| A Midweek MessageFebruary 24, 2021 Hello Everyone at St. Paul,This week is our first week in our Lent journey and what does that really mean? It means that we travel with Jesus to Jerusalem. We travel into the hardest things for us to confront in our lives trusting that through the suffering that we will experience as we walk towards Jerusalem we will experience new life and hope. We do not make this journey alone and so I thought I would share the most recent updates from our national church body, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. -In Peace Rev. Aaron Baughman (interim pastor) IMPORTANT UPCOMING WORSHIP INFORMATIONIN PERSON SUNDAY WORSHIP RETURNS We have have returned to in person worship. If you do not feel comfortable joining us in person, we will continue to live stream our services. Please remember that all social distancing guidelines still apply. Please wear a mask and sit in only the open pews. Please no congregating before or after services. We look forward to seeing you in person!IN PERSON MIDWEEK WORSHIP continues Same social distancing guidelines apply as to our sunday worship. Join us for in person midweek service at 7PM. You are also welcome to join us via our live stream. Open in me the desire to desire | ELCA presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton | Feb 19, 2021 |
 ELCA Future Church design affirmed 11/16/2020 3:00:00 PM CHICAGO – The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has affirmed the proposed Future Church design that is focused on a renewed purpose to activate the entire church so that more people may know the way of Jesus and discover community, justice and love. Future Church is based in the belief that members, congregations, synods and the churchwide organization must work together to share the powerful witness of the gospel in the world and to invite more new, young and diverse people to experience God’s grace in action. The new design identifies three priority areas: a welcoming church that engages new, young and diverse people; a thriving church rooted in tradition and radically relevant; and a connected, sustainable church that shares in a common purpose and direction.The Future Church structure will be implemented in the churchwide organization on Feb. 1, 2021. The structure will introduce three new home areas: Christian Community and Leadership, led by the Rev. Philip Hirsch; Innovation, led by Ms. Mikka McCracken; and Service and Justice, led by the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla. Approximately 5% of the churchwide organization staff will be separated as a result of the new design.For more than 30 years the ELCA has experienced a rich history of ministry, but the church has also witnessed a pattern of significant decline with aging members and a membership profile that does not reflect the diversity of God’s creation.ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton told the council that the COVID-19 pandemic had brought into sharper focus the need to respond more quickly to this rapidly changing world.“Whether there had been a pandemic or not, we know we need to change. I think the pandemic helped us to see the urgency,” Eaton said. “We are presenting this design because we believe that this is the way God will enable us to move more quickly, more faithfully, and reach more people so that more people may know the way of Jesus.”William B. Horne II, ELCA vice president and chair of the Church Council, said he believes the new design provides the opportunity to be church together, bringing about collaboration throughout the broader church.In response to the continuing trends in membership and diversity and the data from an innovation readiness survey, the following new criteria were affirmed for the ELCA: Prioritize the engagement of new, young and diverse people. Unite all expressions of the church (congregations, synods and the churchwide organization) into one church—together. Align decision-making, accountability and leadership where best suited. Operate in agile, flexible and speedy ways. Act based on data and measurable impact. Eliminate silos and divisions.https://elca.org/News-and-Events/8083 This coming Sunday will be in person and livestream Instructions to watch Live StreamYou don’t have to watch it live. You can watch it anytime during or after the service.You can go to youtube.com and search: “St. Paul Lutheran Church New Rome, OH” You can subscribe and get an email when we are live. It is also posted on our website and Facebook page.Facebook-www.facebook.com/stpaullutherancolumbusohiochurch website: http://stpaulnewrome.comAt-Home Communion for Everyone Would you like to participate in communion from home? St. Paul is now offering at home communion to everyone who is worshiping from home. Simply send an email to Jeanine at jeanine_secretary@sbcglobal.net or call her at 614-563-3230 to sign up communion kits will be blessed by Rev. Aaron before distribution. Be sure to note how many people are in your family. If you are interested in helping with distribution please let us know! |