JULY 2017 Page 1
“Sharing in the Ministry”
“But Pastor Marty, what does ‘Shared Ministry’ mean? What does it look like?”
For nearly a year now here at Faith, we’ve been exploring possibilities with Shared Ministry. We’ve met with leaders from the Indiana – Kentucky Synod to learn more about it. We’ve met with leaders from other local ELCA congregations to discuss it. We’ve spent time at Church Council talking about it. But this last week of ministry Faith, as we hosted 30 children for a week of Vacation Bible School,
we saw it lived out!
Wednesday evening’s Family Fun Night was a perfect example, There were the usual staff and volunteers present. Jan S. and Dorothy served food alongside Jessica in the kitchen.
Janet F, and Sue M welcomed and greeted folks. All while Doug B, Vivian, and Jane worked outside trimming bushes! However, in addition to these helpers, some additional volunteers and staff from other local congregations worked with us! Pastor Amy Beitelschees-Albers brought a family from Holy Trinity, Harlan, who helped the ladies in the kitchen by wiping down every table, stacking chairs and sweeping the entire fellowship hall after the meal! And then Beverly Irvin, welcomed and thanked them for participating in VBS, and coming back for the evening. Not to mention the older youth from the neighborhood – Emilee, Aliana, Jaybreyona, and Emily T – who helped with the younger children from VBS.
Over and over again all week, I kept asking myself, how in the world did we do this VBS in previous years without this additional group of people? Just when one of us was weary and needed a quick break, when Marceile needed to be home for an extra day, or when one of us needed to run out on an errand, another grown-up stepped in to cover things. We were a team. We worked together, shared the responsibilities, and saw that the work was done. We SHARED the MINISTRY!
And you know what? We enjoyed it so much, we talked throughout the week about how we could continue to work together! That’s the gift of coming together in the name of Jesus! THAT’S the gift of Shared Ministry!
We know that more opportunities are coming our way, and new ministries are evolving out of past traditions and experiences. Together with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the love of Jesus, we trust that God will lead us into these new endeavors with renewed energy and excitement! We trust that we can SHARE whatever MINISTRY God places before us!
Ice Cream Social
W / Other Food
at
Risen Savior Lutheran Church
8010 W Jefferson Blvd - In front of Lutheran Hospital
Sunday Aug 13, 2017
3:00 to 3:45 pm - Camp Service/Program/Music
Bishop Bill Gafkjen Pastors Willeke & Radloff with
Camp Staff Team
3:45 to 5 pm - Social w/ Music & Camp Games
Freewill Donations Appreciated
Funds used for Lake Front Equipment and Improvements
at Lake Luther and Lutherwald,
and for Camp Scholarships
Fund Raiser Sponsors – Fort Wayne Area Lutheran Churches
Goal: Raise $10,000
1/3 for Lake Luther, 1/3 for Lutherwald, 1/3 for Scholarships
A matching grant of $10,000 from
The Lutheran Foundation applied for
Drawing for Camp Scholarships + Raffle for pre-season Colts tickets
Sun / Mon / Tue / Wed / Thu / Fri / Sat
1
12:30 -2:30 pm
Narcotics Anonymous
2
9:30 am
Worship
12 pm
ABC Ministries / 3 / 4
OFFICE CLOSED
Due to
4th of July Holiday / 5
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
5:30 pm Activities & Crafts
6 pm Prayer & Praise
6:30 Free Community Meal / 6
1 pm – Good Neighbors / 7 / 8
12:30 -2:30 pm
Narcotics Anonymous
9
9:30 am
Worship
12 pm
ABC Ministries / 10 / 11
9 am - Sew–Sew / 12
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
5:30 pm Activities & Crafts
6 pm Prayer & Praise
6:30 Free Community Meal / 13 / 14 / 15
12:30 -2:30 pm
Narcotics Anonymous
1 pm
Men to Young Men
16
9:30 am
Worship
12 pm
ABC Ministries / 17 / 18
9 am - Sew–Sew / 19
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
5:30 pm Activities & Crafts
6 pm Prayer & Praise
6:30 Free Community Meal / 20 / 21 / 22
12:30 -2:30 pm
Narcotics Anonymous
23
9:30 am
Worship
12 pm
ABC Ministries / 24 / 25
9 am - Sew–Sew / 26
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
5:30 pm Activities & Crafts
6 pm Prayer & Praise
6:30 Free Community Meal / 27 / 28 / 29
12:30 -2:30 pm
Narcotics Anonymous
30
9:30 am
Worship
12 pm
ABC Ministries / 31 /