Siblings in Christ,
Greetings in this third week of Advent! There is much to prepare for in the next 6 weeks! Along with the holidays, we have several meetings and events coming up in January.
First, on January 3, there will be a brief congregational meeting immediately after church. The purpose of this specially called meeting is to vote on updates to the church constitution. Copies will be made ready for this Sunday and will be available until that meeting day for you to take a look at. However, the changes we are making at this time are primarily to update our language to match that of the model ELCA constitution. Every three years, changes are proposed and sometimes approved at the churchwide assembly. We have had 2 assemblies since the last update to our constitution, so it is time to bring it into the present.
Mainly, the changes to the document apply to the terms we use for rostered leaders. We used to have three types of rostered leaders: pastors, AIMS and diaconal ministers. Their purposes respectively were: ordained to word and sacrament, commissioned for word and service, and consecrated for word and service (one was primarily for work in the church and one was for work in the world).
Now, the ELCA has voted that all these will be ordained. We have also combined AIM and diaconal ministers to one role called deacon. Our constitutional wording needs to reflect this. There are a few other minor changes to be made as well, but nothing questionable or controversial! Just getting in line with our larger church body!
The council will be meeting at its regularly scheduled time (January 3 after the congregational meeting) and then again on January 10 to do some brainstorming and visioning. They will also be hosting some small group meetings to gather information and thoughts from the congregation for input into our transitional process as well.
The annual Wild Game Dinner is on January 31.
Then, the congregation will have its annual meeting on February 14! Whew! A BUSY winter for the church!
Please keep your eyes on the weekly emails and bulletins for reminders about these events! Your voice is important!!!
Pastor Heather
Greetings in this third week of Advent! There is much to prepare for in the next 6 weeks! Along with the holidays, we have several meetings and events coming up in January.
First, on January 3, there will be a brief congregational meeting immediately after church. The purpose of this specially called meeting is to vote on updates to the church constitution. Copies will be made ready for this Sunday and will be available until that meeting day for you to take a look at. However, the changes we are making at this time are primarily to update our language to match that of the model ELCA constitution. Every three years, changes are proposed and sometimes approved at the churchwide assembly. We have had 2 assemblies since the last update to our constitution, so it is time to bring it into the present.
Mainly, the changes to the document apply to the terms we use for rostered leaders. We used to have three types of rostered leaders: pastors, AIMS and diaconal ministers. Their purposes respectively were: ordained to word and sacrament, commissioned for word and service, and consecrated for word and service (one was primarily for work in the church and one was for work in the world).
Now, the ELCA has voted that all these will be ordained. We have also combined AIM and diaconal ministers to one role called deacon. Our constitutional wording needs to reflect this. There are a few other minor changes to be made as well, but nothing questionable or controversial! Just getting in line with our larger church body!
The council will be meeting at its regularly scheduled time (January 3 after the congregational meeting) and then again on January 10 to do some brainstorming and visioning. They will also be hosting some small group meetings to gather information and thoughts from the congregation for input into our transitional process as well.
The annual Wild Game Dinner is on January 31.
Then, the congregation will have its annual meeting on February 14! Whew! A BUSY winter for the church!
Please keep your eyes on the weekly emails and bulletins for reminders about these events! Your voice is important!!!
Pastor Heather