February 2015 First Lutheran · 2/1/2015 · PAGE 8 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 2015 FEBRUARY...
Transcript of February 2015 First Lutheran · 2/1/2015 · PAGE 8 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 2015 FEBRUARY...
408 Ninth Street NW
Mandan, ND 58554
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH
Phone: 701-663-3594
Fax: 701-663-6217
E-mail: [email protected]
Building Faith and
Transforming Lives
in Christ.
www.firstlutheranofmandan.org
We’re on the web!
Happy
Valentine’s
Day from
the staff at
First
Lutheran
Church!
This month we mark the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday. This is
the one day of the year we leave worship with a visible smudge on our
foreheads, reminding everyone we see that we have been to church. It is
also a day when the question arises about piety or faithfulness.
It is no comfort that the Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday is the Sermon
on the Mount, where “Jesus commends almsgiving, prayer, and fasting,
but emphasizes that spiritual devotion must not be done for show.” Then
right after hearing that not so comforting message from Jesus we all the
leave the church with a black cross on the forehead. So the Confirmation
youth would say, “Aren’t we hypocrites Pastor Chris?” After all what are
you supposed to do, wipe the ashes off before stepping outside? Do you
leave them on only to have the cashier at the grocery store say, "You've
got something on your forehead"?
Of course Jesus does not tell us to refrain from all acts of public piety.
What Jesus seems concerned with is the why, not the what. Why do you
pray in public? Why do you give alms? Why do you fast? If appearing
faithful is a way to build yourself up before others, then it is not
faithfulness but hypocrisy. On the other hand, if praying over a meal in a
restaurant is something you do because praying at meals is part of your
faith, by all means bow your head and pray.
As the season of Lent begins each year, God's people are invited to take
on three great disciplines: prayer, fasting, and alms-giving.
Jesus' words in the gospel remind us that our acts of faithfulness always
come as a response to God's gifts. Remembering this gives a note of
humility to all we do. Piety is not something to brag about. Piety is not
something to be proud of. Piety is but acknowledgment of the one who
first gave us everything.
So this Lenten season let us give thanks in all we do for the one who first
gave us everything.
Grace and Peace to you!
Pastor Chris
February 2015
Administrative Pastor
Rev. Lee Herberg
663-3594
Associate Pastor
Rev. Christina Martin
663-3594
Administrative Assistant &
Coordinator of Lay
Ministries
Jackie Schulz
663-3594 (o)
663-3082 (h)
Custodians
Ron & Mavis Watson
Financial Administration
Jennifer Scheet
First Lutheran Is A Mission
Partner with Camp of the
Cross Ministries
First Lutheran
Staff
First Lutheran Church
February Newsletter
PAGE 2 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH February 2015
The youth will be serving supper each Wednesday during Lent starting
on Ash Wednesday. The meals are served each week starting at 5:30
p.m. and the cost is a free-will offering. All the proceeds from the
Lenten suppers will go towards the Detroit Trip this summer. Come
and join us for good food and fellowship as we journey together through
Lent.
All 5th graders and their parents are invited to come and learn about the
Sacrament of Holy Communion. Parents and their children come to
class together to learn about communion and prepare for the 5th graders
First Communion on Maundy Thursday. There is a cost of $15 for the
chalice that each child paints and uses on Maundy Thursday. If you
plan to attend the classes, please call or email Pastor Chris
([email protected]) by Wednesday, February 18th.
Lenten Supper Menu
5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
Wednesday, February 18th: Knoephla Soup & Tangy Summer Sausage Sandwiches
Wednesday, February 25th: Loaded Baked Potatoes
Wednesday, March 4th: Sloppy Joes
Wednesday, March 11th: Homemade Cheese Buttons & Knoephla & Sauerkraut
with Sausage
Wednesday, March 18th: Super Nachos
Wednesday, March 25th: Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO, the Souper Bowl of Caring began with a simple prayer from a single youth group:
“Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be
mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.”
Since that day, more than $98 million has been raised for local charities across the country through Souper Bowl of Caring. It has become a power-ful movement that is transforming the time around Super Bowl weekend in-to the nation’s largest celebration of giving and serving. Through this mis-sion, young people learn what it’s like to make a positive difference in the world – as they collect food, raise money and volunteer to work in charities that provide shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry and compassion to those in need. Be part of this movement that is sharing God’s love with those in need. Please give generously on Super Bowl Sunday. The money we collect from First Lutheran will go to Community Action’s Back-pack for Kids program, our 2015 Souper Bowl of Caring charity of
choice. We will take donations on February 1st at both services.
PAGE 10 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 2015
Mark Your
Calendar…
4th: 7pm - Confirmation -
Large Group
5th: LAF-Sloppy Joes
11th: 7pm - Confirmation -
Large Group
12th: LAF-Sandwiches
18th: 7pm - Ash Wednesday
Worship
19th: LAF-Nachos
25th: 7pm - Lenten
Worship
26th: LAF-Hot Dogs
Upcoming Events
All 6th –12th graders you are invited to attend W.I.N.G.S.!!!
What is W.I.N.G.S ? Is the coming together of four local Lutheran churches
and our youth for a night of fun and fellowship along the lines of a traditional
youth group.
This month W.I.N.G.S will be meeting on February 8th from 6:00 to 8:30 P.M.
For our activity we will be going to be playing broom ball!! Please eat before
you come.
If you would like to come please contact Pastor Chris.
Rev Christina Martin
701-663-3594
Cell: 219-512-5517
Caramel Roll Sale
The youth will be selling homemade caramel rolls on Sunday, February 8th for coffee hour and also to go!
We are taking preorders as well as selling them the day of. We will PRESELL a dozen for $20.00. The day of,
we will be selling a dozen for $25.00, 2 for $5.00 or 1 for $3.00. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex. Please
include your name, phone number & the amount you will want to buy.
(we will call you the morning of Saturday, February 7th to pick up your pre-orders)
Make sure to pick up some extra ones and take them home to share with family and friends!
All proceeds will go to the ELCA Youth Gathering Trip
PAGE 4 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 2015
Sunday ~
8:30 am ~ Traditional
10:45 am ~ Contemporary
9:30 am ~ Coffee
9:30 am ~ Church School
Wednesday ~
6:00 pm ~ Transitional
6:00 pm ~ Church School
7:00 pm ~ Confirmation
Lenten Schedule beginning February 18th
5:30 pm ~ Lenten Suppers
6:00 pm ~ Church School
7:00 pm ~ Lenten Services
Worship Schedule
Special Thanks
Thank you to all the greeters, ushers, communion servers,
readers, communion set-up, coffee hour workers, and to all
who have supplied goodies for the last month. Your help is
greatly appreciated!
Baptisms:
January 4 Theodore Roger Hambrick
Weddings:
Funerals:
January 3 Richard A. Steffenson
January 20 Dorothy Zwarych
Memorial Fund
Pastoral Acts
In memory of Dale Kostelecky given by Russ & Jan
Grabinger.
In memory of Richard A. Steffenson given by his
family.
In memory of Harry Renken, Olivia Jerabek, Herb
Renken given by Hilda Renken & family.
Deadline for
articles for the
March Newsletter
will be February
13th.
February~ Mission of the Month
HIT Inc. – West River Head Start Items needed are non-perishable food items, tis-sues, napkins, paper towels, toilet paper, diapers, new toys and books for pre-school kids. Please put the items in the boxes in the Narthex. Thank you.
Ash Wednesday is on February
18th. Service times on Wednesdays
during Lent will change to 7:00
P.M.
Easter Garden
Easter is right around the corner. As we prepare
to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, it
is also a wonderful time to beautify our church
and honor our loved ones. The youth of our
church are selling Easter Garden Flowers. They
will purchase a mix of Lilies and Mums to
decorate the Sanctuary for Easter. Flowers may
be picked up after the 11:00 A.M. Easter service.
Order forms will be available in the narthex
starting February 1st. Orders can be placed in the
offering plate or the church office. The price for each plant is
$13.00. Orders must be placed by Sunday, March 1st. (We can’t
place late orders!)
PAGE 9 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 2015
PAGE 8 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 2015 FEBRUARY 2015 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH PAGE 5
First Lutheran Church Council Minutes
Thursday, December 18, 2014 7:00PM
Present: Pastor Lee Herberg, Pastor Christina Martin, President Tammy Lapp-Harris, Vice-
President Brock Schmeling, Secretary Jill Miller, John Pake, Janet Reineke, Kris Elijah, Terryl
Gaebe, and Den Na Lee Fewson.
Absent: Dot Frank.
Devotions: President Tammy Lapp-Harris called the meeting to order. Pastor Lee led devo-
tions.
Approval of Agenda: Moved by Janet, seconded by John to approve the agenda as presented.
Motion passed unanimously.
Secretary’s Report/Review and Approval of the minutes: Moved by Janet, seconded by
John to approve the November 20, 2014 minutes. Motion passed unanimously.
Financial Report/Review: Total income through November of 2014 is down approximately
$1,800 compared with the same period in 2013 and expenses are up approximately $30,000 for
the same time frame. There were some high maintenance expenses this month, notably expens-
es related to ongoing issues with the boiler.
Unfinished Business:
Policy and Procedure Manual: Points of topic were whether or not to continue to have
language with mandates an audit sub-team every year. It was decided to add “As
deemed necessary by the church council no later than every 5 years.” to the policy manu-
al for auditing. There are still some sections to review before the manual will be final.
2015 Operating Budget: Council reviewed the budget for 2015. Clarification was request-
ed as to what composes the ‘Miscellaneous Revenue’ in the revenue accounts. Miscellane-
ous Revenue includes coffee hour money, funeral honorariums for the Kitchen Fund,
Thrivent Choice dollars, Confirmation and VBS registration fees and other small checks
received that do not have specific accounts assigned for them. The 2015 proposed budget
included columns with a 2, 3, and 4% increase for support staff salaries. In 2014, a 2%
increase was given, in 2013 a 2% increase was given, in 2012 no increase was given.
Moved by Kris, seconded by Den Na Lee to approve a 4% increase for church support
staff. Motion passed unanimously.
Doors for Education Wing: Leingang Home Center will still honor the original door bid,
but will need to know soon if they will be doing the door project so they can order the
doors and start the project. One other bid was received from Central Door & Hardware
for $3,285. The doors were half glass doors, which is not what code states they should be.
Central Door would not install the doors, which would mean trying to find a contractor to
install the doors. Moved by Den Na Lee, seconded by Janet to approve Leingang Home
Center’s door bid and the money will come out of the Contingency Fund from the Renova-
tion Account. Motion passed, with Brock opposing the motion.
NEW BUSINESS:
The annual meeting will be held Sunday, January 25th at 9:30A.M. in the church sanctuary.
REPORTS:
Pastor Lee’s report – 0 baptisms, 0 funerals, 0 weddings, communion service at nursing
home, still mentoring Bill Dodd, and started helping with the remainder of the 2014-15
confirmation sessions.
Pastor Chris’s report – 3 baptisms, 1 funeral, 1 committal service.
Special Events – No report.
Stewardship – Pledge cards for 2015 have been mailed and many have been returned.
Worship –No report.
Parish Education/Youth – Wednesday school had the Christmas program on December
17th and there has been a lot of positive feedback on the change in the program. Sunday
will be held December 21. Pastor Chris will send out reminders for the start dates of the
spring session that will start in January.
Evangelism and Outreach – No report.
Property and Management – No report.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Lutheran Social Services: Thank you for $5,000 for LSS Capital Campaign for furniture.
YTD giving total $7,310.13.
Golden Age Services: Thank you for the $114.74 donation for Home Delivered Meals pro-
gram.
Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Inc.: Thank you for our donation of $187.21 for
the
M-Club.
Kathleen Kelly, Family Outreach Coordinator Mandan Public Schools: Thank you
for a monetary donation for family in need with a medical crisis.
Motion to Adjourn/Lord’s Prayer: Moved by Brock, seconded by Terryl to adjourn the coun-
cil meeting. Motion passed. The meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Submitted by: Jill Miller
PAGE 6 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 2015