Hello everyone!
Since stepping into the role of Children's Ministry Deacon in January, I've been meaning to write a note to you--parents and volunteers of the children's ministry at Emmaus Road, as well as the entire road crew who may at some point or another be a parent or volunteer in these programs.
First, I would like to thank all the volunteers who have and are currently serving to keep our programs going each Sunday. I am still learning about all that goes on with the various groups, but see that we have many wonderful people investing in important ways in the lives of the children and young adults at Emmaus Road. So thank you for all that you have done and are doing! Mike and I are excited for our own son, Marcus, to be a part of what is going on as he grows.
I would also like to ask that you view me as someone you can approach to talk about your role and health as a volunteer, and/or our children's programs in general. Some of these conversations may revolve around a quick question, others may be something you wish me to represent to the Emmaus Road council. As the council seeks to make decisions on behalf of the church, it is important that the wider church body has the opportunity to provide input.
If you are interested in being aware of what the council is currently discussing, feel free to read the latest Council notes. You may approach your small group leader, elder, or myself if you have questions or input on a particular topic.
Have a great week and I'll see many of you at church this coming Sunday!
Teresa Elenbaas
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
NEW ELDERS
Road Crew, most of you participated in the October/November nomination process to raise up two new shepherding Elders. You have been waiting patiently to hear results! Instead of two, you actually raised up three! Everyone in the pool received nominations; the hope and intention, though, was to identify at least two people who would receive the most. What emerged from the count, however, were three individuals who shared the most nominations; it seems wise to follow that lead and receive three new Elders. This Sunday, Mark R., Rennie Araucto, and Kurt Munson will be publicly ordained during a prayer time in our worship service. Thank God who provides leadership from, and for, His church.
In the very near future, you will most likely be contacted by one of the Elders, David Anema, Chandra Mullenix, Beth DeVries, Mark R., Rennie Araucto, or Kurt Munson, who will identify themselves as "your elder," a person who will pray for you, be available to discuss ministry matters, and help you find your way into fellowship and service.
In the very near future, you will most likely be contacted by one of the Elders, David Anema, Chandra Mullenix, Beth DeVries, Mark R., Rennie Araucto, or Kurt Munson, who will identify themselves as "your elder," a person who will pray for you, be available to discuss ministry matters, and help you find your way into fellowship and service.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
TERESA ELENBAAS, CHILDREN'S MINISTRY LEADER
We have a new Children's Ministry Leader (Deacon role), as Teresa Elenbaas volunteers to step into the role this coming January 2010! Teresa follows Christina Nelson and Sarah Groen-Colyn, who have both previously served Emmaus Road in this capacity. Teresa and Mike have been part of Emmaus Road for about two years, joined by little Marcus last December. Teresa has a background in teaching and art, and has been a part of the Church as long as she can remember. Much of her formative years were spent in a congregation around the same size as Emmaus Road, with many similar dynamics; Teresa is familiar with mixing age groups and being necessarily adaptive with curriculum and ministry design. Stepping into this leadership position joyfully, Teresa is also thinking carefully about how she will balance a life already filled with wonderful responsibilities; her particular leadership routine will be shaped by her God given strengths and capacities. Emmaus Road is currently served by several volunteers who help coordinate ministry to our various age groups of children and youth; Teresa will focus on supporting these folks, as well as scheduling future conversations and planning meetings as our Children and Youth ministry continues to develop.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
NOMINATING ELDERS, NOVEMBER 2009
It is time to pray and raise up two Elders to join three remaining: David Anema, Chandra Mullenix, and Beth DeVries.
Final Candidate Pool as of October 18:
Amy Araucto
Rennie Araucto
Brad Bishop
Cornell Blackwell
Anna-Marie Chainus
Kurt Munson
Christina Nelson
Tim Phipps
Mark R.
Calling (Roles/Goals) of Elders among Emmaus Road
• Meet regularly to pray for church, share updates
• Shepherd congregation through visitation, prayer, listening; seek to connect with members in the margins – ill, absent, lonely, confined
• Advise and inform Road Crew
• Encourage Deacons, other leaders, along w/Pastor
• Assist Pastor in calling and appointing leaders
• Receive/release Road Crew members
• Consent to term of two years minimally
Criteria (Emmaus Road's particulars, in addition to biblical criteria):
• Member of Road Crew (no time requirement)
• Relationally connected (no Small Group membership requirement, but encouraged)
• Prayerful; student of Word
• Will not serve if married to another Elder nominee
• Not overly burdened by role as Deacon
• Meet biblical requirements: 1 Timothy 3:1-12; 5:17; Titus 1:6-9 provide a non-exhaustive list of biblical qualifications for those recognized as Elders in the church
Schedule
1. October 15: Elders finished speaking to members across districts to gather a pool of willing candidates.
2. October 18: candidate list published online and distributed Sunday morning to Road Crew; members encouraged to pray for one week.
3. October 25-November 1: Road Crew members privately communicate two nominees/choices to Pastor Likkel; email, call, write, fold ballot in white box on Sunday, etc.
4. November 2: Pastor contacts emerging candidates and discusses Eldership
5. November 15: Pastor announces church's new Elders
6. November 22 (or thereabouts): New Elders ordained/installed; previous Elders blessed and released
Final Candidate Pool as of October 18:
Amy Araucto
Rennie Araucto
Brad Bishop
Cornell Blackwell
Anna-Marie Chainus
Kurt Munson
Christina Nelson
Tim Phipps
Mark R.
Calling (Roles/Goals) of Elders among Emmaus Road
• Meet regularly to pray for church, share updates
• Shepherd congregation through visitation, prayer, listening; seek to connect with members in the margins – ill, absent, lonely, confined
• Advise and inform Road Crew
• Encourage Deacons, other leaders, along w/Pastor
• Assist Pastor in calling and appointing leaders
• Receive/release Road Crew members
• Consent to term of two years minimally
Criteria (Emmaus Road's particulars, in addition to biblical criteria):
• Member of Road Crew (no time requirement)
• Relationally connected (no Small Group membership requirement, but encouraged)
• Prayerful; student of Word
• Will not serve if married to another Elder nominee
• Not overly burdened by role as Deacon
• Meet biblical requirements: 1 Timothy 3:1-12; 5:17; Titus 1:6-9 provide a non-exhaustive list of biblical qualifications for those recognized as Elders in the church
Schedule
1. October 15: Elders finished speaking to members across districts to gather a pool of willing candidates.
2. October 18: candidate list published online and distributed Sunday morning to Road Crew; members encouraged to pray for one week.
3. October 25-November 1: Road Crew members privately communicate two nominees/choices to Pastor Likkel; email, call, write, fold ballot in white box on Sunday, etc.
4. November 2: Pastor contacts emerging candidates and discusses Eldership
5. November 15: Pastor announces church's new Elders
6. November 22 (or thereabouts): New Elders ordained/installed; previous Elders blessed and released
ROAD CREW MINUTES, OCTOBER 15, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009 – Street Bean
Goals of Meeting:
1. Welcome new members
2. Receive elder nominee list; update on nomination process
3. Vote on budget
4. Receive ministry reports/updates
5. Pray
____________________________________________________________________________
7:10 Elder DeVries welcomed everyone; Pastor Likkel read a Psalm and opened with prayer
7:15 NEW MEMBERS
Pastor Likkel introduced David and Jessie Elenbaas, Aaron and Kristen Vander Linden, and Cornel Blackwell; all had completed the Milestones to Membership process and affirmed the Membership Covenant to join the Road Crew
7:25 ELDER NOMINEES UPDATE
Elder DeVries announced that Suellen Yerger had chosen to step down from leadership, having served a three year term; her service is appreciated, and her presence in Council will be missed!
Pastor Likkel presented updated Elder Candidacy Criterion as discussed by Council:
Henceforth, a candidate for nomination to the office of Elder for Emmaus Road should be:
• Member of Road Crew (no time requirement)
• Relationally connected (no Small Group membership requirement, but encouraged)
• Elders put eligibility list together after individual conversations with members across districts
• Minimum commitment two years; no requirement to leave after three
• Continue rule to permit only one member of a married couple as Elder
Names of eleven Elder candidates were announced, ten of whom had consented to being nominated as Elders, one of whom had said “Maybe”…
7:35 BUDGET
Treasurer Mike Colyn handed out hard copies of Stewardship Team’s proposed budget for ministry year 2009/10
• Pastor Likkel explained the meaning of “Ministry Shares” in the Tithing category; a way for small churches to do big things, within the Christian Reformed denomination, each congregation shares an agreed upon amount of money per adult member; the funds are pooled together and spent on missionary work, relief work, new church plants, etc.; Emmaus Road paid her Classical Ministry Shares at the end of this recent year, and plans to do the same for 09/10
• Pastor Likkel also shared that the Likkels want to change health insurance approach and bring the monthly premium back to where it was prior to Aug. ’09 when it jumped considerably
• At a certain point, Eric and Alicia Likkel left the meeting and the Road Crew deliberated over the budget with Treasurer Colyn presiding; after 10 or 15 minutes, Road Crew voted to approve the Budget
8:00 GODLY PLAY; PARENT MINISTRY
• Pastor Likkel announced that the candidate for the Godly Play Specialist who had shown great interest in the position had backed out the night before she was going to visit and accept the position. Chad DeVries is heading up an effort to find further candidates.
• Pastor Likkel described a “reframing” of our approach to Children’s Ministry: Parent Ministry. Promising a letter to the congregation, Likkel pledged to begin leading an effort to emphasize Church Beyond Sunday as a parental focus, whereas much of our emphasis – too much in the pastor’s opinion – has been placed on Sunday morning programming for our children. This will become a peer to peer strengthening of relationships between parents, for the sake of better faith building among our young.
8:15 GROUNDWORKS; BELLTOWN FORCE (David Anema, Daniel Tidwell)
• Pastor Likkel expressed great excitement and encouragement, along with gratitude to Jennifer Henry, for the way Groundworks Sundays have been launced. Likkel also noted that the projects began with less personal contact with neighbors, but have, as of the last Groundworks Sunday, become more personal and given the church greater opportunity to know some of our neighbors.
• Pastor Likkel introduced David Anema and described his role as an Americorps Volunteer in Belltown; David will be spending 20 hours per week toward Community Development work on behalf of the church; this is a government grant program that churches are allowed to make use of. Next, Likkel introduced Daniel Tidwell, a Mars Hill Graduate School student who is interning with Emmaus Road this year; Daniel’s internship will overlap in many ways with David Anema’s Americorps activity. Likkel also praised Jennifer Henry for her efforts in connecting Emmaus Road with Belltown neighbors via Catholic Community Servies.
8:30 WRAP-UP QUESTIONS/COMMENTS
Elder DeVries pointed out that the meeting had moved along very quickly; there was time for general questions and/or comments
• Though the budget had been voted on and approved, a question was voiced about making a specific change to the budget, possibly delaying funds toward hiring a Godly Play specialist and seeing if the current volunteers could function without anyone in that role. Pastor Likkel responded on behalf of the volunteers, declaring need for this role to be filled: current volunteers (small number of parents) have stated their willingness/ability to fulfill role of “primary storyteller” f%or a few more months, but only with the hope of finding someone to step into the role Amanda Houston vacated last spring. The question of the entire budget, however, could be revisited in another six months, and if changes need to be made, Road Crew and Council could act, including revisiting the hiring of a specialist in this role.
• Pastor Likkel took this topic as an opportunity to declare the need for a Children’s Ministry Deacon, someone who would volunteer to be a liaison between parents and the Godly Play Specialist, as well as someone who would oversee the various clusters of children and volunteers who comprise Emmaus Road’s Children’s Ministry on Sunday mornings. Currently, each cluster of children and volunteer adults are functioning on their own, but nobody is overseeing the whole effort, responding to issues, or casting vision. An open invitation to the Road Crew was expressed, for someone to come forward and follow in the footsteps of Chrisitna Gerrish-Nelson, and before her, Sarah Groen-Colyn.
• The desire to see 100% of parents involved and sharing in Children’s Ministry was reiterated by more than one person
• A vision of Groundworks Sundays including a “junior crew” of children and/or youth all working together on some project was met with enthusiasm.
• The question of whether or not to pursue childcare for future Road Crew meetings was raised; several parents expressed interest; Council will line it up for next time
8:45 PRAYER
Road Crew divided into small groups and prayed for a few minutes before dismissing.
9:00 DISMISS
Road Crew dismissed on time!
Goals of Meeting:
1. Welcome new members
2. Receive elder nominee list; update on nomination process
3. Vote on budget
4. Receive ministry reports/updates
5. Pray
____________________________________________________________________________
7:10 Elder DeVries welcomed everyone; Pastor Likkel read a Psalm and opened with prayer
7:15 NEW MEMBERS
Pastor Likkel introduced David and Jessie Elenbaas, Aaron and Kristen Vander Linden, and Cornel Blackwell; all had completed the Milestones to Membership process and affirmed the Membership Covenant to join the Road Crew
7:25 ELDER NOMINEES UPDATE
Elder DeVries announced that Suellen Yerger had chosen to step down from leadership, having served a three year term; her service is appreciated, and her presence in Council will be missed!
Pastor Likkel presented updated Elder Candidacy Criterion as discussed by Council:
Henceforth, a candidate for nomination to the office of Elder for Emmaus Road should be:
• Member of Road Crew (no time requirement)
• Relationally connected (no Small Group membership requirement, but encouraged)
• Elders put eligibility list together after individual conversations with members across districts
• Minimum commitment two years; no requirement to leave after three
• Continue rule to permit only one member of a married couple as Elder
Names of eleven Elder candidates were announced, ten of whom had consented to being nominated as Elders, one of whom had said “Maybe”…
7:35 BUDGET
Treasurer Mike Colyn handed out hard copies of Stewardship Team’s proposed budget for ministry year 2009/10
• Pastor Likkel explained the meaning of “Ministry Shares” in the Tithing category; a way for small churches to do big things, within the Christian Reformed denomination, each congregation shares an agreed upon amount of money per adult member; the funds are pooled together and spent on missionary work, relief work, new church plants, etc.; Emmaus Road paid her Classical Ministry Shares at the end of this recent year, and plans to do the same for 09/10
• Pastor Likkel also shared that the Likkels want to change health insurance approach and bring the monthly premium back to where it was prior to Aug. ’09 when it jumped considerably
• At a certain point, Eric and Alicia Likkel left the meeting and the Road Crew deliberated over the budget with Treasurer Colyn presiding; after 10 or 15 minutes, Road Crew voted to approve the Budget
8:00 GODLY PLAY; PARENT MINISTRY
• Pastor Likkel announced that the candidate for the Godly Play Specialist who had shown great interest in the position had backed out the night before she was going to visit and accept the position. Chad DeVries is heading up an effort to find further candidates.
• Pastor Likkel described a “reframing” of our approach to Children’s Ministry: Parent Ministry. Promising a letter to the congregation, Likkel pledged to begin leading an effort to emphasize Church Beyond Sunday as a parental focus, whereas much of our emphasis – too much in the pastor’s opinion – has been placed on Sunday morning programming for our children. This will become a peer to peer strengthening of relationships between parents, for the sake of better faith building among our young.
8:15 GROUNDWORKS; BELLTOWN FORCE (David Anema, Daniel Tidwell)
• Pastor Likkel expressed great excitement and encouragement, along with gratitude to Jennifer Henry, for the way Groundworks Sundays have been launced. Likkel also noted that the projects began with less personal contact with neighbors, but have, as of the last Groundworks Sunday, become more personal and given the church greater opportunity to know some of our neighbors.
• Pastor Likkel introduced David Anema and described his role as an Americorps Volunteer in Belltown; David will be spending 20 hours per week toward Community Development work on behalf of the church; this is a government grant program that churches are allowed to make use of. Next, Likkel introduced Daniel Tidwell, a Mars Hill Graduate School student who is interning with Emmaus Road this year; Daniel’s internship will overlap in many ways with David Anema’s Americorps activity. Likkel also praised Jennifer Henry for her efforts in connecting Emmaus Road with Belltown neighbors via Catholic Community Servies.
8:30 WRAP-UP QUESTIONS/COMMENTS
Elder DeVries pointed out that the meeting had moved along very quickly; there was time for general questions and/or comments
• Though the budget had been voted on and approved, a question was voiced about making a specific change to the budget, possibly delaying funds toward hiring a Godly Play specialist and seeing if the current volunteers could function without anyone in that role. Pastor Likkel responded on behalf of the volunteers, declaring need for this role to be filled: current volunteers (small number of parents) have stated their willingness/ability to fulfill role of “primary storyteller” f%or a few more months, but only with the hope of finding someone to step into the role Amanda Houston vacated last spring. The question of the entire budget, however, could be revisited in another six months, and if changes need to be made, Road Crew and Council could act, including revisiting the hiring of a specialist in this role.
• Pastor Likkel took this topic as an opportunity to declare the need for a Children’s Ministry Deacon, someone who would volunteer to be a liaison between parents and the Godly Play Specialist, as well as someone who would oversee the various clusters of children and volunteers who comprise Emmaus Road’s Children’s Ministry on Sunday mornings. Currently, each cluster of children and volunteer adults are functioning on their own, but nobody is overseeing the whole effort, responding to issues, or casting vision. An open invitation to the Road Crew was expressed, for someone to come forward and follow in the footsteps of Chrisitna Gerrish-Nelson, and before her, Sarah Groen-Colyn.
• The desire to see 100% of parents involved and sharing in Children’s Ministry was reiterated by more than one person
• A vision of Groundworks Sundays including a “junior crew” of children and/or youth all working together on some project was met with enthusiasm.
• The question of whether or not to pursue childcare for future Road Crew meetings was raised; several parents expressed interest; Council will line it up for next time
8:45 PRAYER
Road Crew divided into small groups and prayed for a few minutes before dismissing.
9:00 DISMISS
Road Crew dismissed on time!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
ROAD CREW - OCTOBER 15, 7PM, STREET BEAN
7PM, STREET BEAN (across from New Horizons)
- New Members
- Elder Nominees Update
- Budget
- Godly Play Update
- Parent Ministry
- Groundworks Update
- Belltown Force: David Anema, Americorps; Daniel Tidwell, Mars Hill Grad. Intern
There will be snacks!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
NEW VOLUNTEERS ASSUME ROLES
Having served Emmaus Road as the primary volunteer administrator for a few years, Chandra Mullenix is stepping away from those duties, as well as the Stewardship Team, in order to step into a new period of ministry as an Elder. Several individuals are taking the baton, including Angie R., who now adds the eMonthly to Prayer Chain responsibilities; Ryan Engel, Stewardship Team; Brad Bishop, art director and bulletin design; Teresa Elenbaas, retreat coordinator; Jennifer Henry, New Horizons Food Group liaison. We thank and praise God for giving gifts, strengths, and resources among us; we encourage all of you who are willing to share your time and energy with the church. Thank you, Chandra, for the many ways you have been faithfully serving among us over the past few years.
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