Session Notes: July 2024

Your Session sat for its regular monthly meeting this week.  Rev. Ensign moderated.

Every Session meeting begins with a prayer and a time of spiritual formation.  This time, Pastor David led us through a lectio divina exercise around Psalm 146.  We mention it because this is something new for Western.  It’s David's intention to expose us to many new things during his time here.  You’ve already seen some examples in worship -- stay tuned for more.

Speaking of new things, please watch for two new activities that the Anti-Racism Interest Group, now a part of the Spiritual Formation Ministry, rolls out soon.

We received an update on our ongoing building discussions with Miriam’s Kitchen from Elders Ari Brose and Anna Zelinsky.  Two things are apparent at this stage.  Both MK and Western are eager to pursue a new comprehensive arrangement that essentially reverses our roles in the use of space in the building.  But, if this gets done, it will involve a complicated process, subject to significant outside factors (funding and permitting, to name two), and will take years, not months, to complete.

The next step is a customary Memorandum of Understanding with Miriam’s.

Good news.  Things are moving forward with our Designated Pastor search.  We’ve already begun to receive responses to our vacancy announcement (MDP, the Ministry Discernment Profile).  Now the Session, serving as the Pastor Nominating Committee as a whole, begins to score each application (PDP, the Pastor Discernment Profile) and build a candidate roster.  Elder Susie Farr leads this effort.

Thanks for reading.  The Holy Spirit is at work at Western.