Faith Matters O C T O B E R F A I T H L U T H E R A N C H U R C H The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Dear friends in Christ,

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1 Faith Matters O C T O B E R F A I T H L U T H E R A N C H U R C H The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America WORSHIP TIMES SUNDAYS 8:00 & 10:30 A.M. WEDNESDAYS 6:15 P.M. CHURCH OFFICE 255 Roosevelt Street PO Box 369 Valders, Wisconsin Phone Fax Website STAFF DIRECTORY Jim Rasmus, Senior Pastor Direct Office Line Church Cell Phone pjrasmus@tds.net Christine Olson, Adm. Assistant Faith Matters Editor ...faith21@tds.net Greta Greif, Education Coordinator and Bell Choir Director ...gretaedco@tds.net Mike Lentscher, Custodian Kim Bremer, Dennis Luckow, Carol Ulness, Becky Schultz Contemporary Worship Coordinators Erin Lenzner, Mixed Choir Director Peggy Madson and Sue Riesterer Organists INSIDE What s Happening In the Life of Faith... 2 In the Life of Faith continued... 3 Finances... 4 Liturgical Roles/Membership... 5 FLC Women... 6 Evangelism/Call Committee Update... 7 Faith Lutheran Church Minutes... 8 Dear friends in Christ, Recently the 7 th and 8 th graders and I talked about the story of Abraham and Sarah. Have you thought about them lately? It s pretty fascinating stuff. You can read the whole story in Genesis Out of the blue, God came to them, offered them the promise that they would have land beyond their comprehension and more descendants than they could count (even though Sarah was infertile). God said they would become a great nation and be blessed to be a blessing. All they had to do was pack up and travel to a land that I will show you. Remember now, they had never even heard of God before -- but they went! They are great examples of faith for us. But they are also good examples of our human foibles. Abraham lied about Sarah being his wife to protect himself from harm. They grew impatient waiting for God to make good on the promise of children and thus Ishmael was born to Sarah s slave, Hagar. When God again promised them children when Abraham is 100 and Sarah was 90, they laughed in God s face. But God kept the promise: Abraham and Sarah became the ancestors of the People of Israel. They and their descendants became a blessing for all of us, for we trace our relationship with God all the way back to them. The lives of Abraham and Sarah are the first biblical reminders that God has chosen us out of sheer grace and that God continues to claim us even when we do stupid things to keep ourselves safe or lie about our relationships. God loves us even when we get impatient waiting for God to act or even if we laugh in God s face! God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, but God did sacrifice Jesus for our sins and the sins of all people. We have much to be thankful for as we continue to Experience Faith and struggle with our humanness. May God bless us as we seek to live in God s grace. In God s service, Pastor Jim

2 What s happening In the life of faith... The Bev/Cheryl Circle will meet October 13 at 9:00 a.m. at the Silver Dollar Diner. Kitchen cleanup will be done after breakfast. The Penny Circle will meet October 17 at 9:00 a.m. at Darlene VanLishout s home. The Vi Circle will meet October 17 at 9:00 a.m. in the youth room. The Terry/Marge Circle will meet October 17 at 1:30 p.m. in the library. Stewardship needs for october Choir news GRIEF SUPPORT groups Thursdays, October 4-25, 6:30-8:30 p.m. St. Peter the Fisherman Loss Group Please call to register Walk in Sessions Wednesday, October 10, 7:00-8:30 p.m. St. Peter the Fisherman S.O.S. (Survivors of Suicide) The Domestic Violence Center has many needs on their wish list. They are as follows: General Items: dishwasher, dish & laundry detergent, dryer sheets, cleaning supplies, disinfecting wipes, bleach, mops, brooms, paper toweling, toilet paper, facial tissue, kitchen utensils and silverware, food storage containers, freezer bags, kitchen towels, dish clothes, bath towels, wash cloths, pillows & pillow cases, full size sheets, twin & full size mattress covers, alarm clocks, laundry baskets, baby monitors, AA & AAA batteries. New clothing for adults and children Socks, underwear, sweatshirts, sweatpants, T-shirts in all sizes, mittens/gloves, hats and scarves. Personal Care items Infant, child & Adult cold, flu & allergy medicine, cough drops, lip balm, feminine products, lotion, face wash/body wash, baby bottles, sippy cups, bottle brushes, teething toys, diapers & pull-ups (size 2-6), wipes, diaper rash cream, combs, brushes and hair dryers. Gift Cards-Gas, groceries, local stores, movie rentals and calling cards. Place items in the stewardship cabinet across for the office clearly marked Domestic Violence Center. Just for seniors Senior Christians will meet Tuesday, October 16 at 9:00 a.m. at Whispering Orchards. Saturday, October 13, 10:00-11:45 a.m. Aurora Two Rivers Michigan Conference Room (first floor) Saturday, October 27, 10:00-11:45 a.m. Aurora Two Rivers Superior Conference Room (first floor) Doing For others 2 2

3 Celebration of God s Blessings Old-Fashioned Harvest Festival Saturday, October 6, 2012 Faith Lutheran Church, Valders 11am Apple Pie Judging Contest 11am-3pm Apple Press Demonstration/Tasting Youth and Family Activities Games and Crafts Horse Drawn Wagon Rides Tentative Antique Tractor/Vehicle Display (with photo opportunities) 11am-2:30pm Plate Lunches, Chili (2012 Chili Cook-Off Winner), Desserts and more. Carry-Outs Available Silent Auction 1pm-2:30pm Bingo with Prizes 3pm-4pm Live Auction (Join Faith s own Auctioneer Frank Griffin as he leads a fun-filled auction) 4:30pm Old Hymn Sing-a-Long and Blessing of Gifts 3

4 Finances Income August Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget Envelope Offerings $16, Loose Offerings Other Income General Fund Income $17, $26, $186, $210, Dedicated Income $ $4, Thrivent Choice Dollars 0.00 $3, Building Fund Income 0.00 $ Total Income $17, $195, Operating Expenses August General Fund Expense $20, $26, $194, $210, Dedicated Expense $ $4, Capital Appeal Expense 0.00 $29, Thrivent Choice $ transfer to Undesignated Memorials 0.00 $3, Building fund transfer to Experience Faith Appeal 0.00 $10, Total Expenses $20, $241, Year to Date General Fund Net Income -$7, Balances as of August 31, 2012 Assets: General Fund Checkbook $14, Total Experience Faith Appeal Balance $292, Total Experience Faith Appeal Balance Designated Appeal Dollars (Parsonage/Elevator/Building) $158, Appeal Pledge Dollars Received $133, Total Experience Faith Appeal Balance $292, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Donations Bell Choir: In memory of Judy Valleskey by Edward and Janice Streckert. Elevator Fund: In memory of Evelyn Hulin by Dorothy Ulness. In memory of Ilene Pederson by Vivian Robley and family and friends. In memory of Judy Valleskey by Dorothy Ulness, Elwood and Lucille Wenzel, LuAnn Helgeson, Jim & Gladys Hansen, Larry & Joy Madson, Richard & Gloria Smith, Rickie & Donna Todd, Ruth & Bev Torrison, Vic & Chris Voight. In memory of Kari Reinertson by Jim & Jan Reinertson and John and Marilyn Robley. Endowment Fund: In memory of Ilene Pederson by Esther Halverson. Library Fund: In memory of Judy Valleskey by Cheryl Domrath, Harvey & Alice Thompson, Joyce Loritz, Lorraine Reindl and Ron & Connie Torrison. Organ Fund: In memory of Dorothy Peterson by Ramona Madson. In memory of Judy Valleskey by Romelle Rusch. In memory of Evelyn Hulin by Carl & Marlene Peters, Eleanor Zoerb, Glenn & Marlene Thomsen, Harvey & Lois Larson, Larry & Joy Madson, Ned & Marliss-Ann Lundquist, Oliver & Ruth Christopherson, Peter Reinertson, Thomas & Joan Haule. In memory of Ilene Pederson by family and friends. Quilters Fund: In memory of Evelyn Hulin by Virginia Meyer. In memory of Ilene Pederson by Jim & Gladys Hansen, Joyce Schreiner, Virginia Meyer and family and friends. Scholarship Fund: In memory of Ilene Pederson by Dennis and Marlene Evenson and by family and friends. Undesignated Memorial: In memory of Evelyn Hulin by Anne Bruechert. In memory of Ilene Pederson by Dennis and Marlene Evenson, Lorraine Reindl and LuAnn Helgeson. World Hunger: Two donations were given this month. Capital Appeal: In memory of JoAnn Wagner by her family and friends and in memory of Evelyn Hulin by Don and Delores Johnson. 4

5 Liturgical Roles ~ Worship Responsibilities Pastoral Acts Baptisms... Paden Michael Paul Hougen Marriages... Kim Christianson & Dawud Tan Funerals... Ed Stenzel Membership Baptized Confirmed Families Acolyte Schedule 10/7 Early Kollin Fischer Late Joshua Geiger 10/14 Early Javelin Hansen Late Morgan Isaacson 10/21 Early Joseph Jeske Late Eli Nelson 10/28 Early Tanner Ohlrogge Late Jesse Schwoerer Worship Attendance Sunday Early Late Wed. Total 8/ / / / / Communion 8/26 8/29 9/2 9/5 9/16 9/19 Congregation Guests Private 18 Altar Guild Servers Communion: October 7 & 21 and November 4 & Committee #1 Melissa Evenson, Chair (Committee #1) Bev Torrison, Chair (Committee #2) Lectors 10/3 Greif Family 10/7 Early Kaye Jandrey Late Ron Jones 10/10 Abbey Brill 10/14 Early Jill Backus Late Martha Rasmus 10/17 Cheryl Duchow 10/21 Early Connie Hoyer Late Hildegarde Honold 10/24 Julie Endries 10/28 Early Lorin Berge Late Don Domrath 10/31 Val Zibung Head Usher Schedule- Sunday October Early... Lee A. Evenson Late... Paul Franz November Early... Jerry Hoefner Late... Richard Christianson Ushers 10/7 Early Brian & Parker Ulness Late Lorin & Linda Berge 10/14 Early Scott & Emily Reinertson Late Mark Ulness and Ron Jones 10/21 Early Keith & Audrey Lippert Late Dean Behnke and Loren Ulness 10/28 Early Richard Menza and Gary Olson Late Dean Behnke and Mark Ulness Greeters 10/3 Jan Mulhaney 10/7 Early Steve and Ginny Schwoerer Late Bob and Julie Wigen 10/10 Jan Mulhaney 10/14 Early Don and Deb Schreiner Late Paul and Jill Franz 10/17 Mike and Debbie Goehring 10/21 Early Val and De Zibung Late Lyle and Arlene Roehrig 10/24 Jan Mulhaney 10/28 Early Ben and Chloe Cigler Late Lyle and Arlene Roehrig 10/31 Jan Mulhaney Communion Servers 10/3 Elma Castro, Carolyn Hallberg, Jan Mulhaney 10/7 Early: Larry Madson, Kaye Jandrey, Carolyn Hallberg Late: Nancy Christianson and Robert Argall 10/17 Cheryl Duchow, Steve and Laura Halverson 10/21 Early: Brian Ulness, Dave and Connie Hoyer Late: Linda Berge, Jen Zutz, Jan Mulhaney 10/31 Elma Castro, De and Val Zibung 5

6 FLC Women in the News... Imagine the comfort that comes with a hug when someone is in a time of deepest need. Through a simple combination of fabric and thread the Quilting Ladies at Faith Lutheran Church have reached out to those with some of the greatest needs in the world, not wrapping them in their arms, but wrapping them in the work of their hands through the making of Quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Most often the recipients use their quilts to shield against the cold and rain, but their versatility also makes them useful as simple tents, floor coverings or a wrap to hold a baby on his mother s back. On Sunday, October 14 and also on Wednesday, October 17, a few of the 803 quilts will be on display on the pews during services. If you have ever witnessed the Quilters in action you have no idea the time that goes into making these quilts. Sorting through donations, opening seams to attain suitable pieces to sew together, then cutting the pieces to make them fit together, ironing the pieces to lay flat for sewing, matching the pieces together to form a quilt, sewing the squares, pressing seams open, tying each quilt, then pinning the sides together for the final sewing. The quilts are then packed ten quilts in a box and labeled. The ladies have worked all year completing the task of making quilts. Now when you see Gladys Hansen, Linda Berge, Linda Menza, Ruth Torrison, Cheryl Domrath, Linda Herzog, Violette Rusch, Marlene Evenson, Virginia Meyer, Joyce Schreiner, Virginia Berg, Kayleen Halderson, Betty Binversie, Ann DeMark and Leona Vogel, let s extend to them a BIG THANK YOU for all they do to meet the needs of people they will never meet. FLC Women Treasurer s Report Income: Expense: Funerals $ Christ in Our Home $28.80 FLCW Memorials Baptismal Quilts Transfer: Memorial Baptism Quilts Terry Haupt material for quilts Stewardship: School Packs Salvation Army Heifer International Crossways Bible Camp Balance as of August 31, 2012 $1,

7 Evangelism Opportunity/Call Committee Update ASSIMILATION A NECESSARY PROCESS IN A GROWING AND VIBRANT CHURCH We are indeed experiencing a renewed and re-energized spirit at Faith Lutheran Church. An underlying goal before us is increased membership as well as more intentionally engaging current members. Vision 2016 lifts up the need for us to evangelize as well as build and strengthen member relationships. For these reasons, the Board of Evangelism is looking into ways to more effectively assimilate people into the church. Rick Warren in his book, The Purpose Driven Church, states that assimilation is the task of moving people from an awareness of your church to attendance at your church to active membership in your church. The Board of Evangelism desires to recruit/enlist a core group of people who will act as assimilators among the people of Faith. Assimilators need to be faithful, active members ready and willing to engage and invite others. If this describes your interests and/or gifts, we need you! An informational gathering in which this idea will be discussed and explored further will be held Monday, October 29 th. We will gather in Fellowship Hall at 7:30 p.m. and our time together will conclude by 9:00 p.m. For planning purposes, please reply to Julie Endries ( or theendries@gmail.com) or Christine in the church office in regard to whether you plan to attend. Curious about the Call Committee s progress? Here is a short update- Our group has some exciting news! As of September 13, we were given the names of 2 candidates. I know everyone wants to know who and from where, but that is information that we cannot share. Since then, the Call Committee has been in the process of making reference calls, putting together a lengthy list of interview questions, and learning what we can about these 2 pastors. We will be proceeding with interviews in October. The Call Committee wants to make the best choice possible for Faith Lutheran Church, and we DO feel the weight of this important decision on our shoulders. Please continue to pray for us during this call process. Knowing that the congregation of FLC is behind us will keep us strong. What an exciting time to be a part of Faith Lutheran Church! Blessings to all, Jennifer Berge CALL COMMITTEE U P D A T E 7

8 Faith Lutheran Church Minutes ~ September 12, 2012 Those present: Julie Endries, Carolyn Hallberg, Don Johnson, Stacy Wilker, Don Domrath, Greg Sauerussig, Dave Haupt, Carol Ulness, Jennifer Berge, Matt Berge, Jennifer Fahley, Jenniffer Zutz, Pastor Jim, Bobbi Jo Robley, Laura Halverson Meeting was called to order at 7:15 pm with devotions led by Stacy. Motion made to approve last month s meeting minutes. Motion passed Sign Update by Greg Saueressig: Recommendation from the sign committee to go through Mr. Otek for a 37 x 8 3 x 8 sign for a cost of approximately $25, including the hardware, software, stone base, training, electrical and circuit work. The sign could be installed this fall. The cost would be covered from the Howard Wilharms estate. There was a motion to approve. The motion passed. Church Directory Presentation by Bobbi Jo Robley: Family portraits will be taken and if a portrait package is purchased, then the directory would be sold at a discount. The directory could also be purchased without a portrait package. We will create a committee to organize appointments. There was a motion made by to use Snaptastic Photography to create a church directory with a deadline for pictures by the end of November. Motion passed. A financial review for the month of August was led by Dave: There was a motion made that in order to continue earning interest on the $29, owed to the general fund for initial Capital Appeal expenses, it be left at Bank First National rather than transfer it at this time. The transfer will be made at a later date. A loan recommendation was made by Stewardship to go through Denmark State Bank for a 7 year loan with a percentage rate of 3.96 with reduced closing costs for a $600,000 loan. There was a motion made to approve the recommendation by the Stewardship Board for a loan recommendation; motion passed. Stewardship Drive will occur over the course of 8 months through temple talks. All budgets changes need to be ed to Roger H. ASAP. Old Business Call Committee progress led by Jennifer Berge: The synod is waiting on final names, and the committee is creating a handout selling our congregation. Video update by Don Domrath: Meetings are scheduled and bids are being collected from various vendors. Harvest Fest planning is underway. New Business Groundbreaking ceremony update Matt Berge: All are welcome to bring a shovel and a potluck will be held afterward. The Board of Directors will sign up for main dishes, buns and beverages. Other business All snacks will be suspended until after the construction project. Organ will be delivered September 24 th and ready for worship on September 30 th. AED training will occur in the future. Next meeting will be October 10 at 7:15pm with devotions led to by Julie Endries. There was a motion made to adjourn; motion passed. We adjourned with prayer at 9:30pm. Submitted by Stacy Wilker 8