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:
Things I Am Wondering:
Be still and know that I am God. –for me, for you, for us. Amen
Respectfully and Joyfully,
Pastor Amelia HOUDEK
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!
- 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- How out of date and obsolete are the constitutions and how do these living documents help or hinder our faithful next steps.
Be still and know that I am God. –for me, for you, for us. Amen
Respectfully and Joyfully,
Pastor Amelia HOUDEK