Hymn Sing for Prelude This Weekend
Susan, our amazing Organist and Choir Director, will be leading a congregational hymn sing for the prelude this weekend. The plan is to do this every second Sunday of the month We will begin ten minutes before the service, and we'll take requests for your favorite hymns, and sing no more than two verses of each, until the top of the hour when the service will begin with Announcements.
Mission Moment this Weekend
A Mission Moment at the beginning of worship this weekend will focus on the need for additional candidates to serve on the Grace Congregation Council. Terms are for three years, and those serving a first term are eligible to run for a second term. Our esteemed Vice-President, Dave Cooper, will bring this important message.
Hymn Selection Committee Makes Selections in Record Time
408, 641, 400, 413, 543, 705, 634, 858 and 886. Those are the Gathering Hymns for the months of May and June, selected by our Hymn Selection Committee, which is now meeting every other second Tuesday at 11:00 am. Meg Fuchs , Susan Barker, Maureen Pump, Becky Seibert, and Jan Serwin are current members of the team. Thanks for providing this important "service" for our "services"!
LIFT Leaders Met Wednesday
On Wednesday I joined LIFT leaders for our monthy meetings. These meetings have a dual purpose - it encourages us to stay connected, and gives us opportunity to make any LIFT ministry plans. Just around the corner is our plans to celebrate Ascension Day with a healing service of anointing and prayer at St. John’s in May 9 at 7 PM.
An Easy Ride to Eastern Conference Pastoral Leaders Meeting
Pastoral Leaders in our Eastern Conference normally meet on the second Thursday at 10:00 am, with the location rotating among the Conference ministry sites. This month it was a breeze for me, for although I could have walk half-a-mile, I drove to Zion Lutheran in Huron. Zion Huron is in transition and is currently being served by recently retired Pastor Katie Suggitt, who is half-time, and presides at worship except for the first Sunday of the month. Special guest at our meeting was Drew Tucker, recently installed as Executive Director of Hopewood Outdoors, formerly LOMO, or Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Ohio. Drew brought us up to date on what's happening at LOMO, including a NWOS sponsored event for middle school youth this summer called "Just Chill," a middle school response to the the 2024 NWOS theme of "Rest." "Just Chill" is also designed to offer a spiritual growth adventure during a summer when their older congregational siblims are heading to New Orleans for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering. You can read more about "Just Chill" HERE fromS unday, June 30 (2:00 pm) to Wednesday, July 3 (1:00 pm). Grace Council has already approved funds from the back page to send any middle school youth who may want to attend this event.
Excellent Eclipse Outreach by St. Peter Norwalk
I spoke briefly to Pr. Ann Marshall from St. Peter Norwalk. I asked her how the eclipse program that congregation had planned went. She set there were over 180 people from many different parts of the US who showed up. St. Peter provided porto-potties, a food vendor, and other hospitalities to welcome those who chose to come. Pr. Ann said that they advertised on the website of the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce. Good to know for the next total eclipse through northern Ohio - 2499!
Synod Transitional Leaders Met via Zoom
On Thursday I joined the monthly meetings of synod transitional leaders. One of our transitional leaders, Pr. Cindy Ritter, gave an excellent power point presentation on important issues for our synod congregations in transition.
Final Plans for Confirmation
Grace will observe the Rite of Confirmation on Sunday, April 28. Here are some details leading up to that day:
- April 21, following worship - Pastor Mark will meet with the confirmands to discuss their confirmation. Also known as Affirmation of Baptism. They will also be fitted for a gown they will wear.
- April 28, 8am Breakfast for confirmands and family members
- April 28, 9am Worship and the Rite of Confirmation
Our Confirmands will be Brenden Fisher, Tommy Michles, and Libby Hawn.
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