ALL THINGS MADE NEW
I think most of you know by now that I, Rev. Rebecca Swee, have just been called by the NVLC Council to serve as Bridge Pastor for this congregation. “Bridge” Pastor is kind of a new-ish designation within the Synod. It means someone who serves a congregation after the Interim Pastor has left and until the new, full-time Pastor is called. I believe the Call Committee hopes this will be done within about 6 months (sometime around Lent), but Spirit always seems to have their own opinion on these matters. Therefore, I commit to serving you as a faithful and loving pastor for as long you need me, and I am able. With the help of you all and of God, of course.
Some of you may also know that our own Pr. Cindy Beck was nominated for the office of Bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod. At the Synod Assembly last week another person, Jeff Johnson of University Lutheran Chapel in Berkeley was the one elected, but I believe we were all blessed by the words that Pr. Cindy spoke during her explanations of how and where she perceives God is leading us. During a podcast interview (see Serrano Brothers Podcast on YouTube; September 2, Rev. Cindy Beck), Pr. Cindy mildly stunned the brothers when she asserted that the Pastor is not the one with the power in a congregation. Rather, the Pastor has the authority (from God) and the congregation – the people – are the ones with the power to act upon what they discern God is calling them todo. Power and authority; two entities wearing the yoke of Christ and pulling together to make their way down the road.
This balance and mutual support is necessary because God is constantly creating new things to make our lives both fruitful and interesting. It can’t be called “life” if it is not continually renewing. And our mutual ministry at NVLC is blessed to have choices, opportunities to discern where we are being called to work with God to make all things new. And I thank you for calling me to share this experience with
you. Thanks be to God!
2023 SIERRA PACIFIC SYNOD ASSEMBLY REPORT
Voting Members from NVLC were Dorothy Arata and Molly Calhoun, traveling to Burlingame, CA for the 35th SPS Assembly. Theme for the 3 days (Sept 15 -17) was Broken Yet Whole.
Highlights:
- Interim Bishop Claire Burkat conducted the business
sessions. - Motion passed to receive La Iglesia Luterana Santa Maria
Peregrina as a congregation. - 2024 – 2025 budget passed. vote 368 to 51
· Two resolutions came before the
Assembly – Both passed.
o 1. SPS Compensation
Guidelines and
o 2. Regarding Geographically-Constrained Positions on
Synod Council.
· Synod Council members voted in:
Makayla Holeman, Youth member and Bertha Castro, At Large member.
- Keynote Speaker – Yohana Junker
- Rev. David Hamilton was recognized on the 40th
anniversary of his ordination. - Rev Jeff Johnson was elected Bishop of the SPS on the 5th
ballot. He has served as Pastor of the University Lutheran Chapel of
Berkeley since 2013.
IT’S RENEWAL TIME!
This is the theme that our Gifts and Service Team selected for our annual Stewardship campaign.
We have planned some special presentations during worship this month. As in recent years, members will receive a letter and “Estimate of Giving” card in the mail. (You will find a copy of the card in this newsletter also.) We will be collecting these on October 29, and a special celebration is being planned. Stay tuned for more information!
DIVERSITY AND HOSPITALITY
Sometimes we are not aware of environmental issues that may affect those around us poorly. For instance, a few of us, including myself, are very much allergic to fragrances/scents. This includes scents from flowers as well as perfumes in personal products, soaps, candles, cleaning supplies, etc. Unfortunately, this is a physical condition that can make it difficult for some (both members and guests) to be in close proximity to those who enjoy these fragrant products. In the interests of the community as a whole, then, we respectfully ask people to think about how fragrance may affect others when they choose flowers and/or decide which personal products to use before coming to our gatherings.
In addition, many of us generously bring delicious treats to share with everyone for our after-service coffee hour. Please continue to bring what you enjoy! However, it would be helpful to also label any foods that contain allergens that others may need to avoid. Nuts are an ingredient that come to mind immediately that can be very dangerous to many. If a little card is labeled “contains nuts”, or something similar, it may help people to feel a little safer and more included in our space.
Thank you for being aware of the beauty of diversity in our community.
Pastor Rebecca
SECOND MILE GIVING FOR OCTOBER
This month we have the opportunity to support two very special ministries, one in our community and one that stretches around the world! Both are involved in the most basic and necessary work – helping make sure people have enough to eat. The Napa Food Bank and the ELCA Hunger Ministries. Thank you to Dorothy Arata for reminding us how important these ministries are. Checks can be made out to NVLC, with Second Mile Giving on the memo line, and include with your offering any time this month. Thanks for your support of these vital ministries!
COUNCIL UPDATES
The Church Council had to postpone their regular meeting in September, due to competing demands on our active members, which precluded reaching a quorum.
Items remaining on the agenda include:
- Formalizing our agreement with Bridge Pastor Rebecca Swee
- Selection of a benefit level plan for our Pastor next year
- Appointment of audit committee members
- Continued discussion regarding investment options for the balance of the proceeds from the sale of the North Campus
- Property and landscaping issues at the church and 352 Jefferson St. properties
You can anticipate a work day or two or three as we work to declutter some of the things we have accumulated over the years. We have more furnishings than we need now, or anticipate that we will need for our mission in the coming years. We already found a new home for some of the extra folding chairs and are still offering to give away some extra office furniture, so if you know of anyone or organization that is in need, please let us know.
We are blessed with books and other resources for study and Christian education that are not being utilized, and are becoming obsolete. You can help us declutter! If you wish to take home some books from the library, please help yourself. If you are aware of an organization that would like some of our treasured resource materials, please contact Pastor Rebecca or Leanne Martinsen and we will gladly arrange for them to go to an organization that will put them to good use. The books that remain after November 30 will be donated to the Friends of the Napa
Library.
DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES
CHRIST IN OUR HOME: The October, November, December booklets are available now. If you would like to have one of these delivered to your home, please contact the church office at nvlc@sbcglobal.net or 707-226-8166 to make arrangements.
COMMON GROUND UPDATE
Common Ground is a broad-based, non-partisan group of diverse religious and non-profits organizations in Napa and Solano Counties that are interested in serving the community in issues that need addressing, such as low cost housing, people without homes, fire disasters and long term follow up, etc. Common Ground helps in these efforts by working to:
- Build strong relationships within and among our organizations;
- Equip our members with leadership and organizing skills;
- Act powerfully together on concrete issues facing our communities.
In January 2012, Napa Valley Lutheran Church congregation voted to join the Napa-Solano chapter (subsequently named Common Ground), and some of us attended the founding convention. In the early years, much of the Common Ground activity was focused on Solano County issues, and their actions have had many positive outcomes.
A few years ago, the Unitarian-Universalist congregation in Napa also joined Common Ground, and you might remember that together we hosted a candidates forum during a city council election, as well as a few forums focused on housing issues in Napa County.
Now, time has come to grow the local organization some more. To use a gardening analogy, the seeds that we planted are beginning to sprout, and several congregations in Napa County are in the process of discerning whether to join. What we have in common is the desire to make our community a better place for all to live and thrive. What we know is that by working together, we can achieve so much more than a single congregation or individual can accomplish. As we work on developing relationships, and identifying resources, we will discern which significant local issues we need to address.
We have invited a speaker to join us at worship on Sunday October 15 to share a video and information on the power of community organizing and how our institution’s dues have a substantial impact by supporting Common Ground’s work in Napa and Solano counties. Institutional dues provide a strong base of support, however to grow and build more power, Common Ground needs additional support from individuals too, so there will be opportunities to support the organization with donations.
This is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the Common Ground organization and play a role in the direction that it takes going forward. I hope that you will step up and join in the process.
Leanne Martinsen
Napa Valley Lutheran Church is looking to revive the choir and band. We are seeking vocalists of all ranges to come together and sing. Our band has traditionally been keyboard, woodwind instruments, percussion and a variety of hand instruments. In the past we have had guitars and ukuleles, too. We are open to other instruments as we seek to restart this music program. If you are interested, contact Leanne Martinsen at nvlc@sbcglobal.net.
Napa Valley Lutheran Church is also seeking to hire someone to provide sign language services (American Sign Language -ASL) during our 10:00 am worship services on Sunday. If you are interested, or know of someone we could contact, please contact Leanne Martinsen at nvlc@sbcglobal.net.
Good News!
We have some folks that have requested to join Napa Valley Lutheran Church, and as soon as we can find a date that works (might be Sunday October 8) we will formally welcome them at a worship service and coffee hour following. I know that you will make them feel welcome. Rev. Rebecca Swee, currently serving as our Bridge Pastor, comes to us from McMinnville Cooperative Ministries, in McMinnville, Oregon. Dr. Ruth Kern and her daughter Lark come to us from Hope Lutheran Church in Fresno California. Ruth is Leanne Martinsen’s sister, and recently retired as a professor at CSU Fresno.
Hope Circle remains suspended for the time being.
Piece Corps has disbanded.
Lunch Bunch will meet on Friday, October 27 at Trancas Steakhouse at 12:45 p.m. Call Carol Holmes for reservations.
NVLC & Thrivent Financial are supporting the Napa Shelter on Hartle Ct. Needed for men & women are wool gloves and hats, and personal care items such as: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, bar soap, shampoo & conditioner, deodorant, body lotion, and razors & shave cream. There is a designated box in the narthex for these items. Please donate before November 12.
Carol Holmes, coordinator
Thank you to the members of our congregation that have been sending in your contributions to the church office. It is much appreciated. Your financial giving to NVLC is still necessary for us to maintain needs of the congregation during the time we are not all able to worship together. Remember, too, although we did not provide boxes of offering envelopes, as in past years, we still have the opportunity to make special offerings for special occasions, any occasion that is special to you!
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Click here to view the August 2023 Newsletter.
Click here to view the September 2023 Newsletter.