Lutherans in Partnership Study Group Proposal
Thank you to those who have come to the Congregational Forums regarding
the Study Group Proposal.
The Group has presented for five forums already, and we’ve received
very helpful feedback and questions.
The next steps will be:
1) A letter will go out in early September to the members of each congregation
announcing the date of the vote and giving the proposal information.
2) A wrap-up forum will be held on Wednesday, September 17th from 7-8:15
at the Library in Upper Sandusky. This will be another opportunity
for discussion on the proposal and for questions to be raised. If
you have not attended a forum yet, we highly recommend that you attend
this, as there will NOT be a forum held at any of the congregations on
the day of the vote.
3) Each congregation will vote on the Study Group Proposal after worship
on Sunday, September 21st.
4) The results of the vote will determine the next steps.
If you have any questions please contact- one of the members of the Study Group or one of the pastors:
Paul Baum (419) 927-6743
Jim Deer (419) 294-4648
Marty Denney (419) 396-7823
Jill Eyestone (419) 294-4776
Robin Goodman (419) 927-6135
Lew Gottfried (419) 294-2692
Jean Hollandshead (419) 294-3494
Russell Lee (419) 294-1721
Rodney Lieb (419) 294-3634
Karen Magers (419) 294-1732
Janine McMillan (419) 294-5173
Denny Kimmel (419) 458-5007
Nancy Ross (419) 294-3570
Stu Smith (419) 294-2224
Bob Wachtman (419) 294-4768
Linda Welker (419) 294-0155
Bonnie Wolfe (419) 458-4071
Mary Wright (419) 294-1441
Pastor Henry Seibert (419) 294-2831
Pastor Julianne Smith (419)294-3544
Pastor Andrea Starn (419) 424-6663
UPCOMING EVENTS:
2009 National Youth Gathering Registration- September 15th. Deposit
due to the LIP office NO LATER than Thursday, Sept. 11th.
Sr. High Movie and Pizza night-September 21- 6pm-9pm at the St. Paul
youth room.
Feeding Body and Soul- September 29th from 2:30-3:00 pm outside of
the schools.
JUMP will begin October 1st 5-6:30pm
CHAMPS will start October 6th 3-5pm
MEETINGS:
The LIP board will meet Monday, September 15 from 7-8 at the St. Paul
Annex.
The LIP Study Group will meet Sunday, September 7th from 11:30-1 at
the St. Paul Annex.
The Lutherans In Partnership Study Group’s proposal, presented to the
Tri-Councils Sunday July 13th, was unanimously approved by North Salem
Congregation Council in a special meeting after church last Sunday for
recommendation to the Congregation for their approval.
Prior to a Special Congregational Meeting to vote on the Proposal,
there will be a number of open forum meetings to review the proposal and
have questions and concerns addressed by those who were part of the Study
Group.
The Open Forums will be held:
Tuesday, July 29 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. @ First Lutheran
Wednesday, July 30 6:30 - 8 p.m. @ St. Paul
Sunday, August 3 after worship @ St. Paul
Tuesday, August 5 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. @ St. Paul
Sunday, August 10 after worship @ North Salem
Last forum wrap-up the week before Congregational meetings @ place
to be determined.
We encourage you to come to one or more of the forum meetings so that
you may learn the specifics of the proposal and have opportunity to talk
through questions and concerns. Your thoughts and questions about the proposals
are important to us, as we believe God is continuing to work and lead the
3 congregations through these meetings as well.
We look forward to seeing you there,
The Church Council of North Salem Lutheran Church
and Interim Pastor Andrea Starn
LIP Events-
Sunday August 17th: High School Movie, Game and Pizza night
6pm-9pm at the St.Paul youth room.
Thursday, August 7: 4-6 Grade trip to Putt 'n Pond (near Findlay)
1-4 pm, kids need swim suits as well as change for the video games if they
want to play them.
Sunday, August 10th: 7-8th Grade trip to the Columbus Zoo and
water park. We leave at 12 noon and will be returning in the evening.
We will need a couple adult chaperones too for the Putt 'n Pond trip
as well as the Zoo. Please contact Pastor Andrea at home 419-424-6663 or
the LIP office at 294-2831 if you are interested.
Dear Friends in Christ,
"As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get
in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people.
With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself
and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night. Meanwhile, the boat
was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered
by the waves. At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them
walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. "A ghost!" they
said, crying out in terror. But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage,
it's me. Don't be afraid." Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's
really you, call me to come to you on the water."
He said, "Come ahead." Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the
water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his
feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"
Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand." Matthew 14:22-31a
The Message
At this year's VBS, I had the privilege of teaching this story. I got
to teach it 8 times in one day. I came away from that day feeling like
God was trying to make sure I got the point of it, and that it took telling
it that much for me to really 'get it'. Well, sort of. I'm not sure if
we ever completely understand and trust God as completely as God desires
for us to trust Him.
Some things really stand out for me in the story. Jesus sends his disciples
out on the boat, and it was smooth sailing for a while, but then some things
happened that had even these professional fishermen scared out of their
wits.
We want smooth sailing all the time. It's natural that we want to be
in calm waters, but that's not the reality of life. Not even life in the
church. There are things that we all face that seem to toss us about, and
there are times that overwhelm every single one of us no matter how good
we are, or how skilled we are. That's just the way it is.
The other part that stands out for me today, is that when Peter loses
his focus on Jesus and starts paying attention to the waves he starts to
sink. When he cries out 'Lord save me!' Jesus doesn't hesitate. He takes
his hand. Jesus is there.
Whether it's illness, job loss, family struggles, fears about world
issues, changes in the church, problems with friends, or even the loss
of loved ones, we know that the waves can get pretty high around us. It
is very easy AND very normal for us to lose our focus and start paying
attention to the waves. And like Peter we can find ourselves sinking.
The promise is that no matter how high the waves or how difficult the
circumstances, when we cry out, "Lord help us" we will be heard. Now, Jesus
may not come to us in the way that we expect (he did surprise even the
disciples sometimes), but he always comes. He doesn't hesitate. He comes
to us, he calls us to step out in faith, and even though the wind and storms
will hit, ultimately Jesus will keep us in his safe grasp.
" For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height,
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. " Romans 8:38-39, NRSV
May God's Spirit help us to keep our eyes on Christ. When we do we
will find he is already heading towards us with an outstretched, nail-scarred
hand.
Peace, Pastor Andrea
July 13, 2008
Tri-Council and LIP Board Meeting
The Tri-Council and LIP Board met at St. Paul’s on Sunday, July
13 in the fellowship room. A meal was enjoyed by all. Pastor Andrea presented
the proposal that the LIP Study Group has worked on for the last 6 months.
Also their recommendations were presented for further discussion
if the councils of all three churches vote to present the proposal to the
congregations. The whole group broke down in to smaller groups and Pastor
Andrea presented questions to them for discussion. Those in attendance
from North Salem were Michelle Conley, Bill Schmidt, Carolyn Fruth, Paul
Baum, Darlene Mooney, Merle Goodman, June Eier, Denny Kimmel and Beth McDermott.
Carol Roszman attended as a LIP Board member. Dennis Kimmel is also a LIP
Board member. Those not in attendance were Denise Orwick, Rodney Lieb and
Lyle Weaver. Salesa Lieb is the other LIP Board member who was not in attendance.