Musings

from Ministry Team Members

In my interim pastoral role I have been assigned the responsibility to organize our congregation’s invitation to persons into membership and discipleship. In assessing our situation I find three groups who may want to consider our invitation.

1. There is a group of persons (particularly teenagers) who are having their first opportunity to accept Christ and to become a member of our congregation. For these persons we hope to offer the opportunity to:

• Attend weekly discipleship/membership classes after Sunday worship starting February 12 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Attendees are invited to bring a sack lunch.
• Choose a person older than you who is a church member who will assist/mentor you during your learning experience and attend the weekly classes with you.
• Consider being baptized Easter morning, April 8.
• Attend Love Feast Maundy Thursday evening.

2. There is a sizable group of persons who have joyfully participated in our fellowship, either long or short-term, and have not yet officially become members but are perhaps wishing to explore being baptized or joining. For these persons I would like to call a meeting at 7 p.m. Sunday, February 12, in the Community Room to explore interest and options to care for this.

3. Those who are in neither group 1 or 2 are another important group in this process. What does your baptism mean to you? Is there something about it that makes you want to encourage others to be baptized? You and I together have a joint responsibility to call others into baptism as disciples and members into our body of Christ. Talk to others, share your faith, and offer your encouragement to persons who might benefit from this as you have. Encourage participation in the opportunities listed above. Share their names and interest with your pastoral team. Consider your own participation as an encouragement to others and for your own benefit. Last year I was invited to participate in the membership class as a mentor for my granddaughter. I think she benefitted by attending, but wow! So did I! What will it be like if we end up having to deal with more participants than for what we are prepared?

Stay tuned for more information about this. Feel free to talk about it with your youth leader or Sunday school teacher, your deacons, or one of the pastors.
Ken Holderread

Joys of the Congregation for Sunday, February 5, 2012

Congratulations to Art and Hazel Snell who will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on Monday, February 6.

Congratulations to Wesley and Verda DeCoursey who will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, February 14. On Sunday, February 12, from 3 -5 p.m., the church family is invited to celebrate with them at a reception in The Cedars Wellness Center. No gifts, please.

In Memoriam for Sunday, February 5, 2012

Lucille Allen, sister of Glen Funk, died on Sunday, January 22. The memorial service was held on Friday, January 27, at Resthaven Mortuary, Wichita. We wish to express our sympathy to the family.

Attendance for January, 2012

The church office reported the following attendance numbers for January:

      •January 1:  Sunday School N/A, Worship 180

      •January 8:  Sunday School 118, Worship 225

     •January 15:  Sunday School 109, Worship 215

      •January 22:  Sunday School 110, Worship 228

      •January 29:  Sunday School 110, Worship 190

Volunteers Needed at ReUse It Center

God has been good.  Donations to the ReUse It Center have been coming. Volunteers have been working hard. Merchandise goes out. Moving in a new venture, we are beginning to understand the load. And we see that we need more volunteers, particularly on Saturdays – to help unload donations, carry out purchased items, help customers, and get things clean and to the sales floor. Hours are Tues 12-4, Thurs 4-8, and Sat 9-12:30 and 12:30-4:00. Come by 1060 W. Kansas in McPherson or call Fran Stucky at (620-242-3989) if you could help one day a week or more. It’s a good ministry, a help to many. Thank you for your support. 

                                                                             – Kathy Goering for the Board of Directors

Thank You to Church Office Volunteers

We wish to thank the following who have assisted in he Church Office during the past several months.

November and December Volunteers:

Ed and Judy Butler, Elaine Fleenor, Bonnie Fruth, Jana Goering, Karen Hoch, Elsie Holderread, Roberta Reed, Buck Reinecker, Gene Reinecker, Dean and Madonna Reynolds, Emma Ruth Schmidt, Art Snell, Elly Ullom, Paul and Mary Wagoner, Kathryn Whitacre, Jim Wiseman

January Volunteers:

Elsie Holderread, Lois Neher, Lois Schrag, Art Snell, Bud and Susan Taylor, Jim Wiseman

Women’s Retreat Speaker

Connie Shelley was adopted into a loving home and grew up in Aberdeen, Idaho. When she was 17, her viewpoint of the world was changed while she was serving in a summer assignment with Mennonite voluntary service.

She was serving as executive director of the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program in Phoenix, AZ, when her husband became ill. After his death, she went through training to become a Spiritual Director, and she currently coordinates the Spiritual Direction Program at the Denver Women’s Prison Complex.

As a Director for individuals, she has also facilitated group spiritual direction, been a hospice chaplain, a retreat resource person, and provided pulpit supply.

For information about group transportation or for scholarship assistance for the Women’s Retreat, contact Carolyn Weddle at 620-241-8327 by March 16.

Church of the Brethren Newsline

Get continual updates from the denomination. View the latest from the Church of the Brethren Newsline at macbrethren.org/newsline.

In Memoriam for Sunday, January 29, 2012

Lois Hayes died on Friday, January 20. The memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 30, at the church. Visitation is planned for 1-4 p.m. today, with family present from 2-4 p.m., at Stockham Family Funeral Home. We wish to express our sympathy to the family.

Thank You Notes

Members of the McPherson Church of the Brethren:

Thank you so much for the wonderful baby shower that you had for us recently. We sincerely appreciate your caring and generosity as we welcome Brielle into our family.  Thanks again!     – Jonathan, Jaymie and Bri Rothrock

The family of Weldon G. Howell acknowledges with deep appreciation your kind expression of sympathy. Many thanks for your memorial contribution for Weldon. Special thanks to Chris and all the participants.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The family of Gulah (Hoover) Daron wants to thank you for your compassion, prayers, and hospitality. It was an honor for us to have her memorial service at your beautiful church, where as a McPherson College student and faculty member, she taught Sunday school, played piano, directed the choir, and was married. We are especially grateful to Women’s Ministries for providing a place for the family to gather and enjoy a delicious lunch before returning to our homes across the country. God bless each of you.   – The Family of Gulah Daron

The church office has received thank you letters from the following for contributions to their programs and ministries:

      •McPherson County Food Bank

      •Mt. Hope Sanctuary, Inc.

Introduction from Ken Holderread

Even though I have been a member of the McPherson Church of the Brethren for the past 10 years, I think it might be helpful to introduce myself as I would like you to know me. I realize you probably know me differently than I know myself. Your perception helps me to know who I really am.

• Lifelong Christian disciple/Church of the Brethren member

This identity and participation has likely done more to shape and sustain my 73 years of life than any other aspect. It perhaps has influenced me more than my family connections.

• Committed family member

My family relationships are very important to me. I cannot really separate them from my faith relationship. Who and where would I be without the love of my family? This includes my marriage relationship with Elsie, my children and their spouses, my grandchildren, and my extended family. My participation and relationship with them adds a significant dimension of meaning and support that I realize not everyone has. I am blessed and grateful.

• Christian elder; spiritual director/partner; wounded healer
• Christian elder – I have a calling to see the good/Christ in others. I am called to listen to, believe in, encourage, support, understand, and offer hope as an experienced Christian
• Spiritual Director/Partner – This is a form of eldering with special training. I sit regularly with several persons throughout this region. This ministry adds significant meaning to my life. I am available for new relationships.
• Wounded healer – My own sense of depression and desperation is my “thorn in the flesh,” as Paul referred to his. It just doesn’t seem to go away. Yet it is the foundation of my passion for, caring, understanding, and desiring to walk beside others on their faith/life journeys. I believe the heart of my meaning for ministry is found here.

• Retired Church of the Brethren minister
• Congregational pastor – 17 years
• Missionary – 5 years
• Denominational leader – 18 years

• Education/training
• B.S. Industrial Education – McPherson College
• Master of Divinity – Bethany Theological Seminary
• Doctor of Ministry – Bethany Theological Seminary
• Clinical Pastoral Education and supervisor training
• Psychotherapy – about 12 years
• Spiritual direction – about 20 years
• Spiritual direction training – Shalem Institute

Ken Holderread

An Invitation for the Church Family

Congratulations to Wesley and Verda DeCoursey who will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, February 14. On Sunday, February 12, from 3 -5 p.m., the church family is invited to celebrate with them at a reception in The Cedars Wellness Center. No gifts, please.

Open and Affirming Discernment Meetings

From March 4 through May 27, everyone, Junior High age through adult, is invited to meet in the Church Social Room during the Sunday school hour (9-10 a.m.). Hosted by the Open and Affirming Discernment Core Group, the topic for these sessions will be “Educating Ourselves.” We will spend 13 weeks reading, watching, listening, and discussing a broad range of topics related to Homosexuality. For questions, please contact any one of the Core Group Members: Gayle Bartel, Kendra Flory, Jana Goering, Stephanie Johannes, Kelli Johnson, Brenda Rothrock, LaMonte Rothrock, Lois Schrag, Susan Taylor, and Kathryn Whitacre.

Alexander Mack Men’s Fellowship

Lois Grove, from Council Bluffs, Iowa, and an employee with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) will tell about the agency’s work in times of disaster. She has worked with the FEMA program in North Carolina, KATRINA, the recent Missouri River flooding, the Joplin and Greensburg tornadoes and other places. She also brings experience working alongside Red Cross, Mennonite and Church of the Brethren disaster programs. Program date: Thursday, February 16, at 6:00 pm. Allan Ayella will be contacting all those with email and Art Snell will be making phone contacts. You can reserve your space by emailing Allan (ayellaa@mcpherson.edu or calling Art (241-2427) by Sunday, February 12 for reservations.

Holderread to serve as interim pastor

Ken Holderread is filling our interim pastoral position through June 30, 2012. His duties include:

• Membership classes
• Office hours – Friday morning; M-Th afternoon (3-5P)
• Pastoral care as needed, particularly when Chris and Kathryn are out of town.
• One sermon per month or a short series.
• Some attendance at Ministerial Alliance and Churches United in Ministry (one to two meetings of each group over a 6 month period)
• Writing article for the church newsletter on a rotating basis with the other pastors
• Serve as liaison to Outreach, Faith Formation, Finance, Transformation teams

Thank You Notes

The church office received thank you letters from the following for contirbutions to their programs and minstries:

• Church World Service

 • On Earth Peace

• PET-KS-Moundridge

• The Cedars