Good Newsletter - February

February 22nd, 2022

Koinonia Good News

Annual Meeting

February 27th 3-6pm

“Take no thought for the morrow.”

When Jesus said, “Take no thought for the morrow” (Matthew 6:34) he was thinking about the future. The “morrow” for Jesus, was in God’s hands. God would provide the future. For the future, Jesus would say, think about today, think about what God has in mind for you in the future. Live in the “righteousness” of God now and anything you need “tomorrow”, you will receive.

Consultants will say that to be a good leader you need to convey a “non-anxious presence.” By this measure, Jesus was an excellent leader! The birds of the air? They don’t worry. You think God doesn’t know what you need tomorrow and the next? Consider that God knows more about you than you know about yourself, like how many hairs are on your head. (Apologies to you if you are bald!)

All that said, Jesus planned for the future. He planned for himself, for the sacrifice he would make of his own life. And, he planned for his followers, for giving them the Holy Spirit as a guide when he was no longer physically present.

At Koinonia every day is dedicated to planning Koinonia’s future. Whether it is building repairs, hiring staff, managing finances, fundraising, meeting with other Camp directors, welcoming guests, cooking meals, making beds, cutting firewood, designing programs or reaching out to old and new constituents, it is about looking for what is next. Looking for what will build a ministry “where God transforms and prepares people in an outdoor environment to love and serve one another.”

Koinonia’s thought is, what can we do today that will help our guests to live in the righteousness of God. If Koinonia is successful in doing this, God will give Koinonia a future tomorrow.

With this in mind, leaders at Koinonia are preparing a capital campaign with the theme “Koinonia Next: Forward to the Future.” You will hear more about this at the Annual Meeting February 27, 3:00 PM. We invite you to attend this meeting, whether you are a delegate or not. Koinonia wants you to be a part of “today” so that there is no worry about “tomorrow!”

FYI. I am going off the Board after the Annual Meeting. That was a decision made “yesterday.” Today’s leaders at Koinonia are strong and smart and good planners. I’m not worried. They have loving hands to carry on God’s work. In a different capacity, I will be working with them on the future.

Rev. Robert G. Wollenburg, President

Koinonia Board of Directors

Greetings and Blessings to you all,

Koinonia has been in a deep freeze the last month, but signs of thawing are beginning to be seen. We had our three retreat buildings filled last weekend and were blessed with a Sunday service of the word led by Port Jervis‘ St. Peters Pastoral Candidate Mary Button. It was so good to worship together! As we celebrate Transfiguration and move into Lent, we want to encourage you to register for the annual meeting. We also want to share some exciting news about the spring and summer season.

THE ANNUAL MEETING

and

THE ANNUAL REPORT

The Annual meeting will be held at Emanuel Lutheran Church on Sunday, February 27^th from 3pm-6pm. All Delegates must participate on zoom for consistent voting. Pastors, Delegates, and Participants need to register on this Eventbrite link:

K oinonia Annual Meeting Tickets, Sun, Feb 27, 2022 at 3:00 PM | Eventbrite

On the morning of the 27th, Delegates, Pastors, and Board Members will be sent a zoom link. Participants who are not voting will be sent a youtube link so they may watch. If you have the youtube link and have a question to ask during the annual meeting, you can email the executive director at kkruen@koinoniany.org and she can read the questions as they are received.

For a copy of the Annual Report, click here

Alternative Youth Gatherings

In response to the cancellation of the ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis this Summer, Koinonia has set aside four weeks in July to host youth groups from across the country, as well as those groups closer to home. We will provide meals and housing and will work with groups as they plan their programming.

If you have a youth group, please sign up and send in your deposit now as some weeks are filling up.

Summer Staff 2022

With Youth Gathering Weeks, Day Camps on site and in Port Jervis, and weekend guests, we will need many more staff than last summer. If you know of folks 18 years or older who are interested in being a retreat host, counselor, lifeguard, groundskeepers, or cooking staff please send them this application and encourage them to apply.

Crafting and Quilting

In April, two weeks before Easter, we are holding a crafting weekend for all ages, and a quilting week for those who have experience in quilting. Both events give the opportunity to make items to donate to those in need and to make items to take home. For our full 2022 Program schedule click here.

2022 TEAMS 2022

We are looking for teens and adults who would like to serve on our Teams!

Pick one that suits you best

Outreach/Marketing – Strategizing ways to let more people know about our camp

Facilities/Property – Making decisions on what we can repairing and build next

Worship/Program – Planning programming for 2023 and assist with 2022

To find out more, please email Kathleen kkruen@koinoniany.org

Honor Stones

Near the Chapel of Pines we are planning to create a path which will be inset with heavy diamond shaped honor stones. If you wish, we will inscribe a stone with the name of someone you would like to honor, living or dead. The cost is $600, $300 of which is tax deductible. This is a good time to order if you would like to see your stone on Memorial Day Weekend and enjoy it during the summer.

A Final Word of Gratitude

During these cold months, from time to time I read passages from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book, Life Together to open our staff meetings. In uncertain times, this quote on page 29 helps me. May it be so for you in your daily life, work, rest, and ministry: "only (s)he who gives thanks for the little things receives the big things....We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet not really small) gifts."

God Bless You! Stay Well and Safe.

Kathleen Kristin Ruen

Executive Director

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