Update from Staff Parish Relations Committee

Welcome to Pastor Realff and Ann Ottesen. We are grateful to Realff for agreeing to serve as our interim pastor until Pastor Lou returns from his renewal leave. Realff (pronounced Ralph) will be leading our worship services beginning November 6 and will be in the office on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. He will be working 25-30 hours per week and his primary role will be to lead the worship services along with providing other pastoral duties such as serving communion, baptisms, weddings, funerals, confirmation and conducting staff meetings.

He will be available for crisis care such as hospital emergencies and personal tragedies, but since he is part time he will not be able to do everything. Jim and Kathy Crozier will continue to assist with hospital visits and we are asking members to step up and help in this area as will.

We appreciate your patience and flexibility during this time of transition. Realff has a good sense of humor, strong interpersonal skills, and experience in working with churches in transition. God has placed him in Grace Church at this time for a reason. Please wear your name tags and state your name to assist Pastor Realff in putting together names and faces.

Your concerns or suggestions may be shared with any member of SPRC. I want to thank the members of this committee who have given many extra hours to help guide us through this time of transition: Clarke Barnes, Connie Yager, Janet VanDerSchaaf, Roger Hulting, Doug Emerick, Traci Sigwalt, Beth Kastorff, Randy Clary, Cindy Hudson, Nathan Huddleston and Kirsten Anderson.

If you have questions or comments regarding staff issues please contact Tom Hitzhusen, Chairman of Staff Parish Relations Committee at 309-441-5720    or    thomaseng@geneseo.net