GOOD NEWS FROM LUTHER MEMORIAL

Transcription

1 August 2017 GOOD NEWS FROM LUTHER MEMORIAL PASTOR S CORNER "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you." Mark 5:19b God gives us what God wants us to know through the bible. Friends must be important because they are mentioned 59 times in the New Testament (NRSV). Friends are gifts from God for us. They are helpful and necessary. As an Interim Pastor, I have been involved in the life and ministry in many congregations in both the South Central and East Central Synods of Wisconsin. Everywhere I have been, I have watched to see who people sit beside before/after worship or a church activity. Can you guess who people sit with? People almost always sit with their family or friends. On the one hand, I can understand that. Sitting with and having a conversation with family and friends is both important and comforting. And sometimes it is one of the few times we are able to do that given our busy schedules. On the other hand, as my former Bishop Jim Justman notes in his devotional, sitting with and only talking with your close friends or family is not very welcoming to strangers or newcomers. Studies reveal that people often come to church to find a friend. One of the most common reasons for not joining a congregation or leaving one is that newcomers did not find a friends(s). True friendship is a wonderful and freeing gift. Friends do not demand of one another constant attention. A true friend gives to her/his friend(s) the freedom to enter into and share friendships with more people. Friends are not possessive. At the same time they are always there. Our faith and friendships are gifts from God. They invite us to reach out to strangers and newcomers in the name of Jesus and make new friendships with new and different people. May it be so among us. In Christ, Pastor Jeff Tomberlin

2 GOOD NEWS FROM LUTHER MEMORIAL Page 2 Council News During the council meeting on July 24th, there was an election of new officers. President: Bob Dahl Vice President: Sandy Vander Zee Appointed Positions: Treasurer: Secretary: Open Council Members and the committees they will be relating to: Ginny Andersen (Outreach) Marilyn Carlson (Worship and Music) Millie Veto (Stewardship Finance) Joel Ollerich (Property) Irina Ertl (Christian Education and Youth) Sandy Vander Zee (Inreach) Luther Memorial s Annual Picnic will be held on Sunday, August 20th following the traditional service. $5/person or $15/family This year we would like to ask last names A- M bring desserts - and N - Z bring salads. Please sign up on the bulletin board! Noisy Offering and Blessing in a Backpack Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Our contribution of $1,000 pledged to this mission at Turtle Creek Elementary School in Delavan, enabled children in need in grades 1-3 to receive a bag of food for the weekend during the school year. Our $1,000 contribution purchased ingredients for 875 of those bags of food. We have clearly made a difference, and we have pledged to continue to make a difference by providing nutritional Blessings in a Backpack. So, please keep making NOISE with your offerings.

3 Page 3 GOOD NEWS FROM LUTHER MEMORIAL Do you know someone who could use some extra assistance with fall cleanup and preparation for winter? Household tasks? Cleaning out the garage? Luther Memorial will once again be participating with God s Work, Our Hands on October 8th. We want to be helping people in the community! Let s start generating a list of people who want and need help. There are request sheets on a clipboard by the mail boxes, please fill out requests for assistance under your name with a brief description of what they want done, leave in box # 18 or send them to Charlotte Finch at charlotte_finch@ymail.com by Sunday, August 6th. YOU CAN HELP! Each month the Treehouse has a theme of the month where positive habits are encouraged and an item(s) is given to families to reinforce this habit. This September the habit is Read a book, a good start to school. Our plan is to provide a keep at home school box and books to give to children. Needed supplies are listed on the box by the bulletin board. Any help is greatly appreciated! Council affirmed the following on July 24th: For Ben & Chloe Groth for sharing their musical talents with us on July 2 Tim Mumm for leading the July outreach meeting For all those who shared their time and talent and refreshments following the memorial service for Dave Leitzke For Dave Mueller, Donn Fisher, and Jennifer Schlaiss for managing our church finances Matt Huebner for his work as council president Ross Fisher and Matt Huebner for serving on council Steve Carlson for fixing the leak in the women s bathroom Last Wednesday and Sunday of each Month! A member will give $100 to Blessings in a Backpack every month we collect at least ten pounds of coins on Noisy Sunday. Let s make a joyful noise for a great cause! The last Wednesday and Sunday of each month will also be our food pantry collection day. Please bring with you any nonperishable food items you are able to donate. Thank You!

4 GOOD NEWS FROM LUTHER MEMORIAL Page 4 Celebrating A Birthday This Month! 08/03 Sam Hetzel 08/05 Dan Wick 08/05 Sam Abel 08/07 Cindy Trussler 08/09 Chloe Wagner 08/11 Cathleen Borskie 08/11 Lilliana Borskie 08/12 Sean Seitz 08/12 Nathan Wheeler 08/14 Ross Fisher 08/15 Jolene Roman 08/15 Crystal Dearth 08/16 Isabelle Garreau 08/17 Tia Bethke 08/18 Emily Rupnik 08/19 Tim Griffin 08/20 Allyssa Reeves 08/21 Angela Dodge 08/22 Brenda Rogers 08/22 Kim Wheeler 08/22 Miranda Johnson 08/24 Kristin Hardwick 08/25 Amy Matthews 08/26 Lindsey Shreves 08/27 Austin Reeves 08/31 Jenean Shreves HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO: 08/02 Tim & Kim Graham 08/03 Joel & Lorraine Ollerich 08/04 George & Sandi Ballman 08/07 Sarah & Derk Yakes 08/09 Donald & Joyce Deichsel 08/12 Larry & Kathie Plapp 08/12 Jason & Lori Hintz 08/20 Joe & Janice Bores 08/28 Brent & Irina Ertl PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: Our members: Paul & Sandy Moyer, Dennis Bergstrom, Lois Griffin, The family of Tom Scharfenberg, The family of David Leitzke Others in our prayers: All our Military, Ben Rupnik (father of Ted Rupnik), Deb Bernstorff (sister of Cindy Schenk), Gail Groth, Nelsine Christensen (Chris Groth s mom), Cindy Rapp, McCarthy Family, Mai & Bob Horn (Carol Mueller s parents), Ashley, Betty Plapp (mother of Larry Plapp), Misty Mitchell, Paul Lockwood, MaryAnn Trussler, Kelly Armstron, Vicki, Barb, Sam M., Bonnie Rice, Mary Spangler, Wasik Family, Tim Dobbins, Sonny, The Cain Family, Latif Hadzabulic, Xander Romanelli, Kaitlyn Vegter and her family, Cindy, Becky Greco and family, Jake and Janet Hetzel, ), Adam Nielson & family, Stephanie (sister of Chelsey Matthews)

5 Page 5 Wednesday, August 2-6:30 pm Lector/Journey Guide Donn Fisher Communion TBA Greeter Seitz Family Usher Nursery Jennifer Arizola Altar Guild Sunday, August 6-8:30 am Wednesday, August 9-6:30 pm Lector/Journey Guide Tim Mumm Mindi Huebner Communion Carol Ancevic TBA Greeter Delores Grover Hetzel Family Usher Brian and Alice Davis Altar Guild Sandy Vander Zee Sunday, August 13-8:30 am Wednesday, August 16-6:30 pm Lector/Journey Guide Millie Veto Mindi Huebner Communion Marilyn Carlson TBA Greeter Bob and Karen Dahl Jane Olinger Usher Bob and Deedee Murray Ross Fisher Altar Guild Diane Sherin Sunday, August 20-9:00 am Wednesday, August 23-6:30 pm Lector/Journey Guide Larry Plapp Donn Fisher Communion Lorri Emmerich TBA Greeter Floyd and Ruth Rosenquist Paul Olinger Usher Milt and Carol Ancevic Altar Guild Sunday, August 27-8:30 am Wednesday, August 30-6:30 pm Lector/Journey Guide Sandy Vander Zee Mindi Huebner Communion Diane Sherin TBA Greeter Sandy Vander Zee Dave and Carol Mueller Usher Steve and Marilyn Carlson Altar Guild

6 Good News in August from: Luther Memorial Church 910 E. Geneva St. (HWY 50) P.O. Box 563 Delavan, WI Time Value Material. Please do not delay. SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICES: Sunday 8:30 am Traditional Service Wednesday 6:30 PM Contemporary Service: THE JOURNEY TO REACH US: OFFICE: 262/ WEBSITE: Mission Statement Sharing the journey of a loving, meaningful relationship with Jesus Mission Actions WORSHIP PRAY INVITE EQUIP SERVE Core Values Anchored in scripture Welcome and accept one another as Christ has welcomed and accepted you Encourage one another Be forgiving Give thanks always Respond to God s command to tithe our time, talents, and treasure Speak and act with integrity Bedrock Beliefs We believe in the Triune God meaning that God relates to us in three different ways. God relates to us as: God the Father who is creator of everything Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who died for our sins and through his resurrection offers forgiveness and new life. The Holy Spirit who calls, gathers, and empowers the church, the community of believers, to be in the world. We believe that all people are sinful and have fallen short in our relationship with God. Therefore, by God s grace, meaning God s unconditional love for us, and through our faith, we receive salvation. We cannot earn it in any way. Though we receive God s grace every day, we also receive and acknowledge grace through the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Baptism is a gift from God welcoming all people to become a part of God s family, granting forgiveness and eternal life. Because this is what God does for us, we baptize people of all ages including infants and children. Communion is a gift from God that through the real presence of Christ, all may receive assurance of forgiveness and salvation as well as being united with all Christians of every time and every place.