2016 in the life of LNPC...
See Full Annual Report Below!
Annual Report Highlights: How did we experience God in our life together this year?
Annual Report Highlights: How did we experience God in our life together this year?
PASTOR KARA'S RESPONSE
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PASTOR LISA'S RESPONSE
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CONGREGATION'S RESPONSE
Sue Hensel:
Significant moments where I have seen God's action among us:
The advent of new babies! Joy and expectation watching them grow, watching them see one another, watching the young parents relax and begin to support one another: pure grace!
The joy of Lisa's ordination: a culmination of a long difficult journey of trust and the first step on the rest of the journey into God's continuing call to her in the world.
Even in these changing times, there has been a sense of quiet peace-finding, a knowledge of God's knowing presence in everything, allowing us to trust and sink into God's abundant love instead of remaining in scarcity and fear.
The quiet, unsung support of Marty in his ministry of dying. There are unsung heros doing God's work with him.
Jen (& Brian and Ava) Rainey:
One of Brian's significant moments was the realization that in church he was listening to God instead of listening to people.
The themes of belonging to God, belonging to each other, and rest were evident to me. I also noticed how both of us could articulate something we learned from God on the way home after church, which was significant to me.
I think Ava discovered singing as the three of us held the hymnal and she decided she wanted to join in with her voice.
Linda Leicht:
The basic idea of "we belong to God and we belong to each other" comes up quite often when confronted with perplexing or difficult situations.
The highlight of the year was Lisa's ordination.
Amy Leafblad:
The service for Lisa's ordination was beautiful and filled with such warmth. It truly was a celebration and a holy time. I also loved welcoming the Dexter's as members and the baptism of Laurel Ann.
The way we now do Saturday night worship services meets my needs for calm, introspection and communion with God. The stations and candles and quiet music help me settle in and slow down.
One of my favorite things this year has been meeting new families and little ones and seeing the babies and watching my kids interact with the babies. Yea for Helen and Laurel and Eva and Louisa and Robbie (not a baby :)) and to think that next year we'll have the joy of celebrating two more. Thank you families for bringing your children and sharing in worship together.
I also continue to enjoy fellowship and connection with our Central Church friends. I consider it a gift from God that they are here.
Andy Cochrane:
I sense God continuing to open our eyes and hearts to the church we have — one of change, transition, challenge and one of visible faith. A church that many stare at and wonder how we do what we do. We are adjusting to seeing less of familiar faces of the past and enjoying the presence and fellowship of new people attending. There are babies who are becoming regular attendees! Perhaps they represent new life and energy in our journey as church. LNPC continues to be a place where God is so easy to see. Everyone has a role and a place. It is so easy to see how each of us and all of us are church.
Pat Niznick:
I am very grateful for the visit from Kara and Lisa at the Masonic Home during my rehab.
Larry & Charlotte:
We gained a greater understanding and appreciation of Sabbath.
Jen Martin:
My question would be... Can you describe your year in one word? My answer would be "surprising."
Sue Goodspeed:
"Love.
And from love grace.
And through grace we claim what is beyond us to know:
That the source of all that is, is for us,
And that this source, expressed in love, is sovereign over all of life and death, all that is, has been, and is yet to be."
As an advocate/friend/congregation member supporting Lisa before Committee on Ministry, I first heard these words - spoken carefully by our new Associate Pastor. My body shivered. A glance and smile with another witness confirmed that we had just been a part of a 'movement of God' in our midst.
Lisa's call to ministry was able to be realized with us!! How amazing and wonderful is that? that we can be instruments in this calling.
Norm Petrik:
It was nice to have lots of time in silent prayer.
Andrea Domaskin
I saw God this year:
- with all the new babies at LNPC. I expected Helen to be the lone little one -- what fun to have a little herd of babies around.
- with the new energy at the Saturday evening services.
- with Marty letting us share his life and provide care
Will Valdez:
I experience God when we’re with each other and meeting new people.
Linnea Hempel de Valdez:
The most significant event was very personal and even selfish. 2016 I let go of a lot of resentment, fear and judgment. Honestly, my faith is no way near as great as it once was, but for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I had a spontaneous talk with God the other day. Albiet, short, but sincere. I enjoy coming to church, seeing everyone, and even participating in service now. I can’t wait to see what 2017 will bring.
Bill Fischer:
What significant events stand out to me? The passing of talented people. The election reaffirmed that sometimes God has a warped sense of humor.
How did I participate in God’s ministry? Feeding homeless people. Music, working with children, making more Muslim friends.
What did I learn or take away from our year together? Everybody deserves respect, compassion, and to be heard.
Jose Valdez:
What significant events or moments stand out to me? Political moments, natural disasters, death of famous people, and distant friends and relatives.
I shared in God’s ministry and experienced God in going to church, praying for other people, praying in silence for personal problems and sins, trying to help other people monetarily and spiritually, healing by sharing personal stories, in comforting people with personal stories they share.
I take away this year a sense of community and togetherness at church, how we help and comfort each other.
(I was thinking of starting a group where people from all kinds of backgrounds come to the church and describe their problems, monetary, spiritual, mentally, marital, coming of age, life direction, family relations, psychological, PTSD, etc. and a couple members of the church could attend and listen to those concerns and relay some information to them about solving it! With different community resources or praying, comforting, or agencies throughout the country, city and church).
Diane Hansen:
We were talking about living in love and not in fear. Who knew what a horrifying election we would have. On November 8 we were confronted with anger and fear and not very much love. I am glad we were into those discussions well before the election so I had time to think about the difference between living in love or living in fear. I am trying not to be fear full, but I am so unhappy about the state of the country and need God's help to search for what I can do about this horrible situation. I would like to reread Kara's sermons about fear for a start.
On the other hand, Lisa's Ordination brought out love from our congregation and Lisa's friends and family. It was so good to be part of it.
I often notice God in what doesn't happen, especially with cars and driving. I am aware of near misses with my driving and with what I see on the roads. I honestly don't know why there are not more accidents and crashes. So I see God when bad things do not happen. Not just when good things do happen.
Quinlin Zeller:
“God has a powerful heart.” The experiences that were important to her are “when people get in a circle and share the blood and the body of Christ,” and when people give money to the church and the kids collect it.
Presley Zeller:
“God is invisible and that he makes things come true.” The experiences that were important to her were her wearing the costume for the Christmas play and seeing the people with the baby at the Christmas play.
Sue Hensel:
Significant moments where I have seen God's action among us:
The advent of new babies! Joy and expectation watching them grow, watching them see one another, watching the young parents relax and begin to support one another: pure grace!
The joy of Lisa's ordination: a culmination of a long difficult journey of trust and the first step on the rest of the journey into God's continuing call to her in the world.
Even in these changing times, there has been a sense of quiet peace-finding, a knowledge of God's knowing presence in everything, allowing us to trust and sink into God's abundant love instead of remaining in scarcity and fear.
The quiet, unsung support of Marty in his ministry of dying. There are unsung heros doing God's work with him.
Jen (& Brian and Ava) Rainey:
One of Brian's significant moments was the realization that in church he was listening to God instead of listening to people.
The themes of belonging to God, belonging to each other, and rest were evident to me. I also noticed how both of us could articulate something we learned from God on the way home after church, which was significant to me.
I think Ava discovered singing as the three of us held the hymnal and she decided she wanted to join in with her voice.
Linda Leicht:
The basic idea of "we belong to God and we belong to each other" comes up quite often when confronted with perplexing or difficult situations.
The highlight of the year was Lisa's ordination.
Amy Leafblad:
The service for Lisa's ordination was beautiful and filled with such warmth. It truly was a celebration and a holy time. I also loved welcoming the Dexter's as members and the baptism of Laurel Ann.
The way we now do Saturday night worship services meets my needs for calm, introspection and communion with God. The stations and candles and quiet music help me settle in and slow down.
One of my favorite things this year has been meeting new families and little ones and seeing the babies and watching my kids interact with the babies. Yea for Helen and Laurel and Eva and Louisa and Robbie (not a baby :)) and to think that next year we'll have the joy of celebrating two more. Thank you families for bringing your children and sharing in worship together.
I also continue to enjoy fellowship and connection with our Central Church friends. I consider it a gift from God that they are here.
Andy Cochrane:
I sense God continuing to open our eyes and hearts to the church we have — one of change, transition, challenge and one of visible faith. A church that many stare at and wonder how we do what we do. We are adjusting to seeing less of familiar faces of the past and enjoying the presence and fellowship of new people attending. There are babies who are becoming regular attendees! Perhaps they represent new life and energy in our journey as church. LNPC continues to be a place where God is so easy to see. Everyone has a role and a place. It is so easy to see how each of us and all of us are church.
Pat Niznick:
I am very grateful for the visit from Kara and Lisa at the Masonic Home during my rehab.
Larry & Charlotte:
We gained a greater understanding and appreciation of Sabbath.
Jen Martin:
My question would be... Can you describe your year in one word? My answer would be "surprising."
Sue Goodspeed:
"Love.
And from love grace.
And through grace we claim what is beyond us to know:
That the source of all that is, is for us,
And that this source, expressed in love, is sovereign over all of life and death, all that is, has been, and is yet to be."
As an advocate/friend/congregation member supporting Lisa before Committee on Ministry, I first heard these words - spoken carefully by our new Associate Pastor. My body shivered. A glance and smile with another witness confirmed that we had just been a part of a 'movement of God' in our midst.
Lisa's call to ministry was able to be realized with us!! How amazing and wonderful is that? that we can be instruments in this calling.
Norm Petrik:
It was nice to have lots of time in silent prayer.
Andrea Domaskin
I saw God this year:
- with all the new babies at LNPC. I expected Helen to be the lone little one -- what fun to have a little herd of babies around.
- with the new energy at the Saturday evening services.
- with Marty letting us share his life and provide care
Will Valdez:
I experience God when we’re with each other and meeting new people.
Linnea Hempel de Valdez:
The most significant event was very personal and even selfish. 2016 I let go of a lot of resentment, fear and judgment. Honestly, my faith is no way near as great as it once was, but for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I had a spontaneous talk with God the other day. Albiet, short, but sincere. I enjoy coming to church, seeing everyone, and even participating in service now. I can’t wait to see what 2017 will bring.
Bill Fischer:
What significant events stand out to me? The passing of talented people. The election reaffirmed that sometimes God has a warped sense of humor.
How did I participate in God’s ministry? Feeding homeless people. Music, working with children, making more Muslim friends.
What did I learn or take away from our year together? Everybody deserves respect, compassion, and to be heard.
Jose Valdez:
What significant events or moments stand out to me? Political moments, natural disasters, death of famous people, and distant friends and relatives.
I shared in God’s ministry and experienced God in going to church, praying for other people, praying in silence for personal problems and sins, trying to help other people monetarily and spiritually, healing by sharing personal stories, in comforting people with personal stories they share.
I take away this year a sense of community and togetherness at church, how we help and comfort each other.
(I was thinking of starting a group where people from all kinds of backgrounds come to the church and describe their problems, monetary, spiritual, mentally, marital, coming of age, life direction, family relations, psychological, PTSD, etc. and a couple members of the church could attend and listen to those concerns and relay some information to them about solving it! With different community resources or praying, comforting, or agencies throughout the country, city and church).
Diane Hansen:
We were talking about living in love and not in fear. Who knew what a horrifying election we would have. On November 8 we were confronted with anger and fear and not very much love. I am glad we were into those discussions well before the election so I had time to think about the difference between living in love or living in fear. I am trying not to be fear full, but I am so unhappy about the state of the country and need God's help to search for what I can do about this horrible situation. I would like to reread Kara's sermons about fear for a start.
On the other hand, Lisa's Ordination brought out love from our congregation and Lisa's friends and family. It was so good to be part of it.
I often notice God in what doesn't happen, especially with cars and driving. I am aware of near misses with my driving and with what I see on the roads. I honestly don't know why there are not more accidents and crashes. So I see God when bad things do not happen. Not just when good things do happen.
Quinlin Zeller:
“God has a powerful heart.” The experiences that were important to her are “when people get in a circle and share the blood and the body of Christ,” and when people give money to the church and the kids collect it.
Presley Zeller:
“God is invisible and that he makes things come true.” The experiences that were important to her were her wearing the costume for the Christmas play and seeing the people with the baby at the Christmas play.
