2015 VOLUME 24 NUMBER

Transcription

1 ALC Alert American Lutheran Church Smith Center, Kansas AUGUST 2015 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 7 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, As last we begin to enjoy the benefits of the long process of becoming a 4-point parish. Pastor Lee and his family arrived on June 24 and are settling into the parsonage at Emmanuel Stuttgart. I will be moving to the parsonage in Kensington but it will take a few weeks to accomplish that. I have a lot of sorting and packing to do after 18 years in Phillipsburg. One of our next hurdles in the parish process is to establish the lines of communication between the pairs of congregations in each county. It is the first time for all of us working in this configuration. We will need to work hard to foster a sense of partnership and openness to compromise. We will need to heed St Paul s words to look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. (Phil 2:4) Remember that our parish continues to be a work in progress. We will be working out the kinks for some time to come. If you have questions or concerns, please take them to your parish council reps so that the council can address them. I know Pastor Lee is excited to get to know the people of Emmanuel and Zion (and eventually St John and American as well). I am excited to continue working with St John and to get to know the wonderful people at American. Pastor Lee and I will trade pulpits on the 4 th Sunday of every month as Jim and I have been doing since the beginning of this year. I know God will continue to bless our congregations and this process as we seek more ways and better ways to share the love of Christ within our parish and with our wider communities. Grace and Peace,

2 From the Desk of Pastor Lee July 2015 I am sitting in front of my computer this evening, contemplating all of the changes that have occurred this past week. Ben, my eleven year old son, has just come in and said, Good night, and the sun has finally gone down over the fields. This time last week, my family was busy packing under the blazing Arizona sun. Tonight, we are about to go to rest under the vast sky of the plains. So many changes; and yet, the familiar cycles of life must continue. Even though we came during one of the busiest cycles, the wheat harvest, you all have gone over and above to make us feel welcome. Thank you! It was suggested to me that I should say something about my history and my family in this first newsletter article. I was born in Mesa, Arizona, the same town where one of my grandfathers was born. I am an only child of two only children, so my side of the family is rather small. I was not born a Lutheran, but was baptized as such at age eleven when my parents, a former Roman Catholic and a former Southern Baptist, joined a congregation of what was then the LCA. I graduated from the University of Arizona in Tucson with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science; however, I did nothing actually related to that degree. Instead, I joined the Arizona Department of Public Safety (Arizona s term for State Police) as a Highway Patrol officer. I worked with Arizona DPS for six years before I decided to finally leave the department and attend seminary full-time. I began seminary at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, where I met a fellow student and my future beloved wife, Kathy Whitney, to whom I have been married for sixteen years. It is also where I met a future pastor you might know, Lorna Paulus. When Kathy received a call in the Midwest, I transferred and later graduated from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. In 2003, my son, Ben, was born two months premature but healthy; thanks be to God! My first call was at Trinity Lutheran Church in Durand, Illinois, where I served for just over nine years. Now, as our histories meet and as we begin to walk a ministry path together, I am truly amazed at the work of the Holy Spirit that unites us so that we can together proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. All four congregations of the parish have a rich history of ministry. I am honored that I now get to be part of your history, too. Your Friend in Christ, Pastor Lee We still are working on a landline phone at the parsonage; however, you can reach me by calling my cell phone: (785) My is leebennight@gmail.com. Our address at the parsonage is 220 Kansas Avenue, Stuttgart, Kansas

3 From PMA Jim Germer Thank You. It is hard to believe it s been nearly five years since I came to north central Kansas. It has been a wonderful journey and I have come to know so many fascinating, Spirit-filled people; some of the best people I have been blessed to come to know in my entire life. I did not dream then that we would now be so blessed (although looking back now I should not have been surprised): having a loving and compassionate four point parish with Pr. Lorna primarily serving Smith County and Pr. Lee, with his wife Pr. Kathy and son Ben, primarily on the Phillips County side. It is important to pause often and thank God for this, and for the wonderful leadership with which God has blessed us along the way. As far as my plans go, I will see where the Spirit moves me. I am in Crete, Nebraska where wife Jayne is a greatly regarded librarian at Doane College. Having been touched by the work of many of you, I have been in contact with Luther Seminary and others about discerning a future in hospice service, and Jayne and I will continue with our ministry of presence for rural pastors and congregations. Over the last decade Jayne and I have served more than two dozen congregations in south central Nebraska and north central Kansas doing pulpit supply and interim ministry. And I would be happy to see that ministry specifically continue to include the Disciples of the Plains Parish if acceptable to all (see the Disciples of the Plains Lutheran Ministry homepage at So you may see me from time to time. Of course, the Spirit will likely lead in unforeseen ways (Proverbs 19:21). God s blessings upon you all now and always. PMA Jim American Lutheran Church Council Meeting May 2015 The American Lutheran church council met in the parish hall on May 10, Council members present were Dennis Lehmann, Theron Haresnape, Jenifer Ratliff, Ken Jacobs. The meeting was called to order by presiding president Dennis Lehmann. Minutes Jenifer moved and Theron seconded to approve the minutes of the March meeting. Motion carried. Treasurer s Report (See attached.) Theron moved and Jenifer seconded to approve the report as presented. Motion carried. Pastor s Report Jim asked Dennis to report that no youth from our church will attend the youth gathering in Detroit this summer and he is not planning to go either. Council Committee Reports Worship and Music: no report.

4 Outreach: no report Parish Ed: no report Luther League: no report. Facilities: Larry and Tim Wilson worked on the west door and it closes without sticking now, but may need more attention in the future. Arloa Barnes is getting prices for flooring in the parish hall and the bathroom hallway for the council to consider. Mutual Ministry: no report Old Business 1) No old business New Business 1) Parish: All four churches will vote on the called pastors on May 17. The procedure will be as follows. There will be a ballot for the pastors which needs to pass by 2/3 majority. Then a separate ballot to allow the parish council to prepare the financial package for each pastor which only has to pass by a simple majority. 2) Handicap concrete pad: Dennis did not have time to check into this and we will talk about it at the June meeting. 3) Synod Convention: Jim and Kale Terrill will not be attending. The next meeting will be Sunday June 14, 2015, 7:00 p.m. The meeting was adjourned with The Lord s Prayer. Church Council Secretary, Theron Haresnape American Lutheran Church Council Meeting June 2015 The American Lutheran church council met in the parish hall on June 14, Council members present were Dennis Lehmann, Jenifer Ratliff, Ken Jacobs, Kathy Frieling, Marcia Bose, Theron Haresnape and PMA Jim Germer. The meeting was called to order by presiding president Dennis Lehmann. Jim shared a brief devotion. Minutes Ken moved and Kathy seconded to approve the minutes of the May meeting. Motion carried. Treasurer s Report (See attached.) Marcia moved and Kathy seconded to approve the report as presented. Motion carried.

5 Pastor s Report (See attached.) Jim plans to relieve Lorna in her absence from time to time after she takes over. Council Committee Reports Worship and Music: No report. Outreach: No report. Parish Ed: Helpers are needed for vacation Bible school. Teachers needed for summer Sunday school. Luther League: Hoping to get youth group started back up with help from Lorna. Facilities: Report in Old Business. Mutual Ministry: Names need to be surfaced for a replacement for Leland Lehmann, preferably male. Old Business 2) Handicap pad: An estimated $1650 in memorial funds is potentially available for funding. 3) Parish Hall Flooring: Still under consideration. 4) Fan in Hallway: Gerald and Jenifer donated the ceiling fan. 5) Kitchen Light: Since the new ceiling fan was installed, the light removed was then installed in the kitchen to replace the one missing a globe. New Business 1) Farewell Brunch: A brunch will be held for Jim on Sunday, July 26. 2) Parish: Pastor Lee will live in Stuttgart. It is undecided at the time where Lorna will reside. 3) Parsonage Pet Policy: Kathy moved that pets should be allowed in the parsonage. Professional cleanup and repair of damages caused by pets will be the responsibility of the occupant(s). A $2500 refundable deposit will be charged prior to the occupant moving in. The church council will hire the professional cleaner and supervise any repairs. The cost of this will be taken out of the deposit and if it costs more than $2500 then the balance will be charged to the occupant. Also if the cost is less than $2500 the remaining deposit will be refunded to the occupant. Ken seconded and the motion carried. 4) Church Times: Kensington and Smith Center will switch every three months, services beginning at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. There will have to be more discussion with Kensington, but this is the church councils thought at this time. 5) YAGM: Marcia asked to have parish support of the program. Ryan could be a possibility for mission festival this fall and a fundraiser could be held at that time.

6 The next meeting will be Sunday July 12, 2015, 7:00 p.m. The meeting was adjourned with The Lord s Prayer. Church Council Secretary, Theron Haresnape DISCIPLES OF THE PLAINS Special Parish Council Meeting June 3 rd, 2105 The Parish Council met June 3 rd, at Emmanuel in Stuttgart. Members present were: Mark Conn and Paul Merklein from Emmanuel at Stuttgart; Doug Zillinger from Zion at Phillipsburg; Sam Rice and Linda Miller from St. John, Kensington; Dennis Lehmann and Jerald Ratliff from American at Smith Center. The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Dennis Lehmann, at 7:30 P.M. The Purpose of the meeting was to fill out The Definition of Compensation, Benefits and Responsibilities of the Pastors form and to sign the official letters of call. Paul Merklien moved to approve the minutes of the May 18 th, 2015, meeting. Sam Rice seconded the motion. Motion carried. Mark moved to approve the treasurers report. Linda Miller seconded the motion. Motion carried. The forms were completed and signed by Chairman Dennis Lehmann and Secretary Jerald Ratliff. A copy of the appropriate forms are attached. Discussion followed regarding how best to place our two pastors. Sam Rice moved that Pastor Lorna Paulus should primarily serve the congregations in Smith County, American and St. John, and that Pastor Lee Benight should primarily serve the congregations in Phillips County, Zion and Emmanuel. The motion was seconded by Mark Conn. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully submitted, Jerald K. Ratliff Secretary DISCIPLES OF THE PLAINS Parish Council Meeting June 24th, 2105 The Parish Council met June 24th, at American Lutheran in Smith Center. Members present were: Paul Merklein from Emmanuel at Stuttgart; Jeff Griffy from Zion at Phillipsburg; Linda Miller from St. John, Kensington; Dennis Lehmann and Jerald Ratliff from American at Smith Center. Pastoral team members present were Pastor Lorna Paulus and Robert Lee Bennight. Devotions were led by Pastor Lorna Paulus by offering a prayer. The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Dennis Lehmann, at 7:45 P.M.

7 Paul Merklein moved to approve the agenda for the meeting with the addition of worship times for the congregations of the parish. The motion was seconded by Jeff Griffy. Motion carried. The minutes of the June 3 rd meeting were read by Chairman Dennis Lehmann. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Jeff Griffy. Linda Miller seconded the motion. Motion carried. A treasurer s report was given by Chairman, Dennis Lehmann. He reported that all expenses are current. Jeff Griffy moved the treasurer s report be approved. Linda Miller seconded the motion. Motion carried. The Parish website and communications coordinator were discussed and it was reported that all is going well. St John will need to get their newsletter to Nora Rhoades to get it posted to the web site. Worship times were discussed. It was decided that each individual church council needs to be responsible for setting the worship times. Decisions need to be made as soon as possible for the first of July is just around the corner. Parish Council members will speak with their individual councils to get the decisions made. Installation of Pastors and Mission Festival were discussed. Jerald Ratliff moved that installation for both pastors be on August 23, 2015, 10:30 A.M., at Zion, Phillipsburg, with a potluck to follow; August 16 would be the alternate date; and that Mission Festival be held at Emmanuel, Stuttgart, on a Sunday to be decided in the month of October. Linda Miller seconded the motion. Motion carried. Discussion was held on where the Pastors will be residing. It was decided that Pastor Bennight will live in Emmanuel s Parsonage and Lorna will live in the St John s Parsonage. The Budget was discussed. It was decided to get the final budget completed by the end of October. The Council will need to get attendance numbers from the individual congregations. The attendance numbers from now on will need to be reported to the council from September 1 to August 31 of each year. Mutual Ministry Committee was discussed. It was decided that the Council of each congregation start looking for two people to serve on that committee. The committee, at first, will meet every month for the first six (6) months. The meeting schedule after the first six months will be revisited by the committee. The terms for the committee members will be for two years. The first term will be one member for one year and other member will be for two years. The terms will be limited to two consecutive terms. The terms will start the first of October of the year. The next meeting will be held August 26 th, 2015 at St. John in Kensington at 7:30 P.M. Meeting was adjourned with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully submitted, Jerald K. Ratliff Secretary By Marcia Bose Mwaramutse (MwahRahMootZAY) Good morning! After traveling 36 hours Tom and I arrived in Kigali, Rwanda on March 27th at 9 p.m. We were met by Ryan, Pastor Kate Warn, Ryan s country

8 coordinator, and Ryan s host father Pastor Athanase. Kigali, Rwanda s capital city, is described as one of the safest and cleanest cities in Africa. Reconciliation through poverty reduction is slowly becoming a reality 20 years after the genocide between the Tutsi and Hutu where it is estimated that 800,000 to 1,000,000 people died in 100 days. April 7 marks the start of 100 days of remembrance. Kigali is also described as a place where new buildings are spotted on skyline as government projects and economic development progress. On March 28th we had breakfast at the hotel in Kigali, walked around the area, and then Pastor Kate came and picked us up and took us to the bus stop. We had lunch with Athanase and then boarded a bus for Kirehe. A note here is that the bus stop area is not paved noting many pot holes from rain runoff. The bus stops are very busy with people finding the right bus and vendors wishing to sell riders drinks, snacks, or fruit while they sit on the bus as people get on and off. There are armed guards at each bus stop, but Ryan says this does not concern him as it is the way of the government to show the people security. Ryan reports there are strict rules about bribes (given or taken) with the police with severe fines and jail time. (This is not the case for Tanzania) The bus is really a mini bus that transports up to 27 people sitting 5 across with people shifting for seats at each bus stop along the way. We had a 3 hour ride to Kirehe (82.6 miles away from Kigali) that included 4 major stops and many road side stops to pick up and drop off passengers. The paved highway is the width of Highway 9 with villages dotted along the roadway with people, bicycles, and motos (motorcycle taxis) along the way. My guardian angel was very tired after this trip. The beautiful countryside involves low altitude plains where rice is grown and mountains with savanna type vegetation. (side note: the grass in the city and villages is cut by hand, no lawn movers). Ryan noted since he has been there the villages along the route are starting to light up as electricity comes to the area. We arrived at the Kirehe Guest House, a new motel that opened 5 months ago. Athanase and Mama Ezra invited us to their home arriving at 6 pm. Ryan had us transport from the motel by motos (motorcycle taxi) that cost around $.60/ride. (one dollar equals 690 franks: glad Ryan understands the currency). Ryan said they usually eat the evening meal around 9 pm so he was unsure if the 6 pm arrival time included a meal. When we arrived Athanase showed us around his small plantation (a few acres) where he grows plantains, bananas, and avocados. He also showed us the two milk cows. Wife Mama Ezra had a feast prepared and set out on the table including baked chicken (they killed one of theirs), beef tips, white rice, potatoes, baked banana (plantains), fresh banana, white bread, peanuts, and warm milk with sugar. They also asked if we wanted an orange Fanta (a drink for special occasions). Some of the neighbors arrived to join us for the meal. A man that works with the hospital AIDS foundation and his wife joined us as well. (He was the man that took Ryan to the hospital when Ryan was sick. He also drove us back to the motel). Before and after the meal Athanase said a prayer. He gave a speech after the meal (Ryan said that speeches are very common), we took pictures with family members, more speeches, exchange of gifts, and more speeches. Tom doesn t like to give unplanned speeches, so I gave a short greeting from us and our church. Women usually don t give speeches, but Ryan thought this was good to show Athanase how our culture can do greetings.

9 Athanase, Mama Ezra, and their 5 children live in a small house (approx. 600 square feet) with a small cook house and outhouse behind it. Most homes have bars on the windows. They have electricity and no running water. Water is bought at the local well for drinking (after filtered) and rain water is used to wash clothes and bathing. Foods are cooked on an open flame and have no refrigeration for leftovers. Their three oldest children go to boarding school with two of them back for a two week break after testing. Ryan explains that the public education is very poor quality so Athanase pays for his children to go to a boarding school with hopes of getting a better education. The family income is derived from 20% of the monthly church offering (about $30), sales of plantains, bananas, and avocado, and money from the YAGM to take care of Ryan. On Palm Sunday we ate breakfast at the hotel and took a moto to church (yes I was in a dress on a motorcycle). The choirs begin singing around 9 am (Ryan has learned to arrive around 10 am) with church over at 12:30 pm (a short service according to Ryan). Edward, a local young man who serves the Lutheran church in Rwanda and who will become ordained this summer, did the sermon and was gracious enough to say parts of it in English so we could understand. We gave the church a banner that had three crosses on it with the first verse of the song The old Rugged Cross written. Edward translated the song. The congregation clapped and greeted us after church. We sat on a wooden bench in the front row and were allowed to take pictures and videos of the choirs. They have a children s choir, a youth choir, and an adult choir. Each song last 7-10 minutes and contains much joyful movements. After lunch at the hotel (with a moto ride back from church to the hotel) we walked with Athanase to the welding school. No students are working on Sunday, but we were able to look around the building. Students are housed near the school living in tight quarters. Ryan believes there are 10 students to one welder and one hack saw. Ryan showed us projects that included repairing a corn grinder and welding a display case to use to show vendors their projects. Ryan would like to see the funds from the ELCA be used for a cutoff saw. They have used funds to buy more materials to use for welding and a welding helmet that they don t want to use. As we have said in the past, Ryan s goal for the school is safety and improving the quality of the products made at the school. They currently sell small cooking stoves, screen doors, and window frames that are becoming competitive in price and quality to other vendors. Change comes slowly, slowly for Ryan. He bought (with his own money: $20 which is 1/5 of his monthly stipend) an outlet and plug in for the welder (currently uses raw wires) only to find out they did not want a plug in and outlet because it kept them from moving the welder to the outside wires. On March 30 we had tea with Athanase and Mama Ezra that included boiled eggs, bananas, white bread, and warm milk and sugar. We walked to bus station and took a bus with Athanase and Mama Ezra to Rwanteru, the community near Kirehe that Ryan helps with the school. We took a tour of the church (more speeches and drinking Fanta or water) and a tour of the school. John Paul, one of the teachers for English that Ryan has been helping, did introductions in the classrooms that teach pre-k to 3rd grade. The children are extremely polite and friendly. Prior to seeing the school, the children ran to greet us and we had many hugs and pictures. The children love having their picture taken and then shown on the camera.

10 We then caught a bus to see Rusomo Falls. It is the rainy season, so we had rain but got many pictures of the falls with Ryan, Athanase, Mama Ezra, and John Paul. We took a 4 hour bus ride back to Kigali (saying a quick goodbye as Athanase and Ezra got off the bus). The remaining part of our travels included stays at Arusha, Ngorongoro National Reserve, the Great Serengeti, and Zanzibar Island off Tanzania with swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving (Ryan) in the Indian Ocean. We bid our goodbyes to Ryan in Kigali on April 8th and returned home April 10th

11 AUGUST BIRTHDAYS 1 Diana Feldmann Carley Ohmstede 2 Jack Benn Sabrina Billinger Kristopher Lehmann 3 Claire Myers 4 Sharyl Billinger 5 Velda Kuhlmann 12 Trace Billinger Hugh Hendrickson Baylee Lehmann Catlin Lehmann Dennis Lehmann 13 Micki Kuhlmann 15 Truitt Kuhlmann Camryn Hutchinson 16 Ashley Maxwell Erin Ludvicek 17 Debby Kingsbury Jody Maxwell 18 Shirley Hartman 19 Debbie Kingsbury 20 Marcia Suchsland 21 Phillip Hardman 22 Lucille Herman 24 Terry Barta Morse Boucher Kent Levin 26 Barbara Wilson 27 Hannah Linn SOUND ACOLYTE CANTOR LECTOR 2 - John T. Brady Allan Leonard 9 - Colton Irene Barbie 16- Jolan Barb. W. Marcia No service here Zion, 30 - Cauy Allan Della ALTAR GUILD: Dorothy & Barb L.; Robert & Diana; Morse & Lucille COMMUNION ASSISTANT: Brad Timmons KITCHEN CHAIRPERSON: Abby Neussendorfer AUGUST BAPTISMAL BIRTHDAYS 2 Melissa Hughes Karen Frieling 5 Hesston Maxwell 6 Barry Baxter Jordan Baxter 14 Eldon Frank Clinton Scott Jacob Scott 15 Lorene Cornwell 22 Sharyl Billinger 23 Debra McHale 24 Gloria Clark 25 Logan Tuxhorn 27 Diana Feldmann 30 Carley Ohmstede AUGUST WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Jerry and Jody Maxwell Morse & Lucille Boucher Brent and Starr Jacobs Brett and Karen Feldmann Dennis & Barbara Lehmann Lindsay and Joel Trinidad Kip and Amy Dunn Terry and Mary L. Barta Daryl & Katherine Lehmann Wyatt and Nora Rhoades Darin and Lori Bortz Larry and Barbara Wilson Robert & Diana Feldmann USHERS GREETERS 2 Dennis H & Burdette & Janet 9 Barry & Janeil Tom & Marcia 16 Wyatt & Nora Dorothy & Corrina 23 No Service Here 30 Robert & Diana Della & Allan

12 2015 AUG Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :00 Worship/S.S. Communion Jacobs family Parish Hall 7:00 WELCA Board 1:00 Outreach 1:30 M.A.Workday Quilting all day PM Smith Center 11:15 Lun. Bunch 12 9:00 Bulletin Smith Center :00 Worship/S.S. Fellowship 6:15 Mutual Min. 7:00 Council 6:30 S.S. Pool Party Quilting all day PM Smith Center 11:15 Lun. Bunch 10:00 SCMA 9:00 Bulletin Smith Center :00 Worship/S.S. Communion Fellowship 1:30 M.A.Workday Quilting all day PM Smith Center 7:30 Women's Birthday Breakfast 9:00 Bulletin Smith Center :00 - P-burg Dinner Quilting all day PM Smith Center 7:30 Parish Council /K-ton 9:00 Newsletter 9:00 Bulletin Smith Center 9:00 Worship/S.S. Fellowship WELCA Gen. Mtg