Message From Pastor Nancy
Greetings to all,
Former presidents of Messiah’s church council recently gathered to congratulate our newly elected council president, Jared Myers. Each was asked to give advice so that Jared could receive “the wisdom of the elders.”
We could call this group MOPO (Messiah’s Old Presidents Organization) - Don Swedberg, Eric Swansen, Bill Luckenbill, Bob Leis, Keith Holm and Ginny Pedersen. Keith was with us in spirit since he is in Tucson for the winter. Here is some of their wisdom which seems helpful, whether or not we become an organization president:
After giving advice, we laid hands on Jared and his daughter Kate and prayed the following prayer. As you read this, please see yourself as a vital part of Messiah’s body of Christ. Please join in praying: O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Former presidents of Messiah’s church council recently gathered to congratulate our newly elected council president, Jared Myers. Each was asked to give advice so that Jared could receive “the wisdom of the elders.”
We could call this group MOPO (Messiah’s Old Presidents Organization) - Don Swedberg, Eric Swansen, Bill Luckenbill, Bob Leis, Keith Holm and Ginny Pedersen. Keith was with us in spirit since he is in Tucson for the winter. Here is some of their wisdom which seems helpful, whether or not we become an organization president:
- Focus on the positive. If a negative thing happens do not let it take over.
- Listen more than speak.
- Develop your emotional and spiritual ability to listen in a variety of ways.
- Remember to ask for help.
- Those not on council want to know what’s going on so please communicate a lot!
- There are rewards as well as challenges at times.
- All in all it was a good experience. I’m glad I said yes to the call.
- Notice that all of us have different skills and strengths.
- Each person comes with unique gifts. Don’t expect to be good at everything.
- Put your family first and please include some fun in every day.
- It at all possible, avoid burnout by not letting yourself work too hard.
- Keep your eyes and heart on Jesus who gives peace, wisdom and strength.
After giving advice, we laid hands on Jared and his daughter Kate and prayed the following prayer. As you read this, please see yourself as a vital part of Messiah’s body of Christ. Please join in praying: O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Follow Pastor Nancy's Civil Rights Pilgrimage
Greetings! Last year, I shared my Continuing Ed with those who took the Faith and Misinformation Class. This year, I invite you to JOIN me in my Continting Ed which is called a Civil Rights Pilgrimage. Here is the itinerary in brief. IF I get to it, I hope to pass along any “God sightings” from the trip. Check out messiahofwashburn.com OR
firstlutheranportwing.com
Thank you for praying that this trip would be a pilgrimage: a sacred journey where we go in search of new or expanded meanings about self or others, leading to personal transformation. Dear God, help us to not be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. Help us be open to be transformed more and more to having the mind of Christ. For sure, we know this means for us to expand in our LOVE for God, selves and others. Amen!
Saturday, January 21: Our group of about 12 folks from the Northwestern Synod arrive in Atlanta, Georgia. Bus trip through Anniston, AL arriving at Birmingham, AL. Visit Bethel Baptist and Dynamite Hill if time.
Sunday: Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Hear Carolyn McKinstry who knew the four girls who were killed when the Klan bombed this church in 1963. Visit Birmingham Jail and Memorial Park
Monday: Bus to Montgomery, AL. Visit First Baptist Brick-a-day Church, Montgomery State Capital and/or Rosa Parks Museum and Southern Poverty Law Center
Tuesday: Drive to Selma, walk the Edmund Pettus Bridge, stop at the Viola Luizzo graveside
Wednesday: Depart from Montgomery for MSP
Sunday, January 30, 9:00 am Pastor Nancy will share some “God Sightings” from the trip during sermon.
firstlutheranportwing.com
Thank you for praying that this trip would be a pilgrimage: a sacred journey where we go in search of new or expanded meanings about self or others, leading to personal transformation. Dear God, help us to not be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. Help us be open to be transformed more and more to having the mind of Christ. For sure, we know this means for us to expand in our LOVE for God, selves and others. Amen!
Saturday, January 21: Our group of about 12 folks from the Northwestern Synod arrive in Atlanta, Georgia. Bus trip through Anniston, AL arriving at Birmingham, AL. Visit Bethel Baptist and Dynamite Hill if time.
Sunday: Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Hear Carolyn McKinstry who knew the four girls who were killed when the Klan bombed this church in 1963. Visit Birmingham Jail and Memorial Park
Monday: Bus to Montgomery, AL. Visit First Baptist Brick-a-day Church, Montgomery State Capital and/or Rosa Parks Museum and Southern Poverty Law Center
Tuesday: Drive to Selma, walk the Edmund Pettus Bridge, stop at the Viola Luizzo graveside
Wednesday: Depart from Montgomery for MSP
Sunday, January 30, 9:00 am Pastor Nancy will share some “God Sightings” from the trip during sermon.
