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Many thanks to the ONE HUNDRED people who attended our Introduction to the Interim
Process meeting after that tasty dinner at Wednesday Night Live last week! For those who
couldn’t make it, we missed you. I deeply appreciate your time and attention, and I am especially
grateful for your honesty in telling me what you’re concerned about and what you’re excited
about. In a quick pass through your responses, two common themes emerged: many were
worried about calling a pastor who wasn’t a good fit, and almost everyone was excited about
new beginnings.
And new beginnings continue to occur at GBPC! In this email you’ll see information about a
Youth Group Informational Meeting on Sunday, Feb. 5 in the Youth Room. Youth who want to
participate and parents who are interested in volunteering are invited to stop by to sign up for
Youth Group, which is kicking off on Sunday, March 5 at 9:30 a.m. In between those dates,
we’ll have another meeting to organize and brainstorm some fun and meaningful youth activities.
We’re also setting up an email address for the Youth Ministry (youth@gbpres.org) for easy
communication. For more details, see Jeanette Muncie, Kari Stringer, Elysia Edmonson,
Becky Miles, or just send an email.
Discussions are also in progress about the possibility of reconnecting with our Nicaragua Vida
Joven mission after being sidelined by COVID restrictions for the past few years. Stay tuned for
more.
Becky Miles, our awesome preschool director and interim children’s ministry director, has
scheduled a three-session Communion Class that begins in March. Sign your child up below!
As I mentioned in my last note, your Session is busy preparing 2022 annual reports for
you—we’re planning to have those and the annual congregational meeting agenda ready for you
by Sunday, Feb. 12 so you have time to review all the information by the meeting on Sunday,
February 19th.
I think it would be tough to look at what was accomplished in 2022 and think that this church
would fall apart without a called installed pastor. You didn’t have one for over seven months,
and things got done. Were things bumpy and uncertain? Sure. But because GBPC is guided by
very strong and capable leaders, with an engaged and active membership, the work of the church continued. YOU are the church, regardless of who is in the pastor’s office, and YOU are the ones who carry on the mission of the church, its outreach and service.
You do an incredible job, with or without a pastor. I’d put my money on you all any day.
Be encouraged, and pursue shalom!
Lou
Rev. Dr. Lou Ventura
revventura@gbpres.org
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