Rev. Clover Beal
Dear FHC family,
It is with joy that I offer some of the highlights of our communal work during the past year.
Spiritual Pilgrimages
2006: 12 people went to Iona, Scotland; 2007: 12 people went to Nicaragua; 2008: 20 people to Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. As you may recall, Liz Wollaeger and I traveled to Israel-Palestine in February 2008 with 12 pastors and educators. The intent of the trip was educational and familiarization so that we might bring back congregants. As a result of that trip, February 2009, 32 pilgrims traveled to Israel-Palestine! Rev. Dr. John Lentz and Dr. Tim Beal, both biblical scholars, gave their expertise to educate the participants about ancient biblical world, and helped illuminate the land we visited. I crafted our worship experiences and devotional practices while there. Liz Wollaeger and I will go to Turkey this February on an education and familiarization trip so that we might have an FHC pilgrimage to Turkey in 2011!
Leadership Development and the Faith Leader program
Under the oversight of Elders Peg Weissbrod, Kate Burleigh and Jeff Smith, we successfully completed our third 28-week Faith Leader course with 11 lay persons (I made 12); Todd Webster and Jeannine Gury were the facilitators. In fall 2009, we started our fourth 11-person group in the Faith Leader program. We can honestly see the impact that this program is having on our whole congregation through the individuals taking part.
Adult Education and Spiritual Formation: Our theme in 2008-09 was “Who Are We? An exploration of our Christian identity.” Elder Tom Zych led a dynamic committee who provided tremendous gifts and skills to their work planning and implementing 2009-10 “How Then Shall We Live?” Sunday morning classes and additional educational/formation opportunities such as John Lentz’s Kerygma bible study courses, Thoughtful Christianity series, and Bible and Bagels study group, and a men’s spirituality group has vitalized our year in education. We also began a women’s book study group on Thursday mornings that will continue in 2010. Another highlight last spring was our retreat for 21 women at River’s Edge Retreat Center.
Deacons
What can I say? Our deacons have gone above and beyond the call to ministry in the myriad of ways they care for our congregation by serving meals, making calls, giving transportation, hosting memorial services receptions, and creating fun and fellowship through our Fall Festival each year. There is not enough to be said to them to express our gratitude.
Lastly, it is with profound gratitude that I have served this church for five and half years already! Our work is serious work, but incredibly fun. I get to serve alongside a stellar team of staff and lay ministers. May God continue to use this congregation to serve the world; we have been blessed to be a blessing.
Joyfully yours,
Rev. Clover Reuter Beal