Note: On Sunday, September 21st 2014, our church celebrated the new equipment that we installed in our church this year. Shannon Pederson shared her thoughts during the worship service.
Shannon's Recollections
“And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!”
These words from Psalm 90:17 and two of the songs in the prelude, Holy, Holy, Holy and In the Garden were spoken and played 60 years ago when a celebration service was held because the Chimes, Baptismal Font, Candelabras, and a Kneeling Rail were installed in the sanctuary.
60 years later, we want to welcome you to today’s celebration. We are celebrating the audio/video equipment we now have in our sanctuary. And most of all, we are celebrating the loving and giving people of the congregation. Whenever we have a need, you are always there to help meet it. You are all special and each of you makes our church wonderful.
It’s my pleasure to introduce the Technology Committee to you.
First, I’d like to introduce the people who helped us get this whole Technology journey started in 2005. There are people who are no longer on the committee, but whose early efforts were critical to our success and there are a couple of us who have been on the team since the beginning. These people are: Ruth Green, Jackie Linder and her late husband Earl, Luann Parker, Julie Keller, and me. In the beginning, we were called the Web Site Committee.
Our current committee members are: Kevin Aanenson, Barb Bergman, Mitch Bergman, Linda Haken, Dave Hollis, Julie Keller, Justin Keller, Bud Kooiman, Leslie Wajer, and me. We are called the Technology Committee because we have grown to be more than just the keepers of the web site.
Throughout our technology journey, we have had our ups and downs, however, we have never wavered in pursuit of our mission to seek to use technology to improve communication in our congregation and community and to help us to grow physically, intellectually and spiritually. One person has made a major contribution in keeping us true to that mission. She is responsible for forming the team in 2005. She identified people to serve on the committee and helped those people use their strengths to make the overall team stronger. She has personally maintained the web site for the nine years of its existence. Without her drive and determination, we may not have made the improvements and advances we are celebrating today. Would everyone please join me in thanking Julie Keller.
Most of the people on the Technology committee are not technologically savvy. We have a couple really good Techies, but most of us are average people who use computers and the internet in a number of ways, but not as experts. One thing our committee members have in common though is a belief that to do evangelism and ministry today, you need to have a working knowledge of technology because it enhances the communication of our message. Not just young people, but people of all generations enjoy and appreciate many of the things technology offers, both in and out of the sanctuary. We are working to create an atmosphere where people can connect with God.
For us, technology is important, but it’s not the point. It will be background. The point will always be the preaching of the word of God. We all believe every day is a good day to reach someone with our message of Christ’s love.
The scriptures are timeless and its principles are timeless, but the means by which we convey those principles are culturally sensitive. What I mean is, when the Apostle Paul was living he used the medium of the day. He wrote letters and that’s how we got several books of our Bible. But I can assure you, if Paul were here in 2014, he wouldn’t be just writing letters on parchments. I think he would be embracing whatever means necessary to communicate the mission of the church. He’d have an ipad or tablet in hand as he was inspired to write his letters.
There was a time when the only tablets discussed in most churches were the two inscribed with the Ten Commandments, and church bulletin boards and telephone grapevines were the most effective means of spreading information to a flock. Now, One Call announces our services every Friday, the web site keeps us up to date, and the computer, projector and screen help lead us through our Sunday service. We will soon be on social media, Facebook, where we can share even more information with more people.
In 1971 Pope Paul VI said, "The People of God walk in history." In the intervening 43 years, the world of communications and connectivity has exploded. The history we walk in now is filled with mobile devices, social networks, wide Internet accessibility, and there is technology surrounding us wherever we go. There is a strong need to both train our children in the use of electronic media and help them see all the wonderful ways it can affect our lives. We want to share with them how technology can be a great tool for spreading God’s word.
As we celebrate and thank you today I believe, John must have been writing about all of you and the wonderful and generous way you have supported the project we are celebrating. In 1 John 3:18-19, he said, “Love must not be a matter of words or talk; it must be genuine and show itself in action.”
Thank you everyone. Let’s pray together
We give you thanks, O God, creator of the universe, for your abundant gifts. By your holy wisdom all things have been made to reflect your glory, to sustain life, and for the use and delights of your living creatures. Send your blessing upon us, to this place of worship, and upon the gifts which we set apart today to your praise and honor. We give you thanks for the new audio and video equipment. May we always use it to fill this place with sights and sounds that please and honor You. May it be a place where Your will is done and Your name glorified and may it be a home for the community and a haven for the stranger, a safe place for laughter, for tears, and wonder; and a center for acts of service and deeds of love; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Shannon's Recollections
“And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!”
These words from Psalm 90:17 and two of the songs in the prelude, Holy, Holy, Holy and In the Garden were spoken and played 60 years ago when a celebration service was held because the Chimes, Baptismal Font, Candelabras, and a Kneeling Rail were installed in the sanctuary.
60 years later, we want to welcome you to today’s celebration. We are celebrating the audio/video equipment we now have in our sanctuary. And most of all, we are celebrating the loving and giving people of the congregation. Whenever we have a need, you are always there to help meet it. You are all special and each of you makes our church wonderful.
It’s my pleasure to introduce the Technology Committee to you.
First, I’d like to introduce the people who helped us get this whole Technology journey started in 2005. There are people who are no longer on the committee, but whose early efforts were critical to our success and there are a couple of us who have been on the team since the beginning. These people are: Ruth Green, Jackie Linder and her late husband Earl, Luann Parker, Julie Keller, and me. In the beginning, we were called the Web Site Committee.
Our current committee members are: Kevin Aanenson, Barb Bergman, Mitch Bergman, Linda Haken, Dave Hollis, Julie Keller, Justin Keller, Bud Kooiman, Leslie Wajer, and me. We are called the Technology Committee because we have grown to be more than just the keepers of the web site.
Throughout our technology journey, we have had our ups and downs, however, we have never wavered in pursuit of our mission to seek to use technology to improve communication in our congregation and community and to help us to grow physically, intellectually and spiritually. One person has made a major contribution in keeping us true to that mission. She is responsible for forming the team in 2005. She identified people to serve on the committee and helped those people use their strengths to make the overall team stronger. She has personally maintained the web site for the nine years of its existence. Without her drive and determination, we may not have made the improvements and advances we are celebrating today. Would everyone please join me in thanking Julie Keller.
Most of the people on the Technology committee are not technologically savvy. We have a couple really good Techies, but most of us are average people who use computers and the internet in a number of ways, but not as experts. One thing our committee members have in common though is a belief that to do evangelism and ministry today, you need to have a working knowledge of technology because it enhances the communication of our message. Not just young people, but people of all generations enjoy and appreciate many of the things technology offers, both in and out of the sanctuary. We are working to create an atmosphere where people can connect with God.
For us, technology is important, but it’s not the point. It will be background. The point will always be the preaching of the word of God. We all believe every day is a good day to reach someone with our message of Christ’s love.
The scriptures are timeless and its principles are timeless, but the means by which we convey those principles are culturally sensitive. What I mean is, when the Apostle Paul was living he used the medium of the day. He wrote letters and that’s how we got several books of our Bible. But I can assure you, if Paul were here in 2014, he wouldn’t be just writing letters on parchments. I think he would be embracing whatever means necessary to communicate the mission of the church. He’d have an ipad or tablet in hand as he was inspired to write his letters.
There was a time when the only tablets discussed in most churches were the two inscribed with the Ten Commandments, and church bulletin boards and telephone grapevines were the most effective means of spreading information to a flock. Now, One Call announces our services every Friday, the web site keeps us up to date, and the computer, projector and screen help lead us through our Sunday service. We will soon be on social media, Facebook, where we can share even more information with more people.
In 1971 Pope Paul VI said, "The People of God walk in history." In the intervening 43 years, the world of communications and connectivity has exploded. The history we walk in now is filled with mobile devices, social networks, wide Internet accessibility, and there is technology surrounding us wherever we go. There is a strong need to both train our children in the use of electronic media and help them see all the wonderful ways it can affect our lives. We want to share with them how technology can be a great tool for spreading God’s word.
As we celebrate and thank you today I believe, John must have been writing about all of you and the wonderful and generous way you have supported the project we are celebrating. In 1 John 3:18-19, he said, “Love must not be a matter of words or talk; it must be genuine and show itself in action.”
Thank you everyone. Let’s pray together
We give you thanks, O God, creator of the universe, for your abundant gifts. By your holy wisdom all things have been made to reflect your glory, to sustain life, and for the use and delights of your living creatures. Send your blessing upon us, to this place of worship, and upon the gifts which we set apart today to your praise and honor. We give you thanks for the new audio and video equipment. May we always use it to fill this place with sights and sounds that please and honor You. May it be a place where Your will is done and Your name glorified and may it be a home for the community and a haven for the stranger, a safe place for laughter, for tears, and wonder; and a center for acts of service and deeds of love; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen