A Message from Bishop Wollersheim
Dear Friends in Christ,Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Below please find some of my further reflections concerning the decisions made at the Churchwide Assembly last week:
"What's Next After the Churchwide Assembly Decisions?
I think we need to pause and take a deep breath. We need to pray, reflect, discuss, and pray some more about the decisions that this church has made. Knee-jerk reactions rarely serve anyone well. Let us be sensitive to the reality that some are disappointed, others rejoice, and still others will accept these decisions out of respect for the Assembly voting and the long and prayerful process it has taken to get to this point. St. Paul writes: "Bear one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).
My commitments for the days ahead include: If you are in a congregation that does not see the need to change your practices in response to these decisions, no one will force you to do so. If you are in a congregation that sees aligning with these changes as an opportunity to grow your ministry, no one will prohibit you from doing so. My staff and I will respect the varieties of views represented in our Synod, whether opposed to change, in favor of change, or somewhere in between.
In the next several weeks, I will be traveling throughout our Synod. I will meet with rostered leaders at Conference Meetings, congregational leaders at the Mission Gatherings, with anyone interested at the Saturday morning Coffees with the Bishop, and with representative groups in the synod such as Synod Council and the Conference Deans. At each of these occasions, I will reflect on the process and decisions as well as receive the various views of the members of our synod.
I have said in the past, and I continue, unreservedly, to believe that we are God's Church, called, gathered, enlightened, sanctified, and kept in the faith by the Holy Spirit. We are in God's hands. And soon, I pray, we will, by God's grace, be transformed for God's mission: to proclaim the Lordship of Christ in words and actions, to plant the church, to call new disciples, to renew congregations, to stand for justice, to feed the hungry, to support and raise up leaders, and to be the Body of Christ in the world. This is our calling, this is our mission, this is our life. Thanks be to God who gives us this ministry through Jesus Christ our Lord."
In Christ,
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Synod Prayers
Bette Mohr, at the death of her mother, Beulah E. Mohr
The monthly rostered leader prayer calendar is online at www.nisynod.org/prayers
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Calendar Highlights
9/3 Deans' Meeting
9/12 Synod Council meeting at Christ, Belvidere, with worship and installation of new Council members and afternoon meetings of all NIS standing committees. Committee photos will be taken.
9/24 Interim Pastors' Meeting
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August Birthdays
19 Rev. Alfred Beck
22 Rev. Lowell Albee, Jr.
28 Rev. Harold Hoekstra
29 Rev. Dr. Linda Kersten
29 Rev. Robert Dealey
September Birthdays
17 Rev. Robert Pearson
13 Rev. Carole Andres
20 Rev. Hollis Bishop
6 Rev. Dennis Heaney
11 Rev. Gary Heedum
5 Rev. Nancy Jaster
22 Rev. Virgil Juliot
16 Rev. Timothy Kenyon
17 Rev. Gerald Larson
25 Rev. Lowell Almen
8 Rev. Karl Otto
27 Ronald Larson
13 Rev. C. Franklin Samuelson
22 Ms. Ellen Schroll
29 Rev. Christine Stienstra
30 Rev. Jeffrey Schlesinger
17 Rev. Robert Burton
26 Rev. Jane Perkolup
20 Rev. Mark J. Hagen
5 Rev. Frank Lay
22 Rev. Phillip O. Laurin
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Rostered Leaders: 62.1% of NIS rostered members have completed the Board of Pensions Mayo Clinic Health Assessment. We need another 36 persons to reach our goal of 75%, which will give you, your employing organization, and the Synod the potential of savings $14,333 in premiums for the Health Benefits Plan. The deadline is September 30, 2009.  If you have not yet, please take 20 minutes and complete the inventory today. Not only will you receive a financial pay back, but more importantly, you can more effectively become a good steward of the life God has given you. For the assesment to be most helpful, you will need to know your height, your weight, your blood pressure, the total of your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, your Triglyceride level (fasting), and your blood sugar level
 Time to register for the NIS Professional Leaders Conference September 28-30 at Bishop Lane Retreat Center in Rockford. Presenters will be Richard H. Bliese and David Cherwein. Genesis Bookstore will be on site, but will be unable to take credit cards - please bring cash or checks. www.nisynod.org/plc
The Northern Illinois Synod Women of the ELCA Convention will be held at St Paul, Dixon, Saturday, September 19 (please note corrected date). Register by August 15. For more information, contact Geraldine French at 815-288-3480
Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center AutumnFest 2009 will be Sunday, October 11 from noon until 4:30 p.m. Pig roast lunch at noon. Worship with Pastor Jeff Clements at 3:30 pm. It's a perfect time for campers and families to reconnect with friends. There will be games, crafts, pumpkin carving, pony rides, a petting zoo, a birds of prey program, and performances from summer choir camps. www.lomc.org
Peder Eide is returning to LOMC November 20-22 for a weekend of music, worship and fellowship. Junior High Youth will have sessions with Peder. Individual groups will also have time to spend together in activities led by camp staff. $135 per person includes lodging and 5 meals. www.lomc.org
LOMC Fall Confirmation Retreat November 6-8. Rules are made to be broken! A discussion about doctrine and practices in the church. $100 per person includes 2 nights, 5 meals, and snacks. www.lomc.org
Time to unwind - retreat for secretaries and others who need 24 hours of R & R - 9/28 7 pm until 9/29 4 pm. $78 per person includes lodging in in Freedom Tree Village, a free spa treatment, games, Bible study, breakfast, lunch, snacks and time to unwind. www.lomc.org |
| Congregation News & Events |
 Tour de Farm--A Ride Among the Windmills. The Ottawa-Barrington Foods Resource Bank Growing Project is having a pre-harvest celebration on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 8 am to 2pm. It's a 13 mile bike ride to visit several farms and electricity-generating windmills. Program and lunch at noon.
Find out more and RSVP by contacting the church office 815-434-0596 or tlchurch@sbcglobal.net .
The Barbary Coast Dixieland Jazz Band from Minnesota will provide the worship music at Trinity, Ottowa on Sunday, September 20, at the 8:20 and 10:40 services. You can hear the Band's music and learn more on their website: www.barbary-coast.com . All are welcome! |
Continuing Education Opportunities
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Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center Presents: "Take it to the Lord in Prayer" 2009 Fall Adult Retreat September 20-22. For more information, or to register for this event, please contact LOMC at (815) 732-2220 or registrations@lomc.org .
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Director of Children's Ministry to support the Christian education of children, newborn through fifth grade, including leadership and supervision of Sunday school, Wednesday evening programming, and summer ministry. Position includes supervision and staffing coordination of nursery. Part-time, 25 hours/week. ELCA background and experience preferred. Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. Send resume to sharon@oslcrockford.com .
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Back to the basics
