FIRST FRUITS. March 2013 Volume 16 No. 3

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1 FIRST FRUITS WE GIVE OUR FIRST FRUITS BECAUSE HE GAVE US HIS ONLY SON March 2013 Volume 16 No. 3 First Fruits March In this season of Lent we are all aware of the wonderful gift that God bestowed on us, his only Son Jesus Christ. In John 3: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order it might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. Easter is a time when we all reflect on the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This Easter season I am left contemplating that our church, First Lutheran and our congregation is also starting a type of rebirth with the process of looking for a new Pastor to help lead and guide us spiritually into a new beginning. Hopefully it will be a short search but I ask that everyone be in prayer that the right Pastor will be found to help us to continue to grow spiritually and in numbers. While in transition we will need volunteers to take communion to our members who are sick, in nursing homes or not able to attend services. As a congregation we need to continue to minister to our members with special needs. We will continue our radio ministry on KIOX at 11:00 am on Sunday mornings. We will be having supply pastors service our congregation until a new pastor is found. In Bulverde last month at the Church Council Workshop meeting I attended along with a few others, Pastor Mark Vander Tuig s message was based on The Great Commandment in Matthew 34-39: 34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducces, they gathered together. 35 And one, them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? 37 And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and with your entire mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. This seems like an easy commandment to keep, but is it really? During this time of Lent my plan is to try to make a conscious effort to honor this commandment. I challenge each of you to do the same. How hard can it be, right? Another part of what Pastor Vander Tuig s message was that we as Lutherans need to remember that the Bible is our rock and we need to stand firm and not let the world move us, as long as we stand firmly on our rock we cannot be moved from our faith and Jesus Christ. I ask that each of you remember what Jesus said to his disciples after his death on the Cross and his resurrection. In Matthew 28:16-20 the Great Commission states: 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of an age. So I ask each of you to pray for our country, our leaders, our church, and each other. Billie Jean Bram Council Treasurer

2 We turned in our fundraiser with a $5600 order. The orders should come in on March 14 th. Congratulations to our top sellers: Sadie Hensley ($581) and Bree Ramos ($506). We will be having a food drive March 12 th through 22 nd for the Blessing Cup. The class with the most collected will get a Pizza Party (the nursery would get a prize). On March 28 th, we will have our Easter Egg hunt and party. Our Nursery and Toddler I class is full. The Toddler II s, 3 & 4 s, and 4 & 5 s classes have room for a few more. Thanks to everyone for getting the word out to fill any open spaces. God Bless, Diane Acting Director FIRST SCHOOL AND DAY CARE FUND BALANCES as of 02/20/13 Jesus Well $ 200 Building Fund 1,524 Paint the Church Fund 615 Youth Fund 387 Flower Fund 1,210 Scholarship Fund 939 Memorial Fund 14,371 Luke Johnson Fund 891 Radio Advertising Fund 75 Scottie Englund Fund 2,045 $27,749 * Figures are rounded OUR EXPENSES FOR February Monthly Offering needed to meet Budget $19,972 February Offerings as of 2/20/13 $4,318 Thrivent Choice Deposits 41 Wednesday Night Offerings 52 Sunday School Offerings 25 Remainder of Nelson Funds 3,985 Total Income for Budget Expenses $ 8,421* Budget Needs thru January: $19,972 Income received thru 2/20: 14,748 Amount (under) budget ($5,224) Total Annual Income as of 2/20/13 $14,748 Total Annual Expenses as of 2/20/13 - $17,839 Annual Income Actual Expenses = ($3,091) 03/03 Psalm 126, Exodus 3:1-8b, 10-15, I Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 03/10 Psalm 32, Isaiah 12:1-6, I Corinthians 1:18-31, Luke 15:1-3, /17 Psalm 28:1-3, 7-11, Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:8-14, Luke 20: /24 Psalm 31:1-5, 9-16, Deuteronomy 32:36-39, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:1-23, 26 03/31 Psalm 118:1-2, 15-24, Exodus 15:1-11, I Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 24:1-11

3 Garden Villa: Gertrude Nordin and Frank Hallinger Meridian - Henrietta Bram, room /03 Elenora Hadash 03/13 Andy Taylor 03/16 Shirley Chatel 03/16 James Herrington 03/21 Mary Lou Thane 03/22 Kathee Labay 03/01 Ray Overstreet 03/01 Elsie Overstreet 03/06 Jacqueline Lundy 03/06 Cathy Schoenfield 03/11 Bill Englund 03/17 Andrew Nelson 03/20 Elaine Wigginton 03/23 Sheila Miller 03/26 Nora Hollingsworth 03/26 Madie Mathews 03/30 Lisa Englund Teddy Ash Dorothy Atchetee Charles & Vernell Bard Lorene Bard Lois Barosh Edward Berrio Donald Berglund Buck & Judy Bezdek Martha Cantu Kristine Mock Carroll Mary Carter Justin Cerny Janice Cox Bill Englund Glen Gann Elvis Garcia Eddie Graeter Eddie Hadash Anitra Haynes Nora Hollingsworth Robert Hollingsworth Cindy Howell Debbie Hubenak Michael Hughes George Jalowy Kathleen Joines Bonnie Jones Justin Lormand Connie Martin Janice McCleskey Jack McDonald Ruth McMillan Joyce Mendez David Moore George & Alice Morris Forest & Norma Newton Odis & Lorraine Newton Joe Novak Ray & Elsie Overstreet Leona Piekert Pierson & Wyatt Prasek Debbie Reeves Dorothy Riha Dave Schoelman Jonny Sibley Gaynell Smith Glen Socha Ed Spradlin Haley Stewart Ann Strarup Esther Swanson Mary Lou Thane Jeff Thigpen J.P. & Charlotte Watson PRAY FOR OUR LOVED ONES IN THE MILITARY Jake Barosh, Justin Cerny, Jenny Hernandez, Sarah Langston, Michael Monreal, 03/09 Forrest & Norma Newton 03/17 Andy & Liz Taylor 03/18 Kirk & Nerissa House 03/30 Doug & Cindy Mathews WE RE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US OR COUNCIL MEETING Thursday, March 14 th Office hours: Tues. & Wed.: 8:30 4:30 Thurs.: 8:30 1:30 Phone: office@firstlutheranec.com

4 Your help is needed!! The Flower Chart has a lot of blank spaces. March 10 th is open for this month. Please sign up to bring Altar Flowers!!! NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL OFFICERS PRESIDENT: DOUG MATHEWS VICE PRESIDENT: JIMMY NIELSEN SECRETARY: DANIEL WILFERT TREASURER: BILLIE JEAN BRAM March 10th Life Advocates Meeting March 4 th 6:30 PM NEWLY ELECTED Auditor Diane Stewart Nominating Committee-Sheila Herrington, Helen Kight, Lynn Talafuse Cemetery Board-Nora Borak First School Board Linda Atchetee, Jaki Smith, Claudia Wilfert Convention Delegates Helen Kight

5 March 2013 Sunday 3 Monday 4 Tuesday Thursday 24 Palm Sunday Saturday Council Meeting Daylight Savings Time Begins 17 Friday 1 Prayer Meeting Life Advocates 6:30 PM 10 Wednesday Prayer Meeting Mary Lou Thane s Birthday Luncheon Noon Maundy Thursday 30 Good Friday 31 Easter Sunday March Responsibilities ASSISTING MINISTER: Jimmy Nielsen SEXTON: Doug Mathews USHERS: Doug Mathews, Jimmy Nielsen ALTAR GUILD: Cindy Matthews, Helen Johnson 3rd th 10 th 17 th 24 ACOLYTE Sawyer Schoenfield Stephanie Flota Kalin Christenberry Ty Schoenfield READER Billie Jean Bram Lane Schoenberg Helen Johnson Kirk Marek If you are not able to serve on your date, please find someone to trade with. MARCH FLOWER CALENDAR 03 Henrietta Bram 10 Open 17 Sheila Herrington 24 Jaki Smith (Palm Sunday) 31 Flower Fund (Easter Sunday)

6 First Lutheran Church 304 Oscar El Campo, TX ESTABLISHED FEB 1893 Worshipping Christ and Sharing the Word for over a century. Helen Marie Kight, Organist Felicia Vickroy, Office Manager Diane Garcia, Acting Director of FS PANCAKE SUPPER Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has donated $750 matching funds for our Annual Pancake Supper. We greatly appreciate their support. I THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus. Join us on FACEBOOK or check us out at CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS: Billie Jean Bram, Calvin Borak, Doug Mathews, Jimmy Nielsen, Ted Schoenfield, Daniel Wilfert & Evon Atchetee. BE SURE TO check out our new website at