The Bethel Herald. Proclaiming Salvation! The monthly publication of Bethel Lutheran Church Fort Smith, Arkansas. bethelfortsmith.

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "The Bethel Herald. Proclaiming Salvation! The monthly publication of Bethel Lutheran Church Fort Smith, Arkansas. bethelfortsmith."

Kristian Norman
5 years ago
Views:

1 Bethel Lutheran Church 5400 Euper Lane Fort Smith, Arkansas Return Service Requested The Bethel Herald Proclaiming Salvation! The monthly publication of Bethel Lutheran Church Fort Smith, Arkansas bethelfortsmith.org OCTOBER 2014 Mission Statement Called by God, forgiven through Christ, and led by His Word (Spirit) so that we might proclaim Jesus Christ and Him crucified and risen from the dead for the forgiveness of sins and hope of eternal life to our church, community and world.

OCTOBER Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5 LWML Sunday 9 am - & Sunday School 10:15

Anniversary Worship Service, Dinner and Program 19 9 am - & Sunday School 10:15

REFORMATION SUNDAY 6 7 6 pm - LWML 13 Oct.

- Bible Study 27 28 29 10 am - Bible Study 7 pm - Bible Study 2 9 16 23 30 3 4

2 OCTOBER Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5 LWML Sunday 9 am - & Sunday School 10:15 am - Divine Service 12 9 am - & Sunday School 10:15 am - Divine Service 4 pm - Anniversary Worship Service, Dinner and Program 19 9 am - & Sunday School 10:15 am - Divine Service 26 9 am - & Sunday School 10:15 am - Divine Service REFORMATION SUNDAY pm - LWML 13 Oct Fall Pastor s Conference in Tennessee 14 7 pm - LLC and Elders November Newsletter Deadline 1 10 am - Bible Study 7 pm - Bible Study 8 10 am - Bible Study 7 pm - Bible Study 15 No Bible Studies am - Bible Study 7 pm - Bible Study am - Bible Study 7 pm - Bible Study am - Reynolds Cancer Support House Survivor s Challenge Race REFORMATION DAY 6-8 pm - Trunk or Treat

LWML News October will once again be a busy month for the LWML at Bethel.

Other activities in the congregation with help us fill out the month with fun activities like celebrating Bethel s 75 th Anniversary and supporting our Trunk or Treat event.

projects and fall and winter activities. Join us for food, fellowship and devotion. Hope to see you there! LWML Sunday @ Bethel On Sunday, October 5 th, we will host LWML Sunday at Bethel.

3 LWML News October will once again be a busy month for the LWML at Bethel. The month begins with the aftermath of our annual yard sale and is quickly followed by our monthly meeting and the celebration of LWML Sunday. Other activities in the congregation with help us fill out the month with fun activities like celebrating Bethel s 75 th Anniversary and supporting our Trunk or Treat event. October Meeting Tuesday October 7, 2014 Bethel Narthex Hostess: Miranda Pitsch Bible Study: Miranda Pitsch During our meeting we will discuss the results of our yard sale and discuss our mission projects and fall and winter activities. Join us for food, fellowship and devotion. Hope to see you there! LWML Bethel On Sunday, October 5 th, we will host LWML Sunday at Bethel. This is a great opportunity to help serve our congregation and to share what the LWML does for not only our church, but the whole community. For this Sunday, the LWML will serve as Greeters and Ushers. Please let Miranda Pitsch know if you would like to volunteer to serve as either. October Ingathering Care Van Kits The LWML ingathering project this month will continue to be the collection of items for Lutheran World Relief s School and Personal Care Kits. School Kits contain several essential supplies that will help make the difference in whether children and sometimes adults will be able to continue their education in spite of poverty or disaster. School Kit: Four 70-sheet notebooks ( sheets total) of wide or college-ruled paper, approximately 8 x ; no loose-leaf paper One 30-centimeter ruler, or a ruler with centimeters on one side and inches on the other. One pencil sharpener One pair of blunt scissors (safety scissors with embedded steel blades work well) Five unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers; secure with rubber band Five black or blue ballpoint pens (no gel ink); secure with rubber band. One box of 16 or 24 crayons One eraser Each personal care kit should contain the following: One light or medium weight bath-size towel (52 x 27 ), dark color recommended Two bath-size bars (4 to 5 oz.) of soap, any brand, in original wrapping One adult-size toothbrush in original packaging (or you may buy multi-packs) One sturdy comb One metal nail clipper Note: It is not necessary for you to contribute all the items needed for a kit, just purchase however many you wish of one or two items. LWML will coordinate all the contributions, then add any items that are needed to complete the kits. Also, monetary contributions are welcome and will be sent to Lutheran World Relief to pay shipping costs (about $2.65 per kit) for sending the kits overseas. Checks may be made out to LWML and given to any LWML member.

Elder/Communion Assistant 5th 12th 19th 26th Al Gulseth David Raymond Larry Barr Al Gulseth Evangelists of the Day 5th 12th 19th 26th Tim Hagemeier Lonnie Cline Nancy Cotton Arlene Mayville Offering

5 LWML Members Hal Broadfoot Jake Stratmann Keith Yancey Greeters 5th 12th 19th 26th Altar Care LWML Members Ronnie McDaniel Lisa Wickboldt Shirley Hartwig David Ingram Ann Broadfoot Joan Stratmann

REYNOLDS CANCER SUPPORT HOUSE will sponsor its annual Survivor s Challenge 1K, 5K and 10K Race on Saturday, October 18, from 7:00-11:00 a.m. Bethel members will be there to help our community!

4 Elder/Communion Assistant 5th 12th 19th 26th Al Gulseth David Raymond Larry Barr Al Gulseth Evangelists of the Day 5th 12th 19th 26th Tim Hagemeier Lonnie Cline Nancy Cotton Arlene Mayville Offering Counters Shirley Hartwig Lisa Wickboldt October Servants Ushers Oct. 5 LWML Members Hal Broadfoot Jake Stratmann Keith Yancey Greeters 5th 12th 19th 26th Altar Care LWML Members Ronnie McDaniel Lisa Wickboldt Shirley Hartwig David Ingram Ann Broadfoot Joan Stratmann Janice Brower Kathy Raymond Applauding Cancer Survivors FORT SMITH S DONALD W. REYNOLDS CANCER SUPPORT HOUSE will sponsor its annual Survivor s Challenge 1K, 5K and 10K Race on Saturday, October 18, from 7:00-11:00 a.m. Bethel members will be there to help our community! Thanks to those who have already volunteered to distribute bottled water and goodie bags at the finish line and who are giving $10 donations and contributing supplies. More help is always needed, and the sign-up sheets are still available on the table in the narthex. You may give your monetary donations to Amy Willadsen and speak to her if you have questions. The Reynolds Cancer Support House is located at 3324 S. M Street (behind Creekmore Park); telephone no THANKS TO Larry and Sharon Barr for refurbishing the large flower beds surrounding our sanctuary. The beds were terribly overgrown and filled with weeds. We thank Larry and Sharon for their hard work. Thanks also to Chuck and Judy Knapp for the donation of a used clothes dryer now in the small kitchen next to the fellowship hall. It is used chiefly by the quilters to dry their quilts and fabrics. In Your Daily Prayers The Sick, Recovering, and Shut-in Pauline Boyett, Robert Chastain, Bethany Cox, Bill and Carol Gertz, Rev. Fred Hagemeier, Gayle Hagemeier, Bryan Harms, Roger Harms, Sue Haunschild, Bobby Huff, Linda Ingram, Wayne Luedders, Howard Macziewski, Michael Morse, Leland and Della Pitsch, Amanda Rice, Austin Rice and his caregivers, Elizabeth Rice, Nancy Richie, Margueritte Smith, Pat Smith, Dorothy Temple, Sgt. Thornton, Lou Turner At College Jake and Tyler Falleur, Travis Knapp, Meredith Pitsch At Concordia Seminary Sam and Scott Pitsch HALLOWEEN WILL ONCE AGAIN bring a lot of fun to Bethel as we hold our annual Trunk or Treat event for the Fort Smith Community on Friday, October 31, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.. This year, we hope the evening will be more enjoyable than ever. Karl and Lisa Wickboldt will guide the preparations with help from other members. A new addition this year is a Halloween themed, inflated bouncy house which, hopefully, will attract even more families to the event. The bouncer will be in the parking lot to help the kids work off all their candy. There will also be a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to Toys R Us. Karl states that We need all the help from members that we can get to distribute candy, interact with the families who attend and register folks for the drawing. Trunk or Treat instructions are simple: Join in the fun by decorating your car trunk (and/or yourself!) and filling the trunk with plenty (a lot!) of candy. Friends of Bethel members are also invited to come along and do the same. If you cannot attend the event, donations of candy are always appreciated. They can be brought to the church office. To get an estimate of the number of members participating, if you plan to attend, please notify Karl or Nancy Cotton. Members should be in the parking by 5:30 p.m. to get ready for the kids.

3 Jack Bynum 19 Travis Knapp October Birthdays October Wedding Anniversaries 15 Larry and Sharon Barr (3 years) October Baptism Anniversaries 7 Amanda Rice 9 George Pruitt 10 Becky Bynum 10 Jerry

Richard has already been faithfully attending our worship services and the Sunday and Wednesday morning Bible classes for almost a year.

Richard and Brenda have one son, Pat, and one granddaughter, Mayleigh. He played football and other sports when he was younger and still enjoys watching them.

He was brought to Bethel by his friends, Al and Ginny Gulseth. Welcome, Richard!

5 3 Jack Bynum 19 Travis Knapp October Birthdays October Wedding Anniversaries 15 Larry and Sharon Barr (3 years) October Baptism Anniversaries 7 Amanda Rice 9 George Pruitt 10 Becky Bynum 10 Jerry Hancock 29 Howard Macziewski Our Newest Member ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, Bethel welcomed Richard Donovan as a new member through the rite of confirmation. Richard has already been faithfully attending our worship services and the Sunday and Wednesday morning Bible classes for almost a year. Now retired, Richard spent a number of years working as a surgical technician and physician s assistant in surgery. He met his wife, Brenda, through his work where she was a nurse. Richard and Brenda have one son, Pat, and one granddaughter, Mayleigh. He played football and other sports when he was younger and still enjoys watching them. Known as N5XM to others in the hobby, Richard is an avid amateur ( ham ) radio operator, having made contact with many places in the world, mostly using Morse Code. He was brought to Bethel by his friends, Al and Ginny Gulseth. Welcome, Richard! The Powerful Little Box in the Narthex YOU MIGHT OCCASIONALLY notice the little wooden box on the narthex wall that states LCMS World Mission. The little box contains a big jar into which members have donated their loose change over many months. Last month, the jar became full with $ It has now been sent to the Synod where it will be put to work in the mission efforts of our Lutheran Church. Bethel s 2014 Monthly Financial Statement Total Income Total Expense Net Income January $ 12, , (279.48) February 8, , (3,713.57) March 11, , (974.94) April 9, , (2,413.78) May 8, , (489.18) June 10, , (2,447.25) July 8, , (4,331.19) August 10, , , TOTAL 78, , (13,425.82)

Bethel s 75th Anniversary 1939 ~ 2014 OUR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION arrives this month on Sunday, October 12, centered around the theme Sent Forth by God s Blessing. We will begin the day at 9:00 a.m. with Sunday School and the Adult Bible Class, led by our anniversary guest preacher, Rev.

ritus of The Lutheran Hour. The Bible class will take place in our sanctuary At 10:15 a.m.

Special music will also be presented at the service. At 4:00 p.m., we will meet again for a Service of the Word led by Pastor Klaus. Participating in the service will be Rev.

6 Bethel s 75th Anniversary 1939 ~ 2014 OUR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION arrives this month on Sunday, October 12, centered around the theme Sent Forth by God s Blessing. We will begin the day at 9:00 a.m. with Sunday School and the Adult Bible Class, led by our anniversary guest preacher, Rev. Kenneth R. Klaus, now Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour. The Bible class will take place in our sanctuary At 10:15 a.m., Pastor Josh will lead us in the Divine Worship Service with participation by Seminarians Sam and Scott Pitsch, currently training for the ministry at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Special music will also be presented at the service. At 4:00 p.m., we will meet again for a Service of the Word led by Pastor Klaus. Participating in the service will be Rev. Robert Herring, Bethel s pastor from , Rev. Jason Zirbel of Grace Lutheran in Greenwood, Rev. Allen Stuckwisch of First Lutheran in Fort Smith, and Rev. John Treude of Our Redeemer in Fort Smith and the Fort Smith Circuit Visitor. In addition, a mass choir composed of voices from Bethel and First Lutheran will provide special music under the direction of First Lutheran s choir director, Taylor Schmidt. The day will conclude with a dinner and program following the service. The program, led by emcee Mat Pitsch, will highlight Bethel s history. During the program, special music will be presented and, throughout the day, there will be plenty of historic photographs to see. Set aside this very special day to join with members and guests as we give thanks for 75 years of the Lord s blessings to our congregation. And with those blessings, to quote from the words of the hymn that is our anniversary theme, we are now sent forth to work for God s kingdom and answer His call. TO ENRICH OUR 75th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, a mass choir, composed of voices from Bethel and our sister churches, will participate in the afternoon worship service. Many voices are needed, and there are still a few rehearsals remaining. It is not too late for any Bethel singer to join! Rehearsal at First Lutheran: Wednesday, October 1, 6:30 p.m. Rehearsals at Bethel: Wednesday, October 8, 6:30 p.m. Anniversary Day: Sunday, October 12, 2:30 p.m. Celebrating a Golden Anniversary THE CONGREGATION IS INVITED to attend the 50 th anniversary celebration of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church here in Fort Smith on Sunday, October 26. The day will begin with a worship service at 10:15 a.m., followed by a complimentary banquet. If you plan to attend the banquet, please RSVP by October 17 to Our Redeemer s church office at (479) Our Redeemer is located at 2100 Cavanaugh Road.

THE WITTENBERG PROJECT EVERY OCTOBER, the thoughts of Lutherans turn toward the Reformation.

During these years leading up to that date, we can anticipate that milestone being marked in a variety of ways throughout the United States and Europe.

of the Lutheran church. The building being renovated is the four-story Old Latin School (shown at left), built in 1564.

7 THE WITTENBERG PROJECT EVERY OCTOBER, the thoughts of Lutherans turn toward the Reformation. When the year 2017 arrives, it will be an especially significant one for our Lutheran faith for it will mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. During these years leading up to that date, we can anticipate that milestone being marked in a variety of ways throughout the United States and Europe. In fact, Wittenberg, Germany is currently the site of a major building renovation that will be significant not only for celebration of the Reformation anniversary but also to help fulfill the mission of the Lutheran church. The building being renovated is the four-story Old Latin School (shown at left), built in It is in the heart of Wittenberg, a town that, because of its significance in the life of Martin Luther, is sometimes affectionately known as Lutherstadt or Luther Town. But the building is not only being renovated. It is being transformed into the International Lutheran Center, a venue for Lutheran education and Gospel outreach for the thousands who visit historic Wittenberg. Right next door to the school is Town Church or St. Mary s Church where Luther preached more than 2,000 sermons. Among other nearby landmarks are Castle Church or All Saints Church where Luther nailed his 95 Theses, the Melanchthon House, the former home of Luther s friend and fellow theologian Philipp Melanchthon, and Luther House, the converted cloister where Luther lived for many years. The renovation of the Old Latin School is titled The Wittenberg Project. Its founders and partners are the Missouri Synod, its German partner church, the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK), and the International Lutheran Society of Wittenberg (ILSW). Their stated goal is to honor our Lutheran heritage as we approach the 500th anniversary of the Reformation by nurturing and strengthening the faith of Christians and introducing the Christian faith to non-christians.. Renovation of the Old Latin School and establishment of the International Lutheran Center is scheduled to be completed by May To help raise funds for the project, the partners created the Reformation 500 Club. Through this organization, churches can give $500 toward the renovation of the school during the course of The first 500 congregations to contribute will have their gifts matched by an anonymous donor. Thanks to a generous donation from Leland and Della Pitsch in the name of Bethel, our church was among those first 500 and has had the gift matched. Bethel has received a Certificate of Enrollment that states the church is making an imprint on history. The accompanying letter from the Synod stated that the gift will make a powerful difference by allowing the Synod to share the Gospel in a former Communist land. See the posters about The Wittenberg Project on one of our bulletin boards along with the Certificate of Enrollment in the Reformation 500 Club. More information about the project and pictures are at thewittenbergproject.org.

8 The Bethel Herald Proclaiming Salvation! The monthly publication of Bethel Lutheran Church Fort Smith, Arkansas People of Bethel Lutheran Church, OCTOBER 2014 Giving A Response to Faith Giving is a spiritual issue. The Scriptures are replete with how giving and believing go hand in hand, that our trust and faith in God are commensurate with our giving. In 2013, the Religion News Service reported that the average annual percentage of income given to the church had fallen to 2.3 percent. So what does this confess about our trust in the God who has given us all that we need for body and soul, not sparing His own Son into death so that we would not die but live? What does this say about our faith, when even the Jew gave at least ten percent, while we, having received the fullness of God s generosity barely give one fifth of that? Meanwhile, churches and schools fall into disrepair or close their doors because of lack of funding; pastors and teachers live at or under the poverty level; and the State replaces the Church as the source for care of the widow, the fatherless, and the poor. Something is wrong with this. Though we have received generously from our generous God, we have not given in like manner. How can this be? How can we, as Christians and especially as Lutherans, who stake everything on that most beautiful doctrine of justification that God, out of His divine goodness and mercy, has saved us by grace through faith on account of Christ s death and resurrection without works of the law not help but give of our income just as generously? How can we who have received so much give so little? It is a shame, and we need to repent. As the Lord spoke through prophet Malachi, Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, How shall we return? Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, How have we robbed you? In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need (Mal 3:7b 10). Do not these words even cut us to the heart? Are they not true for us even as they were for them? Are we not now reaping what we have sown in faith? We have sown little, we have sown sparingly, and so is our harvest. But what if we were to take the Lord at His word? What if we, like them, were to put Him to the test and give to support the work of the church as our generous God has given all things to us? Would not the storehouses burst open? Would not the windows of heaven pour out blessing upon His church so that they could be a blessing and a light to the world? Imagine it. But doing it takes faith. It takes trust that the Lord will be faithful just as He promised. For if God has given you His own Son, will He not give you all things? Yes, He will. This is His sure and certain promise. God provides for His people. He provides everything we need for this body and life and for the life that is to come. Christ s merits have set us free from the tithe. Giving is no longer something we have to do. It is what we do because of what God has first done for us. We give not because we must in order to keep the law. We give as a response of faith, a confession of faith in deed about what God has done and continues to do for us. For in Christ, we are freed from the tithe, freed that our giving is not out of compulsion or reluctance but generously from a cheerful heart and a life richly lived in the forgiveness of all our sins and for the good and blessing of those around us. And a life so lived enriches us all with blessing until there is no more need and thanksgivings to the One who promised to make it happen. In Christ, Pastor Josh

August Dear saints of Ascension,

August Dear saints of Ascension, August 2018 Dear saints of Ascension, Worship is important, even essential for relationship with God. Without worship, we ve lost the reason for existence. To worship God is to be in His will for our life.