanks, choir members, and to Susan for her leadership and excellent skills! One thing to mention -- I know we are all happy about having choir back, and there was was brief applause last Sunday, but let's withhold that, as the choir doesn't expect this - even as I don't expect applause at the end of a sermon, even if it happens to be a good one!

Joy Circle Met Tuesday

On Tuesday I joined Joy Circle for their monthly meeting. They are beginning a new Bible study on the Book of Acts. I led the first session of this study with an introduction to the book of Acts and its main themes. Did you know that the writer of the book of Acts is most likely the same as the writer of the Gospel of Luke, traditionally attributed to a person named Luke, who was a physician and possibly a Gentile. He was not one of the original 12 Apostles but may have been one of the 70 disciples appointed by Jesus in Luke 10. He also may have accompanied St. Paul on his missionary journeys.

Links for You

• Just Three Things
• NWOS - Imagining Renewal Microgrants
• Seeds Monthly - Resources for ELCA Congregations and Leaders

Imagining Microgrants

 

2024 Imagining Renewal Microgrants: For the Renewal of Northwest Ohio and the World

We are excited to announce the fourth round of NWOS Imagining Renewal Microgrants! These Microgrants are intended to offer support and resources to individuals, congregations, and organizations with the desire to engage in an original community-based project that uniquely meets a need of the community, encourages social engagements, and furthers the gospel.

Imagining Renewal Microgrant Information Packet

Who can apply for Imagining Renewal Microgrants? Any congregation, individual, or community organization that is in relationship with a faith community in northwestern Ohio is welcome to develop a proposal, in partnership with other individuals or ministries. Each organization/congregation is eligible for one grant. What could proposal projects look like? For this round of Microgrants, the Categories of Care are: Community Sabbath, Ministry Transformed, and Creative Collaboration. Grounding your proposal in one of these Categories ensures that your Microgrant embodies the spirit of the grant. Each proposal can be awarded up to $1,500. When are Microgrant proposals due? Applications will be eagerly accepted on a rolling basis, opening March 18 and closing April 29. This rolling basis allows coaches to reach out shortly after an application is received. Where can these Microgrant projects take place? In the first three rounds of Microgrants, we've seen successful ministries sprout up in rural areas, small towns, suburban areas, and urban neighborhoods! There is no limit to what your Microgrant can look like. Why should you apply? As people of faith, we are called by God to ministry that reaches beyond the walls of our Church buildings and better connects to the life of our communities. As Lutherans, we are ever-committed to reformation and renewal in our spaces. By applying for a Microgrant or encouraging and partnering with someone in your community to apply, you are joining God on the way as we minister "for the renewal of northwest Ohio and the world".

Imagining Renewal Microgrant Information Packet

Click here to apply!

Interim Grace Notes for March 15, 2024

Interim Grace Notes for March 15, 2024

Sunday Organist Assumes Saturday Duties

In February, Grace contracted with Hyo Jung Kim to assume the duties of Saturday organist, and with Susan Barker to be our Sunday organist. Susan expressed an interest in the choir director position, so that was added to her duties. Under Susan's leadership, the Chancel Choir has resumed rehearsals, and will perform their first anthem since November at 9:00 am worship on Sunday.

While Susan commutes to Grace from her home in Bowling Green, Hwo has come a much greater distance from her home near Sylvania. Travel time has been an hour. Because of the distance to travel, and also the challenge of feeling confident on the pipe organ, an instrument that she hadn't played on a regular basis for the past 15 years, Hyo asked to be relieved of her duties as our Saturday organist.

Thankfully, Susan willingly assumed the Saturday organist duties. Grace has been fortunate to enjoy the skills and artistry of both Hyo and Susan. We wish Hyo well and thank her for time, albeit brief, on the Saturday bench. And we are grateful for the gifts, talent, skill and dedication that Susan brings to the music program at Grace.

April Hymns Chosen

The Grace Hymn Selection Team met on Tuesday, and within an hour had selected hymns for the four weekend services during the month of April. Joining the meeting on Thursday were Jan Serwin, Becky Seibert, Meg Fuchs, Organists Susan and Hyo, and Maureen and me. We are using two resources to make our selections - Sundays and Seasons, and a book called "Indexes," published by Augsburg Fortress, that has multiple selections for each Sunday and special service of the Church Year in each of the three years of the Lectionary, Series A, B and C. Thanks to all for your service!

"Let's Build Beds" Build Day Scheduled for September 2025

In our Stewardship Campaign last fall, Blessed to be a Blessing, we outlined some ministries that we could carry out through increases in giving to Grace. While the increases we had hope for didn't materialize, we still have the vision of helping to meet a need in our community, which, in our Stewardship Brochure, we described with this paragraph:

Many children in Northwest Ohio live in households at or below the poverty level, and do not have their own bed to sleep in. Studies have revealed that lack of good sleep has negative effects on children’s development. We are planning to partner with a local organization to build beds and provide bedding for area children.

The local organization is called "Let's Build Beds". We had originally hoped to schedule a build in the Grace west parking lot in early September of this year, but those dates are no longer available. We are now on the Let's Build schedule for early September of 2025. This will give us more time to plan this event, raise needed funds, find local families who have a need, and expand the scope of the project. Rather than just being a Grace event, this could likely be a LIFT event in the spirit of the ELCA day of Service, God's Work Our Hands that we participated in last fall.

An opportunity to get our feet wet with Let's Build Beds next Saturday, March 23

Daniel, the Let's Build Beds contact person who I have been communicating with, suggested that a good way for us to become more familiar with a Let's Build work day is to attend an indoor build scheduled for March 23 at the Let's Build warehouse at 1280 Conant St. in Maumee. Workers are needed, and there are two shifts available: 10:30 am to 1:00 pm, and 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm. For more information, and to sign up, go to the signupgenius page for this event HERE.

First Communion Training on Saturday

Heather and I will be leading a First Communion mini-retreat on Saturday morning. We have one second grader and one first grader signed up to attend. Kids will learn about the meaning of Holy Communion and how it was instituted by Jesus on night on which he was betrrayed. First communion for these young ones will be a week from Sunday, March 24, which is Palm Sunday.

Last Midweek Service This Wednesday

The fifth and final Lenten Midweek service will be this Wednesday at 6:30 pm. Supper begins at 5:00. Menu: Pot Roast & Gravy, Roasted Vegetables, Dinner Roll, Dessert. I will bring the message "A Change of Habit," completing our Lenten theme "Making Change."

Links for You

• Just Three Things
• Tornado Relief from Thursday Tornado and Hail Storms
• Thank You from NWOS for End of Year Gifts Funding Synod Microgrants Grace contributed $2,000 to this campaign from our Memorial Fund

Thank You for Year End Ask

 

Thank You for Your Generosity! 2023 Year-End-Ask

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

In three years, the Imagining Renewal Microgrants have awarded more than $140,000 to 95 projects that have served communities all across the Northwestern Ohio Synod. Because of your generosity, we are able to fund the next round of microgrants that will continue to share God's abundance with our neighbors. Thank you for your continued support of local ministries. Thank you for joining us on the way!

Click here for Imagining Renewal Microgrant Information

Tornado Relief

 

March 14 Tornado Relief and Support

Overnight, communities in Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, and several communities in Ohio experienced storm damage. Please join us as we hold these communities in prayer, especially Russells Point & Lakeview in the Southern Ohio Synod. If you would like to donate to the relief efforts across the Southern Ohio Synod, you may: 1) Mail a check to the Southern Ohio Synod 9200 Worthington Rd, Suite 140 Westerville, OH 43082 2) Donate online, designating it for “SOS - Disaster Relief” (http://www.southernohiosynod.org/donate) Please do not go to Lakeview or Russells Point to assist in recovery efforts unless you have been asked to. If you are curious for ways to help, please be in touch with the Southern Ohio Synod Office for more information.

Donate Today!

Interim Grace Notes for March 8, 2024

Interim Grace Notes for March 8, 2024

Kristen Will Provide Call Process Update on Sunday

Kristen Lindsay, chair of the Grace Call Committee, will provide a brief update on the call process before worship on Sunday. Thanks to the Call Committee which has been working hard and prayerfully in fulfilling the task that the congregation has entrusted them with, the recommendation of a candidate to call as the next senior pastor at Grace.

Don't Forget to Change Your Clocks!

This weekend brings the once a year horrible no-good experience of losing an hour of sleep Saturday night. I will have it a little bit easier than last year since we went to the new Sunday schedule, but still... So don't forget to "Sprint Ahead," and advance your clocks an hour on Saturday night, and when you get adjusted you'll be glad you have a bit more after supper daylight to enjoy.

Substitute Organist Service (SOS) Now Plays the Organ!

In last week's update, I announced that "Organ MIDI Connection Will Be Made Soon." Soon came on Tuesday afternoon, when I met Greg Jess at the organ, and we got Lynea from Church Music Solutions (CMS), creators and sustainers of the SOS app, on the line to walk us through the final stages of linking our organ with the SOS app. This was a bit more difficult than just opening the app and playing the digital tracks through the sound system. First, Lynea needed to "map" the Grace organ, so the commands from the app will play the right keys and stops on our organ. This was done by Lynea through Greg's laptop, which was connected to the Grace organ. Then we needed to install a new "beta" SOS app that had this "map" as one of the options. Finally we had to make sure that bluetooth was connected, so that we don't need a wired connection. After we did all these things, Lynea sent some organ tracks to our new SOS app, we downloaded them, and hit "Play." And sure enough, the organ started playing.

We likely won't need to use this new connection until some Saturdays in May and June when Hyo will be taking some weekends off to spend time with family, and will be available anytime we need a substitute organist. Many thanks to Greg who connected loose wires in the MIDI interface, and Lynea and all the people at CMS who have made this all possible!

LIFT Midweek Lent Series "Making Change" Continues

The third of our 5-week Lenten series services were held on Wednesday. Pr. Paul brought the message at Grace with the theme "Change of Heart". I had the week off for preaching, so I presided at Grace. This coming Wednesday, March 13, Maureen brings the message "Change of Plans" to Grace. Remember that supper beginning at 5:00 pm precedes 6:30 worship at Grace. The menu for this week is: pasta with meat sauce, salad, Dessert. Sounds yummy to me. Hope to see you there!

Choir Resumes Rehearsals

The Chancel Choir resumed rehearsals on Wednesday evening after the Midweek Lenten service under the direction of Susan Barker, our recently hired Sunday organist who has also been contracted to serve as the Chancel Choir director. The numbers were a bit sparse for the first rehearsal - some have other commitments for now, are regaining their health, or returning from points farther south, but plan to rejoin the choir. We are hoping to have choir anthems on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday.

Stewardship Team Meets

Stewardship held their monthly meeting on Wednesday. Heather joined our meeting, as she has been participating in the Stewardship for All Seasons Learning Track on Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers. These once a month Zoom meetings (from January throught April) have provided some good ideas and plans for volunteer ministry at Grace. You can watch recordings of the January Zoom HERE (Passcode: @W9$jd4V) and the February Zoom HERE (Passcode: BHW4*@V%).

Worship Team Meets

Worship met on Tuesday for their monthly meeting. Our main agenda was to make sure that everything is in order for our Holy Week and Easter services. Good Friday worship (6:30 pm) will return to the Tenebrae format, a service of readings, hymns, special music, and extinguishing of candles and progressive turning out of lights, leaving the worship space dark at the end of the service, representing the darkness of the tomb where Jesus was laid after his body was taken down from the cross.

Links for You

• Conference of Bishops Update
• Just Three Things
• Meet New NWOS Director of Administration

Meet New NWOS Director of Administration

Introducing Cassie Mugler NWOS Director of Administration

We are pleased to welcome Cassie Mugler as the NWOS Director of Administration! As the Director of Administration, Cassie will provide administrative support for Bishop Daniel as well as support in the areas of database and roster administration, synod events management, support to the synod council and conference deans, and help planning and managing synod assembly. To contact Cassie and send her a warm welcome email cassie.mugler@nwos-elca.org

Meet Cassie Mugler My name is Cassie Mugler and I am pleased to serve as the Director of Administration for the Northwestern Ohio Synod. I have been working with the synod in various roles since 2010 and have thoroughly enjoyed all of the opportunities God and the people of NWOS have given me.   I am married to Troy, who is a police officer for the City of Perrysburg. We reside in Perrysburg, OH with our daughter Grace. Grace is one year old and is the joy of our lives. Together as a family we enjoy camping, bike riding, hiking, fishing, and spending time with our family and friends. Personally, I enjoy knitting, educating people about inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s and Colitis), cooking, traveling, and trying new things. Additionally, I spend some of my free time leading students through peer leadership workshops, planning service learning trips, and advocating for the ELCA Youth Gathering.   I am looking forward to learning even more about our synod, meeting people throughout the area, serving God in a new way, and witnessing the ways in which God is very present among us.

Conference of Bishops Update

Conference of Bishop Update

Last week the ELCA Conference of Bishops gathered together and prepared two statements responding to events happening in the United States and around the world. Below are full copies of the statements along with resources to help frame the ELCA perspective on these issues.   Let us pray, Holy God, out of your great love for the world, your Word became flesh to live among us and to reconcile us to you and to one another. Rekindle among us the gift of your Spirit so that we seek to live in unity with all people, breaking down the walls that divide, ending the hostility among us, and proclaiming peace to those who are near and to those who are far away; through Christ Jesus, in whom we all have access in the one Spirit to you, both now and forever. Amen.

What is the Conference of Bishops? In addition to synodical responsibilities, the 65 synod bishops join the elected ELCA Presiding Bishop and Secretary to form the Conference of Bishops. This 67-member group gathers at least twice each year for worship and study, mutual sharing and to conduct business. While primarily advisory, the role of the Conference of Bishops is significant within the life of this church. The conference elects its own officers, has standing committees and a representative to each ELCA churchwide unit and separately incorporated ministry. The conference has a particular role in matters related to rostered ministers and also reviewing proposals before they are passed along to the ELCA Church Council for adoption. The conference advises the Presiding Bishop in matters related to churchwide planning and ecumenical relations.

ELCA Conference of Bishops calls for a permanent bilateral cease-fire in Gaza

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9) The Conference of Bishops of the ELCA is adding its voice to the growing group of faith leaders urgently calling for a permanent bilateral cease-fire in Gaza. "The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is adding its voice to the growing group of faith leaders urgently calling for a permanent bilateral cease-fire in Gaza. We urge President Joe Biden, our legislators, and all who lead and make decisions on behalf of the United States to do everything in their power to bring an end to the current suffering and lay the foundation for lasting peace with justice."

Statement from the Conference of Bishops

Full Letter to President Biden

ELCA Resources: Peace, Israel, & Palestine To learn more about the ELCA perspective on peace, Israel, and Palestine, check out the resources below.

ELCA Social Message: Israel/Palestine (1989)

ELCA Social Statement: Peace (1989)

ELCA Sumud (formerly Peace Not Walls)

Statement from the ELCA Conference of Bishops in solidarity with migrants in Texas

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." (Matthew 25:35) he Conference of Bishops of the ELCA have issued a statement of support “in solidarity with people of faith who respond to God’s call to serve their neighbor.” In the statement, the body said they “are deeply troubled by the actions of the Texas attorney general’s office against Annunciation House, a volunteer-run faith-based organization that has been a pillar of welcome and hospitality in El Paso for more than 40 years.”

Statement from the Conference of Bishops

ELCA Resources: Immigration & AMMPARO To learn more about the ELCA perspective on immigration and the ELCA's strategy for Accompanying Migrants with Protection, Advocacy, Representation, and Opportunities (AMMPARO)

ELCA Social Message: Immigration (1998, 2021)

AMMPARO

Interim Grace Notes for March 1, 2024

Healthy Congregations Training Completed

On Thursday I participated in the 7th and final weekly two-hour Zoom session of training to become a certified Healthy Congregations Workshop Facilitator. There's been a fair amount of homework, but got it done. Once I get my certification, I can order workshop participant guides from Healthy Congregations after a workshop has been scheduled.

All of this is coordinated through our Northwestern Ohio Synod Congregational Resource Team (CRT), which I joined last year. The CRT monitors congregations in transition, or those requesting assistance and resources for their congregational contexts. The CRT, using workshops and resources from Healthy Congregation, offers a series of six workshops. Pr. Matt Musteric, the leader of our CRT, has prepared a "flyer" which outlines the workshops that are available through the team. You can view and read the flyer HERE.

Organ MIDI Connection Will Be Made Soon

Greg Jess has been working hard with Lynea from Church Music Solutions, the provider of the Substitute Organist Service (SOS) program that we have used to provide organ tracks for our worship services, to make a connection between their service and the Grace organ. When the connection is made, we will be able to play the Grace organ to play requested hymns and provided prelude, offertory and postlude music on our organ, controlled by the SOS app on an iPad. One of the benefits of connecting to the organ MIDI is that it will work with a Bluetooth connection, which means that the connection will be wireless, unlike the wired connection that we have used so far to play digital organ tracks through the sound system.

Since Hyo and Susan have come on board as our organists, the need for SOS has been greatly reduced, but not entirely. Susan was unable to play for Wednesday evening Lenten worship because of illness. I was able to send in an emergency request for SOS tracks for the hymns, which were delivered in time for the service. Hyo will be unavailble for four weekends in May and June, so SOS will come to the rescue.

LIFT Midweek Lent Series "Making Change" Continues

The second of our 5-week Lenten series services were held on Wednesday. Pr. Matt brought the message at Grace with the theme "Change of Circumstances." I traveled to St. Mark and helped to lead the 7:00 service there, bringing the theme "Change of Habit," the message that I will bring to Grace on the last Wednesday of the series on March 20. This coming Wednesday, Pr. Paul brings the message "Change of Heart" to Grace. Remember that supper beginning at 5:00 pm precedes 6:30 worship at Grace. The menu for this week is: Pulled Pork, Mac & Cheese, Salad, Fruit, Dessert. Sounds yummy to me. Hope to see you there!

Bridge of Hope news

Pr. Paul has reported that an interview for the director position has been held. Further conversation with the candidate, and it is hoped that the new director can be hired soon.

Spouse of Former Grace Pastor Reports on ELCA Church Council Service

Rev. Beth Wright was an Associate Pastor at Grace under Pastor Fuchs until accepting a call the St. Mark in Toledo and eventually marrying Hans Giller. In 2022, Hans was elected by the Churchwide Assembly to the ELCA Church Council, a legislative body which makes decisions on ELCA policy between Churchwide Assembly. Hans wrote a reflection on his service on the Council in this week's synod email. You can read his reflection HERE.

Just Three Things

You can read this week's email HERE.

NWOS February 27, 2024 Email

Dear Friends in Christ, "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body...." "But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body." 1 Corinthians 12:12-13a; 18-20 Have you heard the phrase "the three expressions of the Church"? This phrase describes the ministry at the local, national, and global level, and the relationship between the three expressions. We cannot do our work at the synod and congregational level without our connection to our national and global partners. And ELCA global and national ministries can't do their work without our support at the local level! We are truly church together; doing our best work when we support ministries in our community and far beyond. One of the ministries of the national expression is the work done by the ELCA Church Council. This Council "exercises fiduciary, strategic, and generative responsibilities to govern the ELCA churchwide organization". The voting members of the Church Council are the four officers, the chair of the Conference of Bishops, and 32-45 individuals elected by the Churchwide Assembly. Hans Giller, a member of the Northwestern Ohio Synod, is currently serving on the ELCA Church Council. Continue reading to hear about his experience entering into this different way of ministering to God's people! My view of the ELCA has grown as I have taken on more responsibilities starting in my local church, moving on to the NW Ohio Synod, and now to the Churchwide organization. In 1998, I took on a new role in my life when I married Beth Wright, a pastor at St. Mark Lutheran in East Toledo. Being a pastor’s husband was a huge adjustment and one that I am forever grateful. I had been doing youth ministry in local churches and urban ministries since 1987 and quickly got involved as a youth ministry volunteer at St. Mark. Our church was active with the NWO Synod and I was soon volunteering with the Synod assembly and Synod youth events. In 2016, I was elected to the Bishop’s Consultation Committee and served for three years. Currently, I serve on the Disciplinary Committee for the Synod. These opportunities made me appreciate the work that the Synod does to address concerns with local congregations and the effort made to take care of these congregations and their members. These service opportunities gave me a fuller understanding of the ways in which local churches and the larger church live into their call to share the gospel. In 2022, Bishop Beaudoin reached out to me to ask if I would prayerfully consider being a nominee for election to the Church Council at the 2022 Churchwide Assembly. I started to pray about the possibility and recognized that I had very little understanding of what the Churchwide Organization does compared to my clear understanding of the workings of the NW Ohio Synod. That year, the Churchwide Assembly was in Columbus, OH and it was an amazing experience to watch the Church, made up of folks from all over the country, do the very important work of the ELCA. When I saw my name on the screen as a newly elected member of the Church Council I was honored and excited. As I began to get texts from Synod staff and pastors, I started to get nervous about what this new role would mean for the next six years of my life and ministry. My time serving on the ELCA’s Church Council began with me learning a lot about the ELCA, its structure, and its ministries. I was quickly introduced to the gifted, hard working, and committed Churchwide Staff. I began to see how our Synods and local churches need and are working hand in hand with the Churchwide organization. The Triennial Churchwide Assembly is the legislative organization of the ELCA and the Church Council, to which I was elected, is responsible for ensuring that decisions made by the Assembly are effectively implemented between Assemblies. Highlights of my first two years on the Council include times of worship with the Bishop, her staff, and the Council; the times of conversation with other Council members both in committee meetings and over meals; and supporting the important work of the ELCA by working alongside the Churchwide staff. I am serving on several committees on the Council, including the Christian Community and Leadership, Resource Development, and the Board Development Committees. I feel blessed to be working in my committees on addressing issues like ordination barriers, funding priorities for the ELCA, and the effectiveness of our committee and council meetings. I hear reports from our universities, camp ministries, and global ministries. We are looking at how we can address racial justice, gender equality, and fiscal responsibility in the ELCA. I am excited to see what the next few years look like for the ELCA as we observe the work of the Commission on a Renewed Lutheran Church and what that will mean for the future of our church. Leading up to the next Churchwide Assembly, I will need to begin to step up as the Council Class of 2025 will be completing their time on Council and my class will need to take a lead. Please pray that God will prepare me to be a part of leading the Council as I keep up on my reading and learning; look to the current leadership as mentors; and pray for wisdom, understanding and discernment as I continue to work alongside the ELCA Church Council and the Churchwide Staff in doing the important work of God’s Church.  Click here to learn more about the ELCA Church Council! 2024: The Year of Rest Memory Verse "So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God" Hebrews 4:9 The Mission of the Northwestern Ohio Synod Sent by the Crucified and Risen Jesus to: Make Disciples, Equip Leaders, Strengthen Parishes, and Nurture New Communities for the Renewal of Northwestern Ohio and the World NWOS Highlights Grace Be