It’s hard to believe that the end of the “observed” summer season in these parts—Labor Day and the close of the Sheboygan County Fair—is coming soon. The whole thing hardly seems fair since we got a late jump on the summer due to the cold weather in early June (and one hopes that nature might compensate for that with a number of fine days in September and October) but it is what it is. Someone once wrote that summer is like a treasured house guest that can only stay for a brief span and then has to be on their way: we know that the departure is inevitable, but we are still sad, nevertheless.
But the changes do remind us that the start of another program year will soon be upon us. Christian education—church school, confirmation, adult studies—will resume. Choir reconvenes and resumes rehearsal and performance schedules. The work of the Five Practices study teams moves forward, as we look for ways to reconfigure the ways we do ministry and the priorities we set in those Five Practice areas. While much work has taken place, much more work needs to be accomplished in the weeks and months ahead.
As it has been said before, not every innovation and suggested change will work and some will contain hiccups, despite our best plans, but we continue to move forward. I urge patience, perseverance, and prayer in everything during the time ahead.
As I close this month’s front page, there are two events that I want to bring to your attention. The first is the resumption of the Monday morning book study. We will start a six-week study on Adam Hamilton’s book, The Call: The Life and Mission of the Apostle Paul. The study will run at 10:30 a.m. on September 30th, October 7th, October 21st, October 28th , November 4th and November 11th. Cost of the book is $13.28. If you wish to have the church order a copy of the book, please let us know by September 9th, or you may obtain your own copy through Amazon. We’ve used some of Adam Hamilton’s study materials in times past, so we know that he’s done fine work and we look forward to this study opportunity, as well.
The second event I wish to lift up is the fact that we have scheduled performances of the Jonah musical that I’ve been working on the past two years (tentatively titled, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Nineveh”) for July 17-19, 2020. I know that it’s a ways off, but it doesn’t hurt to plan far enough ahead. More details will follow in coming months.
With that, I conclude.
Your servant in Christ,
Rev. Jim Hoppert
