Grace and peace be with you in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior.
I HAVE LOTS OF STUFF TO SHARE WITH YOU….
Stronger and Better Together…Joining Jesus in the Restoration of the World is our vision as we live out the mission of sharing, inviting and telling the story of God’s love in Jesus. This has been our mission and vision before COVID.
It’s been 17 weeks of phenomenal change in our lives. To say the least, these months have shown and taught us how we can adapt, adjust, and become more flexible in our thinking and doing. Since COVID-19 began and the fight for racial justice continues, I bring us back to Romans 8:38-39: “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.”
Thank you for sending ‘Back-to-In-Person’ worship and building plans. Keep them coming! They have helped others in their planning. Some of you have been back for a while, some just beginning to return, some have chosen not to return for now and others will be coming back soon. Though these are difficult conversations and choices, we do so, remembering to think about others and caring for neighbor. Keep up the virtual presence! It’s making a difference in people’s lives. We continue to update information to the synod website.
My prayer and hope is that you are also engaging in the difficult conversations around racism and the call for justice. I commend to you the ELCA Resources and when we are able to come back together that you participate in the SOS Race Relations Task Force training and conversations. We have important and vital work to do siblings in Christ.
HOW ARE YOU?
Do you need a break? Do you need time to create space to think? Do you need to take a break from Zoom because of meeting fatigue? Are you taking care of yourself: spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally? How’s your relationship to God? How’s the day-off going? Do you have a vacation or time-off scheduled for a staycation? Are you caring for yourself/family/loved ones? Are you drawing boundaries? Are you getting the support you need from friends, colleagues and family?
Remember you aren’t God! And this is the time to think of these changes in our lives as opportunities.
Remember we have resources to help you navigate these different waters and you are not alone!
Check out the resources on the SOS website (Coaching, Congregational Resource Team, Mental Health Resources), Portico Benefit Services (98Point6, On line Mental Health Program, Wellness Activities), and this article, The Coming Pastoral Crash, recommended by Pr. Lowell Michelson and Pr. Larry Donner.
Embrace the change that has happened and look for the new opportunities for ministry that are now part of our lives. God is doing new things, let’s not let this opportunity get away.
HOW CAN WE ASSIST YOU IN THIS TIME OF MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AND WHAT’S NEXT?
SOS Outside the Box
If you know me, you know that I am always looking ahead. Right after Easter, I put together a team of rostered ministers and lay people from inside and outside the Synod to help me think and plan for our future together. Keeping in mind the Mission, Vision, and Values of this mission territory, and knowing we are in the middle of a ministry/mission campaign, Thrive!, the 'Outside the Box Team' was created and Mr. Chris Clothier is the leader of the team. Over the next months this team will work on several goals as we keep in mind how we can be stronger and better together so that ministry happens and the Gospel is shared.
One of the opportunities we have as church is to take what we learned over these past months and infusing ministry through the power of the Holy Spirit. How’s this for a goal? 'By the end of 2023, the Southern Ohio Synod will be stronger and better together by digitally connecting with at least 150,000 people through our congregations. I know we can meet and exceed this goal as an opportunity for ministry and service.'
It is clear that digital media for worship, bible studies, meetings etc. is here to stay. COVID forced the issue that we all knew needed to happen. How do we reach people, build relationships and make sure ministry happens when we are not in the same building physically?
So how do we address this? Some of you do it really, really well. Others are stumbling along and others don’t know even where to begin. That’s where this team is here to help!
We have four working teams, for now:
In the next weeks you will receive a survey. Please take the time to fill it out, because we really do want to make this mission territory thrive together!
NEXT: ROSTERED MINISTERS MARK YOUR CALENDARS and join us on July 29 at 11:00 am for another Outside the Box opportunity: Stronger and Better Together as We Thrive in Ministry: Coaching Opportunities
I know leading in this time can be a challenge and we want to give you tools and resources to help you thrive in what you are called to do. Join Pastor Mike Weaver, Pastor Katie Kerrigan, Pastor Larry Donner, Pastor Bob Abrams, Pastor Mike Ward and me for a one hour Zoom Chat on the following topics…
During the Zoom call, each of the presenters will have 10 minutes to talk about the topic, and then for 20 minutes, we will break out into Zoom Rooms for a bit more information and follow up.
Watch for more information coming after the 4th of July about this Zoom event.
AND THEN….
Thanks again for the creativity and faithfulness! I am looking at another Rostered Minister’s Zoom webinar in mid-July. Also, if you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at the Non-Assembly-Assembly reports. These were shared in the weekly e-bulletin and they are on the website. Happy Reading!
Thank you for the consistent mission support and for the generosity of our people who know the ministry continues even when we don’t see each other in person.
As you know by now, the synod office is relocating and we will be out of 300 S. Second Street on June 30. We will be working from our personal homes until we can move into our new office home, hopefully by mid-July and we will let you know how things are going. Pictures will come later. For now, staff travel is limited. Do not be offended when we ask for a copy of your ‘Plan’ when we do come for a visit. We will have a facial covering and social distance. We want everyone safe and healthy when we do visit.
This is an exciting time to be church and we have opportunities in front of us that can and will help strengthen relationships and tell the story of Jesus Christ. Don’t be afraid! Isaiah 43:18-19 is guiding us: “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Have a good 4th of July…rest, relax and enjoy some time to just be.
Be of Good Courage, Stay Well and Peace,
Bishop Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt