A Word from Pastor Don . . . Dear Friends, I’d like to update you on one facet of the transition I am making from being the Senior Pastor at Washington Church to launching out into the city at-large with Toledo Together. One of the largest changes for me will be to no longer have a regular venue in which to preach or teach. For decades this has been one of the great loves of my life. During July and August I have intentionally encouraged Jimmy to preach more often than I do in preparation for the new year. I will preach a six or eight week series in the Fall, something along the lines of my last words to you. Notwithstanding, my main concern is to prepare everyone as much as possible for the transition. All of my preaching and teaching has been birthed from my prayer time with Jesus. I’ve always attempted to faithfully process with Him what it is that He would have me share with you. These last weeks when I have not preached I have been delightfully surprised that my time in prayer with God has changed, much more silence, much less talking, simply sitting together. Not better or worse, just different. I am so grateful to God for our longer than normal pastoral transition process. We still have five months more together, being with each other on a weekly basis. It seems that my gratitude to our Heavenly Father for you increases as the days pass. May we all find August restorative as we head into a new school year this fall, as vacations wind down and activities start to wind back up. Love – your friend, Pastor Don An Inside Look at the Community Life of Washington Church August 2015 THE CONNECTOR Our Council of Elders Ann Bernius Barry Burnham Keith Crist Don Fothergill Linda Gottfried Deane Horne Judy Horne Carol Kimball Eric Polz Todd Taylor Ben Tousley The Church Staff Head of the Church ............................. Jesus Christ Ministers ................................... All of God’s People Pastor ................................................. Don Fothergill Associate Pastor .............................. Jimmy Crowell Church Administrator .......................... Judy Horne Worship Director ............................. Bridgett Drake Secretary .............................................. Jenny Shepler Chief Custodian .................................. Josh Cowden The Church Office Office Hours 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday — Friday Phone .............................................. 419-536-3789 Email ................... [email protected]www.washingtonchurch.org Worship Service — Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Connecting Together with God
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A Word from Pastor Don . . .
Dear Friends,
I’d like to update you on one facet of the transition I am
making from being the Senior Pastor at Washington
Church to launching out into the city at-large with Toledo
Together. One of the largest changes for me will be to
no longer have a regular venue in which to preach or
teach. For decades this has been one of the great loves of
my life. During July and August I have intentionally
encouraged Jimmy to preach more often than I do in
preparation for the new year. I will preach a six or eight
week series in the Fall, something along the lines of my
last words to you. Notwithstanding, my main concern is
to prepare everyone as much as possible for the
transition.
All of my preaching and teaching has been birthed from
my prayer time with Jesus. I’ve always attempted to
faithfully process with Him what it is that He would have
me share with you.
These last weeks when I have not preached I have been
delightfully surprised that my time in prayer with God has
changed, much more silence, much less talking, simply
sitting together. Not better or worse, just different.
I am so grateful to God for our longer than normal
pastoral transition process. We still have five months
more together, being with each other on a weekly basis. It
seems that my gratitude to our Heavenly Father for you
increases as the days pass.
May we all find August restorative as we head into a new
school year this fall, as vacations wind down and activities
start to wind back up.
Love – your friend,
Pastor Don
An Inside Look at the Community Life of Washington Church August 2015
THE CONNECTOR
Our Council of Elders
Ann Bernius
Barry Burnham
Keith Crist
Don Fothergill
Linda Gottfried
Deane Horne
Judy Horne
Carol Kimball
Eric Polz
Todd Taylor
Ben Tousley
The Church Staff
Head of the Church ............................. Jesus Christ
Ministers ................................... All of God’s People
Pastor ................................................. Don Fothergill
Associate Pastor .............................. Jimmy Crowell
Church Administrator .......................... Judy Horne
Worship Director ............................. Bridgett Drake
Questions? Contact Ben Tousley at 419-277-1078 or Eric Polz at 419-705-3290
Page 3
Online Giving
We are excited to provide the opportunity for
online giving. Online Giving is a fast, safe,
and secure way to support the ministry of
Washington Church.
This QR code can be scanned by your
mobile phone with a QR reader. It
will take you to the Washington
Church online giving site.
There was a neighborhood in
which the neighbors knew each
other well. One of the neighbors
had just recently lost their dog,
who passed away from old age.
The neighbor next door to the one who had lost
the dog came up with a great idea; he decided to
go over and pick up all the poop in the yard as a
favor to his neighbor who was still grieving the
loss of their dog.
As he walked over and began to pick up the poop,
(something he thought was very noble since he
himself did not have a dog), the neighbor who had
just lost their dog came out of the house and asked
him to stop. "Please just leave it as it is." Not
understanding why, the neighbor showing the
kind act walked home confused.
Why would anyone not want someone else to help
them with a chore around the house, especially a
chore that is never fun, like picking up dog
poop? If you have ever lost someone or
something close to you, you already know the
answer.
When we go through suffering, loss, hardship, and
pain, or when we watch others go through it, often
our first instinct is to try to alleviate the pain in
some way. For human beings, death is a part of
life; suffering, pain and loss are also a part of
what it means to be human. If we attempt to
bypass this aspect of life, we ironically end up
suffering more. As human beings, we need to
allow ourselves to grieve and go through the
process of letting go, mourning our losses so that
we are empowered to move forward. That is why
the neighbor who lost his dog still needed to see
signs of the dog’s existence to help in the grieving
process.
Scriptures speak a great deal about the topics of
suffering, loss, pain and many other feelings that
go with what it means to be human. The one that
I often turn to is Isaiah 41:10. It reminds me that
God knows about my loss, my pain, my suffering
but also that God is with me through it all.
As you experience what it is like to be human,
(either in your own life or in the life of someone
you care about) don’t be afraid to enter into the
pain and suffering that comes with life. This is the
very thing that God does with us. And whatever
you do, however well intended, “don’t pick up
their poop.”
Isaiah 41:10 "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand"
Pastor Jimmy
Don’t Pick Up The Poop
Join me monthly for an hour of yoga in the chapel at
Washington Church. This event is for women only. I
encourage you to invite friends to join us! Wear
comfortable clothes and bring a yoga mat if you
have one. Watch the bulletin for our next yoga date
in August. Questions? Contact Sarah Duvall at (619)