LIVING WORD LUTheRAN ChURCh ChURCh JANUARy 2018 NeWSLeTTeR

Transcription

1 LIVING WORD LUTheRAN ChURCh ChURCh JANUARy 2018 NeWSLeTTeR Loves pure light came down tonight, love so pure so free. Little baby God in flesh. Love came down to me. The youth of Living Word presented the Christmas story on Sunday, December 17. The service began with some kids sharing their musical talent for the prelude. The nativity entered with the song Loves Pure Light and each Sunday school teacher worked with their class to present a Christmas message. The K-1 class recited an acrostic Christmas poem, the 3-4 grade class shared a poem about the colors of Christmas and the 5th grade class shared a message about the candy cane. At the end of the service they handed out cookies in the shape of a candy cane. The kids did an amazing job singing their songs and sharing the Christmas message. In addition, the puppets made their debut singing G-L-O-R-I-A. The Spirit was truly present. The kids were able to experience the Christmas story first hand as we listened and watched the story unfold. Joy to the world! The LORD has COme! WHAT S INSIDE Church Council Committee Contacts Community Bible Study Diabetes Hope in God Retreat St. Lucia Youth News Women of the Living Word Pastor s Letter Council Minutes January Event Calendar Jan. Birth/Ann. Calendar

2 LWLC COUNCIL 2018 Church Council Left to Right: Larry Olson, Treasurer/Finance; Gerry Brown, Worship & Evangelism; Dave hepper, President; Brad Olson, Youth & Ed; Roger Christensen, Vice President; Roslyn Riech, Secretary/Worship & Evangelism; Tim DeJong, Property & Management; mary Kinder, Youth & Ed; and howard heinje, Property & Management. LWLC Committee Contacts 2018 CounCiL MeMbeRs: President: Dave hepper, , Vice President: Roger Christensen, , Youth & education: Brad Olson, , and mary Kinder, , secretary/worship & evangelism: Roslyn Reich, , Worship & evangelism: Gerry Brown, , Treasurer/Finance: Larry Olson, , Property & Management: howard heinje, , and Tim DeJong, , Adult sunday school: Deb Buttke, , newsletter/website: Nancy Kruger, , Living Word Lutheran Women officers: Coordinator: Joanne Schmig, Vice-coordinator: Shirley Zahn, Secretary: marcia heinje, Treasurer: Annette Redepenning, mission Action Chairs: Gloria Cooley, and Karen Kiefer, mission Growth Chair: Karen mccrea, mission Community Chair: Carol Grimley, Quilting: Carol Forster, Thrift store Volunteers: Annette Redepenning, ,

3 COMMUNITY Community bible study The Community Bible Study class is nearing the half-way point in its 30-week study of First and Second Corinthians. The class meets each monday evening at Living Word Lutheran Church and a group also meets on Tuesday morning and another group on Thursday morning at the Grant County Library. New class members are welcome at any time so for those who want to get into a winter in-depth Bible study, January would be a good time to start. The class meets each monday evening from 7-8:30 Pm and the morning groups meet from 10:15-11:45 Am. CBS is an in-depth non-denominational study which welcomes men and women of all ages. Those with no Bible knowledge to those who have studied the Bible for many years will be comfortable in the small groups. The study of the Corinthian letters is practical and relevant because the letters deal with church problems in a city plagued by immorality. It applies God s answers to similar problems faced by present-day Christians. For more information contact Norma Kruger: , normakruger41@gmail.com; or Bryan Pew: OUTREACH Diabetes support Group The milbank Area Diabetes Support Group will meet January 21 at 6:30 Pm. Our guest speaker will be Dylan meister, 8-year-old Type 1 Diabetic. he will be talking about life with T1D from his point of view. Come see what a day in his life is like. Hope In God R e T R e A T God has given me a special place in my heart for women that have been sexually abused as a child. There is an upcoming retreat in Watertown at Joy Ranch in February. It is sponsored by Hope In God: A faith based group that offers support for women and men that have been sexually abused or assaulted as a child. The retreat is February 23-25, If you would like to register for the retreat or need more information, check out hope In God, Watertown on Facebook. Talk to me if you have any questions. Deb Buttke,

4 LWLW st. LuCiA breakfast Living Word Women hosted about 115 guests for the annual St. Lucia Breakfast on December 9. They enjoyed traditional Swedish food and fellowship as well as inspirational readings and music. Jessica Van Peursem portrayed Lucia and served the first tea ring. Vicki Strege accompanied singing of Christmas carols and Kay Grothe presented a flute solo entitled Breath of heaven.

5 Food scavenger Hunt December was a busy month filled with activities preparing for Christmas. The youth participated in a FooD scavenger HunT and collected food around town for the local food pantry. The community was very generous and we filled my entire trunk and backseat with items to donate. The food pantry was very appreciative. We also went CHRisTMAs CARoLinG at the three nursing homes and it was a blessing to us as well as them. We came back to the church afterwards and enjoyed wonderful fellowship and hot soup and goodies. We look forward to the coming year of Let this be a year that we make a difference for the Kingdom like no other year. Let s focus on our priorities, making Jesus first in our lives, others second, and yourselves last. J-O-y. YouTH news I will continue to pray for our youth of our church and the community that they will carry the joy of Christmas with them the whole year through even after Christmas has passed. In Him we serve and adore, Kay sr. High Christmas Party Christmas Caroling Jr. High Christmas Party

6 WOMEN OF THE LIVING WORD happy New year in Christ! may this be the year that we grow in our faith. The CiRCLes are a small part of the Women of Living Word. If you are not actively involved in a circle please make 2018 the year to become involved. We have four circles that meet on the third Tuesday of each month. Dawn Circle meets at 7:30 Am at the church with Carol Weber as chairperson. Chairpersons for the Faith Circle that meets at the and marcia heinje. Roslyn Reich is chairperson for the mary/martha Circle which meets at the church at 9:00 Am. Love circle has changed their meeting time, they will meet at 3:00 Pm for social time and Bible study will commence at 4 Pm, Joanne Schmig is the chairperson. If you are so moved to join us just come. No invitation is needed. If you have any questions please speak to a chairperson. All are welcome. QuiLTinG is off and running after taking a December break. more helpers would be welcomed. you need not be a quilter or like to sew; we need people to cut, iron, etc. They meet every second and fourth Tuesday at 9 Am. Don t forget to check out the GReeTinG CARD RACk. Lots of beautiful Christian cards are available at a reasonable price. We have four GeneRAL MeeTinGs. The first will be on held on march 6, the program will be Fun With Aprons. you will be presented with the history of aprons and in order for this to happen we will need aprons. Let me know if you have one or more aprons to share. We will have your name on it and may be displayed. Mission PRoJeCTs for January, February and march are pillowcase dresses and items for the St. Francis house. Shirley Zahn Coordinator

7 PASTOR S LETTER The WATCh WORD: Jesus Mark 13:32-37 Watch (v. 37) In mark 13, Jesus talks at length about the cataclysmic events that mark the end of the world. he concludes his discourse simply and to the point. Watch! But what are we to watch for? many Christians today are watching for the world to fall apart. There exists countless diagrams and graphs explaining exactly how the end will take place. many believers are watching, and even hoping, for these devastating events to take place soon. Great faith is placed in this chronological ordering of events that seem to claim to know in detail what God is going to do. In this passion about the future, some lose sight of the present. One can easily get caught up in watching for things that are to be at the expense of things that are. What is watched for, are events. I do not think this is what we are called to watch for. Instead, we are to watch for a person, Jesus Christ. What the exact events of the end times will be are open for debate. The benefit of having such knowledge is doubtful. Knowing future things can do little to encourage faith, but one thing of which we can be sure is that Jesus Christ is in control of history and will one day return for us. It is him for whom we are to watch. The church or individual believers are in trouble if they take their gaze off of him. Our Ultimate redemption will not happen because we have uncovered the secrets of the end times. Our complete and final redemption will come only because, in spite of whatever happens in the future, we know Jesus is coming for us. We are to watch for him who carries nail prints in his hands, regardless of the circumstances of his coming. The nail prints testify not to a man who spent time charting the future, but who died to give people life in the present. Watch for him. Watch for him in the mundane and ordinary occurrences of every day as well as in the cataclysmic occurrences which will be. You are our future hope, Lord Jesus. You are the one we look for, long for, need. Help us keep our eyes and hearts on you. In your name we pray. Amen.

8 COUNCIL MINUTES Living Word Lutheran Church Council Minutes, December 13, 2017 Members Present: Pastor Groethe, Dave hepper, Larry Olson, Brad Olson, mary Kinder, Gerry Brown, Roger Christensen, Tim DeJong, howard heinje and Roslyn Reich. Pastor Groethe opened the meeting with prayer. meeting s agenda approved. secretary and Treasurer s Reports: motions made by Brad Olson and seconded by mary Kinder and Roger Christensen to approve reports. Approved. Pastor s observations: During the Pastor s Observation time, Pastor Kent took a moment to teach, speaking to the Council members in sharing his understanding of scriptures on homosexuality and also common misunderstandings among the Christian community. Additional thoughts on homosexuality in relation to universal rights and limited human rights were discussed. Pastor Kent concluded with encouraging the Council to continue in prayer, reading and studying the Bible daily. Property Management Report: Gerry Brown reported that the visual/sound system has been completed. The extension of the communion rail step is still under consideration. Organization of the garage and storage room will be completed. Additional storage shelves will be added to garage. Worship & evangelism Report: Council sign-up for serving communion during services updated. Roslyn and Pam will begin reviewing Servant Teams after the holidays. Welcome packets for new members and visitors continue to be worked on. Song Leaders during services are now in place. Youth & education Report: We want to encourage the youth of our church to take part in worship service and communion. We will be meeting with Kay, youth Director, to discuss how we can get our youth involved. The Sunday School Christmas Program has been organized and is well underway. old business The lighting of the cross on the church will be readjusted following our shingling of the church next spring. new business A purchase of a new laptop computer for office use was discussed. Because of the new system now in place the current laptop computer will not accept the new program. A motion was made by Larry Olson and seconded by Roger Christensen not to exceed $1,100 in the update. Approved. Christmas books to be given out following the Christmas eve service was discussed. 150 books to be purchased at $2.00 per book. A motion made by Brad Olson and seconded by Larry Olson. Approved. Additional shelving required in secretary s office was discussed. Council agreed to add additional shelves in the office. Council will be conducting Performance evaluations with paid staff members. A motion was made by Brad Olson and seconded by Tim DeJong to give gift cards to Judy Sprung and Nancy Kruger for their contributions to our church. Approved. meeting adjourned with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully submitted, Roslyn Reich

9 January 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 New Year's Day No Sunday School 9:00 Searcher's Bible study 9:00 Community Coffee Fellowship 3:30-5:30 Confirmation/Jr. High Youth Group 6:15 Choir :00 Searcher's Bible study :45 Sunday School 5:30 CBS Leaders meet 9:00 Quilting 3:30-5:30 Confirmation/Jr. High Youth Group 9:00 Community Coffee Fellowship 9:00 Coffee Fellowship 7:00 CBS 5:30 Bible study briefing 10:00 Worship/Communion 6:15 Choir 7:00 Church Council :30 Dawn Circle at the church 17 9:00 Searcher's Bible study :45 Sunday School 5:30 CBS Leaders meet 9:00 Faith Circle meet at the church 3:30-5:30 Confirmation/Jr. High Youth Group 9:00 Community Coffee Fellowship 9:00 Coffee Fellowship 7:00 CBS 9:00 Mary/Martha Circle at 6:15 Choir 10:00 Worship the church 11:00-1:00 Fundraiser for John & Lois Hostettler - LWLC 7:30 Love Circle meets at the church :00 Searcher's Bible study :45 Sunday School Newsletter items due 9:00 Quilting 3:30 7th& 8th Grade Confirmation 9:00 Community Coffee Fellowship 9:00 Pancake Feed 5:30 CBS Leaders meet 6:15 Choir 9:00February Servant Team meets 7:00 CBS 10:00 Worship/ Baptism 6:30 Diabetes Support Group :00 Searcher's Bible study 8:45 Sunday School 5:30 CBS Leaders meet 3:30 7th& 8th Grade Confirmation 9:00 Coffee Fellowship 7:00 CBS 6:15 Choir 10:00 Worship Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Joanne Schmig (b.) Guy & Cleo Mann (w.) Taylor Balling (b.) Jason DeJong (b.) Shaylee Pekelder (b.) 9 Curtis Hallberg (b.) Gary Meister (b.) Craig Randleman (b.) Sue DeJong (b.) David Kloster (b.) Paul & Jennifer Anderson (w.) Larry & Peggy Brook (w.) Ron Anderson (b.) Randy Dockter (b.) Carolyn Randleman (b.) Jamie Pekelder (b.)