Dear Friends,

I am writing this with the glorious celebration of Pastor Susan Peterson’s ministry still resounding in my ears and my heart.  Thank you all for being part of it.  It was truly a fitting tribute to her service and legacy to Gloria Dei.

And now we turn our attention to the start of our program year, with three new staff members joining in our ministry:  Interim Senior Pastor John Mann, Director of Children’s Ministries Pat Derry, and Administrator Jeanne Hanson.  Please take a moment to welcome each of these newest members of our community of faith.

We also welcome Pastor Harvey back into our midst following his richly rewarding sabbatical in Namibia.  I know he will have wonderful memories to share with the congregation in coming months.

On Sunday, September 12, we will again gather for Rally Sunday, when many of our programs launch once again.  We return to our 8:15/10:30 worship schedule, and Sunday School resumes.  On Rally Sunday we will again gather for our annual picnic in Highland park.  We will not run out of ketchup this year!

Looking ahead, please note that on October 3, the Volunteer Resources Fair will offer you a glimpse of the many opportunities to serve in our ministries of caring, healing, welcoming, and proclaiming and celebrating the love of God in Jesus Christ.  Please stop by the displays in Fellowship Hall and consider where you are called to serve.

And on October 31, once again we will hold silent and live auctions to assist in funding our ministries for the current year.  Look for a call for donations, and be sure to be part of the fun on October 31.  Bid often and high!  You could win a home-cooked meal, a week at a lovely lake cabin, or any of scores of other items.

In my June letter, I described the Synod process for transition to the leadership of a new senior pastor.  It consists of four distinct phases.  We have concluded the first phase and will soon be entering the second.

Phase 1—Leave-taking:  We concluded this phase with our August 15 farewell to Pr. Susan.

Phase 2—Congregational Mission Exploration:  Under the leadership of Pr. Mann, we will assess the needs of the congregation and its ministries and discern what God is calling us to be in the years ahead.  We will complete a “Ministry Site Profile,” which will assist the Synod staff in helping us identify candidates for the senior pastor role.  We will select a call committee to lead the call process.

Phase 3—Selecting and Calling a New Senior Pastor:  Working with the Ministry Site Profile and detailed profiles of candidates identified by the Synod staff, the call committee will select  and interview candidates, and, from among the candidates, recommend a candidate to the congregation.  The congregation will meet the recommended candidate and vote on a resolution to issue a call.

Phase 4—Beginning the New Ministry:  We will bid farewell to Pr. Mann, welcome and install our new senior pastor, and begin the next stage of our ministry together.

We will follow this process with patience and will trust in God to guide us through it.  And meanwhile, as was so beautifully affirmed on August 15, we will continue to uphold the mission that has brought us this far by grace and will lead us into the next phase of our ministry together.  I am honored to walk that path with all of you.

Peace,

Claire Hoyum, President Congregation Council