June 2023 Newsletter

​First, I’ll answer the question that is on everyone’s mind. We don’t yet know when we will get an interim pastor. When I know, you will be the next to know. We have been working to secure more consistent supply pastors for the weeks ahead. Also, I would like to thank members who have stepped up to lead worship and/or provide messages for those Sundays when we have not been able to get a supply pastor.
 
Next, roll up your sleeves, the work is about to begin. There have been several announcements seeking volunteers to begin to do the work of readying ourselves for transitioning to a new pastor. There is a lot of work we can do even before an interim pastor is called. We are working toward updating our Reconciling In Christ Welcome Statement to include language against systemic racism. There is also a small group of volunteers that have offered to review our Constitution and Bylaws (may the good Lord bless them). If you would like to help those people out, please let me know.
 
The third thing we can be working on falls under that heading of data gathering. I wanted to take this opportunity to provide a little more specifics as to what this entails. There are some tasks that will be more a reporting of data/information that is readily available including: Budgetary and financial information; Names and contacts of council members; Values, mission, and vision statements; Goals from Council’s 2021-2022 long-range planning; and Current staffing. There will also be some tasks that require a little more leg work like: Listing ministry programs (both internal and outreach); Calculating average worship and education program attendance; Assessment of physical plant and identification of any looming high expense needs; and Demographics (including; languages spoken and race/ethnicity both congregation and community, gender comparison and age distribution of members, and distance members live from church facilities). I highly recommend a divide and conquer approach to these tasks. A few people have come forward expressing an interest in helping, however we certainly could use more. Please let me know if you are willing to help.
 
Finally, and most importantly, we continue to be the church. We are in the midst of our Cereal and Soup Drive for the New Berlin Food Pantry. Our summer activities are proceeding as they did last year. June 14th at 5:30 pm is our first Community Picnic. Hot dogs will be provided, and members are asked to bring a side dish to pass. There will be games and fun for all. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors. Sunday June 24th will be our first outdoor service of the summer. It will be our annual Reconciling In Christ Sunday. A special service has been planned to round out pride month and celebrate our commitment to creating a welcoming faith community. I hope you all can join us for these as well as the rest of the events of the summer! (Outdoor Worship July 16, August 13, & September 17 - Community Picnic August 2nd - Fall Festival September 17)
 
Blessings,
 
Tom