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October 28, 2022
Dear Grace Commons family,
As we look forward to this weekend and our traditional celebration of worship on All Saints’ Sunday, October 30, I begin this update by sharing a pastoral word of comfort. In the past month, several of our beloved church family have gone on to be with the Lord. As many of us have gathered for these memorial services led by Pastor Carl Hofmann or Pastor Rich Bledsoe, we grieve with each family, and the sting of death is real. The gospel promises ring loud and clear in our hearts and minds so that even through our tears we share an unshakable hope in the resurrection.
New Covenant Partners
On Sunday, November 13, we will welcome a delightful class of new covenant partners and their families. It has been a joy to get to know these men, women and their children over the past month; their enthusiasm and unique gifts are a blessing to our congregation.
Update on the Preschool
Last month, I shared positive news about the preschool. Since then, the preschool has experienced growing pains which resulted in the departure of the director. Following significant staffing transitions, current enrollment numbers declined. Consequently, since my last update, enrollment has dropped by 20 students. Learning Care Group, our partner in the preschool, is fully engaged and a new director is being hired. A special thank you to two of our trustees, Don Culver and Doug Scheetz, who stepped in and offered great leadership on our behalf. Our system of oversight by the Trustees is working as it should.
Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) Update
I mentioned last month that Session appointed five covenant partners: Rob Davis, Kristin Rahenkamp, Alan Williams, Alan Brockett and Deb Gregory to the Congregational Nominating Committee (CNC). Their job was to discern which of the covenant partners you have nominated should be put forth as the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) members at large. The CNC has been hard at work interviewing and discerning. Their work is completed, and Session will receive a slate of candidates for approval at their November 10 meeting. This timing will allow for a vote on the PNC at a November 20 Congregational Meeting. We will introduce the PNC nominees in advance of the meeting following their approval by Session.
Bylaws
Speaking of the November 20 Congregational Meeting, we will also vote on changes to our Bylaws. A task force of elders and trustees has invested the last year reviewing and revising the Bylaws. If you would like a copy with a side by side comparison with our existing Bylaws, they are available at the Welcome Center or on our website. Several of you attended our first Bylaws Forum last Sunday. You will have another opportunity to ask questions and make comments on Sunday, November 13 at 10:45am.
Stewardship Update
Thank you for your faithful giving! We continue to be very close to our projections for giving through the first quarter of our Ministry Year. Ministry expenses are in line with expectations for the first three months with the exception of our facility expenses which are experiencing the largest impact from inflation on utilities and facility repairs. In addition, transitions in our business office have brought with it higher than anticipated costs as our team works to make our accounting procedures more automated and sustainable. As we approach the end of the calendar year, the midpoint of our Ministry Year, this is a time that many are in a position to give in tax-advantaged ways. A large portion of our income traditionally comes in the next two months. Please prayerfully consider Grace Commons in your year-end giving plans. It is a great time to give beyond your pledge, to renew your pledge or begin pledging. You can give online on our giving page or in the boxes at the back of the Sanctuary. If you are considering how to give stock or other non-cash donations, please contact Larry Drees.
Advent & Christmas
Advent starts on Sunday, November 27. I am looking forward to the events of this season:
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Glory of Christmas, our annual Christmas concert, December 9 at 7pm and December 10 at 2pm.
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Christmas Eve worship. A 5pm service designed for families with children, a 7pm blended service, and an 11pm candlelight service in the Chapel.
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Sunday, December 25 there is no worship. Worship resumes on January 1, 2023.
As I close, Carrie and I are excited to decorate our trunk for tomorrow’s Trunk-or-Treat. I hope to see many of you there for this wonderful outreach to young families in our community. Be sure to join us as we celebrate our 150th anniversary on our Sesquicentennial Sunday, November 6 at 9:30am with brunch immediately following worship. You won’t want to miss this once in a lifetime celebration of God’s faithfulness. See you soon!
Warmly,
Randy Bare
Transitional Pastor
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