Fall 2007 Servant Leader Center of Toledo Newsletter

8/8/2019 Fall 2007 Servant Leader Center of Toledo Newsletter

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The Servant Leadership Center

A note from Sr. Nancy

Servant Leadership Thanks Board Members who havecompleted their terms and Welcomes New Board Members

tremendously blessed and wecontinue to move ahead. Weare looking forward to thenext phase of our development

a focus on organizations.You will be hearing moreabout that in the future.

As I was preparing this piece I

glanced through RobertGreenleafs bookServant

Leader. In his last chapter hespeaks of the inward journey.Working with a poem byRobert Frost, he says, when we have gone back out

of all this now too much for

us, when we are lost enough

to find ourselves and have

pulled in our ladder road

behind us then we shall

have the opportunity to

drink the waters ofwholeness. My prayer foreach of you is that you maydrink your fill! Blessing untilthe next time.

With you in the Spirit,

Sister Nancy Westmeyer

Thanks to many of you our fall

fund raiser was a resoundingsuccess. Not only did wecelebrate Alberts birthday inhigh style with a hundredguests we met our goal and sowere able to complete ourmatching grant.

That is only one part of ourGood News. We now haveeleven groups in five differentsites. We recently begansessions in Perrysburg,

Defiance, and Swanton. Allthree groups seem very

promising. We also have plansfor two more groups to beginhere at the center. There isroom in those groups so if youknow of anyone interested.

This past weekend members ofthe Notre Dame Club spentseveral hours here fixing somethings on the outside of our

building and preparing ourflower beds for the winter.Our back entrance has arenewed look and our flower

beds are ready to hibernate!

We must have ten bags ofleaves and debris for thegarbage pick-up. The groupreally worked hard and weappreciate all their assistance.With their help and help frommany of you we continue to begood stewards of the buildingwe have been given.

This week we receive the firstinstallment of the MargueritedYouville grant we received

earlier. Tuesday a check for$40,000 will be given to us for2008. The majority of it will

be for Erins salary. We keepteasing her that we know hersalary is secure for the nexttwo yearswere not so sureof the rest of us! Seriously,though the Center has been

1618 W. Sylvania Ave + Toledo, OH 43612 + 419-476-0941 + www.servantleader.org

Special points of interest:

Prayer/reflection

Community

Happenings

NEW CENTER LOGO &EMAIL ADDRESSES

FOR CENTER STAFF

November 2007

Volume 1, Issue 2

Center Staff:

Barb Aranyosi

Administrative Assistant

[email protected]

!"

Erin Battistoni

Director of Outreach [email protected]

!"

Nancy Westmeyer, OSF

Executive Director

[email protected]

We wish to publicly thank Mr. Richard Kaverman, Vision Team member and alumni,Sister Rita Weiken, OSF, Director of Seeds of Hope Farm and alumni; Mr. Ben Nunez,Vision Team Member, Alumni and current co-facilitator of our Bowling Green group and Ms.Maria Povsic, Vision Team member, alumni and co-facilitator of our Tuesday night group,

our founding board members who have completed serving their terms on our founding board. The ServantLeadership Center exists because of your deep commitment toserving and living out the Gospel Message. Thank you for thecountless ways you have served and continue to serve the ServantLeadership Community.


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Page 2Volume 1, Issue 2

I must say that the choice I made to be a part of something called Servant Leadership has been the biggest step in my, sometimesunknowingly, spiritual journey. I know, because it is the first time that I have truly let people in my heart, to see all that there is tosee, and to trust them with those secrets contained.

And, I finally realized that there actually are purveyors of truth, freedom of thought, covered in forgiveness and the grace ofconfidentiality. This, I must admit, is a new awakening that only God can give and give and give, and I have finally grabbed on to it.

A time has come in my life to take this gigantic step, by finally having faith in the fact that I am Gods Beloved. Once thishas been realized and taken to heart as your core belief, you are on the road to finding out exactly who you are and what your destinyis on this earth.

But I never would have found this out about myself, although a little late in life, if not for walking through the doors of SL for thefirst time. I was scared, defensive, quiet, but, a flame was silently burning inside. This fire turned into intense warmth that allowedme to come back for a second time, which led me to be where I am today.This has not been an easy task.

I imagine that we can all say that we have taken bad choices in life, some far worse than others. We have all had to carry a bag ofguilt and remorse, some far heavier than others. When I came through the SL doors I had to go back to my car for two more bags.My biggest hope and dream in life was to know that I can make a difference. I was born with this destiny. I was born Gods beloved.But there were many times in which I was torn off the path. I feel that I have seen all of the evil in life, whether it was by choice ornot. I started to feel as if there was no hope. I was close to giving up again. But a very special and close friend steered me to the SLdoors.

I have never given myself any good credit, to speak of. I would often remind people of all of the wonderful and even heroic events ofmy life but would never believe in what I was doing was right. But, God, who has seen me through the worst in life, and now myentrance on the right path, never gave up on me. I now find this to be true of everyone in my group, especially Sr. Nancy, Erin, andmy dude, Albert.

None of this could have happened without God working the controls. I have always believed in Jesus Christ and God the Father, aswell as the Holy Spirit. I thought that I understood it all. I have now come to realize some of the many things that I have been

A Participants Story by Rick Schmidt

TO OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS!Sr. Joanne Lammers, OSF a Sister of St. Francis of Tiffin Oh, and current member of the Tiffin Franciscan Leadership Council

Mary Jo Anderson, Fall O6-Fall 07 Group participantFather John Blazer, Pastor of the Emmaus Cluster on the East Side, current participant-Toledo Group

Mr. Richard Faist, partner in Clifton Gunderson LLP

Dr. Bob Huss, retired ophthalmologist

Mr. Dennis Recker, of Fawcett, Lammon, Recker Insurance and Financial Service; current participant-Defiance Group

Mr. Dave Schlaudecker, Treasurer Executive Director of Leadership Toledo

Mrs. Elaine Sheehan, Sales Development with DMC Consulting, Commuter and Services Providers; current participant Toledo Group

THANK YOU TO OUR CONTINUING BOARD MEMBERS!

Mr. Bob Anderson, PresidentMr. Gene Kobylak, Secretary

Sr. Nancy Westmeyer, Co-Founder

Bishop Albert Ottenweller, Co-Founder


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missing. I am starting to see what I have been doing wrong. I can actually see a light at the end of the tunnel.

We can all find this light. But, I offer a word of caution. Be prepared when you find this light. Be ready to face your destiny. I praythe experience will not frighten you off. I pray you embrace it. I urge you all to let your guard down long enough to think without

being afraid.

Some of us have fought this all of our lives. I was going to protect what I have felt, whether good or bad, for my whole life. But, Igot tired of running and hiding. This day brings me hope. Even when I am being bombardedwith demons I am still moving forward. I will always look at this day as having made the

best decision I have ever made in my entire life.

Even through my failures, I have gained something positive. Some days are better thanothers and life has become very overwhelming at times, but I am facing my destiny onearth, as given by my Lord God. I am finally facing it with strength, hope and theconfidence that I will be a successful piece of the pie that God calls His plan.

We all have work to do. I urge you all to grab on to this journey of everlasting faith and

life. Maybe that is our destiny? Do you all fully believe that we can do anything we put ourhearts and minds too? How could we not when we come to believe that God is our creator,

provider, and we are His beloved? What really is there to fear?

Thank you all for your unconditional love and compassion. I humbly accept the grace youhave all given me. I love you all.

Rick Schmidt, 20072008 Participant


CHECK OUT

OUR NEW

CENTER LOGO:

Reverend Steve Anthony Installed

as Toledo Area Ministries

(TAMOhio.org) new Executive

DirectorTAM and ServantLeadership are in the process offormalizing a collaborativepartnership. We Congratulate Steveand welcome him to our community!

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

CENTER TO HOST

SOLIDARITY VIGIL TO

PRAY FOR THE

CLOSURE OF THE SOA/

WHINSEC

(www.soaw.org) For moreinfo about the infamous school thatteaches south American militants intorture tactics.

WHATS THE BUZZ?Fair Trade Sampling Party.A great way to sample avariety of EqualExchanges Fair trade andorganic coffees. See last

page for details.

NEW SERVANT LEADERSHIP

GROUPS FORMING FOR

JANUARYWant to be apart of

something special? Heres yourchance!

Make a change in yourself and

make a difference in the world. Ifyou or those you know are looking fora group to pray with as you discernnew directions join us for one of ourinformational sessions .Help usspread the word.

OUTREACH MINISTRY GROUP

FORMED:

A group of SL Alumnus and friends

of our community have joinedtogether to discern how the spirit iscalling them to servewomen in ourcommunity. We arepleased to announcethat On Friday November 16, theWOMEN OF FAITH group will besponsoring their first retreat withWomen Blessing Women(www.womenblessingwomen.org).

The WOMEN OF FAITH Prayergroup meets the 4th Wednesday of themonth from 10am11am , and isopen to anyone interested in joining.The group gathers in prayer as a faithcommunity, and is working onprojects to outreach women who havebeen marginalized in our community.For more info email or call Erin at theCenter.

Whats New?


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Community Happenings: Save theMonday Night Prayer~ All are welcome to join in prayer at the Center from 7-8:30 PM

every Monday night.

Saturday, November 17: 10-11:30am WHATS THE BUZZ? Fair Trade Coffee Sampling Party. A

great way to sample a variety of Equal Exchanges Fair trade and organic coffees.

Sunday November 18 2-4pm, St. Martin de Porres Catholic Parish Prayer service in solidarity with

those participating in the School of the Americas Vigil in Georgia. If you are interested in going on the

Bus trip sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Tiffin, Contact Sr. Mary Kuhlman 419-447-0435

Saturday, December 1, 8pm Brewed Awakenings on 2636 W. Central Ave, Toledo: Funhouse Writers

Group, Variety Show under the direction of Frank Murphy. An evening of music, poetry and art dealing

with social issues. Guest Artist: Ms. Sarah Coulter, Poet and Musician.

Fall 2007-Spring 2008 Check out the Erase the Hate Events that will be held through out the coming

months. For more info go to www.erasethehatetoledo.org Flyers are also available at the center.


Ever living God,

This [month] revives in us memories of loved ones who are no more.What happiness we shared when they walked among us.What joy, when, loving and being loved, we lived our lives together.

Their memory is a blessing for ever.Months or years may have passed, and still we feel near to them.Our hearts yearn for them.Though the bitter grief has softened, a duller pain abides;

For the place where once they stood is empty now.The links of life are broken, but the links of love and longing cannotbreak.

Their souls are bound up in ours for ever.We wee them now with the eye of memory,Their faults forgiven, their virtues grown larger.So does goodness live, and weakness fade from sight.We remember them with gratitude and bless their names.

Their memory is a blessing for ever.

And we remember as well the membersWho but yesterday were part of our [congregations] and community.To all who cared for us and labored for all people, we pay tribute.May we prove worthy of carrying on the tradition of our faith,For now the task is ours.

Their souls are bound up in ours for ever.We give you thanks that they now live and reign with you.As a great crowd of witnesses,They surround us with their blessings,And offer you hymns of praise and thanksgiving.

They are alive for ever more. Amen.

Prayer for All Saints(Provided by Pastor Karen Shepler, Monroe Street United Methodist Church)

Throughout the month of November, your loved ones will be held in the prayersof this community. If you would like to call or email the names of those you wouldlike us to remember by name, you are most welcome to do so. May Gods peacebe with you and yours.

Non Profit OrgUS Postage PaidToledo OHPermit # 322

1618 W. Sylvania AveToledo, OH 43612

Documents

Fall 2007 Servant Leader Center of Toledo Newsletter