Pastor's Corner

April Showers Bring… New Members!

On Sunday, April 28^th, we welcomed 11 new members who had been approved by Session the week before. The Membership Committee has been working to ensure a smooth transition, offering hospitality and guidance in the process.

The Confirmation class has met over the course of the past two years to prepare for membership. In the first year, Heidi Sjostrom and Denise Fried team-taught the class on Wonderful Wednesdays. The second year, Denise was at the helm on those Wednesdays and other meeting nights. Will Awve, Meron Ciha, Jordan Crump, Liam McMahon, Brianna Russell have decided to join at this time. Using re:form, a confirmation curriculum comprised of animated DVDs that ask questions like: “Can I be a Christian without going to church?” and "Who wrote the Bible, God or humans?”, “working” in an anti-workbook, perusing the Study Bible, taking advantage of opportunities for service at St. Ben’s food program and the Mission Blitz, the group wrestled with Reformed theology and everyday life questions. Just ask them!

The other group of new members met for two sessions of Growing in Faith, approaching Reformed traditions, personal faith questions, church governance and local congregational practices as an ongoing learning process. Grant Jones, an avid runner married to friend of the congregation, Annie Devine; Deborah and Mark VanderKinter, world travelers, life-long learners and parents to Ian and Zariah; Jenny Ellis and Matthew Potts, who plan to be married at WPC in August and are devoted parents of young Donovan; and Susan Riese, a veteran mission-tripper, comprise this new class of adult new members. A couple of other interested folks took the class to learn more about the Presbyterian Church and WPC in particular.

I have given you just a glimpse of these new members and a peek into the process through which they decided to join the church. Find out more about them! Seek them out in coffee hour; invite them to an Adult Enrichment Class or your Dinner for 7,8, or 9; check out their willingness to play softball or to be a liturgist or to join the Tosa Pres Young Adults (TPYA). Engage the young confirmands about their questions of faith, or ask them to help you with yours! Find out what instruments they play, what sports they’re interested in and what kind of books or music engage them.

While April showers bring new members, it takes the ongoing nurture of the congregation to water, nourish and tend to the garden that God has given us. Let’s grow in faith together and co-create a burgeoning garden of members at Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church!