| Kim L. Beckmann, Interim Pastor | pastor@augustanahydepark.org |
| Elizabeth Palmer, Campus Pastor | campuspastor@augustanahydepark.org |
| Daniel E. Schwandt, Cantor | cantor@augustanahydepark.org |
| Joy Tournoux, Secretary | office@augustanahydepark.org |
| Andrew Stevens, Campus Ministry Peer Minister | andrewstevens@uchicago.edu |
| Mary Schoenbach, Campus Ministry Peer Minister | schoenbachma@uchicago.edu |
Some years ago a colleague's phone call interrupted a quiet day in the office. I'm sure I brightened at the sound of his voice — there was always good energy in our conversations. But I was glad he couldn't see my face from the other end of the phone line when he said he was calling to let me know he'd accepted a call to another synod.
I wished him well of course. As soon as I was able to speak again, I was able to summon up a faith frame to let him know how much I had valued his neighborly presence in my life, understood it wasn't going to be like that anymore, and could both rejoice in it and let it go because of the nature of our relationship in Christ.
I put it something like this: that in the body of Christ we are called to love one another deeply, but loosely. The nature of our work together in this body plunges us deeply into things that matter, usually quite quickly, and bases our relationships and bonds in those deep-down experiences. But the other truth of the matter is that we are a Sent people. The reign of God is on the move! By nature, the Holy Spirit is always breaking up “That Old Gang of Mine”, sending us here and there like free-wheeling yeast spores to grow that household, the kin-dom, of God. So those of us that are kin in this household learn to love both deeply… and loosely.
We can do that because we know that near or far, in life or in death, the communion of saints keeps us one in the body. None of us is ever truly lost to one another. That doesn't mean we don't gulp hard, sigh, cry tears, or scream and yell when the faces and voices that have brought life and energy into our lives are no longer available on a daily and physical basis. But it does give us a frame of faith to bring comfort, joy, meaning, and the restoration of trust, to this letting go… a fact of life in the Body.
I deeply appreciated the privilege of being invited by Pastor Gorder and all of you to attend the beautiful, joyful and intimate space of your letting go and good byes in his last weeks of ministry here. It's a testimony to the graceful life you shared together. So is the graceful, loving hospitality I've received, crystallized in the welcome poster on the lips of children with generous hearts proclaiming “You can be my pastor.” There is room in our hearts to love again!
Augustana already gets a lot of practice with the comings and goings of student communities. Welcome to all of you who are new here like me! I hope that you who have left such loving communities somewhere else can embrace the life that we will create here, for whatever season the Spirit gives us in this configuration. Since I was once a student here too, I can't help but be reminded that there are times the Spirit brings us back around again in new roles, new ways.
This “deeply but loosely” loving way of life immediately and fully involves and deeply engages this present — but is only loosely attached to the future which God is unfolding! I hope we can practice this way of life in these next months, as rehearsal for deep and loving welcome of your next settled Servant-in-Christ, and even for his or her eventual news of departure. It's a good skill to develop. The Holy Spirit is always mixing it up, keeping us loose and sending us, in the promise that the ties that bind us are faith's assurance of being held tightly in God together forever.
Pastor Beckmann will be present in Hyde Park generally on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and any other times necessary. You can reach her by cell at 773-444-8681. Her day off is Monday.
The Council welcomed Pastor Kim Beckmann and devoted time to personal introductions and general conversation about the mission of the congregation.
Pastoral Acts: Christopher Braver and Aven Braver were received into membership by transfer from Luther Memorial Church of Chicago. Carrie Foreman has transferred to First Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Chicago.
Pastor Elizabeth Palmer reported that plans are in place to welcome returning students and to resume programming. The website has been updated to include a calendar of events.
Congregational giving remains at 98% of pledges and at 97% of total congregational giving.
It is uncertain whether the dialysis center will continue use of the parking lot usage in 2012. Inquiries are being made.
The appeal to raise $4,000 to address acoustical issues in the nave and Gorder Room will continue through October. If the funds are not raised, the projects will be canceled and funds collected returned to contributors.
The Council authorized Matthew Christian to fill the seat on the Call Committee vacated by Betty Armstrong.
The Council will next meet on October 11th.
September has been a month of organization for the call process. We began the month welcoming Pastor Beckmann as our interim — directly (with the installation on the first Sunday) and indirectly (new paint for the office). The handoff seems to have been smooth, but the Council and the Staff have been working together to make sure that nothing important is overlooked in this time of transition.
We also spent the month compiling results from the Mission Profile Survey. In all we had 70 people fill out the survey (a very strong response rate for surveys) and the data has been given to the Call Committee to help them prepare the mission profile document. The committee has drafted most of the sections and will now start to compile them into a draft document. The goal is for EVERY member of Augustana to have had an opportunity to weigh in on the process. In other words, if you want to see the call process move more quickly, make sure that you join in one of their conversations.
With the ratification of the Call Committee, we are now positioned to move to the next stage, which is to finalize the Mission Profile document and submit it to the Synod. Once that happens, we can begin receiving names of people to interview.
If there are names of people that you think the Call Committee should consider, please feel free to send those names to me and I will pass them along to the Call Committee.
The congregation met in special session on September 25, 2011, in the nave of the church following the 10:45 AM service. The meeting was convened to ratify the election of a Call Committee to elect a successor to Pastor John Gorder.
The meeting was called to order at 12:20 PM by Matthew Christian. A quorum was present.
Matthew presented the membership of the Call Committee to the meeting. The members are: Kathy Anderson, co-chair, Toby Chow, Mary Emily Duba, Becky Krentz, Byron Mitchell, co-chair, Richelle Stackert, Gary Worcester
Action of the Congregation. Matthew presented a motion from the Congregation Council that the Congregation ratify the appointments to the Call Committee. The motion was seconded by Eric Pittenger and adopted by unanimously by voice vote.
Matthew commented on the interim, expressing thanks to Pastor Kim Beckmann for beginning her work and for the additional work taken up by the staff to ensure a smooth transition. He encouraged members of the congregation to assist with the work of administering the congregation and conducting its ministries by active involvement with one or more of our committees.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:25 PM.
“Celebrating the Present and Launching the Future” is the theme chosen for the 2012 Stewardship Campaign by the Stewardship and Finance Committee.
Augustana is at an exciting place — we give thanks for what is and for what will be!
A beautiful new organ is being built before our eyes and ears and we look forward to hearing it in its full capacity during worship, giving thanks to the builders and to Dan for what will be.
We give thanks for the years of service of Pastor John Gorder and Gordeen and look forward to the leadership of our interim Pastor Kim Beckman for what will be as we reconsider our mission as a church in Hyde Park and prepare for a new pastor.
We give thanks for the faithful contributions we have received in 2011 so that our bills and giving commitments could be met and we look forward to the continuation of dedicated giving to meet the challenges of 2012.
We give thanks for those who have shared their gifts of time, energy , and talents to the many aspects of Augustana life and we look forward to what will be as we discover even more ways to serve and share our collective talents caring for each other, for the building, and for those outside our walls.
You will be hearing more about “Celebrating the Present and Launching the Future” in October and November, culminating in Pledge Sunday on November 20.
The Stewardship and Finance Committee members are: Hope Anderson, Christopher Barnard, Peter de Jong, Mark Granfors, Sandra Henley, Kurt Schweitz, Neva Hefner, Chair.
| August 2011 | Year through 8/31/2011 |
Budget to date | % of Budget |
|
| Operating Income | ||||
| Pledged | $14,248.00 | $162,111.32 | $165,429.33 | 98% |
| Member unpledged | $270.00 | $4,400.72 | $6,685.33 | 66% |
| Nonmember unpledged | $1,511.00 | $5,979.00 | $6,394.67 | 93% |
| Anonymous cash offerings | $425.33 | $3,646.66 | $4,028.67 | 91% |
| Other giving | $1,117.25 | $4,254.59 | $3,235.33 | 132% |
| Total budgeted giving | $17,571.58 | $180,392.29 | $185,773.33 | 97% |
Non-operating income |
||||
| Other benevolences | $1,096.12 | $2,865.60 | ||
| Building fund | $180.00 | $1,018.00 | ||
| Organ fund | $1,568.00 | $34,427.50 | ||
| Other designated gifts | $100.00 | $2,880.00 | ||
| Non-operating giving | $2,944.12 | $41,191.10 | ||
| Total giving | $20,515.70 | $221,583.39 |
On the night of September 6th, Ron Wahl broke in to the Worship and Music Committee meeting and told us that “the baby is making noise,” indicating that the first sounds of our new Wahl pipe organ were being made in our sanctuary. They had finished enough of the mechanical and physical assembly that it was time to turn on the wind and see what happened. This deeply moving moment was the culmination of many many years of waiting for our congregation and over three years of work and preparation by the Organ Task Force, and Wahl Organbuilders for this moment. The rough-voiced sounds of the 8' Principal stop filled the room with warm vibrations, seemingly awakening the brick and concrete after a long sleep. Four stops (sounds) were available to be used on Sunday, September 11th for worship. Perhaps appropriately, the first thing led with the organ was the Kyrie from ELW Setting Four. Our prayer of “Lord have mercy” was perhaps the best way to start this new voice's life with us and our assembly.
Ron and Christoph Wahl have been working diligently through the past weeks in voicing and tuning each pipe to sing in our space. They've enjoyed the wonders of Hyde Park both visual and culinary, and also getting to know many of Augustana's members. On the furnace room door in the narthex is posted a “tour of sounds” that describes what of the 20 stops on our organ are up and running. They anticipate being finished with the voicing and tuning near the end of October. We rejoice with this new voice!
The fund that was set up to complete the new organ project and events at the dedication has grown as of September 25 to $3,393.50. The need for these funding opportunities is $6,000 to $10,000. The remaining expenses include masonry work on the choir loft wall for the organ mechanism, relocation of the microphone control system, electrical wiring and site preparation, dedication recitals and booklet and ongoing organ maintenance.
If you are a new member and haven't yet had a chance to gift the Organ Fund or if you are a seasoned member and can give a bit more to bring the project to completion now is the time for you to give. Please make checks payable to Augustana Lutheran Church, with “Organ Fund” in the memo line. Many, many thanks!
A new member group will be formed for those interested in joining at Augustana through transfer, and as members and associate members. Please let Pastor Beckmann know if you are interested, and join other friends at Augustana for these three sessions on Sundays October 9, 16, and 23 at 9:30 AM.
An opportunity to share our faith journey and what has brought us to Augustana in the context of the stories of God's people in scripture.
Pastor Elizabeth will lead a discussion about Lutheranism then and now and respond to questions, experience and interests brought by the participants.
The story of Augustana Lutheran church's heritage will be shared and new members and their sponsors will be part of a conversation about ways to be part of this heritage as well as present and new directions.
October 30: New Member Sunday… we celebrate the church that is always reforming!
“Each of the liturgical churches has a day celebrating its central and formative event or experience. Eastern Orthodoxy has a celebration of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the fist Sunday in Lent, commemorating the settling in 843 of the controversy over the use icons in the church. The Roman Church has the feast of the Chair of Peter (February 22), emphasizing the founding of the church upon Peter the Prince of the Apostles. The Anglican Church commemorates the publication of the First Book of Common Prayer in 1549 as the principal liturgical and theological source for the Anglican Communion. The Lutheran church has its celebration also.” (from Festivals and Commemorations, by Philip H. Pfatteicher, Augsburg Publishing House, 1980)
We will celebrate the beginning of the Reformation on Sunday, October 30, the 494th anniversary of Martin Luther's posting of the 95 Theses on the church door at Wittenberg. One of our Augustana traditions is to sing Luther's own music from his German Mass of 1526. Wear red and come ready to sing!