Hey Church!

I will start writing monthly messages here to talk about upcoming events. A space to sing the praises of your good deeds, tell tales of our communal life together, and maybe even find some wisdom.

August has had some exciting meetings! This past school year, I ran a Dungeons and Dragons game over at the library for middle and high schoolers. Elijah Walker helped me out as we hosted around 8-12 kids each Thursday. The goal was to help these youth develop their math, reading, and team work skills all under the guise of playing a game. I threw in some fun ethical quandaries to help develop critical thinking as well. The middle school and library loved it! So now they want to build the next step. On July 30, the OSU Extension hosted a meeting with the schools, libraries, Feeding Medina County, Ohio Guide Stone, the juvenile courts, and other communities leaders to work towards a holistic program to help with the youth showing up at the library. Our next meeting will be later this month and I will keep you posted. It is EXCITING! Good things are afoot!

The staff retreat was this past week. It was a chance for your staff to gather and put dates on our calendar. We went up to Avon Lake United Church of Christ, a growing church that is vibrant in so many ways. The Rev. Kelly Brill leads my Excellence in Ministry group and I have the utmost respect for her. Nate Taylor is a friend of mine who runs the youth group there that is just exploding. We also met their graphic designer who happens to be the grandson of the Rev. Ormund Schulz who was pastor of Medina in the 1950s! We all got “God-bumps” and just loved our time away to plan and dream.

We are currently in the “Before I Die, Life Before Death” worship series. “Before I Die” is a global art project that invites people to contemplate death and reflect upon their lives. When I saw this project, I thought of Abraham. A man who before he died established three major world religions. We can each have goals and priorities at every stage of life that can lead us to find life before death. An interactive wall will be in our new welcoming area all this month as well as at the Medina Fest and Alive on the Square for you to view and write your own dream on. More information can before at www.beforeidieproject.com.

Alive on the Square will be the capstone to our “Before I Die” worship series. One worship service at  10 a.m. on the Square with a picnic lunch afterwards. Please bring a chair and your entire family and friends as it is just a great day! Rain location will be our sanctuary, but I am praying for blue skies with low humidity.

I look forward to our photo exhibit coming to us and having Hobby Horse back in session.

Good things are happening on our corner of the Square! God be with you until we meet again!

-Pastor Luke