Augustana News FROM YOUR PASTOR HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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1 A GROWING FAMILY OF FAITH AUGUSTANA STAFF: Sr. Pastor: Dan Solomon Associate Pastor: Dick Dahle Secretary: Deb Schlieman Custodians: Merlyn & Mary Harringa Organist: David Howell Choir Director: Dave Swenson Accompanist: David Howell Bell Choir Director: Jo Howell CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL: President: Rich Wrage Vice-President: Ben Matthies Treasurer: Jody Stern Secretary: Jamie Faust Christian Learning: Jamie Faust Cross Connections: Ellen Chesnut Finance: Kim Behrendt Outreach: Peter Ruach Personnel: Starla Smith Property: Dirk Zaiser Social Ministry: Jody King Stewardship: Tim Heiller Worship: Kathy Abrahamson Youth: Donna Adams WORSHIP SCHEDULE Worship services are held Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Thursday evening services are at 7:00 p.m. Education hour and Fellowship are at 9:45 a.m. January Events Jan. 03 Worship Jan. 10 Worship Installation of Council (11:00) Jan. 17 Worship Jan. 24 Worship Jan. 31 Worship Annual Meeting/Part II Augustana News AUGUSTANA LUTHERAN CHURCH, BOONE, IA JANUARY 2016 Rooted in God s grace, cross-connecting with God and neighbor FROM YOUR PASTOR HAPPY NEW YEAR! As we turn our calendars over and begin 2016, let s take a few minutes to reflect on where we are in the church year. Looking back, the church year began back on November 29 with the start of the Advent season. Advent is followed by the Christmas season. The celebration of Christmas lasts 12 days. It concludes with the Epiphany of our Lord (January 6) when we remember the star leading the Magi to the Christ Child. Looking ahead a bit, the Lent/Easter cycle begins with Ash Wednesday (February 10). What about the time in between Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter? Well, we used to call it the season of Epiphany. Now, more accurately, we call it the Time after Epiphany. In the coming weeks we will hear the story of Jesus baptism when God says to Jesus, You are my Son, the Beloved. We will end this Time after Epiphany on Transfiguration Sunday with an awesome vision of Jesus on the mountaintop, radiant in glory. In between its starry beginning and its glorious climax, this in between time will manifest through word and song that the light of the world is coming into the world in Jesus. I invite you to worship in the coming weeks as we gather around Christ who is the light of the word. Your partner in Christ, Pastor Dan Solomon 1

2 CONGREGATION COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS Text: Luke 1:39 55 December 15, 2015 Treasurer s Report received. Branch reports were received. Audit Committee was appointed. STEWARDSHIP 2015 Year to date giving goal: $421,069 Year to date giving: $374,303 Year to date Major Maintenance: $14,955 Dec. giving goal: $62,318 Dec. giving to date: $39,442 Dec. Major Maintenance $1,349 Jan. giving goal: $29,909 Council officers for 2016 were elected: President Rich Wrage Vice President Ben Matthies Secretary Jamie Faust Jody Stern was appointed as Treasurer for Branch assignments were discussed Housing allowance amounts were set for the Pastors. Foundation Annual Report was received. Included were recommendations for year-end distributions as follows: $1, to Augutsana HVAC project $1,000 to Lutheran Services in Iowa Crisis Child Care program in Boone County $1,000 to Fund Leaders Southeastern Iowa Synod $500 to Crawford Hall $1,000 to University Lutheran Center of ISU $250 to Southeastern Iowa Synod to assist in the establishment of a congregation in Anamosa State Penitentiary These recommended disbursement will be acted upon by the congregation at the Congregational Meeting, pt. II on January 31, Council Retreat, January 8-9, 2016 was discussed. Agenda was set for the Congregational Meeting, pt. II. Stewardship Generous giving in December has already begun to erase the $24,000 deficit we faced at the beginning of the month. Your year-end giving will help us start 2016 on firm financial ground. Speaking of 2016 your 2016 pledges totaled $300,466. This is an increase of 5.6% and represents an all-time high total of pledges!! Wow!! Thanks to your generous giving the vital ministries start strong in Looking Ahead. Ash Wednesday/Lent: Midweek services begin February 10, Help wanted for removing Christmas decorations at the church. Please plan to help take down Christmas decorations on Sunday, January 3, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. Your help would be greatly appreciated! Discussion continued on the HVAC proposal received from Property Branch in November. 2

3 ANNUAL MEETING - PART II The Annual Meeting Part II will be held January 31, 2016, at 12:00 noon in the Fellowship Hall. A Fundraiser lunch will be served by our youth, who will be attending the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering, in conjunction with the meeting. Please mark this on your calendars! Reports, and Annual Reports for Ministry Branches, Foundation, and Organizations. NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION: We are in the process of gathering together a group of new members. If you or someone you know would like to know more about becoming a part of the Augustana family of faith, speak to Pastor Solomon or call the church office. A new member orientation will be held Sunday, January 17, 2016, from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. New members will be received on Sunday, January 31, Ushers for January 2016 YEAR-END GIVING: We invite and encourage special year-end gifts to Augustana. In order for you to claim a deduction for contributions you make to the church this year, we must receive your gift by December 31. Contributions that you make in the New Year cannot be deducted on this year's tax return even if the check is dated this year whether you actually wrote the check in 2015 or you wrote it in the New Year but backdated it to There is one exception, a check that is written, mailed and postmarked in 2015 can be deducted this year even if the church does not receive it until the New Year. Checks that are placed in the offering on the first Sunday of 2016 will not qualify as a deduction for 2015, even if the check is dated These rules are established by the Internal Revenue Service. AMBASSADORS FOR JAN FEB Jan. 03 Ann Wilber & Janelle Good Jan. 10 Charles Irwin & Vern Condon Jan. 17 Georgia Robertson & Jeanne Duffy Jan. 24 Carroll & Judy Tungesvik Jan. 31 Paul & Carol Ouverson Feb. 07 Dennis & Patsy Kollbaum Feb. 14 Russ & Donna Knutson Feb. 21 Jody King & Beth Isvik Feb. 28 Ann Wilber & Janelle Good January 03-8:30 a.m. Bob & Jan Johnson, Gerald Anderson, Milt Sprecher January 10-8:30 a.m. January 17-8:30 a.m. January 24-8:30 a.m. January 31, - 8:30 a.m. ELCA Barnyard Gifts Thank you to everyone who has participated in the Good Gifts Barnyard giving. The support has been beyond our greatest hope. The generosity of our congregation has been amazing. Totals will be in the February Newsletter. 3

4 AT THE FONT: December 13, 2015 William Joseph Fletcher son of Jeffrey & Jessica Fletcher. AT THE ALTAR: Congratulations to Nicole Reynoldson and Quinn Albrecht who were united in Marriage on December 12, CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY TO: George Hope on the death of his brother Obed Hope of Park Ridge, Illinois on October 26, Kim Behrendt and family on the death of Kim s grandmother, Darlene Anderson of Harlan, Iowa on November 20, Tom and Colleen Good on the death of Colleen s brother, Corwyn Klein of Iowa Falls, Iowa on December 4, Family and friends of Martha Larson who passed away on December 14, May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ comfort those who mourn. EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY Adult Form January Sunday 9:45 am in the Fireside room January 3 Gospel of Luke January 10 Acts of the Apostles January 17 Acts of the Apostles January 24 TBA January 31 Select Video Lutherans in North America Thank you to: News and Notes to all who helped decorate our church for the Advent and Christmas season. It was great to see some new helpers in addition to those who have helped before. We appreciate everyone s help. We had helpers of every age group. A special thank you to those who brought chili for the workers. Thank you from the Worship Branch. those who helped with Christmas Eve Services and all the many events of the Advent/Christmas season. the members who generously provided for the poinsettias for the church. to those who provided leadership for Advent Mid-Week Worship. This includes: our leaders, Kiera Good, Jacob and Rebecca Clark. Special thanks to David Howell for playing keyboard at each of the services. Thank You, from the office staff to all of you for the many acts of kindness you have shown us during this Christmas Season. A special thanks for all the cards, gifts and good wishes. We thank God for the privilege to serve with you! Thanks! God Bless! Your Church Staff. Thank you for your offering to Lutheran Chaplaincy Outreach. This will help financially support the ELCA chaplaincy at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Gifts received totaled $ to the congregation for helping us with our Veteran s Day/Christmas Service Project. With your generous donations, we were able to deliver hundreds of much needed items to the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown this past week in time for Christmas. The 8 th Grade Boys Confirmation Group and Guides. 4

5 WELCA January Circle Meetings: Esther Circle Wednesday, January 20, 9:30 a.m. Devotions/Thought: Norma Koos Lesson: Hostess: Sue Duffee Ruth Circle Wednesday, January 20, 1:30 p.m. Devotions: Laura Quam Lesson: Laura Herrig Hostess: Hannah Circle Wednesday, January 19, 5:30 p.m. Brown bag supper and lesson Thank you to everyone who so generously filled the cookie jars and supported the bake sale for our Missionaries in Tanzania, the Stubbs family. The amount of $1,215 was raised to support this important ministry. We have pledged $2000 in missionary support. If you did not have a chance to contribute, there s still time!!! Just write a check to Augustana WELCA and designate it for missionary support. Place it in the offering or bring it to the church office. Thank you!! WELCA gave year end gifts of $100 each to the following organizations: Salvation Army, YSS of Boone County, Lutheran Services of Iowa, Riverside Bible Camp, Global Health Ministries, Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity, Lutheran Chaplaincy Outreach, World Hunger, Crawford Hall, First United Methodist Church - Free Clinic, Boone Hope Foundation, IMPACT Community Action Partnership (Red Rock Food Pantry), Madrid Home ACTS Fund (Assistance with Compassion to Seniors), ACCESS (Assault Care Center Extending Shelter & Support, Ames, IA), University Lutheran Congregation Ames, IA., and $715 to ELCA Good Gifts for a Family Farm. The Stork s Nest of Boone County Traveling Playpen Donation Drive January 2016 The Stork s Nest is a free community based program that promotes healthy behaviors during pregnancy and infancy by providing education and incentives. You can help make a difference in the lives of many Boone county families by donating a new baby item from the wish list or by making a cash donation. Diapers!!! Sizes: 1-4 (any brand) Wipe Refills (any brand) - Baby Monitors Security Gates - Sippy Cups/Bowls/Utensils Age appropriate toys (0-2 years) Crib Sheets - Car Seats Swings/Jumperoo Umbrella Strollers/Regular Strollers Thermometers (Rectal/Ear/Temporal/Auxiliary) High chairs and booster seats, Potty chairs HELP FILL THE PLAYPEN!! Boone County Caregiver Support Group Meeting Date: The first Tuesday of every month Meeting Time: 6:00 p.m. Meeting Location: Chapel at Westhaven Community What are the meetings like: For every other meeting, we will try to have a presenter. The evenings there is no presenter, those attending will share their thoughts and experiences if they wish and give each other ideas of actions to take or resources to utilize. An evening meal will be provided at 5:30 p.m. at no cost. RSVP will provide people to care for your loved one in another area of Westhaven Community during the meeting if you have no one to care for him/her at home. Please call Barb Wills ( ) if you plan to bring your loved one who will need care. Please listen to KWBG on the day of the meeting for changes or cancellations. 5

6 2016 January 2016 Annual Meeting Part II 12:00 noon January 31, Office Closed Happy New Year 2 Second Sunday of Christmas 3 World Hunger Offering/Food Pantry Blood Pressure Checks 8:30 Worship 9:45 Sunday School/ Adult 11:00 Worship 1:00 Remove Christmas Decorations Baptism of Our Lord 10 Baptism Festival 8:30 Worship/Sr. Choir 11:00 Worship/Council Installation Second Sunday after Epiphany 17 Habitat for Humanity Offering 8:30 Worship/Bell Choir 11:00 Worship/Sr. Choir 2:00 New Member Orientation Third Sunday after Epiphany 24 8:30 Worship 11:00 Worship/Sr. Choir 1:00 Confest 2016 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 31 New Members Received 8:30 Worship/Sr. Choir 11:00 Worship 12:00 Annual Meeting Part II and meal 11 6:30 Readers and Believers 7:00 Finance Branch :00 OES Chapel 9:00 Foster Grandparents :30 Worship Branch 19 8:30 WIC 5:30 Hannah Circle 6:30 Congregation Council Epiphany 6 9:00 Sewing 9:00 WIC 6:30 WNW 8:00 Seventh Grade Parent Confirmation Camp Meeting 9:00 Sewing 13 6:00 Property Branch 6:00 Augies Kid s Club (4yo-6 gr) 6:30 Confirmation Fellowship 9:30 Esther Circle 1:30 Ruth Circle 2:00 OES Health Care 6:30 WNW :00 Sewing 27 2:30 OES Happy Tymes 6:30 Guide Huddle :00 Westhaven Devotions Annual Reports due in Church office 6:00 Council Retreat 8:00 Council Retreat

7 Augustana Lutheran Church 309 S. Greene St. Boone, IA Return Service Requested Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage Paid Boone, Iowa Permit No. 22 Office Hours: 8:00-5:00 Mon.-Fri. Phone: (515) Fax: (515) Website: Communion Worship Services: Thursday - 7:00 p.m. Sunday - 8:30 & Education Hour & Fellowship - 9:45 7