Synod Council Highlights January 2023

The Northwestern Ohio Synod Council met on January 21, 2023 at Grace in Toledo. Below are some highlights from their meeting:

After Devotions led by Pastor Mindy Elliott (St. Peter, Ridgeville Corners), Synod Council experienced the Story of Grace Lutheran Church in Toledo as shared by Mr. Bob Haar.   Bishop Daniel shared a teaching session about leadership in liminal spaces. The landscape of the church in Northwestern Ohio is changing, and the change is hastening. We are finding ourselves in a liminal space. This liminal space is a space that is in between the inherited church “that was”, and the emerging church “that will be”. God is calling us into an unknown and uncharted space. So, how might we prepare leaders for this new reality? By reimagining the concept of leadership training. The training of church leaders needs to change so that we might embrace a changing world.   The traditional way of training church leaders focuses on a model of learning centered on the academy. Students were instructed in the classroom. They took in lots of information by reading books, listening to lectures, and taking exams. This “Inherited Church” model of forming leaders has been the standard in Europe and North America for the last 150 years.   The emerging way of training church leaders focuses on a model of learning centered on immersive and experiential learning. Think “apprenticeship” and “on the job training”. Think of the way that electricians, surgeons, and student teachers are trained. Instead of an exchange of information, there is a commitment to invest. Someone invests their time, wisdom, skills, resources, and life into the burgeoning leader. These established leaders teach us to do what they do.   When you read the Story of Jesus in the New Testament, you quickly see that Jesus trains His disciples using the “apprenticeship” and “on the job training” model. This was also the model the Early Church used to train leaders. While we are in this liminal space, let’s dream together about how we might embrace a new way of training church leaders for the church that is emerging.   In other Synod Council actions:   After engaging in consultation with the Churchwide Mission Support Team, and an extended period of study and financial projections from the Finance Team, Synod Council voted to revise the 2023/24 Northwestern Ohio Synod Spending Plan to include a reduction in proportionate share (the amount of Mission Support income that the synod shares with the national ELCA), from 51% TO 40%. At the end of the fiscal year, Synod Council will consider an additional gift to Mission Support should revenue exceed projections. Synod Council approved a donation of 10% (nearly $48,000) of the Bright Road Office Building sale to Churchwide in the form of Mission Support. Included in the 2023-24 Northwestern Ohio Synod Mission Spending Plan are funds to: Increase the capacity of synod staff by hiring a Director for Generosity, to increase generosity and provide training to congregational leaders on long-range financial sustainability. Partner with local synods to invest in lay theological education by developing programs of training for non-traditional seminary tracks. Many of our parishes are being led by locally trained lay leaders, and this allows us to better support them. A synod goal will be to begin offering immersive, experiential learning experiences and pilgrimages to equip our leaders for the emerging church.  As you can see, Synod Council is looking forward to new and increased opportunities to train and support church leaders, resource our parishes towards mission and financial stability, and create new pathways for increased generosity. Synod Council approved a new "Donor Restricted and Endowment Disbursement Policy” Synod Council discussed the nomination process for the ELCA Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church.   For more information about Synod Council and to access Synod Council Meeting Minutes please visit: https://nwos-elca.church/about/synod-council/

December 2022 Minutes

Interim Grace Notes for January 27, 2023

Endowment Committee Gets Annual Report

The main item of business at the Endowment Committees meeting on Monday was to receive the annual report of the Endowment's assets from our investment service, Trust Company Family Offices (TCFO) out of Holland, OH. Members of the firm were present to explain the report, highlighting how various aspects of the past year's economy affected our returns. The bottom line is that the Endowment lost value, but the mix of investments along with dividends limited the damage. TCFO provided the following summary of our account, which is also on page 34 of the Annual Report. As you can see, we're down about $200K from last year:

Beginning Market Value:		$1,375,801.43
Receipts:
Cash Deposits	0.00
Asset Deposits	22,720.83
Total Receipts		22,720.83
Payments:
Disbursements	-44,284.32
Withdrawals and Distributions:	-22,720.83
Administrative Expenses	-8,563.04
Total Payments		75,586.19
Investment Income:
Tax Free Income	0.00
Taxable Interest	16.30
Dividends	32,311.70
Return of Capital	0.00
Other Income	0.00
Total Investment Income		32,328.00
Investment Growth:	-179,3190.87
Total Investment Growth		-179,310.87
Ending Market Value:		$1,175,971.20

LIFT Planning Meeting Ready to Go

From Pr. Paul: Reminder that we’ll gather on Saturday, January 28, from 9-11 at the Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce to help focus LIFT’s vision for 2023. The theme is Second Vision. This is building on conversation at our July meeting, but attendance then is not required. We’ll start planning some service, fellowship, and learning opportunities for LIFT in the months ahead. Please RSVP to Pastor Paul Bailie.

Annual Meeting Ready to Go

Reminder that our Annual Meeting is this Sunday, January 29, beginning at 9:00 am. You can find links to both the Annual Report and the Zoom meeting in the current issue of Just Three Things, which you can see HERE.

Civic Life and Faith Curriculum

How are we as Lutheran Christians called to civic engagement, including in the arenas of government and political life? What is the proper relationship of the church with government, and what is not? What does religious liberty actually include? What are our scriptural and confessional resources for probing such questions about civic life? A study curriculum has just been released by the ELCA Task Force for Studies on Civic Life and Faith which includes six sessions and is a critical step on the way to the social statement called for by the 2019 Churchwide Assembly. You can find out more about the curriculum HERE.

LIFT Notes, Including Lenten Devotional Plans

You can read the latest issue of LIFT Notes HERE. Be sure to scroll down and read about Pr. Paul's plans to create a Lenten Devotional entitled "Sing With All the Saints in Glory. Submissions are due on February 15.

The Osterholm Update - Covid-19

Episode 123: Nowhere Land
January 26, 2023
In "Nowhere Land," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the state of the pandemic in the U.S. and around the world, the latest data on the XBB.1.5 subvariant, and a measles outbreak in Ohio. Dr. Osterholm also answers a COVID query about COVID deaths, provides an update on influenza and RSV, and comments on the new strain of antibiotic resistant gonorrhea that was recently detected in Massachusetts.. You can stream or download the episode HERE.

Interim Grace Notes for January 20, 2023

Annual Reports Ready

Be sure to pick up yours, on the table at both worship entrances. Annual Meeting is next Sunday, 9:00 am in the sanctuary .

Confirmation Youth Make Memories at Camp

Last Friday at this time I was getting ready to leave for a confirmation retreat at Hopewood Pines (formerly known as Lutheran Memorial Camp) near Fulton, OH. Driving separately from Huron, I met those attending from Fremont - Heather with three youth from Grace, and seven from St. John's. Our totals were seven boys and three girls. I had the boys in Cabin 1, and Heather the girls in Cabin 2. Natalie Wilfong and Keisa Schwochow helped with transportation.

I was assisted in my cabin by Rev. John Michels, a family member of one of our boys, and a son of Grace, meaning a member of Grace who became an ordained ALC/ELCA pastor. John, officially retired from ministry, joined us from his home in Circleville, OH. Interestingly enough, John knew Marcy and her sister Patty from their mutual time at Capital University, and another interesting connection was that John's seminary internship supervisor was Rev. Peter Rogness at Hephatha Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. Peter has family roots in my hometown in Minnesota, and is my 6th cousin. And, two of the boys from St. John's are nephews/cousins of a St. John's Bellevue family. The wild wonderful web of the church!

Our weekend was filled with games, bible study, campfires, smores, singing songs both silly and serious, crafts, hiking, and much, much more. I'm sure that many memories were created, which camps and retreat do in their own unique way. For my February newsletter Pastor's message, I wrote about the importance of creating memories which help to ground us in our faith. If you want to be among the first to read it, you can do so HERE.

As I mentioned in this message, the boys in my cabin were disappointed they couldn't stay longer, and were excited to learn they could come back for a whole week during the summer. Perhaps an agenda item for our next Exec/Council meeting is to consider subsidies for families who may want to send their kids to summer camps. You can find dates and costs HERE. You will notice the Tier 1 and Tier 2 designations. Tier 1 represents the actual cost of camp, and Tier 2 is a rate that is subsidized by the camp itself.

LIFT Items of Interest

• The LIFT Board meets for its bi-monthly meeting this Sunday at 12:30 at Grace.
• Two LIFT events were covered in recent News Messenger articles. Breakfast in Bethlehem was in the December 16 edition. The Epiphany service was covered on January 11. You can find the links in the latest issue of LIFT Notes, which you can find HERE.
• LIFT Laundry Ministry: Before the pandemic, LIFT would send teams out to a local laundromat to be present in the community and pay for people’s washing. The site for this ministry is at Poly-Clean at 1011 Tiffin Ave. LIFT is restarting this outreach ministry. Upcoming dates are Tuesday, January 24 from 9-11 AM and Tuesday, February 28 from 9-11 AM.
• LIFT February Newsletter - Be sure to check out the latest LIFT Newsletter, which you can view and read HERE. Be especially sure to check out the paragraph on the planned Lenten Devotional under the theme "Sing With All the Saints in Glory." Pastor Paul invites your participation:

As we tell the story of Jesus, we encounter how God is at work in the lives of God’s people. If you choose to write a submission, send a piece roughly between 200-400 words to Pastor Paul Bailie by February 15 responding to this prompt: What person in your life has shown you God’s glory and love? Maybe it’s the person who taught you to pray or invited you to worship. Or perhaps someone who has modeled generosity and service. Or maybe an example of perseverance and faithfulness? We look forward to hearing your stories.

### Where Your Heart Is The ELCA Department of Stewardship is publishing a new blog/newsletter called "Where Your Heart Is." You can read the inaugural issue HERE.

Seeds Monthly

Seeds Monthly is an ELCA publication that brings news about what's happening in our ELCA, along with resources for congregations to use in their contexts. You can read the January issue HERE.

Just Three Things

ICYMI, you can read it HERE.

Interim Grace Notes for January 13, 2023

Confirmation Retreat Ready To Go

LIFT confirmation youth will be stepping out of the church and into the woods this weekend at LMC (Lutheran Memorial Camp) at Hopewood Pines near Fulton, OH. We'll be doing hiking, group games, crafts, campfires, discovery Bible study and worship. Youth from Grace and St. John's will be departing at 5:00 pm Friday afternoon, and we should be back by 1:00 pm on Sunday.

Adults accompanying us to camp and providing transportation will be Heather from Grace and Emily Boroff from St. John's. Heather will stay with the youth, and Emily will provide transportation both ways. I am also attending the retreat, and will be meeting the group at the camp, driving from my house in Huron. Another adult, Rev. John Michles, an ELCA pastor from Circleville and a family member of one of the youth attending, will also join our group for Friday evening and most of Saturday.

While the event was promoted to youth at both Grace and St. John's, at first we thought it would only be the three youth from Grace. But in the last week or so we learned that St. John's would be sending seven. So we are hoping this will be a very good experience for our youth. There are things that can happen spiritually for youth (and adults, too) at camp that, perhaps, wouldn't happen on site at church.

Funeral for Paige on Tuesday

Paige's funeral was marked by sadness, tears, stories of how Paige touched our lives and inspired us, about 300 attendees, of whom about 150 were from Paige's school up the street at SJCC, and much more. Fr. Chris Kardzis from Sacred Heart, Paig's confirming pastor, was Assisting Minister. Heather spoke about Paige, as did a teacher and a close friend. And the hope of the resurrection was proclaimed. Keep Paige's family in your prayers.

LIFT Leaders Met

LIFT leaders met for our monthly meeting on Wednesday at 11:00 am. At our meetings we share how things are going in our congregations, and discuss upcoming events. Some of our topics of discussion were:

• Weather Cancellation policy. Most of us cancel only with a Level 3 in force, which seems to work.
• Women's Conference on Grief and Loss -- see LIFT Notes for more information on content, date, time and speaker. This conference will be offered in English in the morning and in Spanish in the afternoon.
• Laundry Ministry will be restarting at Poly-Clean, 1011 Tiffin Ave. on January 24 from 9-11 am.
• Ash Wednesday. We'll again be doing drive-through ashes, this time at Grace, from noon until 5:00 pm.
• Lent Devotional -- the Advent Devotional was a success, so we're considering a Lenten Devotional which would be a bit more of a challenge because Lent is longer season than Advent.
• Plans for All-Lift Meeting on January 28, 9-11 am at the Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce. Paul, Maureen and Steve Hottinger met to plan this meeting to help focus LIFT’s vision for 2023. The theme is Second Vision. This is building on conversation at our July meeting. We’ll start planning some service, fellowship, and learning opportunities.
• The Martin Luther KIng Day Breakfast will be at Grace on Monday, 10:00 am. Pr. Paul will be attending.

ELCA Global Links

You can real the latest on what our ELCA has been doing in the area of global ministry HERE.

Lift notes

You can read the latest issue of LIFT Notes HERE.

The Osterholm Update - Covid-19

Episode 122: Shutting Down Misinformation
January 12, 2023
In "Shutting Down Misinformation," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the state of the pandemic in the US and around the world, China’s struggle to keep up with its dramatic rise in COVID cases and deaths, and the vaccine misinformation that is spreading on social media. You can stream or download the episode HERE.

Interim Grace Notes for January 6, 2023

Funeral Scheduled for Paige Russell

The funeral for Paige has been scheduled for next Tuesday, January 10, at 11:00 am. There will be an hour of visitation before the service. Visitation at the Herman Funeral Home will be Monday from 2-4 and 5-7 pm. I met today (Friday) with the principal and two staff counselors of St. Joseph Central Catholic where Paige has attended since preschool. They will be bringing their entire junior and senior class members, and several classmates of Paige's sister Pamela will also be attending, along with a number of staff, totaling nearly a hundred. They will be seated in the first 10-12 rows of the sanctuary on the lectern side. This has certainly been a very difficult time for the family, and for all whose lives were touched by Paige. Keep them in your prayers. You can read the obituary for Paige HERE.

Stewardship Team Met Wednesday

The Stewardship Team met on Wednesday. There was additional follow-up from our fall stewardship campaign. Linda provided a handout with some final numbers, but I left it behind in my office. But one takeaway is that we had a few more complete intent cards, and our total pledged amount is about $40,000 more than last year. So that's good news. What we don't know is how much the non-pledgers will give, which makes it a bit of a challenge to estimate offering income for 2023.

On other topics, we will be looking for people to interview for our Grace Stories program. If you know any possibilities, let us know and we'll contact them and find our if they'd be willing to tell us their story. We're good through about the middle of February.

Another topic of conversation, one we have discussed in previous meetings, is participation in the program Stewardship for All Seasons. Enrolling in this program in 2023 will ensure that our congregational stewardship will stay strong through this year and 2024. There is a cost for this program, some of which is already covered with designated funds. Executive will give this more consideration at Monday's meeting.

Worship Committee Met Wednesday

First Wednesday is always busy, as Stewardship meets at 11, and Worship at 1. We reviewed our worship plans for January and February. We're going to do a small change with the noisy offering - we're going to try doing the offering first, and do other announcements while noisy offering is being received.

Confirmation Youth Will Be on Retreat Next Weekend

We are registered to attend a Confirmation retreat next weekend, January 13-15 at Hopewood Pines, formerly Lutheran Memorial Camp. Heather and I will be attending, and so far we have three youth from Grace, and possibly one or more from St. John's.

No End In Sight for Offering Envelope Delay

So far, we have not received our order for offering envelopes, and the way it looks, we're not alone. I was reviewing posts in my ELCA Clergy Facebook Group, and learning that many other congregations are having similar problems. Then this comment from our own trusty church publishing house:

Hello All, Your friendly, Augsburg Fortress Marketer is chiming in here. What has been said is very accurate, there are significant paper shortages all over the industry right now. Our envelope provider has managed to weather most of the storm. We are hearing that places that used to produce paper used for books and envelopes are switching to producing corrugated cardboard because they can make a quick profit from it with increased demand for shipping boxes and they don't have to be as exact in production. This means that costs are climbing for publishing paper and shortages are occurring all over the industry. That being said, if you need generic envelopes to provide some cushion before your provider can fulfill their order we currently have one style in stock that is pre-printed and one that is blank. You can find them here: (then he provides links)

For now, looks like we'll have to keep using pew envelopes that we have, and order more if/when we need 'em.

Epiphany Service Held Friday Night

The LIFT Sponsored Epiphany Service of Readings and Carols was held Friday evening at 6:00 pm. It was a nice service - lots of good organ, piano, and choir music with the hymns and traditional scripture readings. We had 23 in attendance.

Bishop Daniel's January 5th Email

Bishop Daniel introduces the synod theme for 2023: The Year of Story. I encourage you to read the message HERE.

Bishop Daniel's January 5 Email

 

Dear Friends in Christ, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8)

Welcome to 2023: The Year of Story. We recently had our grandchildren visit with us, and in the evening as they prepared for bed, the request came every night.  “Read us a story. Tell us a story”. I love stories and I love storytellers: Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, John Steinbeck, Norman Maclean, but also Louise Penny, Colson Whitehead, and Louise Erdrich. Who would you add to the list of great storytellers?  In addition to those listed above, I would add Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The writers of the four Gospels. And lest we forget… Jesus. Jesus could spin a yarn. Jesus could tell a tale. Jesus could narrate a great story. And Jesus also knows how to star in a great story. Our focus in 2023: The Year of Story will be on learning and telling the Story of Jesus. A story that many of us have been learning and telling our entire lives. The Gospel Story of Jesus matters. As St. Paul reminds us in Romans 1:16, the Gospel “…is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith…”. The stories of Jesus that I learned in Sunday School, heard proclaimed from the pulpit, read in my illustrated Children’s Bible, loomed huge in my imagination when I was a kid. And that’s what great stories do. They loom. They challenge. And they inspire. Great stories have a way of enlightening our minds, moving our hearts, healing our relationships, and transforming whole communities. During 2023: The Year of Story, I want to encourage you and your parish to learn and tell the transforming Story of Jesus. Let us pray, “Blessed Lord God, you have caused the holy scriptures to be written for the nourishment of your people. Grant that we may hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, comforted by your promises, we may embrace and forever hold fast to the hope of eternal life, which you have given us in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord”. Amen.                                       (Evangelical Lutheran Worship pg. 72) As we begin 2023: The Year of Story, I invite you to start with two simple practices related to the Story of Jesus. Memorize Scripture: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. Acts 1:8 is the Year of Story Memory Verse. Read Scripture: Join a host of others across the Northwestern Ohio Synod as we focus on the Story of Jesus! In 2023, we will read through the writing of the Four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This week we are working our way through the Birth Narratives of Jesus. Please click here to access the 2023 Daily Bible Reading Guide.

2023 Daily Bible Reading Guide

A Few Comings and Goings

On Sunday morning, January 8, I will be gathering with the people of God at Augsburg, Toledo for a Service of Leave Taking. Augsburg will be merging with neighboring parish, Faith United, Toledo. Please hold the people of Augsburg in your prayers this week. Let us pray, “O God, you have promised through your Son to be with your church forever. We give you thanks for those who founded this community of believers and for the signs of your presence in this congregation throughout its life. As Augsburg concludes its time together in this place, grant that we may ever follow in the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord”. Amen.  (Prayer of the Day from the Service of Leave Taking at Augsburg Lutheran Church, Toledo)   The Toledo Blade recently featured an article on the January 15 merger of Augsburg Lutheran Church with Faith United Lutheran Church. Please click here to read the article.   On Sunday evening, January 8, I will be gathering with the Pastors, Deacons, Synod Authorized Ministers, and Spouses of the North Central and Eastern Conferences for an Epiphany Gathering at the home of Pastor Henry and Becky Seibert.

2022: The Year of Vision Memory Verse Revelation 21:5a “And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” 2022 Bible Study: All Things New

Student Guide

Leader Guide

Bible Study Resources

NWOS Highlights

Grace Between the Lines

My Current Learning Book: The Pilgrim’s Progress: A Norton Critical Edition by John Bunyan Audio Book: The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism by Doris Kearns Goodwin Podcasts: Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin Bible Project Apps: Pray as You Go Centering Prayer

Bless you, Bishop Daniel G. Beaudoin Ninth Day of Christmas

Interim Grace Notes for December 23, 2022

Grace Weather Policy Will Apply to Christmas Schedule

Today (Friday) Sandusky County is under Level 3 Advisory. Here's the message from Sheriff Hilton on the department's Facebook page:

The travel conditions are still very treacherous. Please do not travel unless you absolutely need to do so. Sandusky County will remain on a Level 3. I will continue to re-evaluate the conditions throughout the rest of the day. Stay warm and stay safe.

Sheriff Hilton
Updated at 12:15 pm

As recent as yesterday, the church office was receiving calls asking whether or not we would proceed with our Christmas Eve services. It is my understanding that we will follow Grace's Inclement Weather Policy as posted on the congregation website:

• LEVEL 2 – Please use your own judgment; we want you to be safe.
• LEVEL 3 – WORSHIP CANCELED

Information about what level the county is at is available at the Sheriff Department’s recorded information line – 419-332-2613, or on the department's Facebook page, which you can view HERE.

My expectation is that conditions will improve beginning Saturday morning, and by the afternoon the Level 3 will be lifted, meaning that Christmas services will be held according to schedule. My recommendation is to use your best judgment if the advisory is Level 1 or 2. As our policy states, "We want you be safe." The 6:00 pm service will be on Facebook, beginning at 5:30 with the preservice music.

Christmas and New Year's Worship Schedule

Details about Grace's scheduled services on Christmas and New Year's Eve and Christmas and New Year's Day can be found on the current issue of Just Three Things, which you can view HERE.

LIFT Notes

You can read the current issue of LIFT Notes HERE.

Funerals Held and Scheduled

The funeral for Sharon Zilles was held Thursday, December 22 at Grace. Maureen and I co-officiated, with Maureen bringing the message. Maureen will preside at funerals for Ruth Kennedy next Friday, December 30 at Herman-Veh in Gibsonburg, and for Evelyn Taylor on January 5. Continue to remember the families of these Grace members in your prayers.