Ascension Lutheran Church

Pastor's Pen

Dear Ascension Family, Last month Kate and I became the proud parents of Lucy Elizabeth, our third child. She was born on July 13. We give thanks for her. We also give thanks for your love and support. Especially during this time of transition and adjustment for us, it is truly a blessing to be part of a community of people who are interested and care. Thank you.

I came back to my office after my vacation and found a number of gifts waiting on my desk. There was one gift bag with a puzzle for Eli and a book for Jessie but I couldn’t find out who it was from. We’d like to thank whomever it was that gave Jessie and Eli those gifts. Please let Kate or me know if it was you!

Turning to other matters . . . Over the past few months I ’ve been wondering about the direction of our congregation. I ’d like for us to ask ourselves these questions: Who are we? What is God calling us to do or to become? And, who is our neighbor? These questions come from a book entitled, “Holy Conversations, Strategic Planning as a Spiritual Practice for Congregations” by Gil Rendle and Alice Mann. I ’d like for us to enter into a period of visioning where we discern a response to those questions.

Ascension has gone through periods of visioning before. From what I understand they have been well received and fruitful. That bodes well for another visioning process.

How we are going to proceed through the visioning process is unfolding. ( I am still educating myself about how to best lead a visioning process. Also, the church council and I also need to determine the best way forward.) However, the success of the process will depend on your participation! Your input will be vital in order to discern a vision for the future.

Church council and the worship and music committee continue to be in conversation about adding a second service. From the feedback that I have been receiving from the congregation, we have mixed feelings about having one service or two services. We also have mixed feelings about what a second worship service would be like, if we do add one. That’s where we are and that is fine!.

I believe that we are at a significant point in our congregation’s journey when it comes to worship. This is a time of discernment. And certainly, I think, the discussion about adding a second worship service is part of the visioning conversation.

I n the meantime I would like to offer an opportunity for the congregation to explore a different kind of worship service. On a Saturday yet to be determined, we will hold an open seminar for the congregation about emerging worship. I t will be led by Pastor Tom Lyberg, senior pastor of First Lutheran Church in Findlay, Ohio and emerging worship columnist for The Lutheran.

The seminar will be casual and interactive. I t will offer the congregation the opportunity to explore and understand the differences and spiritual yearnings of emerging generations; get a taste of what an alternative, emerging service is like; and then dialog on how these ideas can take on real life in a congregation. When the date is set, you’ll hear more about it.

Journeying and Visioning with you,
Pastor Josh Miller