Complete Story
07/30/2020
A note from Bishop Dillahunt: SOS Outside the Box and other exciting opportunities
SOS Outside the Box and other exciting opportunities to be Stronger and Better Together: Joining Jesus in the Restoration of the World
The Easter message of Christ is Risen! Is our message today and always! Opportunities…
Isaiah 43 Continues to remind us all in the midst of pandemics, unrest, weariness, questions, in-person and digital worship, Bible studies, & coffee check-ins that “I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”
SOS, I know you are flexible and in these months that word has become a reality. SOS, I know you can and will continue to take what is in front of you and see it as OPPORTUNITY, not a barrier to the Gospel’s message of life and salvation.
Two 'Notes' ago I talked to you about stuff happening in the Mission Territory. Today I want to expand on that just a bit. By now you have heard that the ELCA is undergoing a redesign. What that all means is yet to be determined. Stay tuned for more updates when we get more information. Remember: Opportunities.
The Youth Gathering for 2021 in Minneapolis has been postponed to July 2022. This will be fun for everyone, especially since Columbus is the hosting city for the Churchwide Assembly just about 3 weeks later!
Opportunities.
I want us to see 2020 as a year of opportunities and redirect the focus to responding rather than reacting to all of the stuff that has hit us so far this year. Dream SOS. What’s God up to? God’s working in our lives, in our faith, in our places of worship (wherever that might be right now) and God’s calling us to see opportunities as gifts.
The SOS Outside the Box team (OTB) has been working behind the scenes since the week after Easter. The members of this group include: Mr. Chris Clothier, Chair; Pr. Craig Fourman, Pr. Aaron Layne, Pr. Larry Donner, Mrs. Becky Witt, Mr. Josh Brodbeck, Pr. Bob Abrams, Pr. Katie Kerrigan, Pr. Mike Ward and me--PLUS a bunch of other people, lay and rostered, inside and outside this synod, who know a whole lot about stuff, especially technology. We are asking questions and the question we ask each other all the time is “What are we learning and where are the opportunities for ministry and mission”? For those of you who filled out the survey from the team, thank you. It will help us determine how best to assist you to do ministry and share the Gospel.
To remind you of the calling and work of the team, we have 4 teams: No Digital Capability, Fledgling Capability, Advanced Capability and how the Synod office structure can assist you all in ministry as partners and leaders. How we continue to reach people, especially the not-yet-churched, is priority. Opportunities are in front of us to engage each other, for the sake of the Gospel. Over these next weeks and months you are going to see, hear and read about stories that matter in ministry and the OTB team is here to help. If you have an idea to float by the team let us know. Look for a message from Mr. Chris Clothier next week with an update on one project OTB is working on and how to contact him.
We, too, in the bishop’s office are learning to be flexible and see opportunities as gifts.
Pastor Katie Kerrigan, DEM, has been busy tracking down educational resources to connect leaders, both lay and rostered, to courses that will help enhance mission in our congregations. Check out the Resilient Church Academy, for affordable, thought-provoking and convenient online learning for anyone in the congregation! There really is something for everyone. Check out the courses that begin in August.
In the fall, Pastor Kerrigan will set up Zoom conversations around the courses for a “check in and sharing” time. Watch for details. Please email Pr. Kerrigan at kkerrigan@southernohiosynod.org when you sign up for one of the Resilient Church Academy courses, so she can connect with you and others for these deeper-dive discussion groups. I encourage church councils and lay people throughout the synod to sign up and take these classes and join in the conversation.
I know we are a synod territory that seizes the opportunities in front of us. We don’t get stuck, we believe that we are not alone, we believe in the resurrection promise and that our call is to be, show, & share the love of God in Jesus. New things are happening as Isaiah reminds us and we embrace it.
Keep on Thriving!
In Christ,
Bishop Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt
PS: Moving-in day for the new office is August 5! We should have phones August 10th and internet! YAY! Keep connected with us via email. Moving has showed us how to be flexible and we keep smiling…..Watch for pictures!
