FIRST FRUITS. May 2017 Volume 20 No. 5

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1 FIRST FRUITS WE GIVE OUR FIRST FRUITS BECAUSE HE GAVE US HIS ONLY SON May 2017 Volume 20 No. 5 Dear First Family, First Things First You will be receiving this newsletter as Rodney and I are beginning our Reformation Pilgrimage in Germany. Please keep us in your prayers. We look forward to telling you all about it upon our return at Sunday morning worship on May 7 th. Also with us that morning and throughout the course of that week will be Pastor Julie Gellert who will be in town visiting. She has also agreed to preach on Mother s Day, May 14. I think it would be a good idea to show her First Lutheran hospitality by providing coffee and donuts during the hour that morning to make her feel welcome. Who might be able to set that up??? Pastor Julie and I will then head to Seguin and San Antonio the next week to attend The Annual Festival of Homiletics - May Wow, Summer is just around the corner! On Sunday, May 21 we will have A Communion Service of Word and Song for Summer Travels, Trips, and Journeys. We also will include a celebration that day for Sawyer Schoenfield who will graduate from Boling High School on Friday, May 26 th. Summer often brings vacations, travels, and opportunities to step out of the busyness of our daily lives. We visit with family and friends, encounter new places and experiences, and enjoy rest and relaxation. Scripture tells us of many travelers and journeys. Abraham set off with a promise and little else. The Israelites began their forty-year trek with excitement but soon complained and grumbled when the way became difficult. Mary and Joseph had little control over their destination or departure date. The magi rerouted their trip after visiting Herod. Jesus and his disciples wandered through towns and countryside. Paul ventured out with zeal and purpose, finding welcome in some places and hostility in others. This service progresses through the stages of many journeys: Plans and Preparations, Setting Out, On the Road, When the Way Becomes Hard, and Joyful Homecomings. But we can be assured that whatever our travels of life, God remains our steadfast guide and companion. I will set up a display and so I am asking you to bring a drawing, photograph, or memento from your own favorite trip to add to it that morning. Please drop it off to Christine sometime between now and May 14. If you have a special story you would like to share about a journey or travel experience that deepened your faith please let me know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Looking Ahead, FLCEC support needed through time, talent and monetarily gifts: July through Community Vacation Bible School students and School Board along with FLCEC members are needed to participate. Here are the details to date: WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SPLITTING THE COST OF THE LUTHER HILL CAMP WITH THE PARTICIPATING CHURCHES, thus the designation for our Noisy Offering during the months of June and July will be put toward our shared cost. Individual contributions appreciated and accepted. FLCEC WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING MEALS ONE DAY. FLCEC will be responsible for providing a 5-person team of church members to provide and serve the meal on our designated day. It would be great if we could provide stuffed baked potatoes as our meal. (I have requested our day be Thursday as a team of 5 of us will already be there for Stuff the Bus packing). FLCEC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING A 5-PERSON TEAM on Thursday, July 21 and Friday, July 22 to ready the backpacks with the school supplies for distribution day. FLCEC NEEDS A TEAM OF 5 MEMBERS (I hope more!) to be on hand on distribution day which will be held at First Lutheran Church on Saturday, July 22, 8-12:00 noon. There will be a school bus parked out front and members from the community and press will be present. It s not too soon to sign-up to help. Please phone or Christine with your commitment to help and let her know which day. Keeping Him First, Pastor Donna

2 First School And Day Care is at 61 children and growing. We are ews excited to invite you to our Pre-K end of the year production! It will be held in the Fellowship Hall this year on Tuesday, May 23 rd, at 6:30 p.m. We are really encouraging the church to attend to see what is going on in our wonderful Pre-K class! As I mentioned before we are not having a cap and gown ceremony due to the fact a lot of our students are not old enough to attend Kindergarten in the fall. We are still having a wonderful program with a great deal of effort put into it to make it top notch quality!! Thank you for your support and involvement with the First Lutheran!! Many Blessings, Bree Joines Director Board Thursday, May 18 th 5:00 p.m. End of Year Program Tuesday, May 23 rd 6:30 p.m. 05/07 Psalm 23; Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10: /14 Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14: /21 Psalm 66:8-20; Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14: /28 Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35; Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11, John 17:1-11

3 05/01 Kim Kainer 05/05 Robert Hollingsworth 05/20 Emery Langston 05/23 Dagny Thane 05/25 Shane Langston 05/26 Kathleen Joines 05/30 Evon Atchetee Dorothy Atchetee Charles Bard Family of Henrietta Bram Nora Hollingsworth Bonnie Jones in Methodist Hospital Sugar Land Harry & Marilyn Kight Pat Marek John Nelson Forrest & Norma Newton Betty Nielsen Diane Stewart Rodney & Pastor Donna Vanessa Brian McMillan Preston Dornak Eugene Bard Meredith Borak Mike Bergstrom Rozelle Giesie Debbie Hamman Peggy Glaze Mr. Joines Donna Monreal Michael Monreal Verna Roy Kim Walker Rhonda Merta Monica Harris Maci House The congregation of First Lutheran Church & Danevang Lutheran Connie Martin Ray Hancock Kenny Hall Deborah Gregory Karla Johnson & Living Water Lutheran Church As they prepare for their Guatemala mission trip The people of Syria 05/02 Kirk House 05/11 Ed Campbell 05/13 Sheila Herrington 05/14 Shane Langston 05/14 Sarah Langston 05/24 Jewel-Deen House Pray for our loved ones In the Military Jake Barosh Sarah Langston (Reserves) U.S. Armed Forces WE RE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US OR 05/25 Daniel & Claudia Wilfert Office hours: Tues & Thurs: 8:00am - 4:30pm Wed: 8:00am 12:00pm Phone: office@firstlutheranec.com COUNCIL MEETING Thursday, May 18 th 6:00 p.m. Pastor Donna Zipp: pastorfirstlutheran@yahoo.com Phone:

4 . Festival of Homiletics The family of Henrietta Bram would like to thank our church family for the food you brought, the memorials you gave, and all the support you gave us during the recent loss of our mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother. A special thank you to Pastor Donna for her care for our family and for faithfully visiting and bringing communion to our Memo. Leroy & Billie Jean Bram & Family I want to thank all the ladies of the Church for hostessing the beautiful Bridal Shower for Kevin and me. The Shower was beautiful and and we appreciate your kindness and generosity. Love, Cori and Kevin Pastor Donna will be attending the Festival of Homiletics in San Antonio from May If you are in need of pastoral services during this week please contact a church council member. (See monthly calendar for contact info) End of the Year Program Tuesday, May 23 rd 6:30 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend. _ National Day of Prayer May 4, 2017 Prayer s WOMEN OF THE WORD MEETING Monday, May 8 th 6:00 p.m. WOW Food Drive Sunday, May 7 th Community Vacation Bible School WHEN: July WHERE: Christ Lutheran Church May 3 rd & 17 th 5:30 PM Everyone is invited! Gift to Living Waters Lutheran Church The Church Council voted to give the Wednesday night Lenten service offerings to Living Waters Lutheran Church (on behalf of Karla Johnson) for their expenses as they plan a summer mission trip to Guatemala. (Karla s letter about her experiences last summer was shared in the March 2017 issue of First Fruits.) A check for $ was sent to the congregation from First Lutheran. (See Pastor s article for information on how you can be involved in VBS this summer!)

5 May 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 - Pastor 2 - continues 3 - in - 4 Germany Prayer 5:30PM National Day of Prayer 7 14 w/communion WOW Food Drive 8 WOW 6PM 15 - Pastor 16 at Festival Newsletter Items Due 17 of Homiletics Prayer 5:30PM 18 in San Board 5:00PM Church Council 6:00PM 19 Antonio w/communion 22 ARC of El Campo 6:30PM 23 End of Year Program 6:30PM FLCEC Team serves Manna Meals Church Council: Milton Johnson Sheila Herrington Sheila Miller Jimmy Nielsen Cathy Schoenfield Lynn Talafuse Daniel Wilfert May Responsibilities ASSISTING MINISTER: Kirk House SEXTON: Lynn Talafuse USHERS: Calvin Borak, Daniel Wilfert ALTAR GUILD: Marilyn Kight, Jan Nelson Kathleen Joines ACOLYTES READER 7 th Ruth Speckels 14 th Ted Schoenfield 21 st Sheila Herrington 28 th Cathy Schoenfield If you are unable to serve on your date, please find someone to take your place. 7 th Open 14 th Open MAY FLOWER CALENDAR 21 st Shane & Heather Langston 28 th Open

6 First Lutheran Church 304 Oscar El Campo, TX ESTABLISHED FEB 1893 Worshipping Christ and Sharing the Word for over a century. Donna Zipp, Pastor Helen Marie Kight, Organist Christine Richter, Office Manager Bree Joines, Director of Join us on FACEBOOK or check us out at CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS: Sheila Herrington, Milton Johnson, Sheila Miller, Jimmy Nielsen, Cathy Schoenfield, Lynn Talafuse & Daniel Wilfert.. National Day of Prayer May 4, 2017 Theme: For Your Great Name s Sake! Hear Us... Forgive Us...Heal Us! Taken from Daniel 9:19, which says, O Lord, Listen! O Lord, Forgive! O Lord, Hear and Act! For Your Sake, O My God.... Our Newsletter can be found on our website at 9:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m.