MINISTRY FACILITATOR
2004
ANNUAL REPORT - January 23, 2005 MEETING
Adult senior ministry moved smoothly from the Fellowship to the
Discipleship Ministry with emphasis on encouraging faith and spiritual growth
through interactive programs under the theme “The Art of Faithful Aging.”
Thanks to Carol Olson, May Hedling, Ruth Wall, and Helen Smith for making the
transition so successful with an enriched fellowship time with their gift of
hospitality.
Members of the Bethel community were encouraged to share their
gifts and faith as presenters. Our appreciation to Miki Wallace for assisting
in “Three Ways to Leave a Financial Legacy,” Donna Gillette for a tour and
history of the Chitactac Indian site, Dr. Eric Messner’s in-depth report on “
How to Talk with Your Doctor,” and Ordetta Hovland and Bill Hanson’s visual
trip of the Lutheran MaaSai Girls’
School in Tanzania. The Center for Gerontology, Spirituality and Faith series
of three sessions on “Experiencing Life to the Fullest” was received with
kudos. Pastor Ken Bancroft gave a helpful presentation on “Confronting Our
Mortality”.
Encouraging and assisting members to tell and record their
faith-life story, as an audiovisual legacy, has been an important part of the
Evergreen emphasis this year. Thanks to
Iona Thorpe and Marilyn Spiller for their willingness to organize and share
their life stories with us. Special
appreciation goes to Nancy Alens for her presentation on “How to Write Your
Story.” David Sandwisch has developed a
very professional DVD production and Joan Muston has assisted in scanning 120
pictures per production.
“Bless the Years Sunday” was an intentional time to celebrate the
extra years God so generously gives.
House Blessings became a part of the transition from long time home
residency to retirement living for Bill and Marion Francis and Ruth Wall.
Vicki Bohan encouraged a 40 Days of Purpose small study group
which began as a trial run in January. The response was beyond our expectations
and the pastors and council supported an emphasis for the fall of 2004. I facilitated a 12-person group that met at
Sunny View in the fall, a group that continues to meet weekly.
Until July, I continued to coordinate moving visitors into
Partners in Mission membership with phone calls assisted by Chuck Couchman and
Sam Sudarsanam and membership classes with the exceptionally gifted
teaching team of Chris Christensen and David Denny. Several new partners in mission continued through the Discovery
process as a result of these sessions.
The Stephen Ministry team offered me the opportunity to share “How
to Make Sacred Space in Daily Life” and, as a certified Stephen Leader, to
participate in the Stephen Ministry Festival in November.
I appreciate the congregational assistance in my continued
education at Graduate Theological Union. “Pastoral and Spiritual Care in Later
Years” with Dr. Jane M. Thibault was excellent.
It is hard to improve on what Paul so beautifully wrote but I too
“…do not cease to give thanks for you, as I remember you my prayers. I pray
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a
spirit of wisdom and revelation…” as we continue in new beginnings.