From the Desk of Pastor Ted…

Month of September (most recent on bottom)
Sunday Bulletin Articles, Newsletter Information, and Report to the Council

 

September 4, 2008

Some Vacation and Continuing Education Time

I’ll be out of state with Joan until September 16.  I can be reached by email and cell phone throughout the time that I’m gone.  Part of my time away will include some continuing education and fall planning time.

“Rally Day” – Worship for the Rest of 2008

This Sunday is typically called “Rally Day” in many congregations during which the Sunday School begins and people renew their habit of regular worship.  Well, St. John’s does register children for Sunday School classes today… but there is little doubt that the strength of the program isn’t what it once was… things simply are different.

      But, there is also little doubt to me that a profound strength in the life and ministry of St. John’s is its Sunday Worship.  So… this is a day for everyone to RALLY themselves and rally one another to renewed commitments of worshipping regularly for the fall season.  The services for the rest of 2008 are already planned to some degree.  I think the plans look interesting and exciting.  I’ll use this space today to describe the worship plans for the rest of 2008.

Planning “Templates”

By the word templates I mean to say that several layers of structure and planning will shape the worship services for the rest of the year:

• 1. Principles of the new hymnal (ELW) and St. John’s heritage – primary considerations and starting points for worship planning
• 2. The flow of the Church Year – the various seasons (Pentecost, Advent), our 3-year lectionary of scripture readings, and special commemorations (Reformation, All Saints)
• 3. A monthly rhythm of worship approaches – music and styles
• a. 1^st Sundays – more formal and “high church”
• b. 2^nd Sundays – more “EPIC” with small group music
• c. 3^rd Sundays – basically a traditional service using ELW setting 10
• d. 4^th Sundays – traditional with a teaching focus, using ELW setting 10
• e. 5^th Sundays – hymn sing – people spontaneously choose the music for the service
• 4. Family Church Sundays – added this year with the Sunday School planning during which no classes occur, families are encourage to worship together the full service, and children will be involved in carrying out parts of the worship service
• 5. Planning from members – I hope that I can encourage people to work with me to help plan details of upcoming services… for instance, perhaps a person (family or group) would enjoy working with me to select hymns, plan worship details, and offer unique ideas

Fall Worship Plans (so far)

I include on the back of this page some of the specific plans in place so far.  I think most plans will stay in place as they are presented but each service still has room for more development.  I look forward to walking through this worship plan with the members of St. John’s.  I hope it also looks like an interesting and inspiring approach to Sunday worship for the rest of 2008.  I especially hope that St. John’s members will “Rally” themselves and one another to worship EVERY WEEK POSSIBLE.  I simply cannot state enough how important regular worship and “full-house” worship is to a congregation during times of transition.  It is a time for new commitments to worship and opportunity to invite others to join you on Sunday mornings.

 

 

Worship Planning for Fall of 2008
JOIN US
Invite others to join YOU in worship

 

Sept 14 – Holy Cross Day – Small Group Music

I won’t be here to help with music but there are people already working to present music in a small group fashion from the front of the church.  Special for this day will be a strong focus on the Cross during the first part of the service.  The “Gathering” section will have a unique flow.

Sept 21 – Traditional worship

Continuing to use ELW setting 10 music for the liturgy parts this is the most (can I use this word?) normal service of the month… a basic worship plan (but I might have a children’s sermon)

Sept 28 – Special Hymn Sing

The special part of this hymn sing is that I’ll offer some teaching on each of the hymns we sing, providing information about the texts and music, who wrote each, and significance of the hymn.

Oct 5 – “High Church” styles – Stewardship: Walk with Jesus

We have time to plan for how we can make this service as “high church” as possible.  I hope we can organize a beginning procession, gospel procession, and more… but it’s crucial to have a lot of people involved… yes… I hope YOU can help in some way to make this a special service.

Oct 12 – Family Church Sunday – Small Group Music – Stewardship: Listen to Jesus Teach

Children will be involved in parts of the service on this first “Family Church Sunday”.  Families will be invited to worship together for the full service (no classes are held).  It might be a great day to invite other families you might know to worship with you.

Oct 19 – Organ Recital (following short worship) – Stewardship: Give Generously

This could be a really fun morning.  The worship service will be fairly short (about 30 minutes) and a 45 minute music recital will follow immediately.  We’ll be joining MANY other congregations around the country in the world’s largest “organ recital” on this day.  I’m selecting a trumpet/organ piece to include in the recital… I haven’t done this for a while and look forward to the opportunity.

Oct 26 – Reformation – Brass Music – Confirmation – Stewardship: Pledging for 2009

Wow!  What a day this will be.  I hope to organize a full brass quartet to help lead hymns and festive liturgy music (ELW setting 4 – the same as the familiar LBW 2), young people will affirm their baptisms (confirmation), and we’ll conclude our October stewardship emphasis with an opportunity to respond to God’s blessings in our lives.  This will also be a Family Church Sunday.  Join us in this celebrative worship service!

Nov 2 – All Saints Sunday: Remembering Loved Ones Who Have Died – Brass Music

Again, I hope to have a brass quartet help to lead hymns and liturgy music (ELW setting 4) as we celebrate the blessings we’ve received from the saints in our lives.  While sadness is a pervading feeling when people die, we also have reason to be thankful for the blessings given us by their lives and to celebrate all that the saints mean to us.  I’m looking for a number of people who will help make this service happen… remember that it will be a “high church” worship service with more formal styles.

Nov 9 – Small Group Music

This service is wide open at the moment, except that the music will be led by a small group in the front of the church.  I’d like to have people help plan some creative (EPIC) elements.

Nov 16 – Traditional worship

Again, the service is wide open at the moment.  It will be traditional in style (ELW setting 10).

Nov 23 – Family Church Sunday – “Church Year” Liturgy: A Walk Through the Seasons of Worship

Now THIS service is special… I’ve had many tell me that it is their favorite of the year.  It is a service that walks through the whole church year at one time, providing a “telescoped” view of a year of worship.

 

(OK – I’m out of space… but the planning continues… watch for more information)

Nov 30 – Advent begins

Dec 7 – “High Church” styles

Dec 14 – Tridium – Small Group Music

Dec 21 – Christmas Program – Family Church Sunday

Dec 24 – Christmas Eve – 4 and 7 PM

Dec 28 – Family Church Sunday

 

September 14, 2008

Council Report

To:       St. John’s Council

From:   Pastor Ted Johanson

Re:       Report to the Council

Date:   September 14, 2008

 

Some Basic Changes in Focus

I’ve spent a fair amount of time and effort working to bring clarity to a number of outstanding issues at St. John’s.  Joan’s primary function as Consultant from the Office of Bishop has been to bring awareness and clarity to the congregation’s history as a means of better coming to terms with it as we move into the future during this transition time.  To be sure, the process has not been easy for people.  Some feelings have been triggered, some issues have been clarified, many might feel some general satisfaction with the processes of the past five months, and perhaps as well not all people might feel satisfied with the work that has been carried out.

      Mostly the efforts have connected with the problems, the misunderstandings, the distrust, the sharp feelings, and threatening realities.  I’ll be shifting emphasis and focus toward the congregation’s strengths, resources, options for the future and possibilities in congregational life as we continue together during the interim process to clarify the congregation’s mission and its vision of that mission.

      One blunt, though very useful kind of question might be something like: “Why does the life and ministry of St. John’s need to continue into the future?” 

      The current mission (Worship God / Love Each Other / Reach Out to All!) is adequate and sufficiently large in scope, but what is the vision of that mission to look like in… say… three, five and ten years?  What kind of pastoral and other forms of leadership fit with that sense of vision?  What specific program emphases might form into new reality?

Two Specific Questions: Book of Faith and Prayer in Worship

I’d like to ask the council to consider two specific things that have occurred to me in the past week while being on vacation.  First, would St. John’s intentionally connect with the ELCA’s “Book of Faith” initiative for the next five years?  Second, connecting with the prayer emphasis that spun out of the Stewardship Program for the fall (already begun) might I add another prayer emphasis into each worship service until at least All Saints Sunday (November 2)?

      1) The Book of Faith initiative began at the most recent ELCA Assembly.  The Book of Faith initiative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America invites the whole church to become more fluent in the first language of faith, the language of Scripture, in order that we might live into our calling as a people renewed, enlivened, and empowered by the Word.  As a work of the whole church, each individual, each congregation, each synod, and each church-related organization is invited to participate and to help make the vision of the Book of Faith initiative a reality throughout the church.  This first year of the Book of Faith initiative centers on inviting everyone to join the conversation, to make a commitment, and to become part of the initiative.  A commitment form is attached to this report for consideration.  Perhaps act on this next month.

      2) I’d like to include four very brief pauses in worship to invite people to pray for somebody.  First is an invitation, printed at the start of the bulletin, to pray with God (Jesus) about one’s own spiritual journey while waiting for the service to begin.  Then, after the Gathering (before the Scripture readings), a verbal invitation will be made to pray for a family, family member, or another person in close relationship.  Before the creed, a second verbal invitation will be made to pray for someone in the congregation.  As communion begins, a third invitation will be made to pray for people observed during the communion time.  And, finally, at the conclusion, people will be challenged to pray for some specific person throughout the coming week.  I ask that this be considered for immediate adoption for at least the next seven Sundays (until Nov. 2).

 

September 20, 2008

I’m Back – Thanks to All Who Helped

Joan and I enjoyed our time away in the past week.  Other than occasions I’ve been without interim work (such as when one contract ends before another is available – not real restful feeling) we do not recall a time we’ve taken two Sundays off like this and we appreciate the opportunity.  I offer my thanks to the council, the pastors who led worship, and everyone who helped to make our time away possible.  (But, watch out… I feel a lot more energized right now.)

Shift in Focus

The primary focus of the first five months of interim ministry at St. John’s has been toward dealing with issues of the past… mostly the previous 3 or 4 years.  Having reached a sense of resolution about many of those things it is time to shift focus more toward the future life and ministry of St. John’s.  No doubt, there are significant challenges, but they need not be overwhelming.  Two things come to mind right now that might be worth considering:

      First, a general question can be considered: Why does the life and ministry of St. John’s need to continue into the future?  OK, I admit it is a bluntly bold question… but when one begins to think about this from an individual basis and then share thoughts with one another in conversation, the congregation’s future is positively formed and shaped.

      Second, we can choose to focus on positive qualities: What are St. John’s strengths, resources and options for the future?  I think worship is a strength; let’s draw people to be a part of it.  I think scripture and prayer are resources that can enhance congregational life; let’s draw ourselves toward those aspects of congregational life.  I think relationships in the congregation are significant with deep roots; let’s enhance our relationships further.

Worship Invitations

I created a one-page worship invitation (a sample is attached to this note) and have a few piles of these scattered around.  I intend to do some door-to-door distribution of these invitations into the surrounding neighborhood in the next few weeks (if you’d enjoy helping, let me know – it might be kind of fun and it provides good walking exercise).

      But, I also know that the MOST EFFECTIVE invitations to worship are the personal ones that congregational members make to their friends, family and acquaintances.  Please consider taking a few invitations with you to help you invite somebody to join you in worship at St. John’s Lutheran Church.  I think the worship plan for the rest of 2008 looks interesting and should provide meaningful worship experiences.

Fellowship Suppers – 1^st Wednesdays each month at about 5:15 PM????

(I told you that I feel more energized…)  I wonder if people would enjoy gathering at least once a month for a fellowship meal.  I suggest the first Wednesdays (easy to remember… works well with existing programs).  I will provide a main course of some kind and invite people to supplement it with salad, desert, chips, etc.  It wouldn’t really be a pot-luck dinner because the bulk of the dinner will be provided.  Thus, people can feel comfortable joining in the fellowship without feeling compelled to contribute… just join us. 

      If you think you might enjoy coming to a Wednesday fellowship dinner a week from Wednesday and would like to see it happen, mention it to me right after worship.  If there is sufficient response… we’ll announce it next week and make it happen!

Part of a half-page invitation flyer:

 

Has it been a while since you have
worshipped God in a church?
We invite you to join us in worship any Sunday
at 9:00 AM at St. John’s Lutheran Church!
We are located at: 808 N. Main St., Oshkosh, WI, 54901
(The Only Church on Main Street)

 

 

Although generally traditional worship, our Sunday services vary in styles.

This is our planned schedule for the rest of 2008:

 

Sept 28 – Special Hymn Sing

Oct   5 – “High Church” styles

Oct 12 – Family Church Sunday with Special Music (contemporary styles)

Oct 19 – Recital (after a shorter worship)

Oct 26 – Reformation – Brass Music

Nov   2 – All Saints – Brass Music

Nov   9 – Special Music (contemporary)

Nov 16 – Traditional worship

Nov 23 – Family Church Sunday and a Special “Church Year” Liturgy

Nov 30 – Advent begins – Hymn Sing

Dec   7 – “High Church” styles

Dec 14 – Special Music (contemporary)

Dec 21 – Christmas Program and Family Church Sunday

Dec 24 – Christmas Eve: 4 PM & 7 PM

Dec 28 – Family Church Sunday

 

September 28, 2008

Fellowship Supper – THIS Wednesday at 5:15 PM at Church: 1^st Wed. of Oct.

A number of people let me know their interest in occasional Fellowship Suppers… so, I decided to make it happen this Wednesday.  As mentioned last week, I’ll provide a main dish (I haven’t figured out yet what it will be… I’ll peruse through my A.A.L. cookbook and figure out something… I’ll likely mention my choice today – a “forewarning”.)

      This dinner is meant as a “come-as-you-are” event… you’re invited to be a part of the meal and join in fellowship with others… no contribution is required.  Salads, desserts, etc. will be pot-luck (i.e. – if you want cake, you might want to bring some.)

      Set-up is ALSO “pot-luck”… I suggest we could begin that part of the fellowship around 5:00… and yes, clean-up is also pot-luck… part of the process and fellowship.

Fall Worship – An Ambitious Plan of Special Services in the Next Five Weeks

Invite people to be a part of worship at St. John’s this fall.  I described the worship plan for the rest of 2008 a few weeks ago… here is a brief reminder of upcoming services:

• October 5 – “High Church” (Participants are needed) (Stewardship: Walk with Jesus)
• October 12 – “Special Music” & Family Church Sunday (Stewardship: Listen to Jesus)
• October 19 – “Music Recital” after shortened worship (Stewardship: Give Generously)
• October 26 – Reformation & Confirmation (Stewardship: Pledging Opportunity)
• November 2 – All Saints Sunday: Remembering and Celebrating the Saints

Insert – For Worship Planning – Participate in Some Way

I include an insert in today’s bulletins in which I’m inviting people to support the worship services in some way this fall.  Check it out and consider how you might help.

A Few Additional Items

A few things came to mind after the bulletins were printed that I include in this insert.

Neighborhood Invitations to Worship

Mary Toby and I intend to meet on Tuesday, September 30 at 3:30 PM to distribute in the neighborhood some invitations to worship at St. John’s.  If you’d be interested in being a part of the project, feel free to join us on Tuesday for an hour or so.

Fellowship Dinner – This Wednesday at 5:15

I will provide two main dishes on Wednesday: a chicken/rice dish and a couple lasagna trays.  I’ll plan to have a sufficient quantity for lots of folks (dessert, salads, etc. are potluck.)  Join us, even if you can’t bring a pot-luck contribution.  The purpose of the meal is: fellowship.

Help with Worship… Help with Planning  è  è  è  è  è 

The primary purpose of this insert is to invite people to help with some of the worship details.  A tear off response form is attached to this note that can be used to let me know of your interests.

Open Forums – 1^st Tuesday & 2^nd Sunday

To continue opportunities for open-ended sharing (like the “building conversations” of summer) I’ve scheduled a couple of “Open Forums” for October: Tuesday, October 7 at 10:30 AM and Sunday, October 12 right after worship.  Open Forums provide space for questions, information sharing, etc.  All are welcomed.

Reminder – Ways to Contact Me

I continue to provide my personal contact information (above… in the little box).  Since I nearly always carry my cell phone it is perhaps the best way to contact me immediately.  If you use email, that is another means to quickly contact me.  Since I tend to have a flexible schedule, I am usually able to meet with people as needed.

Bible Study on Galatians: Wednesdays

I’ve just begun the study, offered twice on Wednesdays.  The morning session is 10:30 and evening is 6:00.  All are welcomed.

 

 

Please Consider How You Might Help With Upcoming Worship Services

 

 

Name __________________________________________

 

___ I’d be part of a beginning procession (carrying the cross, candle, communion vessel, etc.) on a First Sunday of a month

 

___ I’d help as a worship assistant (like what Mary Toby sometimes does – prayers, etc.)

 

___ I’d be a part of a group that helps lead the hymns and liturgy music on Reformation and All Saints Sundays (we’ll use familiar hymns and the familiar ELW setting 4)

 

___ I’d help with a music anthem on All Saints Sunday (based on the hymn “Holy God, We Praise Your Name”) on November 2

 

___ I’d like to help plan a worship service (along with Pastor Ted) by choosing hymns and thinking about some of the detail possibilities

 

___ I’d help with a special service being planned for November 23

 

 

These is a hymn or two that I’d like to see included in an upcoming worship service:

 

Hymn #       Hymn Name (1^st line)

 

_______      ____________________________________________

 

_______      ____________________________________________