Star. Strengthening the Church Ecumenical Partnerships Enrich the Christian Community By: Marcia Hahn. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Transcription

1 Star Northeastern Iowa July/August 2010 Volume 23, Issue 7 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Strengthening the Church Ecumenical Partnerships Enrich the Christian Community By: Marcia Hahn Like so many Lutheran pastors today, Charis Combs-Lay serves two congregations. She preaches alternate Sundays at each, divides Pastor Charis her time between Combs-Lay each location, Zion Lutheran, Oelwein and ministers to members of each congregation. What is unusual, however, is that one of the churches is Presbyterian. I m happy to proclaim Christ wherever I am, Combs-Lay says. That positive, encouraging attitude has brought a renewed energy to the Christ United Presbyterian Church in Oelwein. The church had been without its own pastor for four years before Combs-Lay and her husband, Pastor Leo Combs-Lay, agreed to serve the Presbyterian congregation in addition to Zion Lutheran, where they have served as pastors a few blocks away since If we did not live in Oelwein, this relationship would not be possible, but because we are here sharing it together and we know the community and each other, it works very well, Combs-Lay says. The year-to-year renewable agreement between the two churches began with a request from the Presbyterian denominational leadership to Bishop Steven Ullestad of the Northeastern Iowa Synod. The two Lutheran pastors started providing pulpit supply, and then Zion authorized them to provide pastoral services. They take turns leading a Sunday morning service at Christ United, and Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday services at Zion. Pastor Charis serves as the on-site pastor at Christ United. She worked with a pastor mentor to learn about Presbyterian theology and the reform movement. Leaders from both congregations meet three times a year to review the relationship and discuss what works and what doesn t. They are two separate congregations and corporations that work in service together, Pastor Charis says. I get to pray with them, worship with them, and talk about matters of faith. I have voice at Christ United, but no vote in their business discussions, and that s fine with me. The sharing arrangement is possible because of the full communion partnership the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America began with the Presbyterian Church in 1997, which allows the denominations to share pastors, joint worship services and the Lord s Supper. Combs-Lay believes that both of the Oelwein churches ministries have become stronger because they learn from each other. She cites the We Care group in which volunteers from Christ United make monthly visits to members who are in the hospital or who are unable to leave their homes or nursing homes to attend church. A lay volunteer joins Combs-Lay when she takes communion to homebound members, which, she says, adds a sense of community and helps to bring the church to them. She introduced the We Care program at Zion last May, and she hopes that in September volunteers can begin making home visits with Pastor Leo when he gives communion. >> Continued on page 2 In This Issue E cumenical Partnerships Enrich the Christian Community omen of the ELCA Keep Us W Growing in Faith F aith Leaders Can Tap Drug Abuse Prevention Resources 010 Synod Assembly 2 Celebrates Church s Strengths S elfless Gifts Reflect God s Own Generosity Events, Congregations Prayer Calendar

2 Ecumenical Partnerships... << Continued from page 1 The Zion congregation, which is more than three times larger than Christ United, shares its active music groups at the Presbyterian worship services. The two churches shared Advent services and this summer s vacation Bible school. Members are welcome to attend each others services and designate which church receives their offerings. Combs-Lay says that both churches have budgets that are on target, and attendance at Christ United has seen some growth. Joy Hintz, a Christ United member for 54 years, says she hopes the relationship with Zion will continue. It s been great because there is continuity and it s a lot smoother than when we had four different ministers in a month, Hintz says. We know the person who is going to be here on Sunday. They each bring a different perspective, and we look forward to hearing what they are going to preach. Combs-Lay believes that Lutheran pastors should take every opportunity to share the Gospel with other Christians outside their faith. Theologically, I believe we can do that better than anyone else because of how Lutherans interpret the Gospel. We are free to really proclaim the faith and reach out to other denominations to strengthen the body of Jesus Christ. Greene churches benefit from staff ministry agreement For a number of years, St. Peter Lutheran, Greene, needed additional pastoral help to serve its 650 confirmed members. That help came last fall through a staff ministry agreement with the much smaller First Presbyterian Church, located across the street. The timing for a formal agreement seemed right when Pastor John Hanna, a new seminary graduate, began serving at First about a year ago. St. Peter contracted for 40 percent of Hanna s time, and both churches have seen immediate benefits. According to Pastor Gary Hatcher, who has served at St. Peter since 2002, Hanna s presence has helped fill the gaps that come when a large church is served by only one pastor. It has made our ministry better, Hatcher says. We re expanding some areas of ministry that we couldn t before and we re getting more lay Pastors from the North Fayette Ministerial Association participated in a pulpit exchange and shared communion during Lent. Left to right: Bill Horn, Trinity Lutheran, Hawkeye; Jason Princer, Fayette United Methodist, Fayette ; Galen Smith, Bethel Presbyterian West Union Scott Kober, West Union United Methodist Church ; David Grant, Zion Lutheran, West Union. Photo by Fayette County Union. people better trained and more involved. The two pastors share hospital visits and pastoral needs without distinguishing congregations. Both churches offer Sunday worship at 9 a.m., but now if one pastor is away, that congregation will worship at the other church. In addition, Hanna also fills in once a month for the Saturday and Wednesday services offered at St. Peter. A Shared Ministry Committee, made up of members from both congregations, meets monthly to work through any issues. The two pastors meet weekly to look at cost saving opportunities and administrative needs. They also meet quarterly with a team ministry consultant who offers outside perspectives for maintaining a healthy working relationship. A long-term goal, Hatcher says, is to have one pastor preach and the other serve as liturgist each weekend at both churches. Pastor John is very accepted by both congregations and is regarded as pastor for St. Peter as much as I am. Hatcher adds that he has noticed a reinvigoration and increased attendance at First Presbyterian. They are really excited about the partnership. They make a point to tell me they think this agreement is one of the great things they ve done. Zion, West Union, marks first official communion with neighbor churches Pastor David Grant and Associate Pastor Stacey Nalean-Carlson of Zion Lutheran, West Union, enjoy the camaraderie and friendships they have with the pastors from other denominations in the community. The pastors belong to the same ministerial association, meet in >> Continued on page 6 2 Northeastern Iowa Synod

3 Bishop Women of the ELCA Keep Us Growing in Faith It was my privilege to attend this year s synodical Women of the ELCA assembly with the theme Growing in Faith. Under the capable leadership of Cecil Maureen Johnson, the women worshipped together, heard stories of the faith, were invited into even stronger connections with the larger church, participated in workshops and business sessions, and offered support and encouragement to one another. I am grateful for the ministry of the Women of the ELCA. In my own life, they have been a source of care and inspiration. I was only six years old when my sister, Kristi, died. One of my strongest memories of that heartache is how the women of the church cared for my parents and for us children. Each president of our synodical women s organization that I have served with as bishop has communicated the support of her organization for my ministry. This support and encouragement is symbolized by the beautiful Tree of Life piece of art that our Women of the ELCA presented to me and which hangs in a place of prominence in my office. In our congregations, conferences and synod, the women keep us focused on the mission of the church and live lives of prayer, Bible study, service to others and support for one another. As many of our families feel the stresses and challenges of living the faith in remarkable times of change, the Women of the ELCA provide encouragement, care and hope. Today is a good day to say thank you for the leaders of your congregational Women of the ELCA. This is my way of saying thank you to our synodical leadership. Steven L. Ullestad Bishop, Northeastern Iowa Synod Women s Convention Provides Towel Bundles to LSI During the Northeastern Iowa Synod Women s Convention held at Wartburg College in June, amazing generosity was shown to the children served by Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI). Convention participants brought approximately 500 towel bundles, which were assembled and donated by congregations across the Synod, to be distributed to the children at LSI s residential treatment centers in Waverly and Ames. Each bundle included a towel along with other personal hygiene products. the care and support of others an experience many have not had in their young lives. This generosity becomes another step in their healing process. LSI would like to thank the individuals and congregations and the Northeastern Iowa Synod for turning something that seems like a simple everyday item into a powerful gift of hope, said Kaye Englin, LSI vice president of advancement, church relations and advocacy. With this amazing support, LSI continues to respond to the love of Jesus Christ through acts of service to all. The towels and toiletries provided for the children on the LSI campuses make a difference in their lives. LSI helps children to believe in themselves through treatment and ministry in the hope they leave with the tools to create a bright and successful future. Through these gifts, the children experience Jenny, Heidi and Travis (left to right) display the towel bundles they selected from the approximately 500 donated to LSI during the Northeastern Iowa Synod Women s Convention. July/august

4 Faith Leaders Can Tap Drug Abuse Prevention Resources Alcohol, tobacco and marijuana are the top three most abused drugs by adults and youth in Iowa, according to the Governor s Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP). It s a prevalent problem, but also a community problem that takes the whole community working together to prevent, said Becky Swift, an assistant director with the ODCP, during the Bishop s Summit on Substance Abuse webinar in May. Sponsored by the Northeastern Iowa Synod, the one-hour online webinar, Iowa Drug Trends and Resources, shared statistics about substance abuse in Iowa and how to access the many resources available to help combat the problem and educate families. Swift suggested ways that church leaders can support and educate families and youth about substance abuse: e vents to help older adults keep a list of their medications or bring their old medications in for proper disposal; t raining programs to help church leaders recognize symptoms of drug use and abuse in youth; f ree publications and resources to help clergy, lay leaders, families and teens begin conversations about drugs. Creating a Drug-Free Workplace an education and training program to address substance abuse in the workplace. The material can be adapted to help youth workers recognize signs and symptoms, as well. Take a Dose of Truth an informational website about the risks posed by the abuse or misuse of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs by teens and older adults, and how to encourage prevention of these behaviors. Drug Endangered Children information, education programs and resources about meth and its hazards, and ways that children exposed to illegal drugs or persons under the influence suffer physical and psychological harm or neglect For more links and to download a pdf of the webinar presentation, visit and scroll down to the link for the Bishop s Summit, or contact Pastor Mark Anderson, The faith community is one of the last institutions left for families, and it has an opportunity to make an impact on several generations in one family, Swift said. The webinar recommended a number of websites and resources for information, including these online publications and programs: Northeastern Iowa Synod Take Five a flier that offers five quick tips on how parents can start talking to their children about drugs and alcohol. According to research, 7 12-year-old children who learn a lot about the dangers of drugs from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to ever use. Bishop Rev. Dr. Steven L. Ullestad - ullestads@neiasynod.org Assistants to the Bishop Rev. Mark A. Anderson - andersonm@neiasynod.org Rev. Darrel W. Gerrietts - gerriettsd@neiasynod.org Linda J. Hudgins - hudginsl@neiasynod.org Rev. Nancy J. Larson - nancy_larson@elca.org STAR Editors Marcia Hahn - hahnm@neiasynod.org Julie Drewes - jdrewes@mchsi.com The Power of Grandparents a brochure with talking tips for grandparents. In focus groups, youth said that grandparents were a group they really respected and would not want to disappoint. We want to remind grandparents that they have a lot of power in the choices their grandchildren are making, Swift said. 4 The STAR is published 11 times a year by the Northeastern Iowa Synod, th Street SW, PO Box 804, Waverly, IA ; phone , FAX Send news for the September issue to Marcia Hahn by August 2. We welcome story ideas related to the 2010 theme, Strengthening the Church. Articles in this newsletter may be duplicated for use in synod congregations and organizations, with credit to the Star newsletter. Please notify the synod office with name and address changes. Northeastern Iowa Synod

5 2010 Synod Assembly Celebrates Church s Strengths Some 550 voting members and guests attended the 2010 Assembly of the Northeastern Iowa Synod at Wartburg College in June. The assembly celebrated the theme Strengthening the Church, which is at the heart of the mission statement of the Northeastern Iowa Synod. Bishop Steven Ullestad delivered Friday night s sermon with a focus on the many ministries of encouragement within the church and the centers of peace within this synod. A slideshow featured most of those centers the churches that belong to the Northeastern Iowa Synod. Ullestad s keynote address on Saturday was based on I Corinthians, in which Paul tried to help the congregation through their controversies to remain one in Christ and move on with the mission of the church. The Rev. Dr. Rebecca Larson, executive director of the program unit for Church in Society of the ELCA, preached at the Sunday morning worship service with a message related to the song Amazing Grace, written by John Newton. The Bishop s report for the Sunday business meeting included recognition of the 40th anniversary of the ordination of women in the ELCA and a salute to the women who have served in the Northeastern Iowa Synod. Ullestad also recognized Susan Armstrong of Mason City for concluding two terms as vice president of the synod council. Regarding her eight years of service, Ullestad said that she worked diligently to develop the synod council and help it focus on the mission of the church. In response, Armstrong said that serving as vice president of the synod was a happy experience, and she explained to the Assembly why: The unique gifts and abilities that I brought to the office of Vice President were quickly realized, utilized, and appreciated by Bishop Ullestad and the synod staff. It was an occasion whereby the role of vice president was flexible enough to call forth my interests, abilities and leadership style. It was a win-win opportunity for stewardship and mission. One of the distinctions about the office of Vice President is that it is fundamentally a volunteer position. Yes, the office holds some clout, but at the end of the day I didn t have to sweat the small stuff because the well being of the synod rests in the body of Christ in your hands and also in the very capable hands of the professional guardians of the synod in the office of the Bishop and with the Synod Staff. The final reason for my happiness lies in the profound resources of our Synod Staff. In my professional life as a psychotherapist, I ve spent 30 years analyzing family and work place systems. And of all the groups that I ve worked with personally and professionally, the Northeastern Iowa Synod staff the Bishop, his assistants, and the support staff are among the healthiest organizations I ve encountered. As a whole, this group of individuals is hardworking, healing, harmonious, hopeful, and inherently democratic. They are excellent communicators, deeply Pastor Mark Anderson, assistant to the Bishop, speaks about youth and family resources at one of five special presentations focusing on Strengthening the Church at the 2010 Northeastern Iowa Assembly. inspirational, self-examining, resourceful and open to change. They can make sweet-tasting lemonade out of life s lemons, which makes them a can-do organization although occasionally you might hear them declare, Won t do! Above all, the Northeastern Iowa Synod staff operates with inclusiveness and transparency, and this is what engenders our trust and confidence in them. In short they embody Mother Theresa s famous quote: We may not all do great things in life, but we can all do small things with great love. I m proud to be a part of a synod whose favorite food group is sweet corn but on a deeper level, it is the small doses of bread and wine that makes us hunger for something even better. And that something even better is right here in our midst! Thank you for this remarkable opportunity to serve and be served to love and be loved. I ll miss you. To see voting results, reports, sermons, slide show and more from the 2010 Northeastern Iowa Synod Assembly, visit July/august

6 Ecumenical Partnerships... << Continued from page 2 weekly text study groups, and share some joint worship services. This year marked the next step in their relationships when non-lutheran pastors presided over communion at Zion for the first time. The historic event happened during Lent when five area churches participated in a pulpit exchange. The pastors rotated from church to church to lead and preach Wednesday evening services using a book provided by the United Methodist Church Neglected Voices: Biblical Spirituality in the Margins by John Indermark. We extended an invitation that as long as you re coming here to preach, you re welcome to preside over communion, Grant says. They enjoyed accepting that invitation. The impetus was the full communion agreement with the United Methodist Church that the ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved last summer. It is the most recent of the six full communion partnerships the ELCA shares with other denominations. Pastor Jason Princer of First United Methodist, Fayette, was the first non-lutheran pastor to preside over Holy Communion at Zion. To go from working together to sharing a pulpit together to sharing communion together, for me, takes the whole understanding of being together in the body of Christ to another level, Princer says. It brings a unique sense of unity within the mainline denominations that I would hope will only make us stronger in our witness to the local community. Pastor Scott Kober of West Union United Methodist Church and Pastor Galen Smith of Bethel Presbyterian, West Union, also presided over Holy Communion at Zion during the Lenten series. Pastor Nalean-Carlson says that each pastor brought a slightly different perspective, and people seemed to appreciate hearing their insights. Each one had their own way of presiding, but all of them were welcoming as they invited everyone to come forward, she says. It was good for us to do things differently, but to know that we were united in the one body of Christ. Grant s excitement over the milestone services prompted him to share the news with the local newspapers. He wrote, To many it may seem like a small step; in the official policies of the church bodies it is a giant leap. For it was the decisions made by the official church bodies that made this local celebration of Holy Communion possible and our common brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ Jesus real. Dr. Lose to Present Two Book of Faith Programs Dr. David Lose Making Sense of Scripture The Northeastern Iowa Synod in cooperation with the Cedar Valley/North Iowa Forum, the Turkey Valley Forum, and the Life-Long Learning for Lutherans Committee welcome Dr. David Lose, assistant professor of preaching at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., to a synod-wide Book of Faith event on September 12-13, Sunday, Sept. 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m. McCaskey Lyceum, Wartburg College, Waverly Dr. David Lose will offer an interactive presentation to help participants learn how to gain greater understanding and enjoyment from reading the Bible. This Life-Long Learning for Lutherans presentation is free of charge and open to the public. Refreshments and informal table conversation will follow at the Chapel Commons. No registration is required. Preaching and Story Monday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wartburg College, Waverly Lose will offer a series of three presentations for rostered members of the synod, developing on the Sept. 12 program with the theme of Preaching and Story. Lay people are also welcome. Reservations are required. The cost is $25, which includes snacks and lunch. Registration information will be ed to all rostered members later this summer and will be posted on the synod website, Dr. David Lose is the Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching, Luther Seminary. He has lectured and led workshops throughout the country and internationally, and is author of the book Making Sense of Scripture. 6 Northeastern Iowa Synod

7 Selfless Gifts Reflect God s Own Generosity By: Pastor Nancy Larson Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop Over the course of my 57+ years of life, I ve been the recipient of many gifts from many people. My mind is flooded with memories of the people who have graciously touched my life with their thoughtful generosity. As my eyes scan the wall plaques and figurines that decorate my office, I am overwhelmed with a sense of humility and grace because all these gifts are signs of relationships, and are undeserved. How blessed I have been and how blessed I am! All I can do is bow before God in thankfulness and awe. In recent years as I traveled in our Companion Synod churches in Namibia, I have been especially touched by the grace and generosity extended to us. In 2005, Sharon Magelssen and I visited several congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia. In Arandis we met and visited Pastor Manfred and Helen Orub. They welcomed us warmly into their home and each shared about the challenges and joys of ministry in a community that had undergone a huge economic downturn. As Helen shared about the formation of a kindergarten for the children and an economic project for the women, her heart of compassion and love came shining through. With exceedingly limited resources, the Orubs gave of themselves day in and day out to support and strengthen the community and to bear witness to Jesus. This act of selfless sharing is a tangible reminder of God s giving of himself for us. As we were about to leave their clean and neat but modest home, I asked about an item displayed on a shelf in their living room. Helen explained that it was a small gourd that had been dried and painted gold. She then took it off the shelf and presented it to me and said, For you Pastor. I was moved to speechlessness and then I indicated I couldn t possibly take this precious item from their home. It was clear, however, that a refusal to receive the gift would have insulted the gracious giver. I thanked them profusely and wrapped the gourd in protective layers to ensure its safe arrival back to Waverly. It sits in an honored place on the shelf in my living room and remains a testament to the faith and generosity of Pastor Manfred and Helen Orub and their bold witness for Christ. What may seem to be a small ordinary item is, for me, one of the most precious gifts ever received. This act of selfless sharing is a tangible reminder of God s giving of himself for us. God gave himself for our salvation. It is no cheap thing this gift called grace whereby God s generosity calls forth generosity by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us. Safeguarding God s Children Training The Safeguarding God s Children workshops provide training to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse in everyday life and ministry. The workshops are for volunteers, officers, new pastors, and others involved in the church who work with youth and have not had the training. Four training sessions are currently scheduled: Oct. 10, 2010 Immanuel, Independence, 2-5 p.m. Oct. 10, Bethany, Iowa Falls, 2-5 p.m. March 6, 2011 St. Paul, Monona, 2-5 p.m. March 6, 2011 St. James, Mason City, 2-5 p.m. Contact the host church to register. Full attendance and evaluation is required for participants to receive a certificate of completion. In addition, congregations are encouraged to host the Safeguarding God s Children workshops. A minimum of 10 registered people is necessary. Those interested in conducting a workshop can attend a train the trainer session set for Saturday, Aug. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the synod office. To register, contact Pastor Darrel Gerrietts, assistant to the bishop, who will lead this session. July/august

8 Pint-sized Project Helps Habitat for Humanity The youth at Faith Lutheran, Shell Rock, are too young to build a house, but they found a project just their size to help the Butler County Habitat for Humanity build a house in Parkersburg. Their idea was to build a Habitat playhouse and use it as a fundraiser to support the Parkersburg building project. According to Terri Thomsen, youth leader at Faith, children participating in the church s Faith Rocks Youth program had performed a skit about Habitat for Humanity during Lent, and they wanted to find a way to support the local program. I contacted the Butler County Habitat for Humanity to get some ideas and information on what we needed to do, and as it turned out, they had been discussing the idea of a playhouse at their meetings, Thomsen says. The timing was perfect. Thomsen, her husband, Randy Thomsen, and their son, Jack, along with Barb Degroote built the house using a design from the Sunset book Kid s Places to Play by Jeanne Huber. The exterior walls are painted to look like a castle, with shutters used for the door and windows. Solar lights hang on the inside and out. The interior has two magnetic walls and two chalkboard walls, along with a periscope to spot enemies before they approach. The playhouse can be set up outdoors, indoors, or folded down for storage. The dream castle playhouse was displayed at the Habitat for Humanity booth at the Butler County Fair and was featured in the parade and a drawing at the Shell Rock Fourth of July celebration. It s a way to promote our growing youth program at Faith Lutheran Church, as well as our expanding pre-school and childcare program, Thomsen says. 18 Graduate from CNA Training Congratulations to the newest classes to graduate from the Barnabas Uplift Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Program. Eight students graduated May 14 from the training program at Postville (left photo), and 10 graduated June 10 from the Oelwein program (right photo). Several students from both classes were offered jobs on the spot, and many of the rest had job interviews scheduled. The training programs are offered through the Help4Health Program of the Barnabas Uplift network to help low-income Iowans begin health care careers. In the past year, Barnabas Uplift has placed 28 graduates from the two communities in CNA positions. Welcome to College Students If your congregation has students who are attending the University of Iowa, Iowa State, or the University of Northern Iowa this fall, the Lutheran campus ministries would like to know their names so they can welcome them. There is no need to supply a campus address, just the name and school will do. However, if you know the student s summer address and wish to send that along, the students can be contacted at home before they arrive next fall. Please send student names to the following addresses: University of Iowa lcm-elca@uiowa.edu Iowa State University pj.ulc.isu@gmail.com University of Northern Iowa lscunicp@cfu.net 8 Northeastern Iowa Synod