Pastor’s Corner – Congregational Meeting This Sunday!
Yes, it is short notice, but we have some exciting, time sensitive opportunities God has placed before us. We have been praying and seeking God’s direction to fill the vacancies on our ministry team here at Cross. We lead with prayer and with faith that God will lead us to the person He intends to serve. The process can be both grueling and rewarding, especially as we remain open to all that God does through the process.
Through this process we are not just looking for the next person to “hire” but instead are looking for the person God would give us to extend a “Divine Call”. The Call process does, at times, look like a hiring process, but at times it is also very different. One way it is different is that the congregation is asked to pray and decide (discern) if God is in fact leading the process. A “Yes” vote means we believe God is asking us to extend a Call to this individual, which they may or may not accept. Sometimes the Call leads to a match and sometimes it refines the process and leads us to the next step.
Both Call Committees have identified a candidate to present to the congregation for their respective positions! We will be voting for both of these candidates separately at the Congregation meeting on Sunday May 7th at noon. Per our by-laws there will be a week long vote that concludes on May 14th after the last worship service.
The Discipleship Call Committee is recommending Jessica Dvorak to serve as Director of Christian Education (DCE). Her specific role would be a part-time position to oversee the ministry of 5th -12th grade youth. Jessica graduated from Emporia State University in Kansas as an English major and was a high school English teacher for three years. =In 2016 Jessica earned her DCE certificate from Concordia Seward, NE and was called to Concordia Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids IA. Jessica married her husband Chris, a high school English teacher, in 2012 and were blessed with a son Noah. Jessica and Chris have had multiple miscarriages and as part of their journey have leaned into their faith for healing. Jessica resigned her call in 2019. She has recently been serving as a volunteer in various discipleship capacities at Trinity Lutheran in Cedar Rapids, IA under the leadership of DCE Tony Dixon. Chris is searching for a position near Yorkville. They are excited to become a part of the Cross family while they seek God’s will to grow their family.
The Teacher Call Committee is recommending Rebekah Hahn (Bekah). Bekah is an alumnus of Cross School. Her dad, Jeff, is our current 8th grade teacher and her mom, Pam, is our Financial Assistant. Bekah would begin her ministry at Cross in 5th grade and oversee Reading classes for the Middle School. Bekah has served in Matoon, IL currently is serving at Bethany, Naperville. Bekah is excited to come back to Cross and Yorkville where her family runs Homeplate Hotdogs in Town Square Park during the summer. Bekah will marry Chris Galloway this fall! Chris will be a High School Teacher at YHS in the Business department.
As you can see God is doing some amazing things and leading us to some wonderful candidates whose journey in life seems to be matching up well with our journey as a congregation. Please come to the meeting on Sunday, May 7th at noon and pray with us. Then be sure to vote sometime during the week as the Lord leads you. IF we call both of these candidates and they both accept, we will continue our search for another member of our Discipleship team. This would be a full-time position to oversee Children and Family Ministries. Please keep all of this in your prayers as we seek God’s will and direction for Cross.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
In Christ,
Pastor Erik Gauss
Scripture Readings for Sunday, May 7, 2023
Acts 4:32-37 Matthew 28:16-20
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