3 Highlights
Here are the 3 ministry updates to know:
1. Weekday Ministries
Weekday social outreach ministries are going strong.
Though less visible to our members with 9-5 work schedules, our social outreach ministries on weekdays are steady and growing. For example, we have a consistent group of 10-20 people our English as a Second Language Class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 5 high school Communications Interns from various schools in the community.
Weekly ESOL Class
Weekly Communications Internship
2. Food Ministries
Our food ministries are growing. So is the need in our community.
With the addition of our Community Dinner in partnership with Trinity School, our food ministries are growing. So is the need in our community. Our number of guests at Community Lunch, Food Pantry, and Community Dinner are all rising. This is in part because we are one of the few resources in the neighborhood that don’t require I.D., and are intentional about creating a sense of welcoming community.
As a building step toward the Community Center phase of our strategic ministry plan, in 2020 we will make a concerted focus for all members to volunteer and get more connected to these ministries. They will be foundational for our strategic vision of Advent as a holistic Community Center. Next year, we will be highlighting them more on Sundays, and eventually, we will provide more comprehensive training for volunteers in Small Groups.
3. Calling A Spanish-Language Pastor
As the search continues, our staff & deacons have stepped up, and we are exploring other staffing options too.
In spring 2019, our Call Committee had recommended a candidate to Council, and it looked like the congregation might be meeting that candidate in the fall. Shortly after, the candidate’s ability to be called by Advent was compromised by changes in policy and a bureaucratic issue with their immigration status.
Since then, we have continued searching, and there have been some near-possibilities. One of the challenges is that, locally and nationally, the ELCA does not have a great many Spanish-speaking, Latino pastors. And just becuase a pastor is Lutheran and speaks Spanish does not mean they are a fit for our congregation.
In the meantime, ALL of our staff and leaders — Deacon Carlos, Deacon Adolfo, Juan Minier, Pastor Danielle, Frank, Carla, Kevin, Pastor Jim, and many more — have stepped up their engagement with our Spanish-speaking members. (And, for some, they’re Spanish language skills too.) While they all are ready for more staff support, we see the Holy Spirit working through this transition.
Anecdotally, Pastor Danielle has been writing weekly reflections for our Spanish-speaking members, which our office administrator Carla translates. This has strengthened our Spanish-speaking members’ sense of connection to our Senior Pastor, and feeling like part of the whole congregation.
Currently, we are continuing to seek pastoral candidates. We are also exploring different staffing options to the meet the needs of our community. Could it be hiring a bilingual community developer? Could it be sending our whole staff on an immersive language-learning intensive? The conversation will continue, and we welcome your thoughts, ideas, and questions.
Have a Question?
Answers to all questions will be posted on our Annual Meeting page as soon as possible.
Ministry Reports
Here are all the ministry reports we’ve received so far. We are missing a few, which will be added shortly. Because we are in the process of strategic planning, we asked ministry leaders to answer broader questions connecting the ministry to Advent’s Mission & Vision.
& more to come