Janice McWhertor, Minister of Congregational Life Report - Nov 2007
In addition to walking on the beaches of Lake Michigan, church life at COS remained full. During the summer a group of us planned the Three Summer Wednesdays to provide learning on racial and ethnic topics with corresponding activities for the children. Several of us also attended a antiracism conference in Chicago in July – intense but challenging. A small group of us also started a pilot course for a 28 week spiritual formation study (Companions in Christ). Lorilyn Wiering leads our group - I am finding it rich and worthwhile. I hope to get three more groups started in January.
The summer months also helped us transition to our 3 new pastoral residents. It just takes time and by September, we were beginning to find our groove. I like the idea of assigning each resident to a Parish. It will build relationships with COS elders and fruitful pastoral care and leadership will flow out of this arrangement.
Did you know that we are planning more opportunities for COS members to give their testimonies this year? I worked on our first opportunity that was scheduled for early in September at the evening service. Carol Rienstra, Theo Beels and Peggi VanderMeulen talked about their passion for specific justice issues. I look forward to hearing more faith stories as the year unfolds. Watch the bulletin or website.
Households at COS continue to challenge me. I appreciated the Household Coordinators meeting on September 9. The Household representation at that meeting was fabulous and, as a result, I learned a lot about how to proceed this year. The newly formed Household Resource Committee is ready to provide support and grow more Households.
Church nights on Wednesday are going strong. Wednesday nights have blossomed into a major COS ministry. When we were designing the COS addition, we dreamed about being able to plan such things. I am delighted to see how many good things are going on in this building on Wednesdays.
Visitors are always coming to COS. I have spent hours talking to people who have visited COS sometime during the fall. Many of the visitors have left their contact info and I try to follow up on all of them. New member classes are scheduled to begin on November 4. I am interested to see how many people attend.
My administrative hat gets larger every year. I have added the facility and staff and treasurers to my umbrella. I now work with all support staff at COS. I am also arranging childcare for more and more of our COS activities – interviewing childcare people and arranging pay for them has been a large task so far this fall.
Pre-marriage work continues - seems like there is always a couple planning to be married. Also continuing is another pilot, this time a marriage enrichment course. We are on week 4 of 8 and we like the course. (You’ll be able to tell who is in the pilot course because of our improved marriages!) Stay tuned for your opportunity to take it starting sometime in January.
I want to let you know that the Understanding Racism workshop was held on October 25-27. At the time of this report, 25 people were signed up – many people who I know care deeply about racial issues in the church. I am so grateful to be a part of this road for spiritual growth. I will also be leading a class on racism and the church at the seminary with Victoria Gibbs on Oct. 29 and 31.
I guess you heard we had another break-in at COS. My office window was one entry point and my computer (yes it was locked) was taken. Unsettling.
May the Lord lead us all in His good works.
Janice
Posted by: Administrator