Pastor's Report 2015
www.TrinitySanPedro.org Nathan Hoff, Pastor
Pastor’s Report 2015 (June 15-June 15)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13.14
Means of Grace
Holy Word: Summer of 2014
In welcoming many back after the summer, we had an intentionally Jesus focused September and early October following Rally Day primarily from Paul’s letter to the Philippians.
Following the Jesus Series, we turned our attention to His body, the Church in October and November primarily from the book of 1 Thessalonians.
During Advent we had a series on 4 intercessors in the Bible.
After the New Year (during Epiphany), we focused again, in an intentionally inviting way, on Jesus Revealing God. The weeks after Rally Day in the fall and Christmas at the New Year are prime times to invite new people into relationship with Jesus. We offer the Alpha Course in the fall and the Believing Course in the Winter. These message series are intentionally planned to accompany them.
The Lenten season is an annual season of focused discipleship. This year we were looking to relearn the language of the cross in a series entitled Crossish.
On Tuesday nights we dug deeper into the theological depths of the Biblical and historical ways of speaking about the atonement.
After Easter we had a series on how the resurrection of Jesus is also the resurrection of the church. The Essential Series followed on Ascension, Pentecost, and Holy Trinity Sundays.
We just started the Drought Series for the Summer of 2015.
Holy Communion: Offered nearly every week at 8:30am & 5:00pm, 1st/3rd weeks at 10:30am; Late Christmas Eve Service; Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, every Wednesday morning with men and women; First Communion for Angel Gibbs, Anika Gibbs, Sadie Hopkins, Grace Holland, Madison Delgado, Peter Hoff, Samuel Nørgaard, Sebastian Vuoso, Grace Steffans, Eddie Alvarez, Andres Alvarez on Maundy Thursday (or shortly after)
Holy Baptism: August 10 Levin Woesner, March 8 Logan Cuyler, March 22 Lydia Fly, April 4 Angel Gibbs, Anika Gibbs, Andres Alvarez, Adrian Alvarez, David Alvarez; April 5 Hera Serna, April 19 Kaitlin Kinner, Taylor Kinner
Holy Absolution: offered privately.
Other Ministerial Acts
Confirmation: Oct 26 Tyler Askari, Annika Hoff, Sydney Faerber; Apr 4 Andres Alvarez, Angel Gibbs, Anika Gibbs, Jeanne Soudelier
Marriage: Oct 5 Adam Garcia and Amy Quick, Dec 28 Rob Fell and Maria Scott
Burial: Aug 1 Kristi Lucero, Oct 21 June McCarthy, Oct 25 June Fawell, Nov 1 Mary Dudley, Nov 11 Dale Ogden, Jan 24 MaryLou Hansen
Ministry beyond Trinity’s walls: Monthly chapel at Pacific Lutheran High School and Christ Lutheran School. Taught at MI: School of Ministry in Huntington Beach (Kingdom of God). Taught at MI: School of Ministry in San Diego (Pastoral Care). Taught at Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute (Discerning Personal Call). Served as Western Regional Pastor (ex tempore) for the AALC. Served as worship leader and preacher at the AALC Pastor’s retreat at Concordia Seminary in St Louis, MO. Finished my service on the Lutheran Renewal Board by helping close the ministry with honor and non-indebtedness. Shared monthly chapel duties at Harbor Terrace in San Pedro.
This is my 10th Annual Pastor’s Report (and David Letterman’s top 10 list ended this year) so I offer my less humorous top 10 list:
1. Ask
The Lord had me (us) in school in the days between Ascension and Pentecost this year. As we met early in the morning, God started showing the dynamic of asking prayer. This is clear in the Bible (ask, seek, knock…). When we authentically ask God for all things, we get off of the throne, and recognize His kingship. Asking requires humility and patience. When we start asking the Lord for all things, we recognize that He is the our Lord and the Church’s Head. Another way prayer has been integrated into the fabric of Trinity’s life is the 9:15am weekday prayer time. This has been a wonderful daily discipline and firm foundation for our life together.
2. Church Plant
I thought Trinity would be a part of planting a church (or worship service plant or revitalization plant-graft) before now. Nearly every other denomination has an ambitious vision and plan to plant churches. Lutherans in North America (generally) do not. A few generations ago Billy Graham called Lutheranism “America’s sleeping giant.” Sadly, the “giant” part of that description applies less and less. LA has recently been named among urban areas as the 14th most churchless city in the nation. With the exception of the LCMC/NALC, no network/association/synod of Lutherans has a vision to plant. Most congregations think someone else is thinking about it: the hierarchy, mega-churches, suburban churches, seminary, young people, old people, people with money, people with nothing to lose, the hipsters, the hip-replacements. Here are my thoughts:
+I am called to be a part of a church planting movement.
+I think Trinity is too, but I’m not 100% sure. If Trinity is called by God to this, we have no business ignoring it. If Trinity is not called by God to this, we have no business pursuing it.
+The Table Service was/is not a Church plant, but it is church plant school for us.
+So far we have learned that evening is a good time to have worship in an urban area. Eating together is important. Multi-generational gatherings work. Consistency is our friend (every Sunday gathering). When you love people’s kids they feel loved. Sacraments don’t have to be under-emphasized or privatized but are public celebrations. Guests are often consumers, wonderers, wanderers, detectives. Making disciples is hard and takes longer than I dreamed it would take. Stewardship follows discipleship. It would be wiser to plant a church with 12 disciples than 120 consumers.
I can think of 4 ways congregations grow: immigration, birth rate, transfer growth, and evangelism (reaching the lost). Trinity has benefited from all four! Trinity began as an immigrant church, grew through the baby boom, and has been strengthened through transfer growth. This is little doubt in my mind that the future of the whole church in general, and Trinity specifically is in engaging in evangelism. From the early days of the Christian movement to today, and across the spectrum of the church, the refrain has become consistent: Church planting is the most effective form of evangelism.
I appreciate what Ann Svennungsen, Bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod, wrote in an article picked up by the Alban Institute (www.alban.org):
By my twentieth year of ministry, I had become more comfortable with the leader’s vocation of suggesting ideas and casting vision. When my congregation considered a new program for Wednesday worship and education, I brought a rough proposal to the staff. By the end of the meeting, the final proposal looked nothing like my original, but I was not embarrassed. I did not feel rejected. I had come to see that the leader’s vocation includes casting the initial vision—setting forth ideas that will be changed and improved through a process of critique and discussion.
3. Facility Reflections
The Trinity facility is not our end, it is a means to our end. Our end goal is to grow in grace and bless with Jesus’ grace. It is not to keep the doors open, the grass green, and the pews comfortable. If open doors, green grass, and comfortable pews help us grow and bless with God’s grace, lets keep them! Recently David Roseberry celebrated 30 years of planting and serving as Rector (senior pastor) of Christ Church in Plano, Texas. He reflected on “30 Lessons from 30 years.” Here were his number nine and ten lessons (www.AnglicanPastor.com):
+However, in our child-oriented culture, the children will usually determine where the parents go to church. Don’t let children’s ministry suffer!
+You will never need the space that you do not provide for. In other words, if your church has a crowded problem and you do nothing about it, the problem will go away. Sadly.
I have a couple of reasons for wanting to invest attention and resources in our facility. First, tensions at Trinity have often been facility related. If we could agree about what we feel God is calling us to do at our facility, it would serve the peace and unity of the body of Christ. Second, if anyone heard about our vision and was inspired by it, they may consider investing now or in their legacy. Vision inspires partnership. Third, a long-range facility plan allows us to make wise short-term decisions. Fourth, a healthy facility allows us to consider risking the drain a potential church plant (service plant/revitalization) could create.
When Patrick Choy joined the church council 4 years ago, we tasked him with the big goal of facilitating the necessary listening, talking, discerning, dreaming, and researching required to present a long-range, comprehensive facility plan to the congregation. He intentionally dove in head first to this request. He set times to meet with staff and ministry teams. He prayed. He researched county requirements. He reported to council and to the elders. He did this again and again through his three years serving on the Church Council, and agreed to follow through with this plan under Kevin Klonoski’s authority as the newly elected council person for property. The council would pray, and ask, “How do we involve the congregation? Do we paint a big general picture of the long-range plans? Do we give a more specific picture of what the renovations could look like, so the congregation can actually discuss the benefits and limitations of an actual model?” We decided that a more concrete model would make it easier for the church to discuss. Some people were energized positively by this, and some were upset. This is understandable. Some surprises are welcome, but some provoke the response, “Where did this come from?”
I’d like to publicly thank Patrick, and Lilian his wife, for doing exactly what he was asked to do. For no other reason but to serve the church they sacrificed time, energy, and other resources. I love their hearts, evident gifts and capacities, and patience. The frustration that anyone feels ought to be directed to me and the other leaders. I trace the upset feelings to my own failure to communicate along the way. Please forgive me!
Now what? Patrick's work is NOT in vain. I purpose we take the following steps. First, we respond to Kevin Klonoski’s invitation to a process modeled after Nehemiah’s process of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. I will let him communicate and lead this charge. Second, when the congregation identifies this committee, they listen to Patrick and the research he has done, and the reasoning behind the decisions he presented in the model. His work will enrich any future plans, and I know his heart from the beginning was to move forward with the best plan, and the most engagement from most of the congregation. (Renee Anderson asked for the gathering to give Patrick a round of applause).
Part of the communication break down can be traced to our constitution’s requirement of one-year council term with openness to serve three consecutive terms. These short terms, and short overall service on council has been a momentum killer, caused a decrease in accountability, undermined corporate memory which undermines projects in process. This has been a disservice to the long-range facility plan. I am in the process of talking to a few current and former leaders about a limited constitutional revision (last revision was in 1982). I would like a trusted group to suggest a more helpful revision to Article IX , Section 2 of our constitution in congruence with Article XVI of the constitution regarding “amendments”, which would address these perennial issues.
4. Staffing Reflections
I don’t have to tell you about how blessed we are to have the staff partners we have at Trinity. Each one is a servant. Each one displays evidence of God’s grace and calling in their own lives and ministries.
Jorge Olivares is especially close to all of our hearts during this time of recovery from his liver transplant surgery. He is getting closer to a graduated return. Facilities will take continued partnership during his graduated return.
Donald Davis, with his wife Rowena, have been servants for so long in youth ministry. Donald has served as interim youth minister, along with many other callings, including seminary student at Master’s Institute Seminary. We have publicized and searched for candidates for this position. We have conversed with a few candidates including Donald, and I believe we are ready to bring some closure to the search. We hope to make an official announcement soon.
One staff position that is vacant is part-time worship leader. Joy and I are currently filling in gaps that exist, but we are actively looking for a per-diem (as opposed to salaried) staff member to take part of the worship planning, leading, and communicating calling.
5. Pastoral Care:
It is a joy to be on a team that is responsible for pastoral care. Sue Scott leads that team with compassion and grace. Poul Erik is also a faithful prayerful partner in this area. Then the Stephen Ministers quietly provide regular prayer and care for many along life’s twisty road. Prayer ministers are available. The Elders show up. YOU show up. I love how so many in the Trinity congregation show up. Dr Jim Kok, my CPE supervisor wrote a book, “90% of Helping is Just Showing Up."
6. Formation:
It is also a joy to serve on the team that is responsible for formation (growth/discipleship). Poul Erik leads that team with oversight and passion. Every generation is called to grow in grace and from Darcie and her whole team (WordTime, Stepping Stones, VBS) to Sue in Catechism, to the Donald and Rowena, to women’s/men’s ministry, to home groups, to Sunday Schools, to various wholeness oriented courses we are taking seriously Jesus great commission to “teach them all I have commanded you.” At the heart of adult formation are the Alpha/Believing/Community Courses. People may come and go from many other avenues, but that is main street at Trinity for investigating, instructing, and integrating people into the life of the Trinity and life at Trinity.
7. Attendance Trends:
+The low point in AWA (Average weekly attendance) in the last 35 years? 2005
+In 2011 AWA reached back up to 200 for the first time since 2003.
+2014 was the highest AWA (around 208) since I came.
+So far in 2015 AWA is around 238.
8. SoCal School of the Bible and 18-20 Somethings
We had another great year welcoming about 7 Canadians and 7 of our own students for a week in residence here at Trinity studying the Book of Ephesians, and a second week in Camarillo studying Christian Apologetics with J. Warner Wallace. One of our students who also participated last year said, “These weeks are like an oasis in my year. I’m engaged in normal studies at my local university, but these weeks I'm strengthened in my faith through the community, experiences, and classes.”
Most Wednesday nights (8:30-10pmish), Joy and I welcome a small group of 18-20 Somethings into our home or back yard for a time of conversation, prayer, and fellowship, and usually some devotional content. We are working to challenge indigenous leadership in this group, and local ownership, so we are just facilitators and hosts. We usually have between 3 and 7 who attend.
9. Sabbatical
For the sake of ministerial health and to encourage a longer pastorate, Trinity has a generous sabbatical policy that I plan to make use of partially in the coming year, and partially in the next budgeted year. A sabbatical committee consisting of Bob and Donna Bowker, Julia Anderson, Gifford Grobien, and Joyce and Gordy Rich have already helped with the initial processing and discussions about the shape of this sabbatical, and its impact on Trinity. Some matters are already settled, and many are yet to be settled.
+ The whole Hoff family will be away from Trinity from April 15-August 15. This was planned to be after Easter and during the Summer to navigate around the busier times of the Church calendar.
+ The whole Hoff family will be local for at least 2 months, and distant for the remainder.
+ The church has applied for a $50,000 Lilly Clergy Renewal Grant, which $38,000 would be used by the Hoffs, and $12,000 would be of use to the church to cover part of the costs of the Hoff’s absence. This grant would pay for all of the expenses of the Hoff portion of the sabbatical including experienced geared for renewal while they are local, and a “treasure hunting” trip in Scandinavia and Germany. The time in Europe will be exploring family heritage, and reformation heritage sites. 2016 is the year before the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, and the expressed theme of the sabbatical would be discovering those treasures of our heritage that have sustained spiritual life and vitality in our movement. Those treasures would be prayer, worship, and discipleship. The committee is already dreaming of how some of those themes can be mirrored at Trinity while we are experiencing them. The goal for this time will be renewal for the Hoff family, as well as the Trinity congregation. We find out sometime in August if we have been chosen to receive this grant. PRAY!
+ If we do not receive this grant, the dates will be the same, but the scope and travel will be much more limited. We would still spend half of the time or more locally, and have some extended times potentially at Hume Lake and possible Mt Carmel Camp in Minnesota. This also sounds very restoring.
+ There are good conversations already happening about how my responsibilities will be disbursed. All include greater utilization of internal staff, Elders, and others. All include some limited invitation to external help from a retired pastor or similar idea. Pray for wisdom for this committee.
+ Gordy and Joyce Rich have a helpful brochure of anticipated questions that will be available soon for publication.
10. Family Reflections
I can not let a Pastor’s report go by without reflecting on the wisest choice I ever made: HOLY matrimony to Joy Hoff. I think of what a dumb, idealistic, unrealistic, self-oriented 20 years old I was (not much has changed in 20 years), but the remembrance of my own stupidity is tempered when I realize I made such a wise decision at that age. I am so grateful she said, “yes!” The gifts and character she brings are treasured by many, indeed, “Her works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs 31.31). I know her more profoundly, and so my praise of her is more profound.
Old fashioned pastor’s wives held that role as a vocation, and it was, and in Joy, it is. Trinity, I know you know that you are blessed with two pastor’s wives who were not “Called” by a voter’s meeting of the congregation like their husbands were, but in no uncertain terms have a calling that is evident. I honor them.
Our kids are a growing part of our team. This month we will have two teenagers, and we couldn’t be happier. One of our joys is doing life and ministry together and we so appreciate the way you pray for them, love them, and let them be kids. Thank you Trinity.
Trinity, it is a joy to serve you as your pastor! In Jesus, Nathan
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