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SILENCE AND RETREATING are an important part of our life together at LNPC. And two of our favorite places and one of our favorite people were on the news talking about it!
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This Saturday, 10-2, lunch provided. Landscaping help needed at Amy Leafblad's house. "There has also recently been a toilet leak with damage into drywall in garage. If you have experience that may come in handy with that and are willing to take a look, please let me know (or (913) 951-9767)." RSVPs welcome but not required! Call for address or see it in the church directory! We're looking forward to:
We're Pausing:
Back to School Blessing & Rally Sunday Picnic, September 15 SPRING CHECK-IN: As the school year winds down and summer approaches, here's a communication (for all, but) especially for parents and grandparents of LNPC kids. I'd LOVE if we could all be in the same room for a conversation, so consider this a poor substitute for that, and please take a few minutes to read all the way through. Blessings to all families in this time of transition. (It's probably safe to put away the boots and mittens now!) Kara WORSHIP: Lately, the kids have been resourcefully meeting their needs for play, connection and ease by leaving the service and hanging out together in the nursery. This is lovely and understandable, and our kids are building relationships with one another after a long pandemic pause - this is so good. But also kids are a vital part of our shared worship - and by participating in worship they are absorbing truth about God’s love and their place in the family of God. When they are not with us, they, and we, miss out on sharing our most central practice of remembering all together who and whose we are. When kids start feeling overly restless or uninvested in worship, it’s on all of us big people to help re-engage them. As with all things children: what works for a while stops working, and we need to keep paying attention and adapting. So we’ll be trying a few new things that hope to meet them where they are developmentally and tap into their creativity and gifts. Our updated pew insert is helpful for those with kids and those without kids. Let's keep imagining together how we can empower kids to participate fully, and sharing our ideas! See our updated pew insert about children and worship See our theology of children PLAY: Free play is SO important (and so lacking in today’s world compared to our own childhoods!). Playing with other kids at church is a huge and formative gift that also teaches us whose and who we are. The joy on the faces of our little ones as they chase each other down the church halls is infectious! Our Fall and Spring Sabbath Retreats are extended times of free play, where--like the old-school, neighborhood, all-ages, kid pack--kids run rampant for a whole weekend, mainly just joining adults for worship and meals. How else can we make space for free play? Let’s talk together about how we can ensure our kids are getting the benefit of unsupervised play together. (For example: Do we want to set some Family Playdates, eg, pizza and free rein of the building? Meet up at parks? Other ideas?) FAITH FORMATION / SUNDAY SCHOOL: Our faith is formed even more by the shared routines we absorb and habits we practice together than by the information we take in. (eg, praying, singing, trusting, sharing milestones, hearing the bible read). But deliberate learning about scripture and our faith tradition is part of our formation too. After the pandemic, we discerned that between parents, kids, and the congregation, nobody had the capacity for Sunday school before worship services. So we've been incorporating some "lessons" other ways.
We are Church together, and we are all ministers. It's our job to keep asking, What is God doing now? and keep adapting how we are church together! This Sunday, May 5! The theater group that we share our space with is donating all proceeds from their show to our fund to upgrade the Gathering Room! (Recommended for ages 10+). Tickets at the door.
We've put together a mealtrain for Theresa and Eleanor for the next couple weeks to help care for them and give them some ease as they grieve Theresa's dad and navigate the many details of helping Theresa's mom shift to living alone. You can deliver a meal or send a gift card. The mealtrain has every other day selected, but if you'd like to bring a meal on a day that isn't available, just give Theresa a call or text. SEE MEAL SIGN-UP HERE This month we are conducting our congregation-wide process of feedback for our staff. Our personnel team will compile people's comments and share an overview with staff members. Please fill out a feedback form for each staff person that you interact with. DUE BEFORE MAY 24 Purpose of Assessment:
See more about our staff assessment process here
Email completed forms to chair of personnel: Sue Goodspeed, ssgoodspeed@gmail.com
This Spring, in worship, we are looking at our lectionary scriptures through the lens of practicing our belonging to God and each other, the simple but challenging work (non-work?) of receiving our lives. WE WILL DISCUSS PASTOR KARA'S BOOK, RECEIVING THIS LIFE IN CHURCH CHAT MAY 15. APRIL 7 & 13 : Receiving What Is We practice receiving our belonging by being simply human, we abide with Christ by being with each other, we cultivate availability by being here, now, and we practice being free by resting. APRIL 21 & 28: Receiving What's Difficult We practice receiving what's difficult in our lives by repenting, or being found, and by praying or being honest with God. We are rooted in God's love when we narrate our experiences, and by being empty, we surrender, and God meets us there with mercy and grace. MAY 5 & 8: Receiving What God Is Doing We practice receiving what God is doing right now in our lives and in the world by participating, or being what God is doing, by noticing, or attuning to what God is doing and by blessing, or celebrating what God is doing. MAY19 PENTECOST & MAY 25: Receiving What God Has Already Done We receive what God has already done when we welcome God's judgment that releases condemnation, when we welcome God's freedom by releasing our egos,, and when we practice forgiving, or letting go. JUNE 2 & 9: Receiving What Will Be We practicing receiving God's future by waiting, or living in anticipation, by living without fear in the human act dying which we are all engaged in, by living out hope in the "even if"promises of God, and by using our imaginations to live now what what will be. Pastor Kara's new book could be an optional read-along if you want to supplement our worship journey with devotions, prayers and prayer practices that come from LNPC's life together. We will also discuss it on May 15 in Church Chat. There are two copies in the church library, and you can buy one in the Gathering Room beginning April 27. SUNDAY APRIL 7 AFTER WORSHIP:
Personnel team (Sue G, Amy L, and Brian R) will be meeting with Theresa Latini, to refresh our unique LNPC approach to staff feedback and reviews that involves the whole congregation. All are welcome to join us for lunch and conversation! CHURCH WORK DAYS!
9 am - 1 pm Pop in and pitch in! SPRING CLEAN DAY: Saturday April 6 Indoor/Outdoor clean up day! Bring gloves, buckets, rakes... PAINTING PARTY: Saturday April 13 Let's spread the love/color! Many hands make quicker work! Come dressed to paint. |
NOTES FROM LNPC LIFEA collection of ongoing updates, check-ins, and announcements Archives
May 2024
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