We are preparing the 2023 Annual Report!
We'd love to include as many reflections from the congregation as possible!
If you're willing, THIS WEEK,
please reply with a brief reflection:
Where did I see God in and through the life of LNPC in 2023?
If you prefer a fill-in-the-blank format:
I experienced God when...
or
I noticed God at work when...
Maybe it was something planned and structured, maybe it was a shared moment between people, or something that carried over from worship. Perhaps it was a time of deep laughter or true tears, a time of pitching in and helping out, or receiving help and care. Was there a word that stuck with you? A message you carried for a while? What touched you, expanded you, drew you in, increased your trust in God, revealed how we are all ministers, called you to something new or challenging, or was simply a moment of resonance?
We'd love to include as many reflections from the congregation as possible!
If you're willing, THIS WEEK,
please reply with a brief reflection:
Where did I see God in and through the life of LNPC in 2023?
If you prefer a fill-in-the-blank format:
I experienced God when...
or
I noticed God at work when...
Maybe it was something planned and structured, maybe it was a shared moment between people, or something that carried over from worship. Perhaps it was a time of deep laughter or true tears, a time of pitching in and helping out, or receiving help and care. Was there a word that stuck with you? A message you carried for a while? What touched you, expanded you, drew you in, increased your trust in God, revealed how we are all ministers, called you to something new or challenging, or was simply a moment of resonance?
To jog your memory.... a few 2023 Events & Highlights (loosely) in order
- Epiphany – with star words
- Prayer Partners – kids assigned to adults to be prayed for
- Annual Congregational Meeting & Potluck (with video recap of 2022)
- Swedish Death Cleaning continues
- Church stuff give-aways
- Church Chat continues (begun previous Fall)
- Holiday undecorating day
- Brunch with Brittany begins and continues monthly
- Reflecting together on resonance
- Resonance grant allocated to: retreat fund ($4k), updating indoor/outdoor gathering spaces ($2k), accessibility bathrooms ($1k), connecting with far-away members ($2k), dinner party ($1k).
- Ash Wednesday Service
- Palm Sunday service
- Session retreat – discerned our season right now is: way-finding
- How is God speaking? “stance of least resistance” Stress, exhaustion, unknown is reflected in community life. Easier to be countercultural/ resistant in a group than individually. We’re in a period of resurrection (like gardens) – open the doors wide and let the sun in, observing the growth, (fertilizing, feeding). Easy to show up (can’t plan what will happen). Entry point = low stress, reduce barriers. Role/commitment is to people and care. God meets us in the easy places (our hards are someone else’s easy). Leaders job right now is to be attentive and responsive.
- Dinner Party begins – spiritual direction support group for parents plus Sunday school for kids, plus shared meal
- Hospitality Teams begin to settle into rhythm
- Monthly Connections gatherings continue (women of LNPC)
- Lent - with guides: Lazarus, Mary, Martha, Nikodemus, and the Samaritan Woman at the well, and prayer aid - olive wood crosses from Bethlehem
- Good Friday Tenebrae service
- Easter – with Easter egg hunt and breakfast, butterfly glasses, and butterfly paper mâché made by kids and hung in sanctuary, and flowering of the cross
- April Waffle Worship – What is worship & why do we do it?
- Stories of Jesus worship series - Spring 2023 through summer 2024
- May Congregational Meeting: We are in a season of RECOMBOBULATION. Voted to postpone Kara’s sabbatical from 2023 to 2025 (to coincide with Andy’s sabbatical and both kids being out of the house, and Kara’s desire to be present for the recombobulation period).
- Spring Sabbath Retreat – theme: blessing (with blessing scavenger hunt)
- Pentecost – Lessons & Carols of Pentecost with Jimmy John's Picnic
- Jen M. continues regular nursery cleanings
- Confirmation retreat at St. John’s talking big questions of faith
- Summer 2023 Music Playlist
- Eva Webb’s funeral
- Mike and Catie’s Wedding
- Welcoming new members – Barb B. & Jim K. (and Avery & Renee!)
- July Waffle Worship – Potluck Patio Brunch, theme: Listening, Sharing & Praying for Each Other
- Sabbath Music Playlist
- Blessing & Commissioning of College Student: Owen R.
- Rally Sunday – with back-to-school penguin blessing, mandala-making and picnic
- New church logo
- Update to LNPC Giving Practice
- Welcoming back Pat Koehler
- Building Care team begins weekly gatherings to work on maintenance projects
- Swedish Death Cleaning gives way to painting project to turn offices into gathering spaces
- All-Church Book Read, When Church Stops Working
- Hosting Presbytery Book Event with presentation from Andy Root and dinner from Heather’s
- Berlin Bonhoeffer Learning-Travel trip planned for summer 2024
- Fall Confirmation Day Retreat – faith statements
- Shape & Structure of Church Class & Luncheon
- Sue Hensel’s Open House
- Expanding Holy Listening Groups
- All-church “Coffees with Kara” begin again
- Baby Imogen is born – meal train is shared
- Treasurer Sue G. hands over reigns to Treasurer Jim K.
- October Waffle Worship – Paying Attention: Noticing and Receiving Experiences of Resonance
- Fall Sabbath Retreat – theme: Gratitude. (with ceremony grieving loss of Fortune-Meyers unborn babies, and with kids' epic movie screening: "Hello, I'm a Ghost 2")
- Gene Larges’ funeral
- Advent – theme: Lullabies
- Lullaby Music Playlist
- Memorial for Scott Hansen
- Bathroom renovations!
- Christmas Eve Lessons & Lullabies Service
- December Waffle Worship – Incarnation: God with Us!
- (What else should be included on this list? Let Kara know!)
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