Youth Program
The Junior and Senior High Youth groups have grown. These seasons in church youth groups can yield wonderful opportunities for the congregation and the youth in our work together. With the upcoming quadrennial National Youth Conference for senior highs and several baptismal inquiries from junior highs we want to encourage our new teachers (the Eddys and Bachmans), advisors, and Christian Education Committee in their work in this area.
Non-Traditional Love Feast
The deacons offered the Love Feast ordinance in a new way this past spring. Communion was offered as part of morning worship, the meal followed immediately after the morning worship, and feet washing took place at the end of the meal. This change in format, along with brief reflections on the Love Feast shared prior to worship on three preceding Sundays, resulted in a much higher attendance and a good number of new participants and observers.
Website
The new website is up and running thanks to the A/R Committee. Our office staff will serve as our Web Administrator and conversation continues as to how best to use the site while tending to privacy concerns.
Plan of Organization (PO)
Changes in the PO are coming to this CBM including: allowing alternate forms of notification; extending tenure for treasurer and financial secretary to four terms; unexpired terms not counting against tenure; and final CBM approval of deacons called through the alternate plan. Corrections to the “committee” will be offered in 2014-2015.
Digital Newsletter Began
Most feedback about the newsletter change has been positive. Still, improvements are coming in the use of pictures. A total of 20 copies are being mailed to recipients who have requested them. Hardcopies are also available each month in the narthex.
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2013 Stats |
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| Members |
174 |
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| 2013 IN (B, L, R) |
+3, +1, +2(A)* |
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| 2013 OUT (D, L) |
-4, -1 |
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| Associate Members* |
6 |
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* Associate members are not counted in the total membership number for denominational reports. |
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| Average Attendance |
92 |
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| Messenger Subscriptions |
24 |
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| Resident Households |
98 |
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Membership Changes:
Baptisms: Emma Bachman, Chandler Comer, Leah Landes
Letter of Transfer In: Matthew Landes
Reaffirmation of Faith: Jeff and Carolyn Strong (Evan and Seth)
Letter of Transfer Out: Jeff Davidson
Deaths: Dick Sours, Reta Kuper, Ella Mae Gregory, Ruth Rodier
Also Of Note
We continue to host the Inova Health Fair bus on a monthly basis;
Vern Wingert is working on the church membership review for the deacons. The last review was in 1999;
I attended profession growth experiences: Society of Biblical Literature in Baltimore and Festival of Homiletics in Nashville;
Babies born to us this year were Benjamin Landes (born 7/5/13 to Leah and Matt); Liam Hume (born 7/7/13 to Michelle and Don); Molly Chou Weins (born 6/1/13 to Annie and Peter, dedicated (8/5/13);
I provided funeral services for Ruth Rodier (7/20), Breedens (8/3), Joe DeLeon (8/10), Ella May Gregory (8/29);
Several small-group book studies and two Brethren Beliefs classes were held in 2013;
Chandler Comer and Leah Landes were baptized Easter Morning while Emma Bachman was baptized in November 17;
We dedicated baby Jane Campbell Eddy 2/24/13 with assistance from John’s father, an ordained minister from New York.
Angela Finet continued discernment regarding next steps in ministry training through 2013. She and another individual in the church considering ministry, met with me on several occasions. Claire Waggener is in her final year at the Seminary.
Oakton Church hosted “Deep Leadership” district seminar with Stan Dueck (3/2/13).
After months of hard work we secured both an Occupancy Certificate and a Maximum Occupancy Load posting from the county.
I will be speaking at the 2014 Bethany Seminary Commencement ceremonies May 9-10.
CBM Pastor’s Report Page 2: Looking Forward
While none of us know what the future holds, here are some of the things we might look forward to at Oakton Church of the Brethren in 2014
Vital Ministry Journey (VMJ)
The board voted to enter the Vital Ministries Journey. Along with the deacon body they will provide leadership for this small-group lectio divina styled Bible study scheduled between Ash Wednesday and Pentecost 2014. The study calls for a six session Bible study in small-group gatherings (3-4 people each) to help build relationships and identify directions for our program and ministry. We plan to use feedback from these groups to sponsor our board/deacon retreat in mid-2014. Along these lines the year begins with a two-month sermon series recognizing and reflecting on the loss of “the way church used to be” and the exciting possibilities of the new Christianity now emerging.
Conversations About What We Do
…and why we do it
Using Committee descriptions in the Plan of Organization we might spend time this coming year connecting what we do to why we do it. How do we connect lawn-care with Jesus-following? How do we recognize Vacation Bible School as Jesus-following? How does worship sponsor and support Jesus-following? How we talk about what we do helps us and others understand why we really do it and what we really want to be as the Body of Christ.
Over the years our practices have replaced our purposes. So as we reexamine the committee descriptions and tasks, as we listen to the VMJ responses and hopes for the future, we will also have opportunity to more clearly connect our practices with our purposes — our functions with our faith.
Encourage People to Take the Plunge
Through personal conversations, Bible and book studies, Brethren Beliefs classes, and invitations during worship we will find ways to encourage people to step into the waters of baptism, renew their affirmation of faith, or connect their faith with a new way of living in the ministry of their particular calling.
And beyond the invitation to “join the church” we want our invitation to be for all of us to “join the work of Jesus.” How might that become evident in each life here? What unique and creative ministries might we give birth? How can we facilitate and encourage this priesthood of all believers to blossom in new ways?
Small Group Ministries
I plan to continue offering small group opportunities in 2014. Some topics already being considered include a study of homiletics and preaching with Tom Long’s book; a study on Kushner’s “When Bad things Happen to Good People;” and sharing around N. T. Wrights “Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense.” Even more exciting would be for a variety of member-driven small-groups to pop up over the year to meet a wide range of needs.
The Joy of our Faith
While we have experienced some significant losses over the past several years, we have also experienced some wonderful gains. New members and friends have been joyfully received. Youth and adults have been baptized and have shared their vows of faith — publically reminding us all of our callings. Through good times and bad we have seen the joy of our faith shine through. These changes of loss and gain will reshape the congregation. I pray that as we perceive and participate in the new thing that God is doing we will be renewed and rekindled, together.
Pastor Chris