PARISH LIGHT AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. Treasure Hunting in the New Year

Transcription

1 AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH PARISH LIGHT A Beacon of god s love a home for all people American Lutheran Church PASTOR Carl Larson alcpastor@itcmilbank.com Office Cell Phone OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Gail Selgeby alcoffice@itcmilbank.com CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Brittni Cordingley Brittni.Cordingley@ americanlutheran.com PRESCHOOL Nicole Scott Teacher preschool@ americanlutheran.com CHURCH COUNCIL President Bob Biersbach Vice Pres. Steve Wenzl Secretary Deb Homan Treasurer Mary Bjordahl PROPERTY/ MANAGEMENT Troy Kastrup Steve Street Jerome Kathman YOUTH/EDUCATION Deb Homan Theresa Granquist Bob Biersbach FINANCE/STEWARDSHIP Jason Mischel Janet Zemlicka Steve Wenzl Worship/Evangelism Ron Boe Dell Stengel Shirley Olson 401 South Flynn Drive, PO Box 287, Milbank, SD January 2017 Treasure Hunting in the New Year I remember reading a story about a father and his son who decided to set aside a few minutes each day to look for treasure. No matter what the day was like, they would spend time together, walking down a road, or cleaning a closet, or going out into the mall to look for whatever they could find. At the end of the year they had collected golf balls, pop cans, milk jugs, and sometimes lost coins. Their collection of lost treasures yielded more than a $1000 in newly found items, but more importantly they had fun spending time together. What would happen, if in this new year, you would set aside a few minutes each day to spend time with your son or daughter to look for lost treasure in the Bible? What might you find? Could this possibly be a New Year s Resolution for you and your family? In the 2nd chapter of Proverbs it says, If you seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. If we spend just a few minutes each day reading our Bibles with our kids or sharing a reading from a devotional with our spouse we grow in our faith. And gradually, day by day, we find in our time together the treasure of divine justice and righteousness and the knowledge of God. And the bonus is that we are able to spend time with our sons or daughters or spouse, which is truly a daily treasure. God s blessings as we begin a new year together, searching for God s treasure together. In Christ, Pastor Carl If you are unable to attend worship in person: Listen to the service LIVE on KMSD 9am Sundays (1510AM/98.3FM) FACEBOOK Like Us on Facebook Bulletins Newsletters Worship Videos Calendar and Events

2 Luther and Lutheranism Martin Luther ( ) Martin Luther was eight years old when Christopher Columbus set sail from Europe and landed in the Western Hemisphere. Luther was a young monk and priest when Michaelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel in Rome. A few years later, he was a junior faculty member at a new university in small-town Germany, intently studying the Scriptures, captivated with an extraordinary ardor for understanding Paul in the Epistle to the Romans. In these days Luther was tormented by the demand for righteousness before God. I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God. Then, in the midst of that struggle with God, the message of the Scriptures became clear, like a long-shut door opening wide. When he realized that a merciful God justifies us by faith I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates. What Luther discovered is the freedom of Christians trusting God s mercy in Christ. As he later wrote, Faith is God s work in us. It changes us and makes us to be born anew of God. This faith is a living, busy, active, mighty thing. It is impossible for it not to be doing good works incessantly. Faith is a living, daring confidence in God s grace, so sure and certain that believers would stake their lives on it a thousand times. This discovery set Luther s life on a new course both his own life and his public service as a preacher and teacher. When a church -endorsed sales team came to the Wittenberg area in October, 1517, Luther was concerned that the promotion and sale of indulgences undermined the promise of God s unreserved mercy in Jesus and the faith that trusts that promise. His 95 Theses or Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences became the first of a life-long stream of books, sermons, letters, essays, even hymns in which he expressed his confidence in this life-giving promise from God, the Gospel, and its liberating implications for all of life in church and society. Want to get new Reformation information every day? Follow Road to the Reformation on facebook to get little-known insights into Luther s everyday life and to track where Luther was day-by-day 500 years ago! Date Attendance Giving 12/ $ 7,055 Confirmation Youth 12/ $ 3,702 Fundraiser 12/ $ 4,024 12/ Incl below 12/ $ 5,489 Fair Trade Coffee and Chocolate 12/25 cancelled cancelled

3 Bible Study & Ministry Wednesday Morning Bible Study Wednesdays at 10:00 am (Animate: Faith Study Series) Meets in the Library. Thursday Morning Breakfast Study This study is for the early riser! Breakfast followed by bible study and great conversation Thursdays at 7am. (Animate: Faith Study Series) Meets in the Fellowship Hall. Sunday Morning Bible Class Sundays 10:20 am (Animate: Faith Study Series) Meets in the Library. Quilters Group The Quilters create quilts that are given to LWR and local charities plus infant quilts for every child that is baptized at ALC. Meets the 2 nd and 4 th Tuesday each month at 9am in the Fellowship Hall. Peace Circle Bible Study, Fellowship, and Community Service. Meets the first Tuesday of each month at NOON in the Library. Page Turners Book Club January Book: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. Meets the third Thursday of each month at 7pm. Contact Patti Frazee for more information. Prayer Shawl Ministry This group crochets or knits prayer shawls (on their own time) that are given to members that are in need of a special touch of love. Yarn is provided. Contact Janelle Kelly for information. Seven big conversations about faith: This Biblically based education course imaginatively explores central topics of Christianity. God: Faith Is A Quest Religion: Spirituality Is Not Enough Jesus: The Revolution Of Love Salvation: Abundant Life Now Cross: Where God Is Bible: A Book Like No Other Church: An Imperfect Family The Animate Faith Study will meet in the Library at 10:20 on Sunday Mornings. CONFIRMATION We are asking our youth to fill out sermon note forms for two Sundays a month. The forms are found at the Welcome Center. After they are filled out they can be put on the pastor s desk. I must still read and study the catechism daily, yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and a pupil of the catechism, and I do it gladly. Martin Luther in his preface to the Large Catechism

4 SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS JANUARY 8 TH 1st and 2nd grade class Kids and Money during SS 15 TH - 1st and 2nd grade milestone during church service CAMP SUNDAY with Pancake Lunch 22 ND 5th and 6th grade class Apostle s Creed during SS 29 TH ANNUAL MEETING Movie during SS Special THANK YOU to all of those that helped to make our Christmas Program a success! To those that volunteered to be in the program, those that helped with the music and organization of children, to the children themselves, to those that made cupcakes, made bulletins, created backdrops, played music, adjusted schedules for changes in practice times, ran the sound system, attended even in the freezing temperatures THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Brittni Cordingley

5 Wishing you a wonderful 2017 filled with peace, love, & happiness! Happy New Year from ALC Preschool! The month of December was filled with much excitement and anticipation for all the Christmas festivities in and out of the classroom. We were busy preparing and rehearsing for our performances (at the nursing home, Parish Nurse Party, and during the Sunday morning worship), making and creating art masterpieces and gifts to give, enjoying visitors who helped in our classroom, and discussing elements of Christmas including the story of Baby Jesus birth, giving, and so much more. On behalf of ALC Preschool, we d like to say THANK YOU to all those who helped in making the Souper Sunday Challenge a SUCCESS volunteers, soup/dessert makers, and attendees. Thanks for your support. You made it a GREAT event! As part of our annual tradition, students decorated festive gingerbread houses with a variety of candies. Students enjoyed this experience (with some taste testing too!) and were thrilled to take home their creations to show their families. Before the Christmas holiday break, students enjoyed a fun-filled morning of watching a movie, eating delicious treats, games, a gift opening, Now Enrolling! For School Year (Must be 3 or 4 by September 1, 2017) Registration forms available on church website or on bulletin board near classroom door $50 Registration Fee (fee includes student placement, school supplies, t-shirt, and snacks) ALC Preschool participated in a mission project called the Play it Forward Toy Drive during the month of December. New & gently used toys were collected in totes and given to the local thrift shop and some to the preschool. (Thrivent Financial Action Team) Classes held Monday-Thursday: 3 Year Olds: 8:15-11:15am 4 Year Olds: 12:15-3:15pm preschool@americanlutheran.com

6 1st Place Honors Souper Challenge Sunday went to Brenda Maass Heaven on Earth Loaded Potato Soup 1 cup diced carrots 1 cup diced celery 1 cup diced onion 4 to 5 cubed potatoes 3-4 ounces real bacon bits 3/4-1 pound American cheese 1/2 pound Swiss cheese 2-3 T chicken base 1/3 cup melted butter 1/4 cup flour 2 cups whole milk or 1 cup whole milk & 1 cup half and half Cover potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, and bacon bits in water and cook until tender. Turn heat to low and add cheese and chicken base and cook until cheese is melted. In a separate bowl, mix flour and milk until smooth and add butter. Add to soup and stir until thickened. The Souper Sunday Challenge was a BIG SUCCESS There were dozens of soups and desserts. Everyone had a great time! Thank you to the volunteers and all who attended. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 1/02 Greg Grimm 1/02 Janelle Kelly 1/03 Kathy Sussex 1/03 Sean Zimny 1/08 Doug Dohrer 1/08 Rosemary Goetschius 1/08 Mark Granquist 1/08 Jason Stinson 1/08 Matthew Unzen 1/09 Aaron Anderson 1/09 Bob Biersbach 1/10 Monica Fischer 1/10 Jennifer Roggenbuck 1/10 Bradyn Wienk 1/12 Madisen Sipe 1/14 Stacy Anderson 1/14 Marilyn Hodenfield 1/14 Rebecca Welberg 1/15 Theresa Granquist 1/15 Mervyn Larson 1/15 Peyton Snell 1/15 Brett Storm 1/17 Patty Hamman 1/17 Stanley Street 1/20 Robin Cook 1/20 Suzanne Unzen 1/21 Melody DeLong 1/21 Susan Leddy 1/22 Jaxon Bear 1/22 David Gulck 1/23 Spencer Boerger 1/23 Garret Christopherson 1/23 Brady Gomer 1/23 Sandy Kathman 1/23 Karmen LaRoche 1/23 Lauren Lester 1/23 McKenzie Severson 1/24 Karen Smith 1/26 Peg Dohrer 1/26 Ken Johnson 1/26 Emily Madsen 1/27 Olivia Barlund 1/27 Samantha Madsen 1/28 Jonathan Ash 1/29 Gail Selgeby 1/29 Kelly Zahrbock 1/30 Marjorie Keller 1/30 Madison Tesch 1/31 Lois Buhler 1/31 David Dorneman HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! 1/02 Kirby & Rita Hins 1/03 Keith & Diane Grabow 1/16 Michael & Monica Gruba 1/27 Alan & Linda DeLong Parish Nurse Diana Dirksen "Wait for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait for the LORD" (Psalm 27:14). "Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 Waiting is still difficult. We expect everything to be at our fingertips the moment we have the desire for it. It's a world we're growing into and it's addicting. We live in a world of easy downloads, instantaneous , on demand and food prepared in a few minutes. Yet God finds ways of making us wait. Waiting and faith go hand-in-hand. 1. We wait for the baby we've dreamed we'd hold in our arms. 2. Some are waiting for their prodigal son to come to the end of himself and return home. 3. Others are waiting for an eye-opening spiritual breakthrough. Waiting is the embodiment of faith. In Hebrews 11:13 we are reminded that faith involves trust in God's promise even if the promises of God are fulfilled long after we're gone. What are you waiting on God for this year? Remember the years of silence as God's people waited for the Messiah. Take time today, right now, to reflect on the fact that God's timing is quite different from ours.

7 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 10am Fellowship :00 Peace Circle 4 9am TOT 10am Bible Study 3:30 Confirmation 5:15 Bells 6:00 Manna 5 7am Bible Study 9am TOT School 6 Annual Reports due to Church Office am Fellowship 10am Sunday School 10:20am Bible Study 9 7pm Scouts 10 9am Quilters 5:15 PEC 11 9am TOT 10am Bible Study 3:30 Confirmation 5:15 Bells 6pm Manna 6pm Church Council 12 7am Bible Study 9am TOT School am-2pm Fellowship Hall reserved for a family gathering. 15 Camp Sunday 10am Pancake Breakfast 10:20 Bible Study 5:00 Movie Night 16 7pm Scouts 17 2pm Alzheimer s Support 18 9am TOT 10am Bible Study 3:30 Confirmation 5:15 Bells 6:00 Manna 19 7am Bible Study 9am TOT School 2pm Vespers at St. Williams 7pm Book Club am Fellowship 10am Sunday School 10:20am Bible Study 29 10am Sunday School 10am Annual Meeting Potluck Meal 23 7pm Scouts 30 7pm Scouts 24 9am Quilters am TOT 10am Bible Study 3:30 Confirmation 5:15 Bells 6:00 Manna 6:00 New Member Informational Gathering 26 7am Bible Study 9am TOT School 27 28

8 Church PO Box South Flynn Drive Milbank, SD Phone: (605) Website: