Pastoral transition executive Presbyter to preach, answer questions

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Angel
A messenger from
The First Presbyterian Church, Lodi ✞ Wisconsin 53555
Website: www.LodiPresbyterianChurch.org ✞ E-Mail: [email protected] ✞ Phone: 608-592-4310 ✞ Fax: 608-592-2332
Find us on Facebook! First Presbyterian Church of Lodi, WI
Pastoral
Transition
Following the acceptance of Pastor Gretchen’s resignation, the Session of the 1st Presbyterian Church
of Lodi began working hard to provide the church with a smooth transition to our next called Pastor. First,
the Session serves as the pastoral
nominating committee, providing all
of the necessary information to the
Committee on Ministry, to select an
interim pastor. This has been done
and we have received confirmation
that the Presbytery has begun receiving applications for the interim
position. They will review all of the
applications and select 3-5 that they
feel would be a good fit for our congregation. These applications will
be reviewed by the Session and the
Session will have the opportunity to
interview any potential candidates
selected from these applications.
Why an interim pastor? Our interim pastor will be an integral part
of our church’s call to a permanent
pastor. The interim pastor will help
our congregation work together,
preparing us for change and transition to a new, permanent pastor. We
expect this interim pastor to be with
us for approximately one year. During that year, when we feel that our
congregation is ready to begin the
September 2013
search for our permanent pastor, a
Pastoral Nominating Committee will
be formed from members of the congregation, and including some Session members and the process with
Presbytery will begin again. We have
been told to expect this process to
take about 4 months.
Currently, we are on schedule to
welcome our interim pastor in early
November. The Session asks for
the support and prayers of the congregation as we work through this
process.
Prayerfully,
Your Session
Executive
Presbyter
to preach,
answer
questions
Executive Presbyter Ken Meunier
will be preaching during worship on
September 22. After worship, he
will be available to answer questions
regarding the pastoral transitions.
Pastor Gretchen’s last Sunday will
be October 13. After that, there will
be at least two Sundays where we
will welcome guest preachers. It is
1
the hope of the Session to have an
interim pastor in place by November
1. Rev. Meunier will be able to answer questions about that process
and about what happens during an
interim pastorate as well as preparation for calling a permanent pastor.
Free
Community
Pig Roast
September 7
Check elsewhere in this newsletter for a full-page sheet of details
about our free community pig roast
coming up soon – September 7!
Don’t miss it – and bring a friend!
Inside this Issue
Update on Pastoral Transition���������1
Pig Roast Flyer�������������������������������2
Pastor’s Letter��������������������������������3
September Schedules��������������������4
Youth Ministry Update��������������������5
September Calendar����������������������6
Mission News���������������������������������7
Picnic Auction Contribution Form���8
Scrip Form��������������������������������������9
Please Join Us For Our
6th
Annual
Lodi First Presbyterian Church
PiG
ROAST
September
7,
2013
4pm - 7pm
Free Meal, Cake Walk and Silent Auction
Entertainment Provided by
Karen Wickham & Buck and Don
2 5 8
L O D I
S T R E E T
2
|
L O D I ,
W I
September 2013
Sometime in the near future after my departure from this church (October 13), the
Nominating Committee will bring to the congregation a list of names for consideration
as elders and deacons as it does every year about this time.
It’s important for you all to know how this process works so that you can make
sound and Spirit-led decisions.
The Nominating Committee prays and tries to discern who it is that God is calling
to each position of leadership in the church. There are biblical mandates and requirements for church leaders and you can find most of them in 1 Timothy 3-6. Yet the entire
Bible, and, especially, the Gospels teach us the kind of lives God in Christ and led by the Holy Spirit
expects us to live. Just because you are able to sit up and take nourishment doesn’t mean you are
“qualified” to serve on the Session or the Board of Deacons. But maybe you are.
To be called and nominated by the Nominating Committee is not so much an honor, but an exercise
in humility. There’s nothing to brag about when we are called by God to do anything. Rather, we should
carefully examine ourselves and discern whether this is a call from God, whether the time is right in
our lives, whether our hearts are open to change and being changed. Rather than being puffed up by
the invitation to serve, we should probably be scared to death at the thought of it. There are countless
examples of people in the Bible who experienced this kind of fright.
We do NOT campaign to be elected to the Session. Session members do not have constituencies – that is, they don’t answer to the congregation after their election and they should not be making
promises to the congregation prior to election. Potential session members should not have a personal
agenda (for instance, “I’m going to get rid of the pastor”). They should, however, be willing to listen to
what members of the congregation have to say.
Rather, members of the Session are to come to meetings with open hearts and minds, willing to
hear and be heard, willing to disagree but to agree to that disagreement and support the majority decision. Session members are to be led by the Holy Spirit in their decision making – they are to listen, but
not to be led by individual members of the congregation.
Sometimes the Nominating Committee will not come with a “complete” slate of nominees. In other
words, there may be some vacancies left to fill. But the congregation only elects to those positions
being nominated: you do not elect people to positions for which individuals have not already been
nominated by the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee continues to work and discern if
there is a person to complete the slate. Just because there are nine members allowed to serve on the
Session doesn’t mean that God intends to have all nine of those positions filled.
Nominations are always open from the floor after the Nominating Committee has placed its nominations. So if the Nominating Committee nominates, for example, two people for perhaps three open
seats on the session, nominations from the floor are limited to those two positions and the third position
will remain vacant until the Nominating Committee brings a final nominee.
But before these nominees ever reach the congregation, the Session provides for the training of
the nominees for session and for deacons and then must decide if the nominees are suitable, fit for service in the various positions. So a name brought to the Session by the Nominating Committee may not
be passed along to the congregation if the Session determines that person is not called at this particular
time and place. Only after this rigorous process does the congregation have the opportunity to vote.
I am so deeply grateful to God for providing this congregation with our current Session. These
eight Session members have been willing to wrestle with angels as they have considered and determined and still consider and determine God’s will for this church.
Please support and Session and the Deacons in the work they do, and come to congregational
meetings with the full knowledge that the names placed before you for your consideration have undergone a rigorous discernment through prayer to God and conversation among your church leaders.
And please pray for the Nominating Committee as it continues its deliberations.
Your Sister in Christ,
Pastor Gretchen
3
Worship Leaders
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
1 Pam Odorizzi
8 Marcia Brown
15Pam Odorizzi
22Diane Lukins
29Greg Manning
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
1 Marcia and Jim Brown
8 Dorothy and DeAnn Richards
15Cassy VanFossen and Jean Spataro
22Open
29Open
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
1 No Commitment Choir
8 Open
15Open
22Open
29Open
Song Leaders
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
We’d like to wish the
following people a Happy
Birthday. If your birthday
is in September and your name
is not listed, please let the
office know the date of your
birthday so that it can be
entered in the computer.
Offertories
Sept 1
Sept 8
Sept 15
Sept 22
Sept 29
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Happy
Birthday
in
September!
9/1 Joe Ludlum
9/2 Dudley Mehltretter
9/4 Beanie Ludlum
9/5 Steven Bremer
9/10 Dawn Salzman
Patty King
Isaac
Leckwee-Gjavenis
9/12 Cole Salzman
Sydney Tobin
Herb Damsteegt
9/13 Diana Brue
9/15 Cassy VanFossen
9/17 Cindy Leckwee
9/19 Bret Huston
Ryan Beck
Anthony Tritt
Kiddie Keep
Kris Morgan, Allie Gorton; Back-up: Amy Klann
Linda Heins, Rose Heins; Back-up: Adrianne Tritt
Kris Morgan, Mae Stocks; Back-up: Cindy Leckwee
Kristie Tobin, Allie Gorton; Back-up: Kris Morgan
Kris Morgan, Rose Heins; Back-up: Cassie Leckwee
Ushers
1 Mae & Nancy Stocks
8 Dave Heebner & Greg Manning
15Jim & Marcia Brown
22Beth Sokol & Rose Heins
29Dan & DeAnn Richards
Greeters
Sermons Available
1 Audrey Kohn
8 Jason and Kristie Tobin
15Diane Lukins
22Pam Odorizzi
29Mike and Kris Morgan
Written and audio versions of Pastor Gretchen’s
sermons are now available on the church
website: www.lodipresbyterianchurch.org.
Accompanists
1 Rana Hughey
8 Audrey Kohn
15Jean Mulcahy
22Rana Hughey
29Audrey Kohn
Newsletter
Deadline:
Deadline for all newsletter articles for the October
newsletter will be Thursday, September 26, 9 a.m.
If you would like an article in the newsletter,
you can e-mail the Church office at office@lodifpc.
org or leave it on the desk in the church office.
Counters
1 Dawn Salzman and Rick VanFossen
8 Greg Manning and Beanie Ludlum
15Paul Ammann and Sandy DeSelle
22Dawn Salzman and Marcia Brown
29Open
4
Sept 2013
Youth
Ministry
Update
joined our church and his knowledge
and faith is astounding when I compare it to where I was at his age. I believe that he is going to grow up and
become a man of faith and will also be
a great huddle leader when his time
comes.
The most memorable moment, was
the pray with friends night. Each of the
kids was given a pillow case for their
friends to write on. They can choose
a passage from the bible, a nice note,
or even just their name. It was an
awesome time for all of them to really reach out to others they may not
know. During the pillow cases, campers were able to pray with friends or
leaders. But what got me was every
single one of my kids and even a couple extra, came to me, formed a circle
and prayed for me. I want to start crying just picturing this.
My heart was warmed and it finally
clicked. I love these kids with all my
heart. They are like all my little brothers and sisters and each hold a special place in my heart. They have
taught me that keeping my focus on
them can do amazing things and they
have each helped my faith grow in
their own special way.
God Bless!
Cassy VanFossen, Youth Director
Hello fellow Christ-Lovers!
Well, ladies and gents, I am so
excited to write the newsletter about
the youth this month. The kids had an
awesome and faith filled week at Summer Games. We had 17 out of the 28
kids at camp. During this week I was
able to watch the kids from the eyes of
one of the coordinators. I was able to
watch the amazing faith of the kids in
our group. During the week I spent a
lot of time with the future counselors.
We talked a lot about expectation of
being a counselor at camp, but most
importantly, we talked about their faith
journey and why they are where they
are. I was so impressed by the spiritual growth since I spent that week with
them last.
I was amazed at the maturity of
some of the new high school students. The one that really stood out
to me was Jared Bauer. I have literally watched this kid grow up since he
Pig Roast
Auction Items
Needed
OK….it’s time to think AUCTION!
Pig Roast is scheduled for Saturday,
September 7. And one of the really
fun parts of the day is the Silent Auction. But we cannot have an auction
without your items.
So let’s get thinking. Pick up a form
in this Angel newsletter or on the Fellowship Table and describe your item,
activity, service, or instructional lesson.
Give it some detail so folks will not be
able to resist bidding the price right up
there on Pig Roast Day. Please note
on the form if you desire a Gift In Kind
statement to be used for tax purposes.
Turn your forms in to Marcia Brown or
put them in the PIG ROAST envelope
on Fellowship Table.
Then be sure to join in on the bidding as well. This effort has proven to
generate considerable funds for our
general fund, but, more importantly, it
really adds to the fun of the afternoon.
Just ask about those bidding wars
for that homemade pie, or the largest
pumpkin the garden will produce, or
the evening boat cruise!!
If you are donating actual item(s) for
bid, please bring the item to Fellowship Hall no later than 2 p.m. on the
day of the picnic. Thanks in advance
for your support of our church.
Pig Roast Picnic Auction Committee
Dinner
Hosts
I have a sign-up sheet for dinner
hosts so please keep your eye on
the bulletin board, and please sign
up! Just remember this is never limited to just youth group parents; anyone is welcome to be a part of our
Sunday night craziness!
5
Garage Sale
set for
September 5-7
The Deacons will be having a garage sale on the same dates as the
Lodi Community Sales on September
5, 6 and 7, in the three-stall garage at
Audrey Kohn’s farm, 710A N. Main. If
you have anything you would like to
donate for sale, please contact Audrey
at 592-4887. You can drop items off
on Saturday, August 31, September
1,2,3,4. It would be appreciated if you
would price your items.
6
1
8
22
Fellowship, 10 a.m.
Worship, 9 a.m.
29
Youth Group, 5-7 p.m.
Fellowship, 10 a.m.
(SCRIP Orders Delivered)
Worship, 9 a.m.
Executive Presbyter
Ken Meunier
Guest Speaker
Fellowship, 10 a.m.
(SCRIP Orders Taken)
Worship, 9 a.m.
15
Youth Group, 5-7 p.m.
Fellowship, 10 a.m.
(SCRIP Orders Delivered)
Worship, 9 a.m.
Matthew Ammann
Baptism
Fellowship, 10 a.m.
(SCRIP Orders Taken)
Worship, 9 a.m.
(with Communion)
Sunday
Labor Day
9
2
30
23
16
Monday
3
AA/Al-Anon Meetings,
7:30 p.m.
Newsletter Mailing,
10:30 a.m.
24
AA/Al-Anon Meetings,
7:30 p.m.
Session,
6:30 p.m.
17
AA/Al-Anon Meetings,
7:30 p.m.
10
AA/Al-Anon Meetings,
7:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Bible Study,
11:30 a.m.
25
18
Committee, 7 p.m.
Bible Study,
11:30 a.m.
4
11
Finance, 6 p.m.
Bible Study,
11:30 a.m.
Bible Study,
11:30 a.m.
Wednesday
5
26
Newsletter Deadline,
9 a.m.
19
12
Deacons Garage Sale,
8 a.m.
Thursday
25
26
19
18
27
20
13
6
5
12
4
28
21
14
7
W
8
29
22
30
23
16
9
2
1
31
24
17
10
3
S
27
20
F
15
6
13
T
August 2013
T
M
11
S
Friday
September2013
7
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21
28
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27
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6
S
15
29
22
30
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31
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October 2013
T
7
25
18
11
4
F
26
19
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5
S
28
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14
Annual Pig Roast,
4 p.m.
Saturday
Mission
News
to the hungry and satisfy the needs of
the afflicted, then your light shall rise
in the darkness and your gloom be like
the noonday. The Lord will guide you
continually, and satisfy your needs in
parched places, and make your bones
strong; and you shall be like a watered
garden, like a spring of water, whose
waters never fail. – Isaiah 58:9b-11
New Trumpet
has a Story
to Tell
Pastoral
Transition
Starting Sunday, September 15,
and concluding on October 6, World
Communion Day, we will be reading
bulletin inserts in regard to the special
offering sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (USA) called the Peace
Offering. Please consider combining
your gift with all PC (USA) members
to be used to help transform cultures
of violence into communities of peace.
Your gift will help by giving hope, locally and abroad.
The YPM team returned safe and
sound from the week of work on the
school in Leona Vicario. We mixed
cement for the roof on the second
classroom and together poured 1,040
buckets of cement, lifting them up a
scaffold. A crew of six local young
men working on the project was a big
help. We enjoyed four evenings of bible stories and crafts with area youngsters. We will never forget Jeff Leckwee playing Goliath being pelted with
rolled up socks and vanquished by a
little Mayan boy named David. Thank
you for your prayers and support.
There will be a bake sale at the
Farmers' Market on September 20
from 2-6 p.m. We hear there will be
lefse and rosettes and other goodies
including Cindy's cookies and a pecan
pie or two.
If you remove the yoke from among
you, the pointing of the finger, the
speaking of evil, if you offer your food
Earlier this year I developed a real
strong urge to locate the trumpet mate
to my King Silversonic cornet. I have
a great Bach trumpet, but there is
something about the King that I really like. I purchased the cornet when
I was in high school and have played
it ever since. Through eBay, I found
a trumpet just 10,000 serial numbers
higher than my cornet. Both were likely manufactured between 1963 and
1965. The trumpet arrived a couple
of weeks ago. It is pristine. It showed
so little wear that I had to know more
about it so I wrote the seller.
Here is the response:
My parents are wonderful Christian
people. Back in the 70's they were
on lay witness mission teams. These
teams would go in churches and
share their testimonies and present
music. My mother plays the piano and
my dad is a tenor singer and trumpet
player. During those years they met
a lovely young woman named Julie.
7
Julie lives in Indianapolis, IN and is
still a spiritual daughter to my parents
and part of our family!
She has had her brother's trumpet
and decided to sell it. She consulted
my father for help selling the trumpet.
Here is the background on the trumpet: It was purchased by Julie's parents for her brother, either for his last
year of junior high or his first year of
high school (about 1960). It was purchased in Champaign, Illinois, at the
music store; she couldn't tell you now
the name of it. Her brother played 1st
chair trumpet in the high school concert band, in the marching band, the
jazz band, and the German band. He
also periodically played at church. He
was the only student in the band who
could "triple tongue." He was killed by
a drunk driver when he was 19 – his
first year at college at Illinois State University – and the trumpet was played
for the last time by his best friend at
his funeral. He played "The Holy City."
Julie's mom couldn't part with the
trumpet because it was her brother's
so it has been in the case, under Julie's bed, ever since. What is a blessing it is that the instrument is now back
in the world as a blessing.
On Sunday, August 18 I was
privileged to play the instrument for
the first time in over forty years as I
provided the music for the Offertory
at the morning service. I am humbled
that the Lord has put this instrument
in my hands and I’m wondering where
this is leading.
Terry Anderson
PIG ROAST AUCTION CONTRIBUTION FORM
Do not fold: Please put this form into the envelope provided on the Fellowship Table OR bring the form and the
item you are donating to Fellowship Hall by 2 p.m. the day of the picnic.
DONOR’S NAME:___________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:_______________________________________________________________________
Street
City
PHONE NUMBER:___________ ____________ E-MAIL ADDRESS:_________________________
_____ Yes, I wish to receive a Gift In Kind statement for tax purposes.
ITEM BEING DONATED:_______________________________________________________
SUGGESTED MINIMUM BID $____________
DESCRIPTION OF ITEM AND ANY LIMITATIONS PLACED ON THIS ITEM:
For example:
Name of item: Leaf Raking:
Description: 3 Hours of leaf raking and bagging
Limitations: To be done on the afternoon of the third Saturday in October unless other arrangements are made
with the donating party.________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
BIDDER’S NAME
PHONE
AMOUNT BID
BEGINNING BID NO LESS THAN:___________________________________
1. _____________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________________________
6. _____________________________________________________________
7. _____________________________________________________________
8
13
9
First Presbyterian Church
258 Lodi Street
Lodi, WI 53555
Phone: 608-592-4310
Fax: 608-592-2332
The Session
Pastor: Gretchen Lord Anderson
Pastor’s home phone: 608-825-9491
E-Mail address: [email protected]
Class of 2013
Class of 2014
Class of 2015
Marcia Brown
Rick VanFossen
Beanie Ludlum
Sandy DeSelle
Paul Ammann
Dawn Salzman
Greg Manning
Dorothy Richards
Dawn Salzman, Clerk of Session
Youth Director:
Cassy VanFossen
E-Mail address: [email protected]
Board of Deacons
Choir Director: Position Open
Custodian: Lori Harrenstein
Stephen Ministry Leader: Diane Lukins
Church Secretary: Pat Craig
Church Secretary’s Office Hours:
9 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Class of 2013
Diane Lukins
Rebecca McIntyre
Laurie Fryman
Class of 2014
Audrey Kohn
Jeff Leckwee
Mike Morgan
Class of 2015
Mary Bancroft
Jason Tobin
Stephen Ministers
Worship Service
Diane Lukins, Stephen Leader
Marcia Brown
Herb Damsteegt
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
Nursery Available
Jane Jones
Beth Sokol
Dorothy Richards
Sunday School
(during the school year)
10:15 a.m.
Newsletter Graphic Design: Jim Salzman
First Presbyterian Church
258 Lodi Street
Lodi, WI 53555
10
Non-Profit Org.
Permit No. 39
U.S. Postage Paid
Lodi, WI 53555