Transitions
A message from Pastor Holly Aastuen

Our weather seems to be confused lately--with snow lingering into May, then a day that topped 98 degrees, surrounded by days in the 60s, and now, as I write this, days and days of rain plus word of devastating tornados in the South. Who knows what the weather will be like from one day to the next?

The seasons of the church are fluctuating, too, as we move into summer with its church softball season and a more relaxed schedule as people take the opportunity to enjoy the slower pace of the season.

As we move forward on our Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) process, I want to thank all who came to the Visioning Process in early May. We hope to refine the vision statements that came out of that process so that we have an overarching vision for who we are and what we are about as a church community. This new vision will help us moving forward with HCI. Our leadership team is also working on a timeline to get some things from our HCI plan into place so that building improvement and committee restructuring can be in place by the end of this year.

Because of this congregation's willingness to embrace new challenges, this congregation is going to make some changes for the better.

Speaking of change, I hope you will join me in wishing well in her new ventures, our Christian Education and Youth Director, Marjie Brodersen. She has served our congregation well for the last 10 years and we are so grateful for her faithful and fruitful ministries among us. In this Advance you will find a farewell letter from Marjie and an invitation to her farewell party on June 16.

As change is in the air, we give thanks for the constant and consistent love of God, that never changes for us and always keeps us in God's loving embrace.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

On the journey,

You Are Invited
Please join us on Sunday, June 16, to celebrate Marjie Brodersens' ten years of ministry as our Christian Education and Youth Director. Marjie has resigned from her position, effective June 9, but is planning to continue to be an active part of this congregation as a faithful church member. Please come and thank her for all she has meant to us. The celebration will take place in Fellowship Hall immediately following Worship.
Click here to see Marjie's letter to the congregation

Aldersgate Men's Softball
The season is underway, and the team would like to see you at the ballpark. They play just about every Monday evening. Check out the schedule below and come cheer on the team!

• June 3: 6:15 pm, Dakota East
• June 10: 6:15 pm, Dakota East
• June 17: 7:15 pm, Dakota East
• June 24: 8:15 pm, Aquila #3
• July 1: 8:15 pm, Aquila #3

Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) Update
The leaders of the congregation met on Sunday afternoon, May 5, to imagine a new vision for our congregation. The HCI Leadership Team is in the process of fine tuning the work that came out of that time together and will have a vision statement to share with the congregation soon. The HCI Leadership Team is meeting regularly to make sure that the initiatives outlined in the Consultation Final Report continue to move forward in a timely fashion.