Tag Archive for: leadership

Taking Flight with the Force in 2024

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Happy New Year, LCR Community, as we welcome 2024!! I have just had the wonderful experience of spending a week with my 4 grandchildren (who had not been together in the same space since 2019 – pre-Covid and minus one grandchild).

 

During that week, as I watched the building of Star Wars Lego sets, I was reminded of the storyline of the Star Wars movie and the wonder, belief, and hope in the “force” who directed the vision of justice, kindness to all persons, and truth. I’ve always thought there were similarities between the “force” and the Holy Spirit … God’s power at work within us. I believe there is a force (God’s Spirit) that is leading LCR into 2024 and I believe this is a year that will see LCR take flight.

At the beginning of 2023, we were embracing the Appreciative Inquiry exercise to reimagine LCR’s mission and vision as we began the call process for a new pastor. As we enter 2024, LCR continues to embrace its mission to serve others and each other under Bridge Pastor Bonnie Lanyi as we await, with anticipation, the arrival Pastor Rich Leseganich on January 25th.

In the meantime, the Church Council is engaged in an assessment of LCR’s current needs and goals for the future of the Church. The areas of consideration are wide-spread and include, under no particular order, faith formation opportunities for children, youth, and adults on multiple levels, the physical appearance and external messaging to enhance LCR’s visibility in the community, the continued improvement of the quality of musical offerings, including instrumentalization, needed for spiritually fulfilling experiences at both the 8:30 and 11:00 services, the physical infrastructure of LCR’s facilities, the continued heightened communication efforts internally and externally, etc.

I sincerely believe that the year-long anticipation of 2023 has prepared LCR for 2024, ready to take flight and spread the vision, mission, and hope of LCR’s commitment to serve East Cobb, Marietta, Sandy Springs, and extended community areas beyond the Atlanta area that LCR serves, and to welcome all join us in joyful worship.

I am so looking forward to sharing this incredible opportunity with all of you. It will be an incredible experience of wonder, belief, and hope.

Meet our new Bridge Pastor, Rev. Bonnie Lanyi

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After Pastor Ruth’s retirement a bridge pastor was appointed to help in the time until Pastor Rich arrives in late January 2024. Here is a short note from Pastor Bonnie:

I’m so looking forward to serving with you as you transition to your new pastor. This is a brief introduction to let you know a little bit about me. I am a baptized child of God, who is so grateful to God for many blessings. One blessing that I am especially grateful for is that I grew up in a family and in churches that taught the love and grace of God are for all. Each and every person has value and should be treated with respect and dignity.

Another special blessing is that I have been married to my best friend, David for 37 years. He graduated from Walton High School, and I graduated from Wheeler. We have three young adult children. Our first grandbaby is due to be born this spring. We love to hike, travel, read, cook and bake.

After graduating from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Science degree, I worked as an RN in hospitals and in the church. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) was completed under the supervision of The Reverend Dr. Martha Rutland. After graduating from Luther Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree, I was ordained as an ELCA pastor and called to serve a small congregation as a solo pastor. Several years later, I served a large congregation as an associate pastor.

Most recently, I served as the Interim Pastor at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Douglasville for a year and a half as they prepared to call Pastor Jamie Witt. I completed the Interim Ministry Training from the Interim Ministry Network. It is an honor to accompany a congregation in times of transition.

That is a little snapshot of my story. I look forward to getting to know you and your story…starting with some time on December 6 at 6:00 pm during our Advent Dinner in the Gathering Room.

Pastor Bonnie Esther Lanyi

Synod Assembly Recap

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By John and Susan Osberg

John and Susan Osberg served as voting members from LCR at the 2023 ELCA Southeastern Synod Assembly (June 2-4). George O’Donnell, who is finishing his term on the Synod Council, and Pastor Ruth Hamilton also attended. Here are John and Susan’s reflections:

The Southeastern Synod of the ELCA, composed of congregations in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee, is vibrantly focused on being more relevant for today’s community, and on evolving to meet the ever-increasing needs and demands of our church community.

About 300 Lutheran leaders came together in Chattanooga this past weekend. Over 3 days many topics were discussed. Some examples:

  • Our region is too often affected by disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and tornados. In response—through Lutheran Disaster Response and Inspiritus—the Synod is expanding its focus on, and resources dedicated to, helping our neighbors at these moments.
  • The Synod’s growing youth focus is so important not just for the church’s future, but also for the church’s relevance and growth today. Numerous presentations focused on what we must do to meet our youths’ evolving needs and requirements. Specifically, the Synod is increasingly focused on inclusivity. All are welcome!
  • Many of LCR’s past and present leaders are strongly involved with Synod programs and initiatives. The difficult, dedicated, and powerful work done by LCR’s Jerry and Elsie Weyrauch on suicide prevention continues as an important Synod ministry. The Weyrauchs’ past testimony before the U.S. Congress and other initiatives they successfully put in place (such as the nationwide 988 rescue call line) have clearly saved untold numbers of lives.
  • The Guatemala ministry championed by so many at LCR members and by former LCR Pastor Stephen Friedrich was discussed and featured repeatedly.
  • Gun violence, immigration, advocacy, and unhoused (homelessness) programs were also discussed. They all have related initiatives in the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA.

It was an honor to take part in the Assembly. It helped us to see the “big picture.” The worship services were all renewing and inspiring. Our hope, also, is that many others in our congregation will have the opportunity to participate in the future.

 

Watch highlights from the Synod Assembly, including worship and the report of Bishop Kevin Strickland, on the Synod Youtube Page.

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