Pastor's Report

To: St. John’s/Gilman/Spring Lake Lutheran Church Councils
Re: Sept. 2022 Pastor’s Report
Submitted by: Pastor Amelia Houdek
Date: 09/13/22

Things to Celebrate:

Full house for Parish Unity Sunday and Rally Day! Blessing of the backpacks was so fun!
Sunday School on the Move! Great job to the TVLP Sunday School Lead Team: Janna Neidemyer, Tanya Beyer, Rob Moore, Missy Stringer, Donna Stringer. This is going to be a great year! Now get Sunday School helpers on board!

Things I Am Working On:

FAITH FORMATION for the Parish. When I accepted the call as the pastor for the Parish I laid out a tentative 3 year plan. Year 1 would focus on organizational development, systems, and infrastructure to work efficiently and effectively as a parish. This task proved to require much more time and attention than anyone anticipated but we have made it through! Year 2 (which is NOW) would focus on Intentional Faith Formation for the Parish. Year 3 would focus on mission and outreach. Due to unforeseen circumstances plans have shifted a bit but press forward into year 2 considering deepening our personal and corporate relationship with Jesus Christ—Let’s Go Deep. Year 3 we will GO WIDE.
Establishing an “as needed” visitation rotation whereby the parishioners indicate to the office or to the pastor when they would like a visit. This helps with the pastor’s time management; establishes a mutuality of the visitation ministry; can help with boundary training issues to keep me and the parishioners safe
Contemporary Worship for Oct. 5—I am looking for musicians and singers! Send people my way if you know of anyone who might be interested.
Middle School and High School mission trip possibilities for summer 2023.

Things I Am Wondering:

What are we doing well that we can build on? How can we use Appreciative Inquiry to guide us into our next faithful steps as a parish?
How out of date and obsolete are the constitutions and how do these living documents help or hinder our faithful next steps.

Things I Am Praying:
Be still and know that I am God. –for me, for you, for us. Amen

Respectfully and Joyfully,

Pastor Amelia HOUDEK