Hi everyone,
I just want to thank everyone who participated in the second Office Admin meetup this Monday. What a heart-warming and inspiring event we had! The next one is on February 9th and you can register here.
Here's an AI-generated recap of what happened in our meeting:
Church Administration and Support Discussion
The meeting began with introductions and a prayer led by Marjaana, who organized the event. Participants shared their roles and experiences in church administration, highlighting the unique challenges and rewards of their positions. The group discussed the supportive and familial nature of church work environments, emphasizing the grace and understanding they experience from staff and volunteers. Marjaana mentioned plans to invite a guest speaker from the Church Wellness Network to provide insights and resources for conflict resolution in church settings. The conversation ended with new participants joining and sharing their perspectives on working within the church community.
Community Collaboration and Learning Initiatives
The group discussed the value of working together as a community, emphasizing the importance of using individual gifts and talents to serve others. They explored the idea of sharing best practices and processes to avoid reinventing the wheel, with a focus on technology and database usage. Marjaana proposed creating a monthly learning experience and requested input on processes and technologies to include, while also seeking volunteers to help coordinate the initiative.
February Meetings and Best Practices
The group discussed upcoming meetings scheduled for February 9th and March 9th, which occur on the second Monday of each month. Marjaana encouraged members to spread the word about the group to potential office administrators and shared details about the
"Best Practices in Ministry" February 12-14 in Phoenix, Arizona, which she recommended attending for its valuable insights and networking opportunities. Sandy and Kathy both highly recommended the event, with Kathy emphasizing its value for staff collaboration and follow-up implementation. The conversation ended with a prayer led by Caryn.
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Marjaana Kuivalainen
All Saints Lutheran Church Bellevue, WA
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-07-2026 04:26 PM
From: Marjaana Kuivalainen
Subject: Join Us: Church Admin & Secretary Gathering – Jan 12
Dear friends,
This is a friendly reminder of our meeting on Monday! So far we have people signed up from Florida, Illinois, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, with roles like Business manager, Office Admin, Financial secretary and Admin sub, church secretary, Ministry Coordinator, Finance Secretary, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager etc. If you belong to this kind of group of people in the church world, you are very welcome to our meeting! Please take a moment to register and I look forward to seeing you Monday!
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Marjaana Kuivalainen
All Saints Lutheran Church Bellevue, WA
Original Message:
Sent: 12-03-2025 11:44 AM
From: Marjaana Kuivalainen
Subject: Join Us: Church Admin & Secretary Gathering – Jan 12
Hi friends,
I hope this note finds you well and that Advent has started off gently for you. ✨
I'd love for you to join our next gathering of church office admins and secretaries on
Monday, January 12 at 8:30am Pacific / 11:30am Eastern. We'll meet on Zoom for a relaxed time of connection, encouragement, and idea‑sharing.
Please take a moment to register so I know who's planning to be there.
Think of it as a refreshing pause in the week-a chance to breathe, swap stories, and pick up something practical for our daily work. Bring your questions, joys, and challenges, and let's lift one another up in the ministry of administration and hospitality. To get the conversation rolling, we'll reflect on a simple theme question: What's one thing you appreciate about working with church staff or volunteers?
Feel free to pass this invitation along to others in similar roles-the more voices, the richer the conversation.
Looking forward to seeing you!
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Mariaana Kuivalainen
All Saints Lutheran Church Bellevue, WA
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