First Lutheran Church

309 Ninth Street North

Northwood, IA 50459

Address Service Requested

FIRST LUTHERAN FOCUS January 2020

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Permit No. 33

First Lutheran Church Office Phone 324-2984 Office hours Monday-Wednesday 9:00 a.m.-Noon, 1:00-4:00 p.m. Thursday 9:00 a.m.-Noon, Closed on Fridays E-mail Address flc@flcnorthwood.org Web Site www.flcnorthwood.org

CHURCH LIBRARY The library committee is working on a new and fresh look for the church library. We will have books on a rolling cart to check out on Sunday mornings, in the hopes of reminding people in the church of this resource that is available for their use. You may also check out any book in the library. Stay tuned for more announcements and on our progress.

CONGREGATION MEETING A special meeting of the First Lutheran Church congregation will be held on Sunday, January 18, 2020 to vote on the proposal for the pipe organ refurbishment. Meeting will be immediately following the worship service in the Fellowship Hall. Proposal information is available in the Narthex.

Sharyl Nestor, Council President

2020 CHURCH COUNCIL Shana Brunsvold, President

Heather Rheingans, Vice President Nicole Koenig, Secretary

Andrew Breitsprecher, Youth Representative Deb Athey, Mitch Hanson, Janelle Johnson,

Tim Knutson and Mary Jo Senne

Council installation is Sunday, January 12th.

We are in a new year. This is our church year, and it started with Advent, and is followed by Christmas,

Epiphany, Lent and Easter. So? What does this have to do with us? I remember this description of what

happens to us. “MEETING JESUS AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME.”

The Scripture lessons, the Sermons, the Prayers, and the Songs all work together to introduce us to Jesus.

When we experience this together, something wonderful happens. God talks with us, forgives us, changes us,

empowers us, sends us. “GOD’S WORK, OUR HANDS.”

See you in church. Not because of habit or respectability, but for life, for others. “LOVE GOD WITH ALL

YOUR HEART, MIND, AND STRENGTH AND YOUR NEIGHBORS AS YOURSELVES.”

Pastor Jack Gannett

2.

INTERIM PASTORS’ PAGE

PASTORAL ACTS

Baptisms Sadie Marie Johnson—December 1st

Weddings No weddings in December

Funerals/Memorial Services No funerals in December

Pastor Everist Email address: interim@mchsi.com Cell phone: 1-563-564-1279 Home phone: 1-641-201-1947 Pastor Jack Email address: jackgannett@live.com Cell phone: 1-641-420-0381 Home phone: 1-641-421-6852

Please contact the church or either pastor, if you or a loved one needs pastoral care or will be hospitalized.

FLC Financial Update November 2019 January 1st-Novmeber 30th

Income $17,918.45 Income $176,707.88 Electronic Income $1,580.00 Electronic Income $16,553.00 Expense $22,843.48Expense $202,968.89

End of month ($3,345.03)Year to date ($9,708.01)

INTERIM PASTOR UPDATE Pastor Burton Everist and Pastor Jack Gannett have begun their next three month contract of December 15, 2019 thru March 15, 2020

First Lutheran Missions

October 1, 2019-September 30, 2020 Bremwood $ 75.00 Operation Christmas Child $ 281.86 Youth Fund (Bibles & Catechisms) $ 200.00 Caring Tree $ 272.86

Meals on Wheels $ 161.48

Manna $ 156.47

Heifer International $ 55.00 Total $ 1,252.67

MEMORIALS David Peterson $10.00—General Fund $90.00—Worship Fund George “Flip” Lindflott $100.00—General Fund Ronald Shovan $400.00—General Fund

DONATIONS $150.00—Educate Fund $175.00—Fellowship (Christmas Dinner) Fund $100.00—Property (Parsonage) Fund

ALTAR FLOWERS If you wish to pay for Altar flowers in memory of someone or celebrating a special event, please call the church

office to reserve that month. Cost is $120.00 for 2 vases.

YOUTH NEWS 3.

Sr. High Youth – Wednesday 7:00—8:30 Jr. High Youth – Sunday 6:30-8:00 “Deeper” Group – Monday 5:00-??

At the end of December we'll be having our annual lock-ins. On Saturday, December 21st we'll

have the Senior High overnighter with the college students chaperoning. Tuesday, December

31st will be the Junior High + 6th Grader lock-in. Permission slips are available outside of the

youth room as well as on the church website.

With Christmas break, comes a few schedule changes. Sr. High will not

meet on December 25th, but will have a special Friday Night Youth on

December 27th at 7:00 pm. Sr. High youth will meet on Wednesday, January 1st at 7:00

to start 2020 off! Junior High will have Youth on Sunday, December 22 at 5:00 pm.,

because of the candlelight service at 7:00 pm. They will also meet on Sunday the 29th at

normal time of 6:30 pm.

The past month we focused on many different areas of our faith lives during Youth. The

first lesson was simply called “Pain” that had a hilarious skit. It included some pretty

heavy questions as to why God allows pain to happen in our lives (Revelation 21:4). Next

up was “Freakshow” (Romans 12:2) which focused on letting God use the things that

make us different from most people in ways to share the gospel. “The Best + The Rest”

was a lesson all about being the best Christian we can be and just rest in the knowledge

that our faith will be there in the darkest of times (Jeremiah 6:16). We ended the month

with “Things Left Unsaid” and how we should live our lives to the fullest and enjoy all the different people God

has placed in our lives (Mark 13: 32 - 33)

At the end of January I'll be heading to the ELCA Youth Workers Extravaganza. This years

theme is Practice Not Perfect and will be held in Anaheim, CA from January 30 – February

3rd. One of the things I've really enjoyed more as I attend these is being able to meet complete

strangers who do the same job as I do and who just “get it” whenever you bring up things

about youth ministry. It's also a great resource for new ideas for lessons and games as well as

some down time for all of us to worship together.

4. First Lutheran Church

Council Meeting Minutes November 10, 2019 8:00 AM

WE ASSEMBLE IN GOD’S NAME Opening prayer from Sharyl Nestor.

Present: Deb Athey, Ross DeArmoun, Pastor Burton Everist, Pastor Jack Gannett, Lisa Hagen, Sharyl Nestor, Heather Rheingans and Richard Selvig. Absent: Shana Brunsvold and Mitch Hanson.

WE CELEBRATE OUR PAST Motion made, seconded and passed to accept the following reports: (MMSP Athey / Hanson)

President – Trust Fund letter in the annual report. Secretary – October minutes approved as submitted. Treasurer- YTD loss of $6K. Reviewed expenses detail and comparative financials. Pastoral – Recent and future pastoral duties as follows:

One baptism, one funeral and Confirmation Sunday late October. Pastor Jack – Has met with almost all committees. Getting calendars coordianted with Church office. Lead pastor in Bible study class. Pastor Everist – Lead pastor in Confirmation during November.

WE PRESENT OUR OFFERRING Education Committee (next meeting TBD)

Children’s Christmas Service program Sunday December 15th. Fellowship & Social Ministry Committees (next meeting TBD)

Pumpkin decorating event on Sunday 10/27 very well attended. Cory Hengesteg donated the pumpkins.

Finance Committee (next meeting TBD) Total FLC YTD income should read $174K and net income a $6K loss. Trust Fund approved $7,000 for ELCA mission work (disaster relief and world hunger)

Property Committee (next meeting TBD) (MMSP Hanson / Brunsvold) Projects under discussion as follows:

Fire proof file cabinet delivered to FLC church office. Funded mostly by Thrivent grant. Parsonage upkeep: New kitchen cabinetry, dishwasher, garage door and opener, $16K all in costs. Recommendation to complete while parsonage is unoccupied. Kitchen Phase III: Under counter dishwasher, $6K all in costs. Funding available. Will vote on at congregational annual meeting.

Grants have been submitted to WCDA for LED lighting and sound and video projects. Stewardship Committee (next meeting 12/01 10:15 AM)

Committee has three new members of recent. Additional volunteers for 2020 events are needed. Met with Pastor Mark Anderson from NEIA Synod of ELCA. Pastor Mark shared the “New Consecration” program with Committee. Committee will follow program for future Generosity” programs at FLC.

Worship & Music Committee (next meeting 11/12 5:00 PM) Ecumenical Thanksgiving worship service at Peace Lutheran on Sunday 11/24 7:00 PM. Open invitation for singers to join in this Thanksgiving choir.

Youth Representative More youth attending Jr. High youth events. No special events currently planned.

CONCERNS FOR THE PRESENT Annual Meeting Agenda

Nominating Committee submitted finalized “Ballot” to Council. Still looking for a third volunteer for Audit Committee, otherwise all opening roles recruited for. Key discussion points for meeting reviewed. Pastoral sabbatical policy as defined by NEIA ELCA Synod to be inserted as a continuing resolution. (MMSP Hagen / Athey)

Trust Fund $10,000 Request Letter to be drafted for Annual Meeting regarding reply to request. “In good faith, Council will remit to Trust Fund $10,000 in anticipation of grant of equal or greater value to be given when a grant application is written in the future”. Resolution is specific to funding of Organ Refurbishment project. (MMSP Hagen / Selvig)

Call Committee Update Received 135 surveys which have been analyzed. Survey summary results and dominant themes to be shared update meeting on 11/10. Update to also be shared at Annual Meeting on 11/17.

Council minutes continued on page 5

January Volunteers

Ushers January 5th—Dan Hendrikson, Dennis & Janelle Johnson, Brad Brunsvold January 12th—David & Sharron Petznick, Kevin and Maeghan Petznick January 19th—Jake Urbatsch, Dan Reeder, Dennis Reeder, Hal Johnson January 26th—Harlan & Barb Helgeson, Colton and Casson Moretz

Fellowship Time January 5th—Ray & Wanda Hoffman and Shirley Olson January 12th—Carol Liljedahl and Linda Loken January 19th—Leila Gangstad January 26th—Molly Bachtle, Betty Goodrich, Troy & Dawn Bachtle

Acolytes January 5th—Peyton Wilder and Chloe Costello January 12th—Jackson Foss and Haddie Hanson January 19th—Emma Hengesteg and Lindsey Moore January 26th—Damon Reyerson and Mallory Rheingans

Greeters January 5th—Stuart & Kimberly Anderson January 12th—Misty Eilertson January 19th—Scott :& Deanna Halbach January 26th—Roger & Janie Odegaard and Marilyn Severson

Lay Readers January 5th—Stuart Anderson January 12th—Patti Trenhaile January 19th—Sixth Graders January 26th—Leila Gangstad

Altar Guild & Share Shoppe Sarah Circle

Offering Collectors/Counters January 5th—Lee & Becky Okerlund January 12th—Gloria Fallgatter and Nancy Amundson January 19th—David & Sharron Petznick January 26th—Russ & Delores Knudson

Assisting Ministers January 5th—Cade Hengesteg January 19th—Stuart Anderson

5

Council minutes continued from page 4 Choir Candlelight Concert & Fellowship Time

Concert on Sunday 12/22 at 7:00 PM. Coffee and cookies to be served in Fellowship Hall thereafter.

Christmas Day Dinner Volunteers needed as follows: dinner set-up; warming of catered meal entrées; bring pies; clean-up . Discussion tabled until December Council meeting.

WE ADJOURN TO SERVE Lord’s Prayer We Adjourn to Serve (upcoming dates) (MMSP Hagen / Athey) November 17 Communion (Intinction) – Lisa Hagen December 1 Communion (Rail) – Deb Athey & Sharyl Nestor December 8 Council monthly meeting, 10:15AM December 29 Council Party, Fireside Room 3:00 PM January 18 Council Winter Retreat, 9:00 AM

“That all may know the love of God in Jesus Christ”

Respectfully submitted, Richard Selvig, Secretary

January 2020, LSI Bulletin/Newsletter Article and Story

Raising our Voice for Iowa Children and Families – Lutheran Day on the Hill Families struggling without access to mental healthcare. Human services providers overworked and underpaid. Former refugees striving to build new lives. These are all issues faced by Iowans. Join us to make sure they are heard at the Iowa State Capitol.

Please consider joining Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) and the three Iowa synods of the ELCA for Lutheran Day on the Hill, an annual day of advocacy in Des Moines to uplift the needs of our neighbors. The event will be held on Tuesday, February 25. Visit www.LSIowa.org/advocacy next month for event details, online registration, and an online toolkit for your congregation. If you are new to advocacy, come learn more about the legislative process and your role as a citizen. If you’ve attended before, join us again. If you would like more information, please contact Deb Whitford, LSI’s director of philanthropy and church relations, at Deborah.Whitford@LSIowa.org or 563-676-2065. Our Mission: Lutheran Services in Iowa responds to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service.

LSI is an affiliated social ministry partner of the Iowa congregations of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and a member of LSA (Lutheran Services in America). We proudly serve people of all

ages, abilities, religions, sexes, gender identities, national origins, ethnicities, races, and sexual orientations. Learn more at www.LSIowa.org and www.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.

Finding Her Community

Originally from Eritrea, Kiros, her husband, and her young son were forced to flee their country and live in an Ethiopian refugee camp for almost two years. When the opportunity came to resettle in Iowa, Kiros and her husband were excited to put down roots and call Iowa home. They settled in the Des Moines community and knew this was it; this was where they wanted to create a new life in the U.S. Since then, they have raised four more children and set their sights on receiving citizenship in the country that helped them heal and rebuild. Kiros enrolled in LSI’s English and citizenship classes and worked hard to study for her U.S. Citizenship Exam. Every week, she met with instructors from LSI’s Refugee and Immigrant Services to prepare for her interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. When the time came, she passed her exam with flying colors. She recently attended her U.S. citizenship ceremony, then went home to prepare for her daughter’s fifth birthday party. Kiros has poured her time and energy into building a life where her family has the same opportunities as every other family in their community.

FIRST LUTHERAN WOMEN

“Blessed are you among women” Luke 1:42

Julia No meeting Leah January 2nd 10:00 am Jan Wilder’s home Lydia January 8th 2:00 pm Gloria Fallgatter’s home Rebecca No meeting Sarah No meeting

1) Isaac Adams, Gretchen Hengesteg, Eric Roerish, Grady Walk

2) Ethan Binnebose, Tristan Hanson, Shelby Mattern, Sawyer Ogea, Diane Ubben

3) Michael Read

4) Chase Boyden

5) Arlene Van Sabben, Michelle Schulz

6) Bryck Abrams, Kristen Eilertson

7) Charles Barr, Stephanie Harmon

8) CherAmi Barr

9) Sandra Sime

10)

11) Amy Hennigar, Justin Nerlien

12) Roger Odegaard, Joann Ogea

13) Jayson Olson

14)

15) Connie Fett, Eldora Stehn

16) Brian Costello, Dayna Steinman, Landen Nelson, Michelle Petznick,

Nolan Senne, Blake Stevens

17) Zachary Costello, Edna Turvold

18)

19) Gary Flatness, Bonnie Roppe, Jason Solberg

20) Collin Houg

21) Shana Brunsvold, Carl Dralla, Olivia Urbatsch

22) Charles Hengesteg, Travis Johnson

23) Josh Mattern

24) Chad Nelson, Loghan Nelson, Judy Stevens

25) Hallie Hanson, Jason Hanson, Dianne Johnson, Emersyn Wahl,

Nate Wilder

26) Josie Einertson, Sonya Medlang, Michele Schaefer,

Matthew Tufte

27) Megan Gentz

28) Barnes Toresdahl

29) John Midtgaard, Galen Pixley, Karen Pixley, Thomas Watts

30) Sally Aase

31) Douglas Fallgatter, Tanya Olson, Ward Willand