FROM YOUR PASTOR UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH OF PROCTOR

Transcription

1 We welcome EVERYONE! September 2018 UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH OF PROCTOR FROM YOUR PASTOR Greetings Proctor Lutherans, We are part of God s Church on earth the body of Christ here and now. As Lutherans, we join with our brothers and sisters from many denominations around the globe to make up this Church. Notice I am using an uppercase C in that word. The Church belongs to God, not to Lutherans or Catholics or Baptists or any other group. All of us confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We all believe that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We all turn to the Bible as God s word. After that, we might not always agree on the details of how the church should be ordered in the world. Lutherans teach that there are two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. For Catholics, they number seven sacraments. Baptists and other non-liturgical denominations do not believe that Christ is truly present in communion, but that the meal is a remembrance of Jesus action. Sometimes these differences are matters of practice. Other times, these differences have led to schism, separating the church into denominations. Important to me personally and as your pastor is the ecumenical nature of the Church. I believe that denominations are called to be in relationship with each other, and that individual Christians are meant to be in relation with other Christians, regardless of denomination. This is why I have been so pleased to be a part of Theology Uncapped, a dialogue between me and Father Richard Kunst, pastor of St. James and St. Elizabeth parishes in Duluth. He and I have hosted three sessions over the past year in which we discuss the similarities and differences Lutherans and Catholics have on certain topics. Neither of us are professors or theologians. We have not made the study of these topics our careers. Instead, we sit down together as fellow parish leaders to discuss the church we love. I hope this can both inform our audience about the Lutheran and Catholic views of these topics, and can be an example of how Christians can lovingly agree and disagree with one another. Father Kunst and I will be speaking about confession at our next event, September 27th at Grace Lutheran in Hermantown. Confession is important to the Church. But

2 denominations have different practices of confession. I look forward to learning more about our Lutheran understanding as I study for the event, and more about the Catholic understanding during the conversation. I hope you will join us that night. But more so, I hope that you will join with your Christian brothers and sisters in discussing what the Church means to you and how we all are beloved children of God. Peace+ Pastor Kowitz United Lutheran Gives Out 1000 Bottles of Water in the Parade! On August 18 th, several members from United Lutheran walked or rode in the parade while handing out 1000 bottles of water. The water bottles were labeled with an invitation for parade watchers to join us anytime for worship and fellowship. The kids had a lot of fun handing them out! Rumor has it that the adults did too! Thanks to all who participated and represented our church. A big thank you to the Boy Scouts for giving a helping hand in passing out water!

3 WORSHIP LEADERS FOR SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2nd: Assisting Minister: Jim Kmecik Reader: Dan Saarela Ushers: Joan Thompson & Joanne Schwerm Greeters: Marilyn Lee & Audrey Johanson Acolyte: Dan Saarela Counters: Betty Merling & Claudia Gannucci Council Person of the Week: Jim Kmecik SEPTEMBER 23rd: Chapel Service Usher: Carolyn Johnson Assisting Minister: Dan Saarela Reader: Dennis Palm Ushers: Claudia Gannucci Greeter: Jan Bakke Acolyte: Zach Johnson Counters: Victor & Mandi Murray Council Person of the Week: Carolyn Johnson SEPTEMBER 9th: Chapel Service Usher: Kris Rudd Assisting Minister: Dan Saarela Reader: Amelie Livingston Usher: Steve Grabko Greeter: Jan Bakke Acolyte: Allana Carlson Counters: Claudia Gannucci & Dan Saarela Council Person of the Week: Sonja Carlson SEPTEMBER 30th: Chapel Service Usher: Janice Anderson Assisting Minister: Shannon Jorgenson Reader: Claudia Gannucci Ushers: Tim Jorgenson Greeters: Vina Anderson & Mary Ann Tast Acolyte: Jake Jorgenson Counters: Marge Lind & Jan Lockwood Council Person of the Week: Tim Jorgenson SEPTEMBER 16th: Chapel Service Usher: Gordy Westendorf Assisting Minister: Jordan Schwarz Reader: Claudia Gannucci Ushers: Kathy Jazdzeweski & Claudia Gannucci Greeters: Susan & Jordan Schwarz Acolyte: Krista Lonetto Counters: Carolyn Johnson & Jan Bakke Council Person of the Week: Jordan Schwarz VOLUNTEER CHURCH CLEANERS September 3 8 Harold Mead & Bea Kitto September Jim & Tammie Kmecik September Kris & Craig Rudd September Pam & Scott Lonne WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LEND A HELPING HAND! October 1 6 Pastor Peter & Sarah Kowitz POWER IN PRAYER All prayer requests can be called to Jan Bakke or submitted online: htttp:// All requests are important and we welcome any of your concerns.

4 UNITED LUTHERAN S BOOK CLUB Join us on Sat., September 8th, 9:30 a.m. at the Field Station Café in Proctor to discuss: The Wind and the Drum by Katharine Johnson strangers are coming strangers who threaten the reindeer and demand the Saami give up their drums and ancient beliefs. Tuuli refuses, hiding one of the drums and setting off on a series of perilous journeys to save her people, their way of life, and, ultimately, herself. Come join us! HOMEBOUND VISITS The Wind and the Drum, written by Minnesota native Katharine Johnson has been chosen as the 2018 One Book Northland community read! Johnson was a Language Arts teacher at Cloquet High School, and was later director of the school's media center. In the late 1970s, she taught Spanish during her lunch breaks. She retired in Her previous publications are: Company s Here in Ladybug magazine, Ada, Forgiveness of Sins, and several poems in anthologies. In the Arctic lands of the Midnight Sun, the winters are long and harsh. It is the 1670s. The Saami migrate with the reindeer the y depend on for food, clothing, and shelter like the American Plains Indians relied on the buffalo. Tuuli was marked from birth to be the next noaidi of her people. She will be wind listener and keeper of their most sacred drum. But the wind whispers to Tuuli that Are you no longer able to attend church? Would you like a visitor from your church family? Please contact the church office at on weekday mornings. Someone from the Fellowship Committee would be happy to visit you periodically. Even though you are not able to come to church, we want you to know that we care about you. THANKS GO TO: Serenity Accounting & Bookkeeping Services Thank you for your bookkeeping and payroll services! (218)

5 WORSHIP SCHEDULE Chapel Service 8:15 a.m. Christian Education 9 a.m. (1 st, 3 rd and possible 5 th Sundays of the month) Worship 10 a.m. Fellowship following worship DON T MISS THIRSTY THURSDAY THEOLOGY SEPTEMBER 13TH Thirsty Theology Bible study meets on the second Thursday of the month at Black Woods in Proctor at 8:00 p.m. Join the group and Pastor Kowitz for conversation and Bible Study in a relaxed atmosphere with friendly chats. Alcohol is optional; Discussion is encouraged; Fellowship is inevitable! SPECIAL THANKS! Once again, Doug & Mary Jackson of D & M Lawn Care Services will freely give their time and donate lawn services to United Lutheran. If you need to hire someone, please keep them in mind. D & M Lawn Care, WE NEED YOUR HELP YOU ARE NEEDED to help serve coffee after worship each Sunday. Sign up with a friend. All you have to do is bring a treat to share. Coffee and Kool-Aid are provided in the kitchen. Check the clipboard on the table in the narthex and pick your Sunday(s).

6 GETTING TO KNOW YOU CAROYLYN JOHNSON COUNCIL MEMBER Carolyn is the council representative of the Fellowship Committee. Being the largest, the Fellowship Committee includes coordination of funeral luncheons, Sunday coffee, the Christmas luncheon, and other special events, as well as welcoming new members. It takes many people willing to do small and/or bigger things to pull off a successful event. To see how you can help, you are invited to the next Fellowship Committee meeting on September 23rd. Carolyn and her family have been members of Bethlehem and now United for the last 15 years. She has recently celebrated, with her husband, Brad, their 26th wedding anniversary. They have two daughters: Haley who is 23 and teaches Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. --Joshua 1:9 Early Childhood at Stowe Elementary and Allison, 20 who is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota majoring in Animal Science with a pre-veterinary medicine track. Carolyn grew up in Two Harbors. She graduated from Bemidji State University and has been a Head Start teacher for over 30 years. She currently works at Hermantown Early Childhood Center. Carolyn and her family have lived in Proctor for the last 22 years. Carolyn loves to garden and plant flowers. She reads when there s time. She tries to vacation every year and a half. She has been to the Grand Canyon a couple times and someday would like to get to Alaska. She takes Joshua 1:9 with her every day; no matter what is happening in her life, she knows that she is not alone. WANTED: Replacement basketball backboard, used, good condition or new. The current backboard in the parking lot is broken and needs replacement. The neighborhood children use this basketball hoop all summer long. If you know of someone with a basketball hoop and backboard that s not being used, consider donating to ULCP.

7 FALL WORK DAY! September 22- Camp Vermilion In addition to a great summer of programs, Camp Vermilion also had a few storms roll through. Even with all of the amazing volunteers we have already had help with clean up, we still have some work to do. We also have quite a few projects on our to do list! Join us for a day of work, fellowship, and caring for God s great northwoods. Do you sponsor a building? This is a great day to talk with our staff about potential upgrades or projects for Consider a Thrivent Action Team to buy supplies for a camp project or to cover gas money to get a group from your congregation to join us for the day. Friendly Tip: After you have chosen United Lutheran, shop as you usually do. When you are ready to pay, go to your shopping cart, check the web address at the top and replace the www with smile if need be. Your web address should start with Schedule 9:00 - Check-in and coffee Work on cabin or other tasks around camp 12:30 - Lunch Groups are welcome to continue working after lunch, enjoy a few hours at camp, or depart for home. Please let us know by September 19 if you plan to join us! vlm@vlmcamps.org Camp Hiawatha, Camp Hiawatha Road, Deer River, MN Camp Vermilion, 2555 Vermilion Camp Road, Cook, MN

8 GOD S WORK. OUR HANDS MISSION INTERPRETER Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to share this article with you, it is from Christina Jackson- Skelton, Executive Director, Mission Advancement, ELCA. God work. Our hands. Sunday is less than one month away. The appointed day from the ELCA is Sunday, Sept 9th. If that day doesn t work, consider another dedicated day of service. Whether your congregation prepares personal-care kits for people who are homeless, clean parks and community gardens, visit the homebound and those in nursing homes or write thank - you notes to emergency responders and members of the armed service, your activities are an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: All of life in Jesus Christ every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life flows freely from a living, daring confidence In God s grace. Every day, congregations share the love of Christ with God s people. On God s work. Our hands. Sunday, we join together to use our various gifts in service to our communities. We look forward to working together again this year and to hearing your stories! God s peace, Dan Saarela SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS 1 Tiffany Roth 3 Ken Sutton, Charles Benson 4 Harold Mead, Laynie Mcgowan 5 Adeline Teresa Burr 6 Nicole Olson 8 Adrianna Carlson 9 Pat Ware 10 Kaylee Gilbert 11 Jane Rohlf 13 Jay Carlson 14 Brittney (Morin) Grabko 15 Carol Saranpaa 19 Bruce Sundin 20 Brent Lockwood 21 Sandi Davis, Joan Thompson 26 Kariyln (Romano) Erickson, Jace Romano WARMEST BIRTHDAY WISHES TO YOU!

9 UNITED LUTHERAN S FINANCIAL OUTLOOK Since last Fall (2017) when we started borrowing money from our Capital Improvement funds to pay bills, we have continued down this path. The summer trend in lower attendance, thus lower giving has forced continued borrowing from our savings to pay bills. Since our inception in June of 2017, we have borrowed a total of $20,200 from Captial Improvement and other undedicated savings/funds to pay our bills. This means that ON AVERAGE, we are over-spending by $1035 each month. (This would have been true if we were operating as seperate churches as well. Unifying was still a good thing!) Besides the couple hundred dollars balance we keep in checking after paying bills, this is the quick snapshot of our monetary holdings: Current Captial Improvement balance is $11,331 Other undesignated funds total $1,582 Current CD Holdings $176,500 (untouchable without penalties) Other designated funds total $8730 (don't want to touch because these funds are dedicated to new building, memorials, camperships, etc.) If we add Captial Improvement and Undesignated funds, we have $12,913 as a potential cushion to cover bills if necessary. If we continue to over-spend by $1000+ each month, we will run out of this "cushion" money in one year or sooner especially if we follow tradition and increase employee compensation and other budgetary expenses. Efforts to improve our outlook are in the works and have been for quite a while. A stewardship campaign has begun; You should have all received a letter if yo u contributed financially this past year. Fundraising plans are being developed. Can I give more of my time, my talents and my money to help sustain the good work that we accomplish in our church? Fundraising takes a lot of people. A little from each of us can go a long way! Even if you think what you do is a small thing, it counts. If we all do one more small thing, what an impact we can make! Yours in Christ, Chris Pasek Treasurer CALLED HOME A funeral service was held for LUCILLE ZIMBECK on August 6 at United Lutheran Church. Born on October 2, 1925, Lucille (sister to Marge Thoreson and mother to Bonnie Kurki) died on August 1, 2018.

10 THEOLOGY UNCAPPED --- PRESENTS --- A Theological Discussion Reviewing the Catholic and Lutheran Perspective on: CONFESSION CONFIRMATION AND YOUTH GROUP BEGINS CONFIRMATION will be held on Wednesdays from 7 8:30 p.m. starting September 12 th. (No confirmation will be held on September 26 th ) YOUTH GROUP will be held Sundays September 16th, 23rd & 30th from 4-6 p.m. at Forbes United Methodist. Featuring Father Richard Kunst, Pastor of St. James and St. Elizabeth's in Duluth and Pastor Peter Kowitz of United Lutheran Church of Proctor Cost: $20 for admission. Includes dinner from Famous Dave s and choice of beer, wine or soda. Register here: Location: Grace Lutheran Church 5454 Miller Trunk Highway Duluth, MN INTRODUCING THREE SIDES PODCAST Three Sides is a new monthly podcast featuring stories from the ELCA. As a church that believes God is calling us into the world together, Three Sides will share diverse voices from across this church. Typically, it s said there are two sides to every story. But often a middle or third side of the story is revealed, providing another perspective to consider. Subscribe and listen today! The first episode is Women who lead. podcast/

11 UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH OF PROCTOR September 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 9:00 a.m. Worship followed by fellowship 9 8:15 a.m. Chapel Service 9 a.m. Christian Ed Committee Meeting 10 a.m. Worship followed by fellowship and Altar Guild meeting 11:30 a.m. Evangelism Committee meeting 16 8:15 a.m. Chapel Service 9 a.m. Sunday School Rally Day 10:00 a.m. Worship followed by fellowship 4-6 p.m. Youth Group at Forbes 23 8:15 a.m. Chapel Service 10 a.m. Worship followed by fellowship Fellowship Committee meeting after worship 4-6 p.m. Youth Group at Forbes 30 8:15 a.m. Chapel Service 9 a.m. Christian Ed 10 a.m. Worship followed by fellowship 4-6 p.m. Youth Group at Forbes 3 4 7:00 p.m. Proctor A.A. meeting 10 7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts 17 7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts 24 7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts Dear Lord, 11 6:30 p.m. Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. Proctor A.A. 18 6:30 p.m. Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. Proctor A.A. meeting 25 6:30 p.m. Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. Proctor A.A. meeting 5 1:00 p.m. Bible Study 12 1:00 p.m. Bible Study 7 8:30 p.m. Confirmation Class 19 1:00 p.m. Bible Study 7 8:30 p.m. Confirmation Class 26 1:00 p.m. Bible Study No Confirmation Class We give you thanks for your attentiveness to our prayers spoken in every language, whispered or silent a.m. Quilting 6:00 p.m. 12 Step Group 6:30 p.m. Church Council meeting a.m. Quilting 6:00 p.m. 12 Step Group 8:00 p.m. Thirsty Theology Bible Study at Blackwoods a.m. Quilting 6:00 p.m. 12 Step Group 7 8 9:30 a.m. Book Club at Field Station Cafe 14 Wedding rehearsal a.m. Quilting 4:30 p.m. A.C.T. meeting at St. Rose 6:00 p.m.12 Step Group Amen 15 2:00 p.m. Wedding Derek Ziegler & Sarah Schwartz

12 We welcome EVERYONE! United Lutheran Church of Proctor 701 Third Avenue Proctor, MN Northeastern Minnesota Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America God s work: Our hands. to these activities, as well, and look forward to seeing you. NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID DULUTH, MN PERMIT NO. 122 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS You will be welcomed at each of the following: Chapel Service at 8:15 a.m. (Word of God and Holy Communion, with an abridged liturgy) Christian Education at 9 a.m. (1st, 3rd, and possible 5th Sundays of the month) Worship Service at 10 a.m. (Full liturgy plus other celebrations like baptisms, new members, choir) Fellowship to follow worship service Within this newsletter are the various events hosted by our church in the coming weeks. You are invited UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH OF PROCTOR office phone: Pr. Kowitz cell: office@proctorlutheran.org pastor@proctorlutheran.org council@proctorlutheran.org Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/proctorlutheran