First Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 THE VISITOR IS THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA SYNOD + EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA THE VISITOR SEPTEMBER 2015 First Lutheran Church PARISH STAFF Pastor Pastor Ben Schori Organist Elaine Sweeney Secretary Nancy White Custodial Services Range Center Job Corps PARISH COUNCIL William Clymer Larry Elj Mazie Englund Renae Grabanski Elizabeth Kolden Genevieve Lervik Pastor Benjamin Schori Linda Smith Paul Stavnes CONGREGATIONAL TREASURER Alice White YOUTH EDUCATION Sunday School September May Sunday morning Pre-Kindergarten Grade 5 Confirmation September May Wednesday evening 7:00 8:00 pm Grades 7 10 ADULT EDUCATION Bible Study September - May Wednesday 10:00 am 11:00 pm Yoga Class Mondays 9:00 am WORSHIP & MINISTRY Traditional Morning Service Sundays at 9:30 am Nursery provided Telecast Live HPAT channel 5 Rebroadcast: 9:30 pm Sundays 8:00 pm Wednesdays 2:00 pm Thursdays Alternative Evening Service Sundays at 5:00 pm (Starting September 20) Weddings Make arrangements in advance by contacting the office. Baptisms Make arrangements in advance by contacting the office. Pastoral Care Contact the office CONTACT US PARISH OFFICE Hours: Mon Thurs, 8:00 am 12:00 pm; 1:00 5:00 pm Office closed on Fridays rd Avenue East, Hibbing, MN Tel: Pastor Benjamin Schori Office office@firsthibbing.org pastorben@firsthibbing.org Website: "Like" our Facebook page,

2 Nancy and I have been extra busy around the First Lutheran Church office recently. In many ways, August served as prepare for September month. There is A LOT going on this month and A LOT to share with you all! First, Sunday School will be starting Sunday September 20 th. This is for children Pre-K (i.e. the year before starting Kindergarten) through 5 th grade. More information can be found in the Youth Activities section of this newsletter. A registration form is inserted into this newsletter and should be filled out and returned to the church office by Thursday September 10 th. Second, 6 th Graders will now serve as the primary acolytes for Sunday morning worship. If you know of a 6 th grader who should be on our acolyte contact list, please reach out to the church office and let us know. Third, Confirmation is now a combined program with Our Savior s Lutheran and is set up to go from 7 th grade through 10 th grade. The confirmation year starts with a youth event put on by the Laurentian Conference (our conference within the Northeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA), and will take place the evening of Wednesday September 16 th at Our Savior s Lutheran in Virginia. Please look to the Youth Activities section of this newsletter for more information. A registration form for confirmation is also inserted into this newsletter and should also be filled out and returned to the church office by Thursday September 10 th. Fourthly, please take a look at the God s Work. Our Hands. Sunday insert in this newsletter. This nationwide ELCA event will be taking place on Sunday September 13 th and will also serve as our Rally Sunday as a last minute opportunity to register for Sunday school and Confirmation. We will also be combining with Our Savior s Lutheran for this event. Fifthly, please check out the section of this newsletter talking about our New Sunday Evening Worship Service, starting Sunday September 20 th. I m so looking forward to this new alternative worship opportunity for those that find it hard to make it on Sunday mornings and/or don t resonate with that traditional style of worship. Music will mainly consist of piano and guitar and will be led by Angela Schweiberger, who again will be starting up her weekly Community Yoga Class this month (more info in this newsletter). Sixthly, and finally, our annual Project Care Spaghetti Dinner, which is put on and hosted by the ELCA congregations of Hibbing, will be held on Thursday September 24 th, so keep your ears and eyes open for ticket and volunteer opportunities for that. I meant it when I said there is A LOT going on this month and A LOT to share with you all! Have I been a little stressed and overwhelmed at times these past weeks by all that is about to start this month and all that needs to get done? Yes, but in the best of ways because I believe that energy and urgency originates in the Holy Spirits, which is moving among this congregation, among our deepening relationship with Our Savior s Lutheran, and among our relationship with this community we are called to serve and love. God s Peace & Blessings, Pastor Ben

3 Members Present Bill Clymer, Renae Grabanski, Larry Elj, Linda Smith, Pastor Ben Schori, Gen Lervik, Paul Stavnes, Liz Kolden, Mazie Englund Members Absent None Call to Order 5:04 PM Prayer July meeting minutes approved July financial statement received Pastor Ben Schori s report Funerals Earl Paul Rancourt - July 18, 2015 Baptism Gianna Marie Tokarczyk - August 2, 2015 New Members - August 2015 Robert Willard and Emily Savich Children: Lucas Willard and Jackson Willard Sunday School Starting September 20 Confirmation + First Lutheran Church Council + Congregational Meeting Minutes August 19, 2015 Starting on September 16 with Laurentian Conference Event. Will be a combined program with Our Savior s and First Lutheran Property Committee Report New Rope on the flag Removed the leaky fountain downstairs Put in a new vanity at the parsonage Old Business Sunday evening worship Elaine agreed to play the organ for the services Job description approved for Musician/Yoga Teacher Angela Sweiberger accepted position Yoga Class possibly Mondays All are invited and a free will donation is appreciated New Business Mecadonia project Stewardship & Mission Support Workshop Our Savior s Lutheran Church in Hibbing September 12, 2015 from 9:00 am 1:00 pm Fall Theological Conference September 27 29, 2015, Ruttger s Sugar Lake Lodge in Grand Rapids ELCA day of community service God s Work/Our hands September 13, 2015 Next Council Meeting September 8, :00 pm third floor Submitted by Larry Elj, Council Secretary The FLC Young Adult Group is for individuals in their 20s and 30s. This ministry group will be an opportunity to explore and grow in our faith and spirituality, ask real and honest questions about God, faith, and life, and engage in deep conversation and devotion. This ministry is for any and all young adults, even those who maybe don t identify themselves as Christian. If you are interested in this new ministry, or know of a young adult who might be, please know that that we meet the first Tuesday of the month, 7:00 pm, at First Lutheran. Alleviating Hunger in our Community Revised donations received in July is $435, and in August we received approximately $ This amount is divided between the Hibbing Food Shelf and the First Lutheran Salvation Army Soup Kitchen Account. The soup kitchen account provides meals for the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen two times a month. If you wish to make a donations, make your check payable to First Lutheran Church and note in the memo Food Shelf/Soup Kitchen. On the second Thursday and the third Tuesday of the month, First Lutheran members volunteer at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen. Volunteers are always needed to help at the soup kitchen; please call Rodney Jacobson at , or Jean Nelson at Church Finances Many thanks to all who support First Lutheran Church and its extended ministries. FLC's General Fund contributions fuel this congregation's operational needs and extended ministries. Currently seven percent of general fund offerings is shared with our NE MN Synod and the ELCA Churchwide office to help ELCA Bible camps, youth ministry, seminaries, global outreach, various endeavors to promote peace and justice, and administrative costs. Individuals also may contribute special gifts to support seminarians, missionaries, hunger & poverty concerns and alleviation of suffering caused by natural disasters. Weekly contributions received: August 2 $2, August 9 $2, August 16 $1, August 23 $5, August 30 to be reported in October newsletter Submitted by Alice White, FLC Treasurer

4 All women of First Lutheran are members of WELCA! WELCA will meet on Sunday, September 13 at 10:45 am. We will work on plans for upcoming events. You are all welcome to attend this meeting. If you have questions, please talk with Lynn Schweiberger, WELCA President. Widow s Lunch will be held at the Sportsman s Café at noon on Wednesday, September 2. Call Delores Gilbert at if you have questions. It s back to work for the Hobby Quilt Club. Beginning Monday, September 14, the group will resume meeting on Mondays from 1pm 4 pm. At 3:00 pm we have a coffee and snack break. No special talents are needed. New participants are welcome and needed to support this ongoing ministry. This year's WELCA Fall Conference will be held on Saturday, September 19, at Evangelical Lutheran in Babbitt. This year s theme is The Gifts of Service. Let's plan on car pooling, and let s get a big group together!! If you are interested in attending please call the church office or talk with Barb Tanem. The in-kind offering will be for Camp Vermilion. We will be collecting the following items to bring to the conference: Masking tape, packing tape, duct tape, permanent markers/sharpies, ink pens, whiteout/correction tape, dry erase markers, business sized envelopes, paper towel rolls, Dawn dish soap, Ziploc bags, metal roasting sticks, vinyl shower curtain. The WELCA Prayer Partner Tea is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, at 6:00 pm in the Parish Hall. All women are welcome to attend. If you currently have a prayer partner, gifts will be exchanged. All attending will be given a prayer partner name for the following year. See you there! Smorgasbord time is coming up! The FLC Annual Smorgasbord will be held on Thursday, October 22. The Smorgasbord will run continuously from 4:30 6:30 pm. Sheryl Tokarczyk will be this year s chairperson with Kay Dague and Linda Smith serving as co-chairs. More information will be published in upcoming bulletins and the October newsletter. Start thinking about ways you can help and watch for the sign-up sheets. Your assistance will be truly appreciated! WELCA will be collecting School Kits Lutheran World Relief Education is important for any community, especially where poverty or disaster has limited options for young people to reach their potential. School Kits contain essential supplies to help children and in some cases, adults continue learning despite the hardships they face. And that learning leads to a better life for them, their families and their communities. Include the following items in each school kit: Four 70-sheet notebooks of wide-or-college-ruled paper approx 8 X 10.5 (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 blunt scissors (safety scissors with embedded steel blades work well) Five unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers; secure together with a rubber band Five black or blue ballpoint pens (no gel ink); secure together with rubber band One box of 16 or 24 crayons One 2 1/2 eraser One sturdy drawstring backpack-style cloth bag approximately 14 X 17 with shoulder straps (no standard backpacks); recommended fabrics include heavy cotton, canvas, denim, and twill Do not add other items other than those listed above. All items should be new and in good condition. Remove any excess packaging, pack all items in bag and close.

5 What s Happening at Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry vlm@vlmcamps.org Camp Hiawatha, and Camp Vermilion Gretchen Bachman, Program Director Fall Festival Sunday, October 11 at Camp Hiawatha 2:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Open to individuals, families, church groups, and anyone who is interested in an afternoon getaway, this day event is a great chance to visit camp. Activities throughout the afternoon include pumpkin decorating, canoeing, crafts, and a picnic supper. Fees cover all activities and supper. Cost: $5 per person with a $20 family maximum. Father Son weekend October at Camp Vermilion (for boys ages 10 and older) Don t miss our Father-Son weekend - a time to work and play together as you try new things, perhaps get a little dirty, and grow in faith. Cost: $95 per person with a $200 family maximum. + YOUTH ACTIVITES TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER + Sunday School: The youngest a child can be for Sunday School is a year before starting kindergarten (Pre- K), and the oldest is 5th grade. Sunday School will start on Sunday, September 20. Children will be released from worship to their classes following Communion. We would like to have your child registered prior to the first class. Please return the registration form enclosed in this newsletter to the church office by Thursday, September 10. Confirmation will be a shared program between First and Our Savior s Lutheran. Confirmation is for all youth 7th grade through 10th grade. The first confirmation event will be held on Wednesday, September 16. Youth should meet at the Memorial Building parking lot at 5:30 pm, where we will travel with OSLC youth and Pastor s Ben and Kevin via bus to attend an event called Boundless Love An evening of Faith, Worship, and Inspiration at Our Savior s Lutheran in Virginia. The event will last until 8:00 pm, and we will return to the Memorial Building no later than 8:45 pm. All confirmation students are expected to attend this event. We would like to have your youth registered prior to the first class. Please return the registration form enclosed in this newsletter to the church office by Thursday, September 10. Hand bell choir will be starting up again soon. If you have ever wondered about playing now is your chance to find out. Practice is on Mondays at 5:00-6:00 pm in room 108 at Wesley Methodist Church. Members are from three different congregations. Requirements to join this wonderful group are few. You must be tall enough to see the music on the table, willing to practice and perform, and an ability to laugh at yourself! You do not have to read music. If you are interested or have questions speak with Linda Smith. Practice begins on September 14. In order to continue providing special and make use of the bells, we desperately need new members! Please contact Linda Smith if this interests you. More September Start Ups Pr. Ben will hold a Bible Study on Wednesdays at 10:00 am beginning on September 16. Everyone is welcome to attend! The study will be held in the Fellowship Hall. See you there! Angela Schweiberger will hold a Yoga Class on Mondays from 9:00 10:00 am at First Lutheran beginning on September 21. It will be held in the 3rd floor room above the church office. A free will donation to First Lutheran will be accepted to cover the expense of this class.

6 First Lutheran Church is blessed with many volunteers who with dedication and commitment serve the church, the Hibbing community, and the world. During August these people helped Sunday worship happen: Assisting Ministers: Tom Arnold, John Brandt, Tom Arnold, Linda Smith, and Wendy Rue Readers: Tom Arnold, Linda Smith, Janine Schwartz, Bobbi Nyland, and Rolland Maki Greeters: Melvin & Sherin Elj, Jeanne Albrecht, Janice Rice, The Tuin Family, The Rue Family, and the Tokarczyk Families Ushers: Karyl Giombetti, William Clymer, Dave and Linda Sheldon, Jeanne Albrecht, Janice Rice, Betty Aanes, and Kay Dague Videographers: Larry Elj, Cathy and Forrest Koland, Dave Rian, and Marty Vadis Offering Counters: Kay Dague, Karyl Giombetti, Steve and Sandy Carlson, Renae Grabanski, Kathy Morgan, Darlene Bennett, Bobbi Nyland, Rodney Jacobson, and Rolland Maki Altar Guild Group: Connie Bryant, Kay Dague, Karyl Giombetti, Deon Kubena, and Gen Lervik Fellowship Hosts: Tom Arnold, William Clymer, Sherm and Shirley Kolden, Linda Smith, Connie Bryant, Ann Vucetich, and Bertha Engebretson Helping Worship Happen! If you would like to participate in ushering, reading, greeting, hosting fellowship or any of the other Sunday Morning Helpers categories but haven t been called, please contact the church office. + Sunday Evening Worship + Beginning on September 20, First Lutheran will hold Sunday evening worship services at 5:00 pm. The service will be an alternative style of worship compared to our Sunday morning traditional service. The music of the service will feature piano and guitar. We will be in need of volunteers to read and usher for these services. If this service interests you, and you plan to attend regularly, would you like to read and/or usher? Maybe a person could usher or read on a monthly basis? We will only need one usher per week for the evening worship. Call the office if this interests you. Please talk with Pr. Ben if you have questions. (Please note that we will continue to have Sunday School during our 9:30 am worship service.) Memorial Fund Report Thank you to those who underwrite the cost of altar flowers and/or telecasting of FLC s Sunday morning worship service. During the month of August, telecasts were given in memory of Bonnie Tate by Marvin and Ione Pearson, in memory of Judie Arnold and Cheryl Seykora by Tom Arnold, in memory of Ron Zozgornik by Joann Zozgornik, in memory of Marlene DeGrazia by Lynette and family, and in memory of Stan Peuha by his family. To underwrite the telecast of FLC's Sunday morning worship service, to contribute Altar flowers, or to donate a memorial gift for other designated purposes, please call the church office. The weekly telecast cost is $30 which includes the live-feed on Sunday morning plus re-telecasts on Sunday, 9:30 pm, Wednesday, 8:00 pm and Thursday, 2:00 pm, all on the local cable television, channel 5. (Please note the new times for the re-telecasts.) FLC s Memorial Fund and Campership Committee: Sandy Carlson, Jean Crep, Liz Kolden, Gen Lervik Condolences to and prayers for the family and friends of James Jim Morgan. Jim died on August 25. A funeral was held on Tuesday, September 1, at First Lutheran Church. Pr. Ben Schori officiated at the service.

7 First Lutheran Church Participation in God s Work. Our Hands. Sunday Rally Sunday Sunday, September 13, 2015 God s work. Our hands. Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. ELCA congregations across the country will join together in acknowledging God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday on Sunday, September 13. "God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday also serves as our "Rally Sunday" in which we acknowledge and celebrate the start of our Program Year. Sunday School will begin on Sunday, September 20; Confirmation begins on Wednesday, September 16. The schedule for "God's Work. Our Hands."Sunday, on September13 is as follows: 1. 9:30 am followed by fellowship and potluck preparation. Also, during this time, we will have a registration for Sunday School/Confirmation drive for those who haven't yet registered their children and/or youth. 2. Joint Potluck Barbecue with Our Savior s Lutheran in First Lutheran s Parish Hall beginning at 11:45 am. Games and chalk art on the patio will be available. 3. Community Service Projects throughout the Hibbing Area: (done by both members of Our Savior s & First Lutheran) After a wonderful dining and fellowship experience between First Lutheran and OSLC, our two churches will go into the community of Hibbing to help with various service projects. The plan is to spend the afternoon doing these projects, from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm. We are still working to finalize the details of what this might look like, but some possibilities for this event are as follows: Constructing wheel chair ramps under the direction & supervision of Access North. Do some fall cleaning for shut-ins as requested. Visit shut-ins with fresh baked bread, notes, etc. In house cleaning of the churches at Our Savior s and First Lutheran. Dress in casual, comfortable clothes (jeans, etc.) as we will be working on that day. BY THE WAY, THE VIKINGS HAVE THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME THAT WEEK-END!

8 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday First Lutheran Church 2201 Third Avenue East Hibbing, MN Pr. Ben Schori Office SEPTEMBER 2015 AT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH 1 2 Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvik, bishop, renewer of the church 11:30 am Widows Lunch 3 4 Office closed 5 6 Fifteenth Sunday of Pentecost 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am Fellowship 7 Labor Day Holiday Office Closed 7:00 pm Alanon, Alateen, Gamanon 8 4:00 pm Property Committee Meeting 5:00 pm Church Council Meeting :00 pm FLC serves meal at Salvation Army 3:00 pm ELCA service at Guardian Angels 11 Office closed Sixteenth Sunday of Pentecost God s Work. Our Hands Sunday-Rally Sunday 9:30 Worship 10:30 am Fellowship 10:45 am WELCA Mtg. 11:45 am Potluck BBQ 14 Holy Cross Day 1:00 pm Hobby Quilt Club 7:00 pm Alanon, Alateen, Gamanon 15 1:00 pm FLC serves meal at Salvation Army 16 10:00 am Bible Study 5:30 pm Confirmation Event Boundless Love, an evening of Faith, worship and inspiration 17 September newsletter articles are due today. 18 Dag Hammarskjold, renewer of society Office closed 19 WELCA Laurentian Conference Fall Gathering at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Babbitt, MN 20 Seventeenth Sunday of Pentecost 9:30 am Traditional Morning Service/Sunday School 10:30 am Fellowship 5:00 pm Alternative Evening Worship 21 Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist 9:00 am Yoga Class 1:00 pm Hobby Quilt Club 7:00 pm Alanon, Alateen, Gamanon Autumn begins 10:00 am Bible Study 7:00 8:00 pm Confirmation 24 Project Care Spaghetti Lunch and Dinner 25 Office closed Eighteenth Sunday of Pentecost 9:30 am Traditional Morning Service/Sunday School 10:30 am Fellowship 5:00 pm Alternative Evening Worship 28 9:00 am Yoga Class 1:00 pm Hobby Quilt Club 7:00 pm Alanon, Alateen, Gamanon 29 Michael and All Angels 6:00 pm Prayer Partner Gathering 30 Jerome, translator, teacher 10:00 am Bible Study 7:00 8:00 pm Confirmation Upcoming October Event: Thursday, October 22 4:30 6:30 pm First Lutheran Scandinavian Smorgasbord