Epistle. Mission Statement

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1 FIRST ENGLISH AND BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCHES 17 MAIN ST. NW PO BOX 189 MENAHGA, MN PHONE: FAX: PARSONAGE: PASTOR S PADREBRUER@WCTA.NET December 29, 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 Perspective Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ, Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen. Happy New Year! I pray that this new year will bring new and exciting things into your lives as you continue following God in As the new year rolls around now, I believe that many of us have certain times in our lives or in the course of a year, when we feel the need to make little changes (or occasionally not so little changes) to our lifestyles. This feeling might be triggered by a less than stellar doctor s appointment, the loss of a loved one, the new year or other significant date (such as a milestone kind of birthday), vacation plans or whatever else might decide to give us a push to alter something about our lifestyle. If we decide to act on those feelings, they become resolutions. I recently heard someone on the radio say that making resolutions is really meaningless for so many. Meaningless because we never really keep these resolutions anyway! They went on to say that resolutions could serve as the way to make positive changes in our lives and lifestyles. The changes themselves are often intended to improve our health, whether it be mental, physical or spiritual health. Some common resolutions which I m sure you ve either heard of or even made yourself include: eating better, exercising more, losing weight, quitting smoking, spend more time with family, devote more time to regular worship and prayer, curse less, and do volunteer work. They all have something in common, they resolve to improve our lives. They are what we WILL to happen. Each of these so called resolutions are also so much easier to make than to keep. Resolve is that tricky creature. There is a high level of commitment required to actually fulfill them. Commitment requires strength and self-control. Many today joke about how far into January they will be able to keep their New Year s Resolutions. Unlike human resolutions though, God s resolution is perfect and always kept. God s resolution was made clear with Jesus Christ. God s WILL is to reconcile us to himself. He accomplishes this WILL by reaching out to us in the Gospel - sending his only Son to come into our world and take hold of our hearts, which is what we just celebrated at Christmas. Unlike most of our resolutions, God does have the strength to make that kind of amazing commitment - and he does. One of the greatest things about it all is that God s WILL is to bring you and me into the Kingdom of God. God s WILL is to give you that Kingdom. God s WILL is to give you eternal life, salvation and forgiveness. So we pray, Thy will be done in our lives today, in this new year, and always. New Year Blessings, Pastor Steve

3 Parish Report SUNDAY OFFERINGS FIRST ENGLISH Attendance 12/6 93 General $ Loose $ Building $ World Hunger $ $ /13 85 General $ Building $ Loose $ Food Shelf $ World Hunger $ 5.00 $ / General $ Building $ Loose $ ACTS for Messiah $ $ / and 20 General $ Building $ Loose FIRST ENGLISH $ /1 $ attendance /27 Offering $ General $ Loose 4/5 $ Building General $ World Building Hunger $ Food Act for Shelf Messiah $ Food Shelf $ $ /9 46 Offering $ /10 92 BETHANY 12/ /13 General $ Building/Grds $ World Hunger $ / General $ World Hunger $ /24 General $ Paraments $ World Hunger $ /27 10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Weather Related Announcements In the event of inclement weather, tune into one of the following radio stations for weather related announcements pertaining to our worship and church activities. KRCQ FM Detroit Lakes KWAD 920 AM Wadena KDKK 97.5 FM Park Rapids Page 3 Thank you to Roger Henstorf for a fine job on new shelves for Sunday school and the furnace room. Thank you for the memorial gifts in memory of Nathan Schiotz to Tamra Renville, Paul Schiotz, Louise Jannusch and Carol Mortenson. Thank you to Liz Shaw for the memorial gift in memory of Violet Samuelson. 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. 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!

4 Page 4 Parish Report continued: Thank you to everyone who has helped volunteer and had the opportunity to experience Ruby s Pantry. Our next distribution is Saturday, January 2, 2010 at the Assumption of Our Lady Catholic Church. If you are interested in volunteering please be at the church around 8:30 am. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Lynn Litzau, Social Ministry Committee. OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE AT FIRST ENGLISH There is a need for Offering Counters. We need a couple of volunteers to count the Sunday Offering after Church once every four weeks. We still need a couple of volunteers to lead Parish Partner Group #2. Responsibilities include getting greeters and fellowship treats/ servers once every third month. Please contact the office if you are willing to serve in either of these ways. NEW MEMBER SUNDAY WILL BE ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH. If you know someone who may be looking for a church home, invite them to be First English Lutheran Church Saturday, June 6th a part of First English or Bethany then 9 11 am NO SUNDAY SCHOOL - Jan. 3, contact the church office and we can get Free will offering **** All proceeds received go to in the touch with them. Bethany s Care and Share Group will Campership Program. start meeting This program again helps Sunday, families January supplement 17, the cost of sending their children to Camp - Emmaus Please Bible pick Camp. up your offering envelopes from your church LYO Silent Auction in conjunction mailbox. with It pancake is time breakfast. to start ********************************* Silent Auction proceeds supplement costs associated with the using them! National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Thank you! BETHANY CHURCH CLEANING VOLUNTEER SIGN UP There is a sign up sheet at Bethany for volunteers to sign up for monthly Church cleaning. To get the month that may work best for you, you need to sign up early! Thank you for your help! ***************************** LYO s 7th Annual Sweet Heart Supper is coming up on February 13, See an LYO member to get your ticket. There will be two seating times 5:30 and 6:45. The menu is punch, sliced ham, baked potatoes, green beans, salad and Cherry Cha Cha for dessert.

5 Page 5 FIRST ENGLISH USHERS 1/3 Roger & Marie Henstorf 1/10 Jacob, Megan, Ally and Haley BETHANY USHERS Arnold Thompson Chad Hasbargen BETHANY READERS 1/3 Carol Ristinen 1/10 Jamie Etzler 1/17 Evelyn Meech 1/24 Kris Spadgenske 1/31 Diane Mickelson BETHANY COMMUNION 1/3 Eleanor Huwe 1/17 Diane Mickelson... 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 1/3 Server: Joy Beck Setup/Cleanup: Mavis Mattila &b Eloise Pulju Helper: Jacob Clements 1/17 Server: Norma Dissmore Setup/Cleanup: Mavis Mattila & Eloise Pulju Helper: Hailey Usher 1/17 Paul & Marlene Schiotz 1/24 Jon and Barry Schilling 1/31 Tim Pederson and Joe Meyer FIRST ENGLISH GREETERS 1/3 1/10 Grades 3-4 & 9-10 (Fellowship treats & kitchen duty also) 1/17 1/24 1/31 FIRST ENGLISH READERS 1/3 Brenda Kohrs 1/10 Jacob Dissmore 1/17 Helen Comnick 1/24 Rodney Allebach 1/31 Lucille Erickson ACOLYTES Kody Kocurek Jessica Yrjo COUNTERS AT FIRST ENGLISH 1/3 Brian Kyle 1/10 Marlene Marie 1/17 SEEKING 2 VOLUNTEERS 1/24 Marie S. Clayton 1/31 Brian Kyle

6 Page 6 WOMEN OF FIRST ENGLISH AND BETHANY Women of First English Executive Board Meeting Quilting on Wednesdays 9:00 am First English 12:30 pm Bethany Next meeting January 21st 4:00 p.m. Worship Service At GPA 2:00 pm Tuesday January 5th. Anna and Rebecca Circles Joint Bible Study led by Pastor Steve Monday, January 11th, :30 pm at the Church Soup and Pie Supper CIRCLE SCHEDULE Sarah Circle Meets: January 14th 1:30 pm ESTHER Hostess: At Meets: Thurs. 6/11 Meets: Church Thurs. 6/11 Lesson: 1:30 pm 1:30 pm Esther Circle Hostess: Hostess: Meets: January Eleanor 14th Eleanor Huwe Huwe 1:30 pm Lesson: Lesson: Hostess: At Church Eleanor Huwe Eleanor Huwe Lesson: Parish Partner Group Parish Partner group #2 is responsible for greeters and servers for coffee during the month of January. 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 Altar GUILD Guild MEMBERS FOR JANUARY AT FIRST ENGLISH Mavis Mattila, Ann Marjamaa, Eloise Pulju, Norma Dissmore FOR JANUARY AT BETHANY Gwen Toppari and Eleanor Huwe

7 Page 7 FIRST ENGLISH WOMEN S EXECUTIVE BOARD The First English Women s Executive Board met at the church on Thursday, December 17th at 4:00 pm. Meeting opened with prayer by Marlene. Secretary s report read and approved. Correspondence: Thank you from Schiotz family in Nate s memory, John Cox family, Headwaters Intervention Center. Treasurer s Report read and approved. Motion made and seconded to put in Building Fund from Cookbook fund. Old Business: Combined circles meet in January at church for soup supper and pie for dessert. Pastor will present lesson. Date decided later. Discussed yearly booklet. New Business: Discussed possible egg bake breakfast served after services later- Next meeting will be held January 21st at 4:00 pm. The meeting closed with the Lord s Prayer. Lucille Erickson, Secretary Susan Gullekson Linda Ely Colton Polman Curtis Burkman Susie Lonfors Frances Torma Howard Westly Jan Pederson Stuart Fankhanel Taylor Tomperi All our Military Kayla Crane Elmer Koski Mary Ann Yliniemi Rosemarie Senger Delores Pederson Roger Hollerud Mary Ann Lusti Johanna Oldenburger Glenda Beaver 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.

8 Page 8 Members Present:: Dick D., Lynn L., Marie H., Mike S., and Pastor Steve and Jacob D. Absent: Roger H., Marie S., Keith K., Megan M., Joe M., Clair M. Meeting called to order by Dick D. at 7:05 pm. Secretary s Report was read. Motion to accept was made by Lynn L. and seconded by Mike S. Motion carried. Treasurer s Report was reviewed and Lynn informed the board that approx. $1200 was still outstand for campership. After discussion, Lynn made motion to have Sunday School pay $500, $300 from Social Ministry and $400 come from General Fund. Dick D. seconded. Motion passed. Motion to accept Treas. Report was made by Mike S. and seconded by Marie H. Motion carried. Committee Reports: Finance No further report Worship Dick will meet with Barb to see if there is any need for Social Ministry Ruby s Pantry sold 327 shares. Dick mentioned that the food was evenly dispersed but quite a bit of food was left over. Clean up is a problem, as many volunteers leave and it was suggested maybe the youth will be able to help. Youth Jacob D. reported the Christmas party will be tomorrow night from 5 9 pm. The youth meets each week and the 1st Wed. of each month they meet at 5:00 pm. Building and Grounds No Report Education Lynn reported the new curriculum is going well the kids are having fun with it. They are practicing for the Christmas program as all age groups will be involved. She will try to video tape the program. Due to time constraints and the organist having to leave early, there will be no communion. Evangelism They are continuing with visits and contacts with members not attending services. Stewardship No Report First English Lutheran Church Council Meeting December 15, 2009 Pastor December is a busy month. We have been challenged financially. We need to focus on being evangelists. Old Business: 1. Formation of Memorial Committee Marie H. volunteered to head the committee and will ask 2 or 3 congregation members also. 2. Survey for future of Church in ELCA A lengthy discussion was held and concession was that the members were not well informed. Decided to table for next month. 3. Committee Annual reports due to office by Dec. 30th. 4. Annual Meeting date: January 31, Lutefisk Supper January 23, The LYO will help serve. New Business: 1. Nominating Committee Report: Committee consists of Clair M., Joe M., Keith K., Carol M. Rodney A., and Kari C. No report has been received. 2. New member Sunday will be February 28, Dick made a motion to challenge Council members to see who can recruit the most new members. Motion seconded by Lynn. Motion passed. 3. The small copy machine, basically died and would cost more than it was worth to repair. A replacement would cost $ Bethany would pay 30%. An upgrade of the main copier could save our Parish in the long run as we would be saving on our printers and supplies. The lease of an upgrade would cost approx. $297.98/month. This includes monthly usage, overage and copier supplies while saving on printer ink/toner and usage. Sunday after services, the council will have a special meeting as we don t have a quorum. Motion to adjourn was made by Lynn and seconded by Mike. Closed with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully submitted, Marie Henstorf

9 Page 9 Bethany Lutheran Church Council Meeting December 9, 2009 Members Present: Dave Mickelson, Dean Mickelson, Dennis Anderson, Kris Spadgenske and Pastor Steve. Dave called the mtg to order. Pastor Steve read devotions. Secretary s Report: Dennis made a motion to approve as read. Dean Seconded. Treasurer s Report: Dean made a motion to approve as read. Dennis seconded. Committee Reports: Social Dean: 60 quilts will go to Wadena on December 11. He is getting baskets ready for shut-ins, which will be put together on December 20. Stewardship Dennis: Giving is down. In October the council made the decision not to pay synod benevolence until giving increases and we can look at the new budget. Education Lianna: Heidi and Kris will continue to do the peanut bags as they have done in the past. Christmas Program is scheduled for December 20 during the worship service. Worship Dean: Dean is working on usher list for 2010 and we are short ushers. It was decided to use husband/wife usher teams and families to solve the usher shortage. Mike Mickelson and his daughter Hannah will provide special music on December 24. Need to pick out hymns. Evangelism Joan: No report. Building and Grounds Kelly: Kelly removed the sidewalk on the west side of the church and hauled in dirt. Pastor: Though we have stress in our church, we need to continue to remember that God is in charge and will show us the way. Care and Share group will not meet until the Sunday before the annual mtg, Jan. 17, 2010 Old Business: 1. It was decided by the council to take a straw vote on December 13 to determine what direction the congregation would like the council to take in regards to the resolution passed by the Synod. 2. Committee reports are due by Dec Annual mtg is set for January 24, There will be a potluck following services before the start of the mtg. Old Business: 1. Nominating Committee: Joan Anderson, Dennis Anderson, Art Yliniemi, Dave Etter, Kris Spadgenske, and Jeanette Mickelson 2. New Member Sunday will be February 28, The small copier in the office has quit working. Pastor presented possible ideas for replacement. Dean made a motion to replace copier as needed, Dennis seconded. Dennis made a motion to adjourn the mtg. Dean seconded. Mtg closed with the Lord s Prayer. Respectively Submitted by Kristine Spadgenske, Secretary Bethany - Sunday, January 24, 2010 First English - Sunday, January 31, 2010 Following Worship *Note worship time change s on January 31st. Bethany will worship at 8:30 am and First English will worship at 10:30 am.

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 First English Lutheran Presents Fish the way cod intended 4-7 p.m., Saturday, January 23, 2010 Includes a full menu of lutefisk, meatballs, lefse and more! Advance Ticket Cost: $12 adults, $5 children (Ages 6-12) kids under 6 free At the Door Tickets: $13 adults, $6 children (6-12) Get tickets from any First English member or at the door B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Bib)