In looking for inspiration for this article I Googled “Witness and Fel-lowship” and several articles came up, one from a Lutheran website and a few from other denomina-tions. They shared a common theme that fellowship is a witness to God’s love.

This isn’t necessarily the sort of fellowship that involves having coffee together after church, but rather the fellowship of embracing other people (more than just North Branchers, or Lutherans, but peo-ple of different religions, races and

beliefs, too) to show them what God’s love looks like. LOVE ONE ANOTH-ER. It does seem like the world today could use more of that fellowship and witness, and the Bible certainly supports it:

The message you heard from the very beginning is this: we must love one another. (1 John 3:11)

And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)

Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself. I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18)

Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

Be under obligation to no one—the only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law. (Romans 13:8)

My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action. (1 John 3:18)

No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us. We are sure that we live in un-ion with God and that he lives in union with us, because he has given us his Spirit. (1 John 4:12-13)

August 2019

Leadersh ip Spot l ight

Board of Witness & Fellowship by Teresa Lorensen

H I G H L I G H T S

Save the Date Sept. 8 from 8—9:30 a.m.

Lets kick off the start of Sunday school in a big way! Join us for a carnival themed, Rally Sunday on September 8 from 8-9:30 am.

All children 3 years old-4th grade are invited to join in the fun!

Also, the Women of the Church offer a free will donation break-fast. Mark your calendar and we will see you there!

Church Council 2

Giving Opportunities 2

Church News & Events 3

E-Giving 4

Lutheran World Relief 5

Rise | Defy Ventures 6

P.O.P. 7

Continued on page 2

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June 2019 meeting New Business E-Giving: Connie gave a presentation. Motion

carried to have Barb set-up Realm eGiving imme-diately and that the congregational will be noti-fied as soon as it is functional.

Board Reports Property: assembled playground bench & picnic

table (funding from memorial money) Stewardship: Permanent Flag Pole by Cemetery

Board. Will have a marker (thank you to An-drews Monument for donation will be sent)

Deacons: Pulpit Supply confirmed, Pastoral Care has been organized, volunteers assigned to shut-ins, pastor Alma will handle any funerals. Pastoral care will be local pastors.

Council Corner

Do all your work in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14)

Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together. (Ephesians 4:2-3)

You must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another. Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a bless-ing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you. (1 Peter 3:8-9)

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:35)

Coffee and Cookies on Sundays We do still enjoy the coffee-after-church sort of fel-lowship, and while Pastor David is gone we will be having cookies and coffee every Sunday after wor-ship. This is a great chance to reconnect during the busy summer months, and put out the welcome mat for our visiting ministers. If you would like to volunteer to bring 3 dozen cookies there is a sign up sheet on the kiosk.

Giving Opportunities

Second Mile Giving

Project Estimated Cost

Rcvd to date 7/21/19

Kiruweni Dispensary On going $ 26,531

Defy Ventures On going $ 2,230

Peru Missionaries On going $ 2,250

Disaster Relief—Floods

On going $ 7,849

A/C Units $9,500 $ 6,690

Tabitha’s Thread Back-to-School Drive They are requesting: deodorant, toothpaste and tooth brushes. There are also tags in the narthex for various

athletic shoes that they are in need of for local kids.

The donations are due back to the narthex by August 4. Thank you so much for all of your do-nations over the years and helping others in need. If you have any questions please call or text Kelly Stephenson at 402-639-1043.

The Little Red Wagon August: Cass Co. Food Pantry | Elmwood

Our needs this month are: Peanut Butter/ Jelly Chili Beans and Kidney Beans Bar Soap Dried Fruit Baggies (for lunch or freezing)

Deadline: August 25

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Church News and Events

Celebration of Life Janine Louise Schutz passed away on Friday, July 5, 2019. A Celebration of Life was held here on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Our condolences to Linda, Jenny, and family.

It’s a Boy Brooks Ronald Wilson was born July 3, 2019. Dayne and MaKenzie are his proud parents. Congratulations!!!

A special thank you to Andrews Monument Works for donating our Veterans’ monument by our Veterans’ flag addition. If you would like to thank them personally you can write them at: Andrews Monument Works

1022 Central Ave Nebraska City NE 68410

Or call 1-866-873-5864 or 1-402-873-5864

North Branch Cemetery Board

Roar VBS 2019 was held June 18-21, we had 32 kids in attendance. A great time was had by everyone learning stories of the Bible, spotlighting a new verse

each day where a new group of kids were the stars of a slideshow fo-cused on the daily verse. In kid vid cinema the kids learned about kids their ages in third world countries and how those kids are learning and connecting with God in their lives. A different group each day prepared and served snacks for their friends

and the kids played games and got creative in imagi-nation station. The week ended with a wonderful program during the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday.

We could not have done it without the help of our volunteers and those who gave donations. Thank you to everyone for making VBS a success. We look for-ward to next year.

VBS 2019

A Note of Thanks

I want to thank everyone for the prayers, cards, many visits, and gifts given to me while I was at Southlake Pavilion. I really appreciate all that was done for me. Thank you too, Pastor David, for all of your visits and prayers.

Ruby Wilson

Ruby Wilson 1720 Linden St. Rm 104 Syracuse NE 68446

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E-Giving is Here “All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given to them by the Lord your God.”

– DEUTERONOMY 16:17

Summer Stewardship Tips As we are into the summer months we all know that people are gone more often on vacations, outings, etc. Because of this, traditionally in our church and most churches, the offerings can be short.

Some suggestions: Mail your offering to the church if you know you

are going to be gone Give the offering in advance of the Sunday you

are going to be gone. Or online.

Have you seen our new online giving pro-gram? We’re excited about the new things happening at First Lutheran through our online community. You can securely give from our website and via text mes-sage. You can even create an account to set up re-curring donations and use our free app. If you’d like account-level access, please contact the church office. We’ll then email you so you can get started today.

BENEFITS FROM YOUR eGIVING:

1. Give from anywhere using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

2. No need to find a check or stop by the ATM.

3. Use your Checking / Savings Account or your Deb-it / Credit Card.

4. Schedule gifts to occur automatically.

5. Give to one or more funds at any time.

BENEFITS FOR OUR CHURCH eGIVING:

1. Reduces administrative work allowing more time to focus on the ministry.

2. Helps streamline receivables.

3. Increases stewardship by providing members and guests easier ways to give.

4. More regular and predictable giving makes plan-ning easier.

Click the eGIVING button on our church web-site: www.firstlutheranavoca.org

Enter the amount you want to give, select a fund, and enter your email address.

Click GIVE and enter your payment infor-mation to complete the transaction.

If you have a Realm login, you can log in when prompted and complete your transaction or schedule a gift.

Here are 3 Convenient Ways to eGive:

MOBILE:

Give from our church’s app:

Search Realm Connect in the app store.

Download the free app and sign in.

Tap the GIVING icon at the bottom then tap MAKE A GIFT and follow the prompts to give.

Don’t have an account for the app? Contact our church office.

Text NORTHBRANCH and AMOUNT to 73256.

Click the link you receive in your text message response.

Follow the prompts to give.

Text giving even saves your payment information so you can quickly give again.

TEXT:

ONLINE:

http://www.firstlutheranavoca.org/

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In 2018 through the generosity and caring of our brothers and sisters in Christ members of First Lu-theran donated to LWR: 53 Personal Care Kits 61 School Kits 31 bars of soap There were also 146 quilts made and donated to several shelters and LWR.

Let’s make it a personal challenge to better these numbers for this year! Now is a good time to make purchases since school supplies sales are now go-ing on as well as frequent bath towel sales.

This project is a great opportunity to count our blessings and share with those who have so little! Please drop off kit supplies in the Narthex.

A clear tote will be marked for these items.

The deadline to bring your donation is Oct. 20

Thank you for your participation! If you have questions, contact Wendy Mueller at 402-432-2852.

Personal Care Kits “When LWR distributes Personal Care Kits, it’s often to people who have lost everything. In the wake of an earthquake, or having fled from vio-lence as their homes were overtaken, they clasp a towel from a faraway place, with a bar of soap, a toothbrush …and washing up, they know that they have not been forsaken by the world. The simple gesture of giving a Personal Care Kit can give someone the encouragement to start anew, starting with a bath!” What to include:

1 light-weight bath —size towel (between 20”x40” and 52”x27”) dark color

2 bath-size bars of soap in original wrapping

1 adult-size toothbrush (can purchase multi-pack and place toothbrush in a #10 envelope)

1 sturdy comb (remove packaging)

1 metal nail clippers (remove packaging) Wrap items in the towel, tie securely w/ ribbons or yarn

School Kits “Why school supplies? To the children who receive School Kits, these supplies mean the difference be-tween getting an education or not. Public school is usually free, but in the places where LWR works, even a few required supplies, like pens and paper, may be more than many families can afford. And when parents can only afford to send one of their children to school, girls rarely get priority…yet the education lev-el of mothers has the biggest impact on develop-ment.” What to include:

4 70-sheet notebooks (8’x10 ½”) NO Loose Leaf Paper

1 30-centimeter ruler OR ruler with centimeters on one side and inches on the other

1 pencil sharpener

1 blunt scissors

5 unsharpened #2 pencils w/erasers--secured w/rubber band

5 black or blue ballpoint pens (NO gel ink) –secured with a rubber band

1 box 16 or 24 count crayons

1 2 ½” eraser

Lutheran Wor ld Re l ie f K i ts o f Care

A meaningful way to make a difference

As long as you share your fabric, sheets, etc., we will continue to make quilts. We made 24 on a Friday in July.

Thank you, Margaret Stubbendick

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Defy Ventures has a new name….. RISE. New name, same goal…. To end mass incarceration and cycles of recidivism by using entrepreneurship as a tool to transform legacies and human potential.

At RISE we often talk about how success can be viewed through a multitude of lenses. One person’s “normal day” can be a complete milestone for some-one else. One division of RISE is the Nebraska reentry program which focuses on job readiness, character development and entrepreneurship. It is not uncommon for us to be asked about our best success stories. Who doesn’t love a good, startup, “rags to riches” kind of a story?

For RISE, success isn’t measured in million dollar in-vestments and storefronts. Success can come in a variety of ways: understanding ones strengths overcoming anxieties choosing to make the next right decision becoming less violent pursuing job opportunities filling out difficult paperwork asking for help getting through the next “normal day”.

The success doesn’t need to be glamorous. It just needs to be real. RISE doesn’t just affect the gradu-ates…. RISE has become a unique opportunity to em-power mothers, sons, daughters, spouses, house-holds for a better future.

In June, Rise had 25 more graduates. Seven grads reentered the community. One of those back in our communities is Kim from the women’s York facility. Kim CHOSE to stay past her prison release date to not only finish extra programming, but to complete and graduate from RISE. Kim was doing everything she could to ensure she could set herself up for suc-cess upon release. Admirable, to say the least. Kim’s

RISE | Defy Ventures

story, after release, is posted at our kiosk. There are several copies, so feel free to take one home with you. You can also read about her and other Rise Success Stories on the blog at www.seeusrise.org.

This truly is a wonderful program that makes ALL of us better people! Please consider giving your time, financial support and/or prayers. Any/all of these help tremendously!

Our next volunteer opportunity in the Tecumseh facility is September 9th. If you are interested in spending most of a day (8:30 – 4:00) helping to make a difference, please contact Diane Reuss at 402-679-2756 before August 5th. RISE will need to have you do a little paperwork to be approved.

August Worship Assistants Ushers Dean & Ruth Lamb, Angie Gubbels Acolyte Kyle Cavanaugh

Lay Readers 4th Kurt Knake 11th Connie Eidenmiller 18st Kelly Stephenson 25th Renee Nolte

Communion Assistants 11th Hillary Wiebusch 25th Rick Nolte

http://www.seeusrise.org

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As a congregation, we are committed to voicing our praises and “not sitting on our pinches”! To be a healthy, faithful community, we need to be open with one another about what we expect in all areas of our life together. If there is anything in our community life that brings you joy or causes you to be concerned, please share your feelings and questions. Thank you for taking the time to communicate about the ways we are doing well in our ministry together at First Lutheran, and areas that need attention.

If you would like a personal response to your praise or pinch, please be sure to sign this form at the bottom

Praises:_____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Opportunities:_______________________________________________________________________________

Pinches:____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Desired Outcome

(Solution):___________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

A specific question I would like answered: __________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Name ___________________________________(If you would like a direct response to your Praise, Opportunity,

or Pinch)

Please return this form to the Church Office or place in the box in the Narthex

June update: No pinches or praises

Praises, Opportunities and Pinches

The Last Laugh The Golden Rule of Teaching - Know Your Pupils

A head teacher is making his rounds of the school when he /hears a terrible commotion coming from one of the classrooms. He rushes in and spots one boy, taller than the others, who seems to be making the most noise.

He seizes the lad, drags him to the hall, and tells him to wait there until he is excused. Returning to the class-room, the head teacher restores order and lectures the class for half an hour about the importance of good be-havior.

'Now,' he says, 'are there any questions?'

One girl stands up timidly. 'Please sir,' she asks, 'may we have our teacher back?'

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