Pastor's Page
Sisters and brothers in Christ,
I have completed another year of teaching confirmation class and am quite proud of the six young folks
we will confirm on May 19, Pentecost weekend. They are Evan Gerst, Peyton Palmer, Danica Stanley,
Jackson Thomas, Alec Toporcer, and David Bland. All six have made attendance and participation in
class a priority. Of course, that wouldn’t happen without parents committed to making good on the
covenant they made on behalf of their children at baptism. Well done good and faithful servants.
Back in the winter of 2020, during the darkest days of the global pandemic, we ceased publishing a print
newsletter. When we re-opened later, there wasn’t much news or activity to report and so a seasonal
newsletter seemed appropriate at that time. I am not a fan of the seasonal newsletter. The season can
cover such a long period of time that new activities can be added and they aren’t in the print edition. I
feel like Zion is back to full programming, and so I am going to suggest to the Council that we go back to
a monthly newsletter.
The last time I wrote a pastor’s letter for the newsletter it was for the Lent/Easter edition of Eye On
Zion, and it was in the dead of winter – such as it was. I am thankful that the winter was mild. Plowing
the snow off our lot is expensive. Now we are deep into spring. Speaking only for myself, I can tell you
that l am looking forward to the change of pace that comes with spring and summer.
This will be a summer like no other in my 27 years of ministry. As far as I can remember, I have only
taken two weekends off in a row once, and that was when I went to Israel in 2023. This summer will be
an exception. Carol and I have planned a tour of the United Kingdom in June that will take us away from
Zion for two weekends, the weekends of June 9th and 16th . That tour will end in England with a short visit
to our son, Drake, his wife, Korie, and our two grandsons, Elliot and Charlie in Sheffield, England. The
Rev. Russ Adams will be back with you during these two weekends. I look forward to seeing you again
on the weekend of June 23rd.
However, that will not be the end of my time off. Many of you have noticed my difficulty walking. I
have been dealing with osteoarthritic knees for several years and it has finally gotten so bad, with all
other treatment options exhausted, that knee replacement is my only option. I will have bilateral total
knee replacement on June 25 and the rehabilitation and recovery is expected to last six weeks. I have
ministered to many members who have had joint replacement or other major surgery over the years
and so I am aware of what I am in for. I will appreciate your prayers when the time comes.
During my rehabilitation and recovery, the Worship Table is working on recruiting a mix of lay and
ordained speakers. Some of the speakers will be leaders of parachurch ministries from the community
that Zion supports. This presents a great opportunity to learn more about these important ministries in
the community. Some may be esteemed lay members of Zion. Others will likely be familiar ministers
who have supplied at Zion before. When the speaker/presider is not an ordained person, we will use
the liturgy of “Service of the Word” which will not include Holy Communion.
I apologize in advance for the disruption in our worship life. There probably is no good time for major
surgery, but I thank God that it will occur in the summer when Carol will be able to help nurse me back
to good health and Zion’s programming is lighter. Rest assured I will make good use of the time to do
preparation for the fall. But rest assured, I am working on an exciting plan for next program year.
With you on the journey of faith,
The Rev. Duane A. Jesse, Pastor
I have completed another year of teaching confirmation class and am quite proud of the six young folks
we will confirm on May 19, Pentecost weekend. They are Evan Gerst, Peyton Palmer, Danica Stanley,
Jackson Thomas, Alec Toporcer, and David Bland. All six have made attendance and participation in
class a priority. Of course, that wouldn’t happen without parents committed to making good on the
covenant they made on behalf of their children at baptism. Well done good and faithful servants.
Back in the winter of 2020, during the darkest days of the global pandemic, we ceased publishing a print
newsletter. When we re-opened later, there wasn’t much news or activity to report and so a seasonal
newsletter seemed appropriate at that time. I am not a fan of the seasonal newsletter. The season can
cover such a long period of time that new activities can be added and they aren’t in the print edition. I
feel like Zion is back to full programming, and so I am going to suggest to the Council that we go back to
a monthly newsletter.
The last time I wrote a pastor’s letter for the newsletter it was for the Lent/Easter edition of Eye On
Zion, and it was in the dead of winter – such as it was. I am thankful that the winter was mild. Plowing
the snow off our lot is expensive. Now we are deep into spring. Speaking only for myself, I can tell you
that l am looking forward to the change of pace that comes with spring and summer.
This will be a summer like no other in my 27 years of ministry. As far as I can remember, I have only
taken two weekends off in a row once, and that was when I went to Israel in 2023. This summer will be
an exception. Carol and I have planned a tour of the United Kingdom in June that will take us away from
Zion for two weekends, the weekends of June 9th and 16th . That tour will end in England with a short visit
to our son, Drake, his wife, Korie, and our two grandsons, Elliot and Charlie in Sheffield, England. The
Rev. Russ Adams will be back with you during these two weekends. I look forward to seeing you again
on the weekend of June 23rd.
However, that will not be the end of my time off. Many of you have noticed my difficulty walking. I
have been dealing with osteoarthritic knees for several years and it has finally gotten so bad, with all
other treatment options exhausted, that knee replacement is my only option. I will have bilateral total
knee replacement on June 25 and the rehabilitation and recovery is expected to last six weeks. I have
ministered to many members who have had joint replacement or other major surgery over the years
and so I am aware of what I am in for. I will appreciate your prayers when the time comes.
During my rehabilitation and recovery, the Worship Table is working on recruiting a mix of lay and
ordained speakers. Some of the speakers will be leaders of parachurch ministries from the community
that Zion supports. This presents a great opportunity to learn more about these important ministries in
the community. Some may be esteemed lay members of Zion. Others will likely be familiar ministers
who have supplied at Zion before. When the speaker/presider is not an ordained person, we will use
the liturgy of “Service of the Word” which will not include Holy Communion.
I apologize in advance for the disruption in our worship life. There probably is no good time for major
surgery, but I thank God that it will occur in the summer when Carol will be able to help nurse me back
to good health and Zion’s programming is lighter. Rest assured I will make good use of the time to do
preparation for the fall. But rest assured, I am working on an exciting plan for next program year.
With you on the journey of faith,
The Rev. Duane A. Jesse, Pastor
|
Subscribe to the Daily Word
|