Three-Point Parish Newsletter Bethany, First English and Friends in Christ Lutheran Churches Epistle for November, First English Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 Three-Point Parish Newsletter Bethany, First English and Friends in Christ Lutheran Churches Epistle for November, 2015 Bethany Lutheran Church First English Lutheran Church Friends in Christ Lutheran Church Meets at the DAC Building in Sebeka Sunday Schedule Worship 10:30 AM Every Sunday Sunday School 9:30 AM 1st & 3rd Sundays th St. Menahga, MN Sunday Schedule 8:30 Worship 9:45 Coffee Fellowship 9:45 Sunday School 1st & 3rd Sundays 17 Main St. NW Menahga, MN Sunday Schedule 9:30 Worship Fellowship & Sunday School following worship 305 5th St SW Sebeka, MN Members of Mission Statement Bethany, First English & Friends in Christ Lutheran 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. Phone: ~ Fax: ~ Parsonage: ~ febeth@wcta.net PO Box 189 ~ Menahga, MN Senior Pastor Steven Bruer padrebruer@wcta.net Associate Pastor James Hallaway 1716ofluke@gmail.com Parish Secretary Dayna Anderson Bethany Council President Art Yliniemi Bethany Organists Sandi Mickelson Kris Spadgenske First English Administrative Board President Russ Olson First English Organist Mary Hanninen First English Custodian Dan Gilbert The Epistle and weekly bulletins are also available online at: Friends in Christ Board of Trustees President Curt Oakland Friends in Christ Pianists Ardis Olson Laicy Erickson Chris Olson

2 Pastor s Perspective A common Gospel reading for the Day of Thanksgiving is the story of Jesus healing ten lepers found in Luke 17: Please take time to read that story when you can. You might remember that of the ten lepers only one turned back to give thanks. Here s what it says in Luke 17:15-16: Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus feet, giving Him thanks. It seems like Thanksgiving services are not well attended anymore. More and more people are referring to Thanksgiving Day as turkey day or think of it as a day to eat a large meal and watch a lot of football. It certainly would be a good idea to stop and consider the blessings of our lives and give thanks to God for what He has done. Above all, because of His love for us, Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again to give us eternal life. But there are many other people, circumstances or things for which we can give thanks: a new grandchild in the family, our children, our spouses, the fact that we have houses to live in and food to eat. Psalm 65:1 says, Praise is due to you, O God. Psalm 66:1 says, Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; give Him glorious praise! Psalm 106:1 says, Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! You get the idea. What is it that you can think of in your life for which you are thankful? Take time to pause and give thanks to God. It need not be that way though. Make it a habit to say a Thank you to God every day you wake up. When the stiffness, aches and pains take hold, thank God that you can feel. As you shave or apply makeup, look at the face in the mirror and thank God that you are unique. As you brush your teeth, thank God that you have teeth. If you wear dentures, thank God for the technology and people who make dentures. When you wash your face, as Martin Luther said, remember your baptism. You are a child of God. When you are reading your Bible and at worship with fellow believers, thank God for sending His one and only Son, Jesus who is the Christ, to save you from sin, death, and the power of the devil; that you have the privilege and freedom to gather openly with others to worship for that purpose. Never thought there could be so much for which to give thanks? Try looking again at the mundane. It should give us plenty to do for the next 364 days and that s doing quite a bit! Thanking God for Jesus and you; oh, yes, and the mundane. Your assistant in your missionary work, Pastor Steve The Concordia College Christmas Concerts will be on December 4, 5 & 6. There is more information at concordiachristmas.com or check with the church office.

3 First English Lutheran Church ~ Administrative Board Meeting, Monday, October 12, 2015 Present: Kari C., Sue W., Pastor Steve, Russ O., Virgel O., Tim K., Marlene S., Corrine N., Carol O. Absent: Pastor Jim, Bob H., Dianne S. Meeting called to order by Russ O. Devotions by Russ O. Secretary s report read and approved. Treasurer s report read and approved. Discussion on treasurer s report: We are at a deficit in the general fund of $208.08, upcoming bills were reviewed, several large ones in October, will bring as report to the congregation. Women s group & chili cook-off funds from October Fun Fest will be given to the general fund. Marlene will update congregation also at next service (10/18). Building Fund is close to having only 5 years remaining. LYO financial report reviewed as presented by Marlene, written report will be provided monthly. Positive balance presently. Committee Reports Stewardship-Virgel: Reported that estimated $ in donation of school supplies were delivered. Worship Report: Reviewed as submitted, working on getting choir members. Social Ministry-Kari: reviewed what was taken in through Fun Fest, lunch money goes to Food Shelf, Chili cook-off goes to general fund, other funds will go to social ministry. Discussed other possible fundraiser options. Youth-Pastor Steve: reported on youth meeting schedule. Youth will be having a bonfire event at the end of the month. Building/Grounds-Russ: reported that coat rack will be removed as requested, youth room will be worked on to upgrade and have talked with city and they have fixed the washout at the end of the ramp. Other activity: getting quotes to add/revise gutters to avoid snow & ice damage. Pastor Steve requested the gutters on the parsonage also be looked at. New custodian is Dan Gilbert, job description was updated. Planning for cleaning of carpets in fellowship area. Sign revision to be completed possibly yet this week to add Pastor Jim s name. Parsonage repairs needed were reviewed. Education-Sue: Reported that Lynn has reported there is a larger number of children, new curriculum is in use. Will get a list of names to Pastor Steve of Sunday School attendees. Evangelism-Corrine: followed up with Dayna on possible format for a brochure. Steve will get Dayna the sample previously submitted to help develop church informational brochure. Kari will share the pictures taken for directory for possible photos to use with the brochure. Also working with nominating committee to develop roster for council vacancies. Pastor Steve s report: reviewed as submitted, did express thank you for support with going to LCMC annual gathering. Pastor shared highlights for himself. Pastor Jim s report: reviewed as submitted. Old Business: Addressed with committee reports. New Business: 1. LCMC gathering Report Expenses-Motion made, seconded & carried to pay for 50% of Pastors expenses. 2. Dental insurance for Pastor Steve, motion made, seconded & carried to go back to Delta Dental as the fees were too high with MetLife. 3. Liability insurance is projected to increase from $2460 to $ Victory Bible Reading Program-Pastor Steve presented information on this reading with the costs. Discussed potential to have groups like social ministry, women s group or others possibly look at this as an option to purchase copies. Option to give new families joining the church. Motion made, seconded & carried to purchase 50 copies if money is provided by other groups. 5. New Member Sunday is Sunday, October 18 th, 4-5 new members at First English. First Communion will be November 1 st. 6. Did receive resignation from Bob H, effective immediately, Motion made to regretfully accept Bob s resignation, seconded & carried. 7. Joint Council meeting on Monday November 16 th at 6:00 P.M. at First English. Administrative Board Meeting will follow the joint council meeting. Meeting closed with prayer. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully Submitted by Corrine N., acting secretary

4 Friends in Christ Board of Trustees Meeting October 14, 2015 Present: Curt O, Reuben R, Kim T, Tracey O, Tim P, Dobe L, Pastor Steve. Curt opened the meeting with a prayer. Secretary's report was read and approved. Treasurer's report was read and approved. Mission's for the month: gave $ for the Bible sticks. Business; Thrivent application was sent in to be approved and we are waiting for acceptance for the Choice Dollars program. Tim and Sheila P, and Pastor Steve thanked the church for the LCMC gathering trip. Thank you from the Schmoll s for the past mission funds. First Communion Sunday will be held on Nov, 1st at Friends in Christ. Meeting for the joint councils will be on Nov, 16th at the First English Church at 6:00. Youth Sunday at Friends in Christ is Sunday, Dec 6th Sunday School Christmas Program will be held Sunday, Dec 13th. Pastor Steve closed with a prayer. Tracey Olson, Secretary Pastor Jim s recommended reading for the month: The Power of Your Words by Robert Morris Recommended by Joy Beck Determine Your Future by the Words You Speak Today In The Power of Your Words, Robert Morris tells us that there are three types of people: (1) those who think before they speak; (2) those who think while they speak; and (3) those who think after they speak. Which one are you? If you were told that God records every word you speak, would this help you to think before you speak? We all know that words carry enormous power-the power to heal or to wound, to encourage or to dishearten, to speak truth or to deceive, to praise or to criticize. They can be the key to our success or the reason for our downfall. So, how do we harness that power? How do we learn to use our words to their greatest potential?. The Power of Your Words will take you on a journey of discovery into more than just the obvious physical and emotional impact your words can have; this is a journey that will help you understand the spiritual force inherent in every word you speak. Find out how to live more freely; how to connect more meaningfully; how to undo the damage of your words; and, most important, how to pause, ponder, and then pray before speaking. Robert Morris wants you to know that good words last and carry enormous power to help, heal, encourage and move us to a greater level of living. When you say something positive or encouraging to your spouse, to your kids or to your friends, your words will last forever. Thank you to Rosella Mickelson & Jeannette Mickelson for their gifts to the Bethany Cemetery Fund in memory of Rae-Ann Mueller Spadgenske. Thank you to Pastor Steve & Jane Bruer for their gift to the First English Assessment Fund in memory of Rae-Ann Mueller Spadgenske. Thank you to everyone who volunteered at the Family Fun Fest! We are so BLESSED! Thank you also to everyone who came out and participated in the event, whether you brought a basket, donated a silent auction item, helped & participated in the LYO games, had breakfast or lunch, baked a cake, made chili, or just came to be a part of your church, you are the reason the event was such a fun day and a success! Fun Fest $1, Chili Feed $ Cookie Sales $ BETHANY Attendance & Offering 10/4/15 22 Adults, 6 Children General $ Missions $ 8.00 $1, /11/15 28 Adults, 2 Children General $ /18/15 18 Adults, 3 Children General $ Cemetery $ Biblesticks $ $ /25/15 20 Adults, 3 Children General $ Biblesticks $ Missions $ $ FIRST ENGLISH Attendance & Offering 10/4/15 65 General $ 3, Loose $ Food Shelf $ Building $ $ 1, /11/15 73 General $ 1, Loose $ Assessments $ Building $ $ 2, /18/15 68 General $ 1, Loose $ Building $ $ 2, /25/15 53 General $ Loose $ Assessments $ Biblesticks $ Building $ $ 1,162.00

5 First English Women of the Word CINNAMON ROLLS will be served on Sunday, November 15th after the Worship Service. Free will offering will go toward the First English Assessment Payment. Let s see if we can add a brick to our pathway! November 22nd THANKOFFERING SERVICE & KITS & QUILT BLESSINGS It is a Sunday where we give Thanks to God for the blessings He has given us. It is also a Sunday where we show our concern for those who are in need. As the intensity of humanitarian needs increase worldwide the request for Lutheran World Relief Quilts & Kits are urgently needed. Refuge camps in Syria -Nepal Earthquake on April 25, 2015 where 8 million people were affected and the epicenter moved Mt. Everest have required many of the LWR quilts & kits. How can I help? Do a LWR Kit. Kits are listed in your Women of the Word pink booklets or go on lwr.org/kits. Bring in 5oz bars of soap. Give to the Quilt & Kit shipping Fund. (were $1.00 is given someone in need receives $8.00 worth of personal items). If you want to do a Baby Care Kit there are receiving blankets in the Pack-n-play in the narthex. To make a diaper one can recycle old T shirts see lwr,org/babycarekits SAVE A SPACE ON YOUR CALENDER FOR THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH ADVENT TEA ON DEC. 5 th at 2:00 P.M. We celebrate Advent with the other churches in our community with Christmas Caroling and Cookies & Tea. Advent is not only to celebrate the birth of Jesus but it is also about His coming again where Jesus will return to judge the World are you ready? Remember in Prayer Jim Johnson Pat Olson Ashley Anderson (Russ & Carol Olson s granddaughter) Tammy Yrjo Marie Wortiska Ray Holzworth Marie Seikkula Lynnette Yliniemi Kyle Soppeland Tracey Skroski Simon Eckman Colton Polman Carol Mortenson Ramona Olson Joann Koskela Jason Wilker Bruce Blanchard Elvin Yrjo Dale Lubitz Thomas Thelen Gail Hawkins Maryann Lusti Carol Alm Susan Gullekson Our Country & Military Luke Hallaway Our Churches, Pastors, Leaders, and Staff Our Shut-ins First English Women s Executive Board Meeting Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 4:00 P.M. The meeting opened with prayer & devotions by Marlene Schiotz. Secretary s report read & approved. Treasurer s report read & approved. Motion made & seconded that $ of cookie sales will be given to church operating fund from Fun Fest. Mission: Baby care kits are being collected. Special Event: New Member Sunday this coming Sunday. Dianne Schilling will bake a cake for their table. First Communion on November 1st. Pumpkin desserts will be made for the Thanksgiving public dinner at the VFW (12). Thankoffering Service on November 22nd. Advent Tea will be December 5 at 2:00 P.M. Cinnamon rolls on November 15th. Motion made & seconded that women will pay 1/2 of expenses for Victory Bible Study for congregation. Next meeting is November 19th at 4:00 P.M. The meeting closed with the Lord s Prayer. Lucille Erickson, secretary

6 Repentance and Faith In honor of the Reformation, this month s article will emphasize the greatest outcome of the Reformation-salvation through grace by faith. I contend what Luther presented to us is a good start at getting back to biblical practice. Why do I say a good start? Any time we rediscover the author s intent, in this case, what Jesus intended, we are off to a good start. It s like when you have anything with an engine. Engines use oil. If I use the machine without checking the oil, sooner or later we will have a major mechanical failure. This is what happened as soon as man started putting their own wisdom toward the formation and practices of the Church. Paul the Apostle said it like this, Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Gal. 3:3 Every thing about our lives is walked out by faith. Seems simple, doesn t it? Well, Paul has a question for us. Are you in the faith? 2Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you fail to meet the test! How would we fail to meet the test? How do we fail to have Christ? 2 Cor. 13:8-9 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. John 8:47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The S T E P S reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. Restoration has to do with equipping, making fully ready, to be completely furnished. There are a few areas we must look to see how our equipping is going. Those areas reflect one thing, our faith. Do I walk in the Spirit (an act of faith) when confronted with disappointment? Do I walk in the Spirit when someone wrongs me? In Christ I cannot be wronged because although Christ was wronged He maintained life in the Spirit. Which means, He accomplished His Father s will despite having every right to walk away from it. Remember, He was sinless when He became sin for us. Where is faith deepened? How do we know if we are just trusting Jesus to take us to heaven, but resisting Him on other fronts? Oswald Chambers in MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST says it like this, An active Christian worker too often lives in the shop window. 1 What Oswald is saying is we may put up a good front to be seen by others, but be rotting away in ways people don t see. This is the result of not soaking before God. To soak in the fundamental truths of God s Redemption is a primary work of the Christian. It leads us to repent, to turn toward God. When you read the Scriptures ask God to show you His heart for you. When you read the Scriptures ask God to do whatever needs to be done to make His truth about you reality in you. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 Do you let Jesus reprove you? Do you let His Word correct you? Are you trained in righteousness? Notice it doesn t say, for righteousness? Trained in righteousness means Holy Spirit and the Word of God are working in me to conform me. Conform means to be similar in form or type. We are to live and move and breathe in the same manner as Jesus with one exception. We must repent, we must turn toward God from our unrighteousness. God has not left us as orphans in this. John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. What is it that burdens you today? What is it that holds you back, holds you down? Give it to God in the sincerity of prayer. I don t mean use religious language as you pray. I mean pour your heart out to God, casting (throwing) your cares on Him. He is your Father. He longs to give you good gifts. He longs to see you become who He designed you to be. He longs to see His Kingdom come in your life. All this is by faith. As you can see. Luther gave us a good start. Let s keep moving in faith. Let s keep soaking in all that God has for us. You will be amazed at what happens in you! Here s another step, Pastor Jim 1 MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST, Oswald Chambers 1935 Excerpt from October 19th

7 BETHANY, FIRST ENGLISH, FRIENDS IN CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCHES 17 Main St. NW PO Box 189 MENAHGA, MN Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE Menahga, MN Permit NO. 3 COMMUNITY OF FAITH ADVENT TEA December 5 th, :00 P.M. First English Lutheran Church We celebrate Advent with the other churches in our community with Christmas Caroling and Cookies & Tea. Advent is not only to celebrate the birth of Jesus but it is also about His coming again where Jesus will return to judge the World - are you ready? Ruby s Pantry next distribution is Saturday, November 21, Registration is at 9:00 A.M. at First English Lutheran Church and distribution is at 10:00 A.M. at the Catholic Church. If you are interested in volunteering please be at the Catholic Church around 8:30 A.M.