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April 6 5:30-7 p.m.         Get Satisfied!

Join us as we explore the principles outlined in the book, Get Satisfied How Twenty People like you found the                           satisfaction of enough!  This collection of stories includes wisdom from people of all ages who have discovered the wealth of peace and joy that comes when we tame the demanding giant of  greed that lurks within us all.   You don’t need to purchase a copy of the book to join the discussion, but if you would like a book, please contact the church office or sign up on the bulletin board in the hallway. 

Calling Parents with children at home:  In May we will discuss the book, The Prodigal Son and Material Girls How not to be your child’s ATM by Nathan Dungan.   Dungan, an expert on family finances and the effects of marketing on young people shares the numerous lessons he has learned as a financial advisor on this subject.      Dungan offers practical tools and techniques to teach you and your children the real value of money.  If you would like a copy of the book, please contact the church office or sign up on the bulletin board.     

Faith in Training

Healthy Congregations!

                Members of our staff and our session are exploring ways to create vital and life-giving ministries.  We are reading the book, Healthy Congregations, by Peter Steinke.  Last January our church staff and three of our elders attended a retreat at          Mo-Ranch led by Steinke.   We were joined by about 150 other members of our presbytery---pastors, elders, Christian              educations, music directors, church secretaries, receptionists and other lay people eager to discover effective ways of working             together to make our churches vital and alive.

                Steinke is a Lutheran pastor and counselor who draws on systems theory to empower congregations.  Systems theory is a psychological discipline that doesn’t just focus on “problem     individuals” in a family or organization.  Instead it recognizes that everyone plays a part in the way an organization functions as a whole.  

                  Steinke explains how dysfunction can develop in a church family because of lack of purpose and fearfulness.  Steinke writes:

Healthy congregations are purposeful organizations.  They have a clear direction.  They keep asking, “What is God calling us to be?  What is the meaning of what we do?  They have a working vision that conveys the message that together they can influence their future.  Vision always requires revision.  Health is continuous process, and healthy congregations keep at the work of visioning and revisioning.  The vision needs to be realistic yet challenging. 

People will hesitate to follow leaders who avoid stressful  conditions and will not take clear action.  Leaders create                   conditions that make something new.

                Our church is truly blessed to have a dedicated staff and Session working together to maximize the health and life of our church family.  Retreats and other gatherings such as our Session breakfasts and staff luncheons serve as preventative medicine for the whole church.  Time set aside to reflect on God’s will inspires us to rise above the petty issues that can divide us and blind us to our true mission.   Our true mission is not for each individual to fight to get his or her way, of course. Our true mission is to           humbly offer our gifts to Christ’s service so that we can joyfully engage with our world and share God’s love.

A copy of  Healthy             Congregations is available in the church library if you are interested in learning more about this important guide to church health.