Epistle. Mission Statement

Transcription

1 FIRST ENGLISH AND BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCHES 17 MAIN ST. NW PO BOX 189 MENAHGA, MN PHONE: FAX: PARSONAGE: PASTOR S PADREBRUER@WCTA.NET OCTOBER 28, 2009 FIRST ENLGISH LUTHERAN BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH CHURCH STAFF PASTOR STEVE BRUER PARISH SECRETARY LISA DORMANEN CUSTODIAN CLAYTON ELLINGSON FIRST ENGLISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROGER HOLLERUD BETHANY COUNCIL PRESIDENT DAVE MICKELSON FIRST ENGLISH ORGANIST BARBARA AHL BETHANY ORGANIST SHIRLEY ANDERSON SANDI MICKELSON Weekly Worship Schedule Weekly At First English Worship Lutheran Schedule At Worship: First English 8:30 Lutheran a.m. Coffee Worship: Fellowship 8:30 a.m. Adult Bible Coffee Study Fellowship and Sunday Adult Bible Study and Sunday School 9:45 a.m. School 9:45 a.m. Weekly Worship Schedule Weekly At Bethany Worship Lutheran Schedule Worship At Bethany 10:30 Lutheran a.m. Sunday Worship School 10:30 9:30 a.m. a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. 2nd and 4th Sundays Visit Our Website at: Mission Statement First English and Bethany churches are a caring, inclusive Christian Community dedicated to Word and Sacrament ministry; Growing in Christ; Sharing the faith; Serving our neighbors; and Supporting each other.

2 Page 2 Pastor s Ponderings As we look out our windows these days, we see that most of the trees have lost their leaves. Many of us have started raking or cleaning our lawns for the year, we ve mowed for the last time. And if we catch them at the right time, might see a flock of geese here and there starting to migrate south for the winter. The air is crisp and fresh. Fall has arrived, summer is now past, winter waits on the doorstep. We ve heard many people often try to describe fall as a time of dying. Yet, it is in the fall that nature puts on its greatest show of splendor. Plain green tree leaves turn to oranges, crimsons, and many shades of red. The beauty of the many fall colors is impressive and awesome. It s as if nature wants to announce that not even winter s coming will keep it from putting on a fall show of splendor as a reminder that spring and new life will come. If we look around we can see the many beautiful colors of fall. Similar to the ones described above. Although many of the trees had already lost their leaves, there were many which still had the bright fall colors. And what a sight that is. Each time I see these colors, I think about God and how this was His doing. How God was showing us the great splendor of His power and reminding us of how temporary life here on earth is. Our Lord Jesus said that he came that we might have life and have it abundantly. How often in the midst of daily life do we forget this promise? How often do we tend to look on the negative side of life rather than that positive? How often do we describe life as partly cloudy rather than partly sunny? As half empty instead of half full? Brothers and sisters in faith, the fall splendor of God s creation is a reminder to us that in the struggles of life is where we find our true color. It is in difficult situations when we have the opportunity to draw closer to God and we ll be able to see that God will give us all we need and so much more. He will give us not only what we need, but He ll even give us in excess! He not only gives green leaves to trees, but in them is the beauty of a multitude of colors. In us, God has placed and will continue to give us all we need for any and every situation. During the fall, when the colors change, everything seems to be in a sense of flux, in change. And it is so easy for us to become reflective this time of the year. For you see, fall is the moment of transition from one life to another. Everything is alive with possibilities. As the old disappears, something new is born. You can sense it in the air. Turn your heart to God and you will be able to enjoy and appreciate this time of change. Don t be upset about the passing away of things, rather, embrace the many possibilities God has set before us for the future. I invite and encourage each of you this fall to draw closer to your God who loved you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus to be our Savior. Take time each day to pray and read your Bibles to find God s comfort and peace in the midst of struggle. Make Sunday worship a regular part of your weekly routine and if at all possible, volunteer your time and energy to those ministries that you have a passion for and give generously as God has blessed you. But don t wait for a time of trouble or need to seek that close relationship with Jesus Christ; draw near to him today! Don t wait! Let him show you the beautiful colors that are in you that can attract others to meet your Savior. I challenge each of you to make this Thanksgiving a real time of giving God thanks for the many blessings bestowed upon you this past year. Even the little blessings. Round up your entire family and friends and come to worship and give thanks at our Thanksgiving Eve service at Bethany on Wednesday, November 25 th at 7:00 pm. Finally, enjoy the fall splendor of God s good creation. May it remind you of the splendor you are and can become through an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ! Then give God thanks for this!!! In God s beauty & splendor, Pastor Steve

3 Page 3 Parish Report LCMC Presentation Sunday, Nov. 15th -3:00 pm at First English Dale Wolf from Atonement in Fargo will explain LCMC Thank you for the Memorial gifts in memory of Donald Kangas from Mavis Torvinen. Thank you for the Memorial gifts in memory of Jon Lenzen from Lenore Maaninga and Mavis Torvinen. SUNDAY OFFERINGS FIRST ENGLISH Attendance 9/27 76 General $ Loose $ Building $ World Hunger$ $ FIRST ENGLISH 10/4 4/1 General attendance 81 $ Building Offering $ $ Loose $ ACTs 4/5 for Messiah$ Memorials General $ Building $ Act for Messiah /11 Food Shelf General $ $ Building $ Loose 4/9 $ NW Offering Synod $ $ /10 $ / General $ Building $ Loose $ World Hunger$ Food Shelf $ $ /25 89 General $ Building $ World Hunger $ 5.00 Loose $ NW Synod $ Food Shelf $ $ First English Family Fun Fest Bake Sale to LYO $ Lunch to Food Shelf $ Sunday School Pancake Breakfast $ Fun Fest $ $ BETHANY 9/27 41 General $ World Hunger $ Thrivent $ /4 62 General $ Bulletins $ World Hunger $ /11 General $ /18 27 There are no words to express our thanks for all the kind words, thoughts and prayers during the sudden illness and death of our husband, dad and grandpa. We are overwhelmed at the outpouring of caring and generosity of our church family. Special thanks to Willy and Paula Wevley, Pastor Steve Bruer and the ladies of 1st English, Menahga School staff and to Dave and Mel Keranen for being there for us all every step of the way. God s blessing to you all. The family of Jon Lenzen Deb, Katie, Emily, Nick and Luke *********************** First English and Bethany, I wish to thank the members of the congregation for prayers, visits, cards and gifts after my accident. There is immense power in prayer. With this power healing is sure to come! Thanks to Carol & Helen for coming to get me from the hospital. I have been blessed! Arlene Anttila ********************* Bethany Quilters received a donation of $ from Torrie Bentley. Torrie, daughter of Fred & Sophie Sakkinen is a former member of Bethany Lutheran. We appreciate her generosity. ****************************

4 Page 4 Parish Report continued: The program will be held in Menahga at the VFW on Saturday, November 7th. This service will return to Assumption of Our Lady Catholic Church in December. The doors open at 9:30 am for registration. Distribution is started at 10:30 and generally over by 1:30 pm. For more Information call: Karol or Dave Andreasen Need a ride to church? Call the church office by Friday 2:30 p.m. we will arrange for you to be picked up on Sunday morning! Parish Partner Group # 2 is in need of volunteers to lead this group. Please contact the church office and let us know that you are willing to serve in this way The Lutheran Magazine If you are receiving the Lutheran magazine and would Our Christian sympathies go out like to help defray the cost. The rate is $7.95/ year, This First English Lutheran Church to the family of Violet Juntunen who is a reduced rate for the church. went home to be with the Lord on If you are not receiving the magazine and would Saturday, like to, June 6th October 17th. A family service was held or if you are receiving the magazine and no longer wish 9 11 am October 29th at First English Lutheran to, please notify the church office. Free will offering Church. May God strengthen all of There are copies of the current Lutheran available at Violet s family in the days ahead that they might have the church for anyone to read. All proceeds received go to the comfort and peace in the hope of the resurrection to Altar Flowers come. Campership Program. WELCA This of First program English has helps provided families a sign supplement the cost of sending their children to sheet, posted on the rolling bulletin board, Camp for - the First English Tuesday Morning Bible Study will be having their Emmaus Bible Camp. opportunity to share flowers for the Altar. This opportunity can be in honor or memory of a Annual Christmas Brunch after Bible Study on December 8th. loved one or special LYO event Silent or just because. Auction During in conjunction with pancake breakfast. the gardening season, Silent we Auction encourage proceeds supplement you to share costs associated with the your fresh cut flowers as well. National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. We are considering Sponsor Our Sunday Bulletins Remember to sign up to sponsor the bulletins on a given Sunday. The sheet is on the rolling bulletin board at First English and on the kitchen counter at Bethany. The cost is $ This can be in honor of someone or event, in memory of, or just because. Please sign up to help offset the cost of the bulletins each week! WORLD HUNGER ENVELOPES World Hunger Envelopes can be found on the round table in the fellowship area. Pick them up from there to make your contribution to World Hunger. adding a Spark Sunday School Class for 2-3 year olds. Families who are interested should contact Lisa in the office so we can have an idea of how many children would be involved. The First Sunday of Advent Sunday, November 29th. Churches and Christian families now begin to celebrate the birth of Christ, whom God sent to earth for our salvation.

5 Page 5 FIRST ENGLISH USHERS 11/1 Roger and Elaine Hollerud 11/8 Tareyn Stomberg, Ally Ohlgren, Brittany Floyd, Sam Acuff 11/15 Diane Pederson and Mavis Mattila BETHANY USHERS Matt Mattick Art Yliniemi BETHANY READERS 11/1 Jan Mickelson 11/8 Thankoffering * Jan Mickelson 11/15 Verdell Shepersky 11/22 Lester Ristinen 11/29 Art Yliniemi BETHANY COMMUNION 11/1 Rosie Anderson 11/15 Kris Spadgenske... even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve. Matthew 20:28 We serve because Christ served. FIRST ENGLISH COMMUNION Nov. 1 Server - Barb Schleicher Communion Helper Taylor Carlson Setup/Cleanup - Jane Bruer & Barb Schleicher Nov. 15 Server Jane Bruer Communion Helper - Tanner Neisess Setup/Cleanup - Barb Schleicher & Jane Bruer 11/22 WELCA 11/29 Tim Kohrs and Tre GREETERS AT F.E. 11/1 Keith and Sam Kadereit and Tre 11/8 PreK, K, 11th and 12th grade (Kitchen duty and fellowship goodies also) 11/15 Paul and Marlene Schiotz 11/22 WELCA 11/29 Millie Hendrickson FIRST ENGLISH READERS 11/1 Mark Hepokoski 11/8 Youth 11/15 LaVerna Ohlgren 11/22 Mike Maurer 11/29 Barb Schleicher ACOLYTES Shaina Blair Shelby Pihlaja COUNTERS AT F.E. 11/1 - Marie S. - Clayton 11/8 - Brian - Kyle 11/15 - Marlene - Marie H. 11/22 - LaVerna - Phyllis 11/29 - Marie S. - Clayton

6 Page 6 WOMEN OF FIRST ENGLISH AND BETHANY Quilting on Wednesdays 9:00 am First English 1:00 pm Bethany Women of First English Executive Board Meeting Next meeting November 19th 4:00 p.m. Worship Service At GPA 2:00 pm Tuesday November 3rd CIRCLE SCHEDULE Anna Circle Sarah Circle Meets: Mon. November 2nd Meets: November 10th 10:00 am 1:30 pm ESTHER WSM Rebecca Circle Meets: Tues. November 3rd 6:30 pm Hostess: At church Meets: Thurs. 6/11 Meets: - potluck Thurs. 6/11 Lesson: Linda Ely 1:30 pm 1:30 pm Esther Circle Hostess: Hostess: Meets: November Eleanor Eleanor 12th Huwe Huwe Hostess: 1:30 pm Lesson: Lesson: Hostess: Carol Ristinen Eleanor Huwe Eleanor Huwe Lesson: Carol Ristinen Parish Partner Group Parish Partner group #3 will be contacting the greeters and servers for coffee hour during the month of November. Corrine Neisess and Norma Dissmore are the leaders. Parish Partner Group # 2 is in need of volunteers to lead this group. Please contact the church office and let us know that you are willing to serve in this way ALTAR GUILD MEMBERS Altar Guild FOR NOVEMBER AT FIRST ENGLISH Millie Hendrickson, Deb Madsen, Bev Hepokoski, Jane Bruer, Linda West, Karen Petterson. FOR NOVEMBER AT BETHANY Jeanette Mickelson & Kathy Yliniemi BETHANY CHURCH CLEANING-NOV. Linda Peterson, Zelda Little, Lynnette Yliniemi

7 Page 7 First English Lutheran Church Council Meeting October 13, 2009 Members Present: Roger H., Marie S., Mike S., Keith K., Dick D., Lynn L., Marie H., Pastor Steve. Absent:: Clair M., Joe., Megan M. Meeting called to order by Pres. Roger H. at 7:03 pm. Devotions were led by Pastor Steve Secretary Report was read. Motion to accept as read was made by Dick D. and a second by Keith K. Motion carried. Treasurer s Report Roger reported income is falling slightly behind. We still owe $ on LOC, but we are fairly close to budget. Motion to accept Treas. Report was made by Lynn L. and seconded by Mike S. Motion carried. Committee Reports: Finance: Discussion to form a committee, possibly 2 council members and 2 congregational members to decide what to do with the Memorial Account. Worship: No meeting was held, but music has been selected through the first part of Nov. Pastor Steve suggested using the second in the LBW, so Dick will bring it up at the next meeting. Social Ministry: Family Fun Fest was a success, with about $ being raised. Youth: No report Building/Grounds: No report Education: The pancake breakfast raised $240. Sunday school has started and the new program is going well along with the team teaching. Evangelism: There was no meeting last month, but Nov. 5th will be the next meeting. A request to have a list of shut-ins so calls can be made. Stewardship: No report Pastor: Seven youth finished the First Communion Instruction and will receive their First Communion this Sunday. All Saints Day is Nov. 1st, celebrating the Saints that have died this past year. Remember to pray for our church. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Ruby s Pantry: There were a lot of Volunteers and 300 shares were sold. A new layout has been worked out so it should run more smoothly. The November distribution will be at the VFW. A discussion of insurance was held and we will have to contact Church Mutual to see how much a rider would cost. 2. Donna A. checked to see if we qualified for free paint for the fellowship hall and Sunday school rooms, but we do not, as our building is not used 50% for community use. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Reflections: About 38 members came to First English and 12 at Bethany for the Bible study on sexuality. Consensus was to invite either a Pastor or representative to talk to us about LCMC. Motion to invite a representative of LCMC to talk on a Sunday morning was make by Mike S. and seconded by Dick D. Motion carried. 2. Pastor vacation: Pastor requested Thursday through Sunday. Pastor Paul will do the Sunday service. 3. Joint Council Meeting will be Nov. 17th, 7:00 pm at First English. The budget will be prepared by then. Motion to adjourn was made by Mike S. and seconded by Marie S. Closed with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully Submitted, Marie Henstorf THREE KINDS OF GIVING There are three kinds of giving: grudge giving, duty giving and thanksgiving. Grudge giving says, I have to ; duty giving says, I ought to ; and thanksgiving says, I want to. The latter comes from a full heart. Thanksgiving is an open gate into the love of God. -Robert N. Rodenmayer

8 Page 8 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES October 21, 2009 Members Present: Pastor Steve, Lianna Vry, Dave Mickelson, Dennis Anderson, Dean Mickelson. Pastor gave devotions. Secretary s Report was approved. Dean made a motion and Dennis seconded. Lianna made a motion to adjourn and Dave seconded. Meeting concluded with the Lord s Prayer. Submitted by: Lianna Vry Treasurer s Report was discussed and it was mentioned to find out where the budget and reserves are at to know what we have for church maintenance. Approved and accepted. Dennis made motion and Dean seconded. Social Ministry: Kelly No Report Stewardship: Dennis No Report Education: Lianna Good consistent numbers. Worship: Dean In light of the recent action taken by our church leaders of the ELCA. I would encourage all members of Bethany to make a major effort to be informed of this very important matter as to which direction our church will be headed. Pray for guidance for our congregation in the weeks ahead. Thank you. Evangelism: Joanie No Report Building/Grounds: Matt No Report Pastor: Continuing to focus on the youth and remember the church in our prayers. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Siding: The warranty is in the process of being processed. Sidewalk on west side needing to be removed. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Discussion on sexuality meetings. It was nice to voice opinions and hear other people s ideas. There were not very many young people in attendance. Discussion on having Dale Wolf from LCMC come speak to both congregations in the afternoon around 3:00 pm on November 15th. 2. Joint Council Meeting, Tuesday, November at First English LYO Halloween Party at Bethany on Saturday, Oct. 24th. Dennis made motion to accept Matt s resignation from council and Lianna seconded. Have we forgotten God? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us I peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole of the American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. -Abraham Lincoln, 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation

9 Page 9 2. Has awarded scholarships to more than 350 recipients since These scholarships assist women ages representing every region of the ELCA and arranges from undergraduate to second-career students to seminarians. 3. Quilts that have been made for Lutheran World Relief will be displayed and blessed. Thankoffering and Quilt Dedication Services This will be a special service where women of the ELCA can show gratitude for God s blessings. We are called to offer with joy and thanksgiving what God has first given us. These Thankofferings help support the following. 1. Since 1988 the organization has awarded $3 million for efforts here and abroad that promote healthier lives for women and girls. November 8th Bethany Thankoffering Service November 22nd First English Thankoffering Service Advent Tea Saturday, December 5th 1:00 pm at First English Start your Christmas Season in a special way with an Annual event where we participate with the churches in our community. After the program, Christmas cookies and tea/coffee will be served. Susan Gullekson Marion Hansen Colton Polman Arlene Anttila Howard Westly Delores Pederson Kathy Maurer Marvin Anderson Linda Ely Elmer Koski Curtis Burkman All our Military Please let us know when you have a prayer request. You can call Pastor Steve or the Church Office or Requests will be listed for 4 weeks. Please let us know if you would like your requests listed longer.

10 FIRST ENGLISH BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCHES 17 Main St. NW PO Box 189 MENAHGA, MN Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE Menahga, MN Permit NO. 3 $, 398 $:3/, 84; ,9,;0/ 0/8 3.0 $, 398 $:3/, % 0807;.08-0/0/.,90/94 4:7/05,790/ 4;0/4308 Joint Thanksgiving Eve Service At Bethany Wednesday, November 25th, :00 pm