From the Desk of Pastor Ted…

Month of March, 2009 (the most recent material is on last page)

Sunday Bulletin Articles, Newsletter Information, and Report to the Council

 

Newsletter – March 2009

Sundays in Lent – Liturgy Music: ELW Setting Five (also used in Wednesday worship)

The liturgy music will be Setting Five throughout the season of Lent this year.  Some people tell me that it is “sort-of” familiar.  Others do not recognize the music.  Setting Five (of the new hymnal) is the same as Setting Three of the former green hymnal (produced in 1978).  That setting was based on Setting Two of the old red hymnal (SBH… the Continental Setting by Regina Fryxell was based partly on 10^th century plainsong).

      Setting Five thus has the oldest musical roots of the ten settings in the new hymnal.  It has a more chant-like quality and supports the nature of Lenten worship.  I ask people to be patient in learning the music of Setting Five.  It could become added to the worship liturgy “repertoire” of St. John’s.  (Settings 3, 4, 10 are already“standards”.)

Sundays in Lent – Dramatic Reading of Gospel of the Mark – Weekly Bible Studies

Beginning on March 8, I’ll present a dramatic reading of about three chapters of Mark each week (these will be my “sermons”).  I’ve done this occasionally throughout my ministry, the first time in 1980.  I’m confident that those who commit to worshipping each week during Lent (including Palm Sunday) will find this a meaningful experience.

      Each Sunday, following worship, I’ll offer a 45 minute Bible Study on the material presented in worship.  I’ll use a literary approach to the gospel and provide a brief commentary that can help people see the gospel as a whole and as a profoundly crafted literary work.

Wednesday Worship in Lent – “Five Covenants” – Luncheon Before Worship

Using the unread scripture readings from the Sundays in Lent (1^st and 2^nd readings) the Wednesday noon services will focus on five distinctive covenants God makes with the Hebrew people of the Old Testament.  Join us each week for this series.  Also, a “comfort-food” luncheon will be offered beginning at 11:00 AM starting March 4.

A Couple of Prayer Labyrinths will be Available Throughout Lent

I’ll be making some prayer labyrinths (one in the gym, one in the sanctuary) that can be useful for personal devotional or prayer experiences.  They will be available throughout Lent.  (With the locked doors it’s important to call ahead to be sure somebody is around to let you in.)

A Reminder About Handicap Parking Spaces

I was asked to remind people that a number of parking spaces around the church are clearly marked as reserved for those who display a state-issued handicap parking permit visibly hanging in the windshield.  (Three of the spaces so marked also indicate that they are effective Only On Sunday and may be used by anyone during the other six days.)

      I write this as my own reminder, since I find myself using the spaces once in a while… and I really oughtn’t.  My “justification” is that “nobody is going to want the spot right now…”  No, it really doesn’t sound like a good excuse for me when I write it out, does it?  “Ok, Ted,” I need to say to myself, “just drive and walk the extra 30 feet to an unmarked spot… and rejoice at your capacity to walk comfortably.”

First Wednesday Potluck Meals – Continue in March and April – 5:15 PM

We’ll continue having the monthly potluck fellowship meal on the first Wednesday of the month beginning at 5:15 PM.  Different people have come each month… some folks seem to show up every month.  Join us, even if you don’t have opportunity to prepare something to share.  There has always been sufficient food for additional people.  The fellowship potluck meals will occur on March 4 and April 1 (again… beginning at 5:15 PM).

First Wednesday Potluck Meals – Movie Nights at 6:00 PM in March and April

As part of the Lenten experience, I invite people to a couple of movie nights immediately following the 1^st Wednesday Fellowship Potluck.  They effectively present two of C.S. Lewis’ famous fantasy novels, The Chronicles of Narnia.  In these “children’s stories”, C.S. Lewis reflects some of his theological perspective and life experience in the interesting characters that include four children in the midst of England’s WWII time period and the talking animals of Narnia.  A central character is a lion – the king of all beasts – who has the nature and role of Jesus Christ “in our world.”  Both of these movies were produced by Walt Disney Pictures.

The first movie to be shown on Wednesday, March 4 at 6:00 PM - The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe - is a fascinating depiction of truths that are basic in the Christian faith… elements of evil’s nature and effects, the power of redemption, the person-hood of Christ and the disciples, the power of giving self for others, the wonder of God’s capacity to impact and renew life, the surprises of the life-in-Christ.  The story is a faithful yet fantastic telling of the passion and resurrection of Jesus, and connects well with our own Lent/Easter journey.

The second movie to be shown on Wednesday, April 1 at 6:00 PM is called: Prince Caspian.  It occurs in Narnia 1,300 years after the scene of the first movie.  Only now, Narnia has been “invaded” by new human forces that again threaten Narnia’s order and nature.  The high-action movie depicts the same four children from the first movie who are “called” to help Narnia again through the blowing of a horn.  The characters are further developed and are descriptive of human struggles in life and faith.

Church Nursery – Some Vision for the Future

Shannon Witt and her family have begun work to reestablish a Sunday nursery, beginning with painting and furnishing of the room mostly destroyed by the water damage last summer.  It will take some time to carry out the work and to arrange for people to staff the room during worship.  Perhaps even more important is to effectively advertize to the Oshkosh community that worship at St. John’s includes childcare.  The council and I welcome and appreciate Shannon’s willingness and passion toward this aspect of congregational life.

      I can’t help but wonder if a high priority needs to be developed toward inviting, rallying, welcoming, embracing and supporting young families into the life of St. John’s.  If so, this needs to be articulated as a primary concern for the congregation and for the next pastor of St. John’s.  Such a focus requires certain qualities and passions.  It would likely require a type of pastor different from what has been typical at St. John’s for many decades.  It would also require changes in how the congregation thinks about and responds to the needs of young families with babies and children.  I’ve heard some “horror stories” in this regard that simply would need to change for this ministry approach to be effective and meaningful for the future of St. John’s.

Communion for ALL the Baptized – That Invitation Includes ALL Ages

I’ve specifically asked of the council its position about inviting ALL the baptized to Holy Communion, regardless of age.  When I think about this invitation, I think about ALL ages… 5^th grade, 5 years old, 2 years old, toddler, newly baptized infant.  Our ELCA articulates such a welcome and inclusiveness.  The decision about who receives bread and/or wine and when it is received in a child’s life is best made with a combination of:

•        A congregation that embraces the invitation to ALL the baptized (council supports this)
•        A pastor who is comfortable with this invitation (I am one of those pastors)
•        Parents who are comfortable with a decision for their child to receive bread and/or wine
•        A child who expresses interest in participating, who approach the table with a sense of communion being “for you” as Luther expresses (I see most children express such an interest as they observe their parents receiving the bread… they often also reach out)

I’ll offer a brief time of instruction about this to parents and children immediately following Sunday worship on March 15, 22, 29 (the last three Sundays of March).  I’ll also speak about this briefly in worship several times during Lent.  An appropriate time to recognize all who have recently begun receiving Holy Communion is the Maundy Thursday worship services (April 9 at 12:00 & 6:00 PM).  Those who worship at the Maundy Thursday services will be invited to keep their communion chalice from the service (carved from olive wood in Bethlehem) as a remembrance.

 

Special Congregational Meeting Questions – Sunday, March 8, 2009 at 10 AM

Two questions will be posed at this special meeting of the congregation.

Question 1. Shall the council be directed to obtain a line of credit for up to $30,000 for cash-flow?

Supporting information:

•          To manage the growing deficit between local giving (general fund) and actual budgeted expenses, and because the Patri Fund has already been borrowed to cover the deficit from 2008, the council has made arrangements with Westpoint Bank (with which the congregation has the bulk of its financial dealings) to obtain a line-of-credit of up to $30,000.
•          This line-of-credit will be drawn only as needed to support cash flow for prompt payment of bills when giving has been insufficient to cover all budgeted expenses.
•          Using its own constitutional authority, the council has already drawn $5,000 of the planned $30,000 maximum to support current cash flow needs.  Congregational approval is needed beyond $5,000.
•          The interest and liability information will be available at the special congregational meeting.
•          Because of the pastoral transition, a number of options exist that could be enacted in 2009 to help with the deficit situation and make provision for repayment of borrowed credit.
•          It is vitally important to consider this reality in terms a new pastoral call.

Question 2. Shall the constitution be modified to reflect actual Nominating Committee practices?

Supporting Information:

•          Technically, the constitution wording indicates that two outgoing council members shall be elected by the congregation to the new Nominating Committee along the other four other members at the annual meeting.  That doesn’t really happen this way.  Instead, at the end of the year the council appoints two outgoing council people.
•          To change a constitutional item, three requirements must be met:

o        the congregation must be notified at least 30 days in advance of the meeting

o        the change must be approved by the majority of an annual or special congregational meeting

o        it must be ratified at the next annual meeting by a two-thirds majority. 

•          This notice and a “yes” vote on March 8 will satisfy the first requirement.  Another congregational meeting is needed for the second requirement, and a subsequent annual meeting enacts the change.
•          The following change is proposed to C13.02:
  A Nominating Committee of six voting members of this congregation, two of whom shall be outgoing members of the Congregation Council, [shall consist of four members who] shall be elected at the annual meeting for a term of one year [and outgoing members of the Congregation Council].  Members of the Nomination Committee are not eligible for consecutive reelection.

 

Challenge to the Congregation for Extra Effort Giving

To help with the deficit that has formed by 2008 finance realities and a continuing shortfall of income relative to budget expenses, the council has taken on a challenge to itself and to members of the congregation.  What is hoped for in this challenge is twenty gifts of $500 that is over and above regular giving.  This would generate enough funds to pay for all current bills and bring the deficit back to an even level. 

      It is understood that people continue to be faithful in their ongoing support to St. John’s and for that much appreciation and thanks are given.  It is understood that general decline in financial strength has been a trend at St. John’s for about 15 years… for various reasons.  It is understood that while a deficit confronts the congregation right now it is not the first time such a challenge has emerged; for instance, council information and newsletter articles of five years ago sound very similar to right now… yet the life of the congregation has continued to be meaningful and filled with ministry.  It is understood that current financial difficulties all around are challenging.

      Consider how you might offer a special financial gift in the next few weeks to support the current challenges.  The council leadership will continue working to keep expenses as low as possible while also managing the expenses needed to keep the ministry and building functioning.

 

The Council Has Appointed a Call Committee: Paula Schmidt, MaryAnn Monteith, Doris Matulle, Louise Koehler, Jack Schroeder / Suzanne Schroeder (1 is a committee member and the other an alternate), Karen Fenrich / Hope Fenrich (1 is a committee member and the other an alternate), Sheilia Witt (alternate)