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President’s Message Easter 2008
Hallelujah,
Christ is Risen, Hallelujah!
These words were shouted to the rafters at Easter services as hundreds gathered to celebrate the joy of the risen Lord. Easter week is always a wonderfully busy time at Reformation.
This year brought the added honor of hosting the Capitol Hill Group Ministry’s Easter Vigil, an ecumenical celebration with Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal congregations on Capitol Hill. Many people at the Easter Brunch excitedly shared how much they enjoyed the Easter Vigil service. You can bet I won’t miss it next year!
We were honored that Bishop Richard Graham shared the Easter message with us. We are grateful that Pastor Braaten, who has been dealing with health issues for the past several weeks, was back for Easter services. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers as his health improves.
Vicar Margaret Kelly is owed a huge hug and debt of gratitude, as she took on extra responsibilities of service to our congregation. Our thanks also go to Anneka Anderson, Quawanna Thomas, Flossie Heckman, and Norma Meyer for their work and support in the church office, and to Emma Harrington for coordinating the Easter Brunch.
As always, music is an important part of ministry at Reformation. The California Lutheran University Choir joined us for the Maundy Thursday evening service. This group of wonderfully talented young people was a joy to hear. For Easter Sunday, Paul Leavitt and the Reformation Choir were superlative as always. And thanks goes to Nancy Swingle for substituting for Paul while he was out with the flu.
Lastly, I want to thank Pastor Braaten, Vicar Kelly, Christine Pommerening, Diane Liesman, Craig Middlebrook, Amy Northcutt, and everyone else who contributed to the Lenten services and special adult education and Bible studies. These activities provided meaningful opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship. We are glad these leaders share their spiritual gifts with us.
Going forward, Council continues its work on ministry, fellowship, and mission. At the February congregational meeting, Council described the steps undertaken to address Reformation’s ministry priorities and staffing needs resulting from the departure of Pastor McNeill and then Pat Freitag. Pastor Braaten, volunteers, and staff rearranged tasks and responsibilities, and two new people were brought on board: Margaret Kelly as vicar and Jackie Barnes as Southeast Ministry’s Executive Director. Council also provided an update on its discernment process for how to best serve the different members and ministries of the congregation in the years ahead. Please see the message from Brian Hornbecker, Secretary, for a full report on the congregational meeting.
Following this meeting, a small task force of Council members has been formed to develop position descriptions for two new part-time clergy or lay positions. The members of the task force are Brian Hornbecker, Amy Northcutt, Nancy Pfahl, and Christine Pommerening. The task force is working with the current youth and family coordinator job description and with the input you provided during the January forums and in conversations, correspondence, and previous surveys and visioning exercises. We thank everyone for their thoughtful input into this planning process, which will be documented in a report to Council. The Council will use this report at our upcoming retreat to inform our plans and priorities for the rest of the year and into the future.
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself, the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4: 26-29