BRISTOL BANNER Newsletter of Bristol Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 THE BRISTOL BANNER Newsletter of Bristol Lutheran Church September 2016 Inspired by the Gospel, we love and serve creation through our Christ-centered community. Sunday WORSHIP 9:00 a.m. Wednesday WORSHIP 6:30 p.m. Attended NURSERY and BRISTOL BUTTERFLIES for Sunday Worship (3 kindergarten age program) Sunday School- 10:15 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Fellowship 10:00 a.m. Pastor Rick Reiten, phone , Council President: Bob Hundt, home phone Parish Secretary: Michelle Meier, phone The Bristol Banner is the official monthly publication of Bristol Lutheran Church. Membership is voluntary. We are located at 6835 HWY N, Sun Prairie, WI For God s Work, Our Hands Sunday, September 11, 2016, BLC will be baking cookies/bars and making cards for the Police officers and Fire Fighters in the Sun Prairie community. If you would like to help out, we will need cookies/bars on September 11 th and we will setup a card making table on Sunday, August 28 th so everyone can make a Thank You card for our service men and women. Peg Hanson has the cards all cut out and ready for assembly so no experience is necessary!! Just come and help support these wonderful people. September 6 th, 7 Willy Ty s Eatery (836 Grove St, Sun Prairie) Singing hymns of faith, at the pub where Martin Luther suggested that our best theology takes place. 1

2 Lutheran Campus Ministry Sunday September 25 Did you know that Bristol is a partner with Lutheran campus ministry in Madison? In July we had Pr. Emily Tveite visit and preach, sharing her experience as campus pastor. We are grateful for her work with college students a formative time in their lives. Look for a display in the narthex and come hear more about the value of camps ministry on September 25. Tuesday, September 13, from 6:30-8 PM Bristol Lutheran is hosting a synod wide event, Who is My Neighbor? Come and hear about the different ministries from area Lutheran churches, as well as how we can work together to serve our neighbors. If you would like to help at all, we could use some folks to serve coffee and bars to our guests. Let s show great hospitality! Faith Formation - for All of Us! Wednesdays at 7:15 pm September 21 and 28 Faith and Film October 5, 19, 26 Old Testament Torah (First 5 books of the OT) Look for our display at the sign up table in the office entrance. Attention Bristol Golfers! Men and women, young and old time to hit the links! Come, spend time, share faith and life, as we move around the golf course and help each other find our golf balls in the woods! Our next outing at Kestrel Ridge in Columbus will be September 15 th!! No needs to sign up just join us at the course starting at 9:00am. Talk to Don Hanson if you are interested, or contact the church and we can pass along the info. Visitation Ministry (Befrienders) Over the past year, we have concentrated on caring for each other, and reestablishing our visitation practices. It has been a success! And we want you to be part of this opportunity! We are a congregation that cares for one another. Can you take communion? Write cards? Call? YES! YES! YES! These are all part of the ministry of visiting and most of our visitation happens informally. The visitation ministry would help make sure we don t miss someone in need over the months and year. The commitment would be visit every other month. 2

3 Germany June 19-28, 2017 Martin Luther Heritage Tour We have 8 people from Bristol committed to Germany for next year! We need 30 people to make this trip feasible, and will look to include others outside of Bristol. If you are interested or have questions, contact Pastor Rick. The all-inclusive cost per person is $3995 (or less if we get better flight deals). You are invited to sign up and we will work through details for our group! Even if you cannot go, we need your help. If you have friends or family that may be interested, please share this message. From the Pastor s Study YOGA!!! Breath and Stretch, Stretch and Breathe. We continue our Yoga practice every Monday night, from 7 to 7:45 pm. Audrey Drake is your instructor for the evening. Did you know there are more Lutherans in Ethiopia than in the ELCA? In August, I spent a week in New Orleans with the Churchwide Assembly, and planning for the 500 th Year Commemoration of the Reformation. We heard a lot of inspiring news, including Bishop Eaton who shared her focus of the first three years as Presiding Bishop, reminding us: We are church. We are Lutheran. We are church together. We are church for the sake of the world. One thing we do not always realize is that we are a very diverse church. God is calling us to be a diverse, inclusive, multicultural church. This is evident in our partnerships across the world. Bishop Eaton encouraged us to "be very, very careful that we don't define ourselves by culture or by cuisine. There are more Lutherans of color throughout the world and throughout the Lutheran federation than there are European descent Lutherans." This is good news, but also hard as we are defined by heritage. However, it is exciting to see our Lutheran Church stretch to places we do not always see. Let s keep these relationships forming and our definition broad! Here are some other highlights from the week Church Business : Accepted the Declaration on the Way, a unique ecumenical document that marks a path toward greater unity between Catholics and Lutherans. At the heart of the document are 32 "Statements of Agreement" that state where Lutherans and Catholics do not have church-dividing differences on topics about church, ministry and the Eucharist. The document also presents the differences that remain. Download the.pdf: Approved AMMPARO the ELCA s strategy to Accompany Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities. The ELCA developed this strategy based on commitments to uphold and guarantee the basic human rights and safety of migrant children and their families; to address the root causes of migration in countries from Central America s Northern Triangle and Mexico and the treatment of migrants in transit; to work toward just and humane policies affecting migrants in and outside the U.S.; to engage as a church with all of its companions, affiliates and partners to respond to the migration situation and its causes; and to advocate for migrant children and their families. Approved the Ministry of Word and Service roster. Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, ELCA associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers will be a single, unified roster of Ministry of Word and Service. The accompanying constitutional amendments related to the roster were also considered and approved by the assembly. The assembly separately approved the following: deepening relationships with historic Black churches; toward a responsible energy future; repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery; peace with justice in the Holy Land; justice for the Holy Land through responsible investment; African Descent Lutherans; call to discernment on U.S. foreign and military policy; welcoming refugees; and supporting military personnel, veterans and their families. The work of the church is ongoing! I am glad you are part of this ministry. Peace, Pastor Rick 3

4 BRISTOL LUTHERAN CHURCH WOMEN Norwegian food making is in full gear! Lefse - Thursdays from 5:00 8:00 p.m. Sandbakelse -Tuesdays beginning on 8/30 from 6-8 p.m. Pecan Tassies - Saturdays, 9/17 and 9/24 at 9:00 a.m. Krumkake - Monday, 9/19, 9 noon on. Rosettes -somewhat dependent on weather, please check the sign-up sheet downstairs or check with Gayle Parker. Sign-up sheets are downstairs with all the dates along with the sheet for helping the day of the sale on October 1. No experience necessary for any of the specialties. All help is very much appreciated even if you come late or have to leave early! The Norwegian Specialties Food Sale is October 1, from 9-noon. Please help spread the word flyers to post at area businesses and small handouts are available by the sign-up sheets. Include the following items in each School Kit: LWR School and Health Kit Collection 4-70 sheet notebooks of wide- or college-ruled paper approximately 8 X 10½ ; no loose-leaf paper 1-30 centimeter ruler, or a ruler with centimeters on one side and inches on the other 1- pencil sharpener 1- blunt scissors (safety scissors with embedded steel blades work well) 5- unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers; secure together with a rubber band 5- black or blue ballpoint pens (no gel ink); secure together with a rubber band 1- box of 16 or 24 crayons 1-2½ eraser Include the following items in each Personal Care Kit: 1- light-weight bath-size towel (between 20" 40" & 52" 27"), dark color recommended 2- bath size bars of soap equaling up to 8-9 oz, any brand, in original wrapping 1- adult size toothbrush in its original packaging* 1- sturdy comb, remove packaging 1- metal nail clippers (attached file optional), remove packaging *Toothbrush multi-packs may be used by sealing an individual toothbrush in a business-size envelope; no plastic bags or wrap. Please drop items in the box in the lower entry way.. STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE WANTED: A volunteer knowing the MS Publisher program willing to spend 2-5 hours to update the 2017 Ministries and Missions brochure. Please contact Cathy Pierce, Janice Vollmert, Peg Hanson, or Pastor Rick. WANTED: Photographs of the pet blessing service; salad luncheon, pie auctions; other events happening at BLC during the past year We are updating the ministries and mission booklet with the theme of Who Are We Now? Do you have photographs of ministries at BLC during the past year? Please share them on a USB stick so we can incorporate them into the new booklet. Our ministries are a daily undertaking and are accomplished with passion. Each mission event holds endless rewards. Seek and you shall find happiness. The Lord serves and provides for us. Help us serve the Lord our God. Amen The Stewardship committee members are Cathy Pierce, Peg Hanson, Pastor Rick Reiten, Janice Vollmert. 4

5 OUTREACH COMMITTEE God s Work, Our Hands Bristol Lutheran Church will be reaching out to the Sun Prairie Police Department and Sun Prairie Fire Department on Sunday September 11 to thank them for all they do. We will have craft items to make Thankyou Cards down stairs after church for the next few weeks. If you would prefer to pick up a thank you and write a note that would also be great. We will have a sign up to bring treats that a group will deliver with the Thankyou s to both the SP Police Department and SP Fire Department. We will need two groups to deliver on Sunday September 11 th. Please sign up if you would like to bring treats or if you would like to help deliver them. We will deliver immediately after church on September 11, Please put cards in the box next to the signup sheets. Outreach wants to thank everyone for all the help through the entire year. If anyone would like to get involved in the Outreach Committee please contact Pam, Wendy or Emme. Wed, Sept 14 th Come to Bristol at 5:30, to help assemble bag lunches. Stay for worship! After worship we will car pool downtown to deliver meals around the Capitol square. We will return to church afterwards. LIBRARY SPOTLIGHT Do you enjoy sharing stories with your family and friends? Eileen Silva Kindig has written a book that tells us about the gift and the power of telling stories that is titled "REMEMBER the TIME...? The Power & Promise of Family Storytelling". Her book has chapters that give examples of stories of identity, healing, spirituality, and the wisdom and value of elder stories. Understanding is given to how much we learn from each other as we share stories of life that are fun, sentimental, and powerful lessons that are learned as stories are shared. This book wants to encourage all of us to talk about 'stories that can bind us together, pass on our values, and give us a sense of identity as a family.' Stop in at your library and check out this book that will help you understand and be encouraged to share stories. Grandparent's Day is September 11, a wonderful day to share stories of family as we spend time together as family's with our grandparents. Prayers of healing, comfort and support for members: Kassi & Charlie Brown and family, Lynell & Rick Pettibone, Jeff Hoffmann, Dee Bruns, and Bob Sherman. For family & friends: :Carol Fowler and Mary Jane Smith (Friends of Gloria Bartlett), Martha Allen (mother of Marsha Schwanke), Pat Schwantes, Linda Parker (friend of Janice Vollmert), Carrie Jacobs (cousin of DanThorstad), Bernadine Cook (Jim Bauer s sister), Norman Salt (friend of Candy Skibba), Mary Ann Jacobi (sister of Roger Nolden), Chris Briggs (Jim Bauer s sister), Russ Lorenz, Jamie Falk (friend of Ken Forney), Al Young (Family of Jeff & Wendy Hoffmann), Christopher Flynn (Diane Coudray grandson), Mary Lynn Piezker (friend of Jim & Jean Bauer), Bev Gehrke (Gene & Bev Gehrke s family). For our homebound: Bev & Gene Gehrke, Lorie Nolden, Clara Higgins, Bernice Sherman, Betty Skrenes, Milt & Ilene Austin, Mary Wagner, David Grulke, Ruth Wipperfurth, and Phyllis Reinen. Prayers of celebration: On the birth of Easton Michael Herro on 8/15/16 weighing 8.3 pounds. Proud parents are Zach Herro and Brooke Neuberger, grandparents Bob and Barb Herro, and great grandmother Donna Anderson. Prayers of comfort for the family of: Thomas Wills (friend of Mary Wagner) who passed away on 8/10/16. John L Sisbach, Jr. (cousin of Dee Bruns) who passed away on 7/19/16. Family of Lawrence Mortensen (Pr. Rick s grandpa) who passed away on 8/19/16. Family of Bernice Grigg (Eleanor and Nick Brinsko) who passed away on 8/17/16. 5

6 Birthdays and Anniversaries!! It's a brand new month!! - September Along with this new month comes some new birthdays and anniversaries. Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary to our members who celebrate the occasion in September! Chancel Choir Calling all singers, no experience necessary. The Chancel Choir's rehearsals will resume in September for the new year and we meet at 7:15 p.m on Wednesday evenings. We're a small group experience where we share our God given gifts with each other and our congregation through worship participation. Chancel choir participates in worship twice per month from September - May and rehearses most Wednesdays for about an hour and warm up at 8 a.m. on the Sundays we participate in worship. Contact Ken Forney or any of the current choir members for additional information. Simply Giving? Or Simply Giving! Can you start giving simply? What this means is that your duty and joy to give as a disciple in God s mission can be assured. Our duty is to support the ongoing daily ministry of God s church, and the joy is to see God changes lives through that ministry! Where we put our treasures is where our hearts follow. When we are excited and invested in the mission we are part of we want to give more. Simply Giving helps. What it is 1. Consistent Faithful Giving 2. First Fruits Giving giving from the top of our income instead of what is left over 3. Green No Envelopes! 4. Growth in Stewardship You can still put offering in the plate for fun mission opportunities What it is not 1. Auto Giving to God 2. A Bill 3. A cheap way for the church to get money It is okay if you do not want to join in Simply Giving too! God provides many ways for us to support mission. Let us continue to pray for how God may be leading our lives of faith through these gifts. If you are interested in signing up please contact Michelle in the church office. A Nine to Twelve Month Christian Elizabeth House Residential Program for Pregnant Women Thank you to Bristol for helping to support Elizabeth House with X-mas in July. Between cash donations and gifts we raised $1200 to support the family partners through Elizabeth house. We are extremely grateful for your generosity and hope to continue to raise awareness for our community. Thanks again! - Jordan and Laurie Gross Postage Stamp Drive In an effort to cut back on our mailing costs we are hosting a postage stamp drive!! We will be accepting rolls and books of forever stamps from anyone who wishes to participate. You may place the stamps (with a receipt including your name) in Michelle Meier s door slot. Make sure to include your name so that this can be applied to your giving statement. If you have any question s please contact Michelle at