| The Giese Christmas Letter 2009 |
Dear family and friends:
Christmas/New Year greetings to you
all!
In spring 2010 we’ll be five years into
our ministry at First Lutheran
Churches of Ogema and Westboro in
north central Wisconsin. We still
love it here in the northwoods. We
think the ministry is going well at
both congregations and get the
impression that the congregations
appreciate our presence here. First
Westboro had two milestones this
year. First was ordination of one of
its sons (and grandsons), Jordan
Scott, which actually took place at
Christmas/New Year greetings to you
all!
In spring 2010 we’ll be five years into
our ministry at First Lutheran
Churches of Ogema and Westboro in
north central Wisconsin. We still
love it here in the northwoods. We
think the ministry is going well at
both congregations and get the
impression that the congregations
appreciate our presence here. First
Westboro had two milestones this
year. First was ordination of one of
its sons (and grandsons), Jordan
Scott, which actually took place at
First Ogema has almost entirely
completed it’s accessibility building
project (well ahead of the original
schedule and with extras such as
some sanctuary improvements and
new front doors). The lift has a
steady stream of grateful users and
the extra room has already been a
blessing with a huge crowd at VBS
and great attendance at our
community suppers. At one of the
fall suppers someone actually said,
“We need to add on again.”
In 2009 Bob continued to supervise
Jody Becker, Luther Seminary
Distributive Learning student who is
serving our sister churches in
Catawba and Hawkins. This is a great
completed it’s accessibility building
project (well ahead of the original
schedule and with extras such as
some sanctuary improvements and
new front doors). The lift has a
steady stream of grateful users and
the extra room has already been a
blessing with a huge crowd at VBS
and great attendance at our
community suppers. At one of the
fall suppers someone actually said,
“We need to add on again.”
In 2009 Bob continued to supervise
Jody Becker, Luther Seminary
Distributive Learning student who is
serving our sister churches in
Catawba and Hawkins. This is a great
| Unless otherwise credited, all Photos on this page copyright 2009 Bob Giese or Rachel Kellogg |
First Ogema because of the huge crowd that attended. The other was the celebration of 125 years as a congregation
with a special service and picnic.
with a special service and picnic.
The highlight for Bob in 2009 was an
Exodus Pilgrimage tour of Egypt,
Jordan and Israel in April. This trip
was a once in a lifetime opportunity
for Bob and daughter Rachel and the
other 8 who went on this great trip.
I’ve shared some of this trip in
sermons and slide shows and will be
sharing parts of it for years to come.
To walk where Moses and Jesus and
so many other Bible people walked
was exciting indeed.
Exodus Pilgrimage tour of Egypt,
Jordan and Israel in April. This trip
was a once in a lifetime opportunity
for Bob and daughter Rachel and the
other 8 who went on this great trip.
I’ve shared some of this trip in
sermons and slide shows and will be
sharing parts of it for years to come.
To walk where Moses and Jesus and
so many other Bible people walked
was exciting indeed.
| Manger Scene—Church of the Nativity—Bethlehem, Israel |
| Rachel & Bob “touching” one of the Great Pyramids at Giza |
I’ve been Dean of our conference
(Chequamegon) for a year now. This
hasn’t actually added much work to
my schedule.
I was also a voting delegate to the
2009 ELCA Church-wide Assembly in
August in Minneapolis.
This assembly dealt with issues of
sexuality and was very controversial
and very tiring. The results of this
assembly will affect the ELCA in
many ways in the future. I’m glad I
was there but will probably not be a
voting delegate again in the future.
(Chequamegon) for a year now. This
hasn’t actually added much work to
my schedule.
I was also a voting delegate to the
2009 ELCA Church-wide Assembly in
August in Minneapolis.
This assembly dealt with issues of
sexuality and was very controversial
and very tiring. The results of this
assembly will affect the ELCA in
many ways in the future. I’m glad I
was there but will probably not be a
voting delegate again in the future.
opportunity to serve the church at large and I’ve learned a lot, too. It helps that Jody is a delight to work with.
| Bob the Camel Jockey—Giza, Egypt, April, 2009 |
| Lee, Pastor Bob, Buzz, Pastor Loren on Top of Mount Sinai waiting for sunset. |
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