Greetings From Pastor Lyn
Dear People of Emanuel,
Can you believe it’s already May! April was filled with amazing ministry happenings, post-Easter! It’s still Easter for a couple of weeks until the Day of Pentecost on May 19. Remember to wear red on that day as we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit!
This past Sunday, April 28, we began the process of wondering what the Holy Spirit is up to here at Emanuel. Most certainly, the Spirit is moving; pray we will be attentive enough to hear, see, and respond to that movement.
O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The first session of “wonderings” are below. I invite you to answer these questions and give your responses to me. I genuinely want to know what you are thinking. If you missed the first session, please join the next one scheduled for May 26 at 11:00 am. And if that doesn’t work, come to the first Pizza with the Pastor on June 22, where responses and a plethora of other topics will be explored. Bring your questions!
1) Why in God’s name do we exist? Where in Jesus’ name are we going? How, by the power of the Holy Spirit are we going to get there? What is the greatest possibility we can imagine God doing or could do in our community? In other words, what is God up to and how can we get on board?
2) What is DISTINCTIVE about ELC?
3) What are our VALUES? Values ARE the organization; our values define who we are to the community at large. Organization is derived from “organic”. Are our values “organic” in nature — growing, dying, rising, nurturing, blooming, broadcasting (seeds)?
4) What are ELC’s ASSETS & RESOURCES?
5) What are our BIGGEST CHALLENGES?
6) What are your HOPES & DREAMS for ELC?
7) Between now and Session #2, reflect on the three great “listenings”:
a) Listening to God
b) Listening to one another
c) Listening to the neighborhood and context in which we are planted.
Record your musings and responses to these and other questions you may have and record what you heard while listening.
I firmly believe God is up to something big for our congregation – and it is all good. Pray God makes us courageous and bold in our visioning.
May will be an active month. Many of you have graduations, weddings, family reunions, etc. to get the summer kicked off. God’s blessings in your travels and for your special occasions. Again, if you have input into the above – and I hope that you will – please let me know.
In peace and in confidence of a loving active living God,
Pastor Lyn
Can you believe it’s already May! April was filled with amazing ministry happenings, post-Easter! It’s still Easter for a couple of weeks until the Day of Pentecost on May 19. Remember to wear red on that day as we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit!
This past Sunday, April 28, we began the process of wondering what the Holy Spirit is up to here at Emanuel. Most certainly, the Spirit is moving; pray we will be attentive enough to hear, see, and respond to that movement.
O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The first session of “wonderings” are below. I invite you to answer these questions and give your responses to me. I genuinely want to know what you are thinking. If you missed the first session, please join the next one scheduled for May 26 at 11:00 am. And if that doesn’t work, come to the first Pizza with the Pastor on June 22, where responses and a plethora of other topics will be explored. Bring your questions!
1) Why in God’s name do we exist? Where in Jesus’ name are we going? How, by the power of the Holy Spirit are we going to get there? What is the greatest possibility we can imagine God doing or could do in our community? In other words, what is God up to and how can we get on board?
2) What is DISTINCTIVE about ELC?
3) What are our VALUES? Values ARE the organization; our values define who we are to the community at large. Organization is derived from “organic”. Are our values “organic” in nature — growing, dying, rising, nurturing, blooming, broadcasting (seeds)?
4) What are ELC’s ASSETS & RESOURCES?
5) What are our BIGGEST CHALLENGES?
6) What are your HOPES & DREAMS for ELC?
7) Between now and Session #2, reflect on the three great “listenings”:
a) Listening to God
b) Listening to one another
c) Listening to the neighborhood and context in which we are planted.
Record your musings and responses to these and other questions you may have and record what you heard while listening.
I firmly believe God is up to something big for our congregation – and it is all good. Pray God makes us courageous and bold in our visioning.
May will be an active month. Many of you have graduations, weddings, family reunions, etc. to get the summer kicked off. God’s blessings in your travels and for your special occasions. Again, if you have input into the above – and I hope that you will – please let me know.
In peace and in confidence of a loving active living God,
Pastor Lyn