FIRST FRUITS. August 2013 Volume 16 No. 8

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1 FIRST FRUITS WE GIVE OUR FIRST FRUITS BECAUSE HE GAVE US HIS ONLY SON August 2013 Volume 16 No. 8 First Fruits August Let me ask you a question. When this life is over and you are here no more, where do you want to be? Now I m thinking that if you re reading this, you probably believe that you are a Christian. Therefore, I would also assume that you would respond with something like this, I want to be in the presence of God or I want to walk with Jesus for eternity. I must admit that would be close to my answer as well. So, now let me ask you another question. Why do you think that you have to wait until this life is over to be in His presence? If we believe what the Bible teaches about the characteristics of God, then He is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. In other words, He is all-powerful, all-knowing and always everywhere. In fact, the Word tells us that there is no place that He is not. Yet, we find even most Christians desiring His presence in the next life instead of earnestly seeking Him in this one. But the truth is, He is with you right now and the opportunity to be in His presence is yours to choose. King David in Psalm 16:8 says, I shall set the Lord continually before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. And then in vs. 11 David states, in Your presence is Fullness of Joy, at your right hand there are pleasures forever. These are present tense statements, not that of well just wait until you die, then you can experience the Joy of the Lord. NO!! We can all experience Him, His Joy, and abide in His presence, Right Now! In Exodus 33:7-23 is a conversation between God and Moses. It starts out that when Moses pitched his tent, a pillar of cloud would show up and Moses would stand at the door of the tent and God would speak to him. The rest of the Israelites witnessed these conversations with God and all the people rose up and worshipped every man at his door. Vs. 11 says, And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then in vs. 14, And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you and I will give you rest. Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel, Isaiah, Paul, and so many others knew and taught on the Presence of the Lord being with them and the fullness of Joy that they were able to know. I have been fortunate enough to experience the Presence of the Lord and there is nothing like it. Once you have experienced Him, there is nothing else that truly matters. Frankly, I wouldn t want to wait to know Him until I pass on. Jesus came to show us that we could be in His presence in this life and He taught us that he came to not only bring life but bring it more abundantly. There is nothing more important than knowing your Lord in the way He wants you to know Him. I pray you already do, but if you re not sure, or you just know there is more of a relationship than what you have now, then just call out to Him. Jesus, I want more of you, I want to always be in your Presence. Show me the desires of your heart. And I truly believe He will but hold on, because this is a journey that will be heaven on Earth. Lord, I thank you for Loving and wanting to know us and I give you all the Glory. Amen. Pursuing His Presence, Pastor Rusty

2 First School And Day Care News First School still has a few more field trips before our summer activities come to an end. As we look toward the new school year, we will have new and old children coming back from summer vacation. This year we will be starting a new curriculum in our 18 month through 5 year old classes. We are very excited about this! We still have room for a few more children in our 3 year old class. We are also in need of a couple of afternoon teachers and a cook to join our faculty. Peace be with you, Diane FUND BALANCES as of 07/23/13 Jesus Well $ 550* Building Fund 4,149 Paint the Church Fund 6,602 Youth Fund 387 Flower Fund 1,209 Scholarship Fund 939 Memorial Fund 15,061 Luke Johnson Fund 754 Radio Advertising Fund 79 Scottie Englund Fund 1,934 TOTAL $31,664 * Figures are rounded OUR FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR JULY Monthly Offering needed to meet Budget $10,067* Offerings as of 07/23/13 $3,296 Offerings 0 Misc Income Total Income for Budget Expenses $3,296 Budget Needs thru July: $70,469 Income received thru 07/23: 52,915 Amount (under) budget ($17,554) Total Annual Income as of 07/23/13 $52,915 Total Annual Expenses as of 07/23/13- $48,973 Annual Income Actual Expenses = 3,942 08/04 Psalm 49:1-11; Ecclesiates 1:2; 2:18-26, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12: /11 Psalm 33; Genesis 15:1-6, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12: /18 Psalm 82; Jeremiah 23:23-29, Hebrews 12:1-13, Luke 12: /25 Psalm 117; Isaiah 66:18-23, Hebrews 12:18-24, Luke 13:22-30

3 08/03 Gaynard Wiggington 08/06 Haley Stewart 08/10 Amy Konarik 08/10 Joseph Rosniak 08/11 Avery Falcon 08/12 Milton Johnson 08/16 Emma Nelson 08/21 Lorene Bard 08/21 Lionel Chatal 08/25 Carl Schoeneberg 08/28 Norma Newton 08/30 Donald Carlsen Meridian - Henrietta Bram, room 402 Teddy Ash Nora Hollingsworth Norma & Forrest Newton Dorothy Atchetee Robert Hollingsworth Odis & Lorrain Newton Charles & Vernell Bard Cindy Howell Joe Novak Lorene Bard Debbie Hubenak Ray & Elsie Overstreet Lois Barosh Michael Hughes Joni Ranke Donald Berglund George Jalowy Debbie Reeves Buck & Judy Bezdek Bonnie Jones Dorothy Riha Diane Boyd Marie Kight Dave Schoelman Martha Cantu Justin Lormand Gloria Schoenfield Kristine Mock Carroll Connie Martin Jonny Sibley Joan Carter Janice McCleskey Gaynell Smith Mary Carter Jack McDonald Ed Spradlin Bill Englund Ruth McMillian Ann Starup Lisa Englund Joyce Mendez Esther Swanson Glen Gann Nancy Mozisek Mary Lou Thane Elvis Garcia David Moore Jeff Thigpen Elnora Hadash George Morris J.P. Watson Anitra Haynes Lloyd Nelson Gaynard Wiggington 08/01 Dorothy Atchetee 08/01 Jan Nelson 08/01 Diane Stewart 08/03 David Kight 08/06 Dagney Thane 08/09 Paul Bard 08/13 Helen Kight 08/13 Ruth Speckels 08/25 Lionel Chatal 08/25 Matthew Stewart 08/29 Landon Thane Pray for our loved ones In the Military Jake Barosh Justin Cerny Jenny Hernandez Sarah Langston WE RE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US OR Office hours: Tues & Thurs: 8:00am - 4:30pm Wed: 8:00am 12:00pm 08/13 Bill & Ruth Speckles 08/14 Jimmy & Sharon Nielsen 08/14 Reygan & Belinda Sharp Phone: office@firstlutheranec.com NO COUNCIL MEETING this month

4 2013 LCMC Texas District Convention Altar Flowers are needed for: August 4 th and August 18 th Theme: The River Is Here! Dates: August 2-3 Focus: On Christ, Fellowship & Mission Place: St. Paul Lutheran Church New Braunfels, TX Activities: Breakout sessions and displays Keynote Speakers: Mark Vander Tuig & Enrique Estrada Delegates: Lynn Talafuse and Ted Schoenfield WOMEN OF THE WORD MEETING Monday, August 12 th 7PM Prayer Meetings August 6 th & 20 th 6 PM Everyone is invited! Radio Fund We have a weekly broadcast on KIOX-FM. This is an outreach of our ministry here at First Lutheran. We need to continue to support this program as it enables us to share God s word with our community. Please consider giving a designated offering to the Radio Fund. Current Fund Balance: $79 Needed Monthly: $200

5 August Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday w/ Communion 5 6 Prayer Meeting 6PM 1 2 LCMC Texas District Convention - New Braunfels Newton Family Wedding Shower 10-2 Fellowship Hall ---Convention continues WOW Meeting 7PM w/communion Prayer Meeting 6PM Newsletter Items Due First Day of School August Responsibilities ASSISTING MINISTER: Carl Schoeneberg SEXTON: Evon Atchetee USHERS: Lynn Talafuse, John Wilfert ALTAR GUILD: Karen Kight, Linda Atchetee ACOLYTE READER 4 th Sawyer Schoenfield Sheila Herrington 11 th Stephanie Flota Cathy Schoenfield 18 th Ty Schoenfield Diane Stewart 25 th Sawyer Schoenfield Billie Jean Bram If you are unable to serve on your date, please find someone to take your place. 4 th Open August FLOWER CALENDAR 11 th Daniel & Claudia Wilfert 18 th Open 25 th Charlotte (Englund) & J. P. Watson

6 First Lutheran Church 304 Oscar El Campo, TX ESTABLISHED FEB 1893 Worshipping Christ and Sharing the Word for over a century. Rusty Cook, Interim Pastor Helen Marie Kight, Organist Christine Richter, Office Manager Diane Garcia, Director of FirstSchool Join us on FACEBOOK or check us out at CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS: Evon Atchetee, Calvin Borak, Billie Jean Bram, Doug Mathews, Jimmy Nielsen, Ted Schoenfield, & Daniel Wilfert. Our Newsletter can be found on our website at

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