From the Pastor s Desk

Transcription

1 Risen Savior Lutheran Church March 2017 From the Pastor s Desk We do not live to ourselves and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord s. Romans 14:7-8 Dear Risen Savior Community, So far, 2017 has been a year of momentous change in our nation. This year also promises to bring numerous change to our own lives. It is good to remember in such turbulent times, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord s. As Christians, we are secure in God s love and care no matter what may be going on around us in the world. Jesus Christ is the center that holds us together. Greg and I have decided to downsize this year. If you have ever sold a big house and moved into a much smaller place, you know what a lot of work is involved. Thank God for people who make it their business to help people along in such big transitions! We covet your prayers as we plan to make this move sometime during Lent. Somehow, though stressful, it feels quite appropriate, to unburden ourselves of years and years of accumulation and to simplify our lifestyle so we can spend more time focusing on priorities appropriate for this time in our lives. Lent (March 1-April 15 this year) is the season in the church year in which we are invited to spend intentional time focusing on fasting and repentance as we begin our journey to Easter. How we fast leaves much to interpretation. We may choose a traditional form of fasting from certain foods. We may choose a non-traditional form INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Pastor s Desk... 1 Let s Write Cards... 2 Seniors lunch... 4 Guest preachers... 5 Spring Basket Raffle... 6 Keeping a Holy Lent... 7 and much more! SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST Meet our new members Women-in-Transition training College Connection

2 Let s Write Cards Jo Kruse is starting a monthly meeting to write cards for church birthdays, anniversaries, get well, thinking of you, and sympathy, if needed. We will meet on the third Thursday of each month at 10 AM. If you don t want to participate, but support this project, you might think about helping with the postage. The cards are being donated by Tammy Hyndman, Sharon Redders, Sonja Wiltse, and Jo Kruse. We may also include some of the cards for Vets. If you would like to help, please let Jo know. of fasting from certain attitudes that are not beneficial for our spiritual growth. Some may choose to fast from technology! Whatever we give up for Lent, the goal is the same to make more space for attention to God in our lives. Some people find adding on a spiritual discipline or service project is also meaningful for their spiritual growth. Whatever you may choose to do, may you find yourself getting in touch with a deeper part of your soul and the relationships that may impact. Every Wednesday evening during Lent, up to Holy Week, we are offering special services at 7 PM. As we approach the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformation, we plan to focus on fundamentals of the faith for On March 1, Ash Wednesday, w e w ill begin our journey to the baptismal waters of Easter. The sign of the ashes suggests our human mortality and frailty, but what seems like an ending is really an invitation to live more fully by making each day a new beginning. Morning by morning new mercies I see, the psalmist extols! Come be blessed with a look inward and forward, trusting in the love of Jesus Christ who makes us whole. On March 8 we will begin a series of brief Wednesday evening services based on the following topics from Luther s Small Catechism: March 8 Ten Commandments How do we fulfill our part of God s covenant as God s people? March 15 Creed How do we express belief? How do we share our faith? March 22 Lord s Prayer What better way to pray than using the words Jesus taught? March 29 Baptism How do we die to our old selves and sin? April 5 Holy Communion How does sacrifice shape our lives? We hope you will join us for these brief, informal, informative and hopefully inspirational Wednesday evening services as part of your Lenten experience this year. Serving Christ together, 2

3 Light of the Cross Reporting January, 2017 Activity The LOTC Pantry again served 212 families in January, providing 12,075 meals during the month. The families served consisted of 805 individuals, including 73 children 5 or younger, 233 children ages 6-17, 77 served were over 60, 76 were disabled, and 20 were veterans including one female veteran. Of those served, 110 of the families were classified "Female Head of Household," and 29 families were 1st time clients. All families served met Federal poverty standards. To meet January needs, the Pantry received 1,000 pounds of food from the Associated Churches Food Bank Network, 313 pounds from the partner churches, 1,941 pounds from TEFAP, and purchased an additional 1,841 pounds of food items from the Community Harvest Food Bank Network at a cost of $ Additionally, the Pantry purchased hams to distribute for Easter at a cost of $ The Jefferson Middle School Cheerleaders held a food drive and donated 161 pounds of food to the Pantry, along with a number of fleece hats, scarves, and glove sets. The Pantry Volunteer team, 20 in all, donated a total of 212 hours of service in January. PARTNER ASSIGNMENTS FOR MARCH Faith: Soups (No Tomato Please) Gethsemane: Canned Veggies & Cereal Messiah: Crackers and Canned Fruit Risen Savior: Pasta Sauce and Noodles January Finances from Nicole Fleischman, Treasurer Contribution Income - $11,839 Non-Contribution Income - $453 Designated Mission Income - $119 Total Expenses - $11,573 Position Open We are seeking a skilled person to fill our part time Business and Communication Manager position. Should you know of anyone who is capable in both computer bookkeeping, web matters, and publishing, please let Joe Hyndman or Pr. Jeanie know. In the meantime we are being well served by volunteers and temporary staff, Kirsten Smith (remotely). 3

4 The Seniors The Seniors (anyone over 50 and they don t have be a member of Risen Savior) are celebrating St. Patrick s Day on Thursday, March 9, at Flanagan s. We will meet at 11:30 am at the restaurant. If you want to carpool, meet at the church at 11:15 am. Please let me know by March 7 if you are attending so I can confirm our reservation. If you have any question, please see Jo at church or call her at (260) Annual Church Audit We are grateful that Chris and Julie Walda have made themselves available to Risen Savior to conduct our Annual Church Audit again this year. We have instituted several of their recommendations from last year and are anxious to hear what they will report this year! Special thanks to Judy Bruns, Nicole Fleischman, Joe Hyndman and Kirsten Smith for all their fine recordkeeping work on our behalf. Welcome New Members We are thrilled to welcome new members to Risen Savior the Cody family. Dr. Steve teaches Art History at IPFW while his wife Maryca stays home to care for Isabella Bella, a precocious 3-year old, and her precious baby sister Amelia Millie, who was baptized at Risen Savior on February 26. 4

5 Women-in-Transition Trainings and Retreat Women, please plan to attend the Women-in-Transition training programs on Sunday, March 5, and Sunday, March 26, from 2 3:30 PM. Pastor Patti Jimerson will be leading these training sessions to help prepare us to deal most helpfully with the women from Victory House and Redemption House at the all day retreat on Saturday, April 22, at Matea Park. This is the final event made available by the grant received last year. Please let Cleo Swagger or Judy Bruns know if you are able to attend the trainings and/or help out at Matea Park. Thanks. March Guest Preachers Pr. Leisebet Gravley will preach at the Lenten Wednesday Evening Services on March 15 & 22 at 7 PM. Pr. Jeff Hawkins will preside at the Worship Service on Sunday, March 19 at 9 AM. College Connection We have eight students in College Connection! They are John, Emma, and Ellie Hyndman, Jack and Will Sims, Ben Lutz, Emma Sullivan, and Matthew Hinkleman. From now until Sunday, March 26, we are collecting granola bars, chips, candy, gum, gift cards and any other snacks you think college kids would like! Snack suggestions from the kids are on the College Connection bulletin board outside the sanctuary. Snack donations can be put in the basket underneath the College Connection board. Gift card and cash donations can be put in the College Connection mailbox in the office or given to Pam Sullivan. 5

6 Recycling change to note There is a change to what we recycle at Risen Savior. We no longer accept batteries, but you can still drop off your new and used printer cartridges, cell phones, laptops, and tablets in the box on the shelves in front of the preschool office. You can also recycle paper in the Paper Gator in the parking lot. These programs benefit Risen Savior. You can drop off aluminum cans in the boxes in the kitchen; proceeds for these go to Habitat for Humanity. Spring Basket Raffle coming April 30 It s back by popular demand! We had such great fun and success with the Basket Raffle last year we are doing it again to raise money for another worthy cause children and youth! That s right! Half the proceeds will go towards our preschool scholarship fund to help young families who may find they need support getting their kids a wonderful preschool education at Risen Savior Preschool. The other half will go to our Youth Gathering Fund to help our Risen Savior middle and high school kids be able to attend the huge ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston next summer. So here s the process! Pick a theme for a basket, like Movie Night Out or Baker s Delight or whatever you think up! Then get your gang, your family, friends, or small group or committee at church to help fill the basket. If you need a basket, we have a few at church you might use or else hit the Easter sales! We ask that all baskets be delivered to the church by Monday, April 17, so we can have them on display for bidding for two weeks! The Preschool plans to join us for church on Sunday, April 30, for their Spring celebration in worship; the Basket Raffle drawing will take place during Coffee Fellowship that day. Please note: Ticket sales will be available most days in the preschool or church offices from April 9 to the start of worship at 9 am on April 30! More details will follow in the April newsletter! 6

7 40 ideas for keeping a holy Lent (from Nadia Bolz-Weber, and the House for All Sinners and Saints) Day 1: Pray for your enemies Day 2: Walk, carpool, bike or bus it Day 3: Don t turn on the car radio Day 4: Give $20 to a non-profit of your choosing Day 5: Take 5 minutes of silence at noon Day 6: Look out the window until you find something of beauty you had not noticed before Day 7: Give 5 items of clothing to Goodwill Day 8: No bitching day Day 9: Do someone else s chore Day 10: Buy a few $5 fast food gift cards to give to homeless people you encounter Day 11: Call an old friend Day 12: Pray the Paper (pray for people and situations in today s news) Day 13: Read Psalm Day 14: Pay a few sincere compliments Day 15: Bring your own mug Day 16: Educate yourself about human trafficking Day 17: Forgive someone Day 18: Internet diet Day 19: Change one light in your house to a compact florescent Day 20: Check out morning and evening prayer at Day 21: Ask for help Day 22: Tell someone what you are grateful for Day 23: Introduce yourself to a neighbor Day 24: Read Psalm Day 25: Bake a cake Day 26: No shopping day Day 27: Light a virtual candle Day 28: Light an actual candle Day 29: Write a thank you note to your favorite teacher Day 30: Invest in canvas shopping bags Day 31: Use Freecycle Day 32: Donate art supplies to your local elementary school Day 33: Read John 8: Day 34: Worship at a friend s mosque, synagogue or church and look for the beauty Day 35: Confess a secret Day 36: No sugar day where else is there sweetness in your life? Day 37: Give $20 to a local non-profit Day 38: Educate yourself about a saint Day 39: Pray for peace Day 40: Pray for your enemies (you probably have new ones by now) then decide which of these exercises you ll keep for good 7

8 Fundraising help from you! March Anniversaries Mar Norm & Nancy Schnabel (1952) Mar Sam & Kay Harder (1979) If you don t see your anniversary listed, it s because we don't have it on file. Please share! Scrip Program The Scrip program is a win-win. Using the order form in the bulletin, pick what gift cards you want. Total the amount, and either write a check to Risen Savior or pay by cash. Give the order and payment to Judy Bruns or put in the box by preschool office. The next Sunday your cards will be given to you. You get the cards with no running around and the church makes some money. 8 March Birthdays Mar. 4 Mar. 6 Mar. 9 Mar. 11 Mar. 20 Mar. 22 Mar. 25 Mar. 26 Mar. 28 Mar. 31 Click the picture for the latest newsletter from the Indiana-Kentucky Synod s Bishop Bill Gafkjen. Kim Miller Paul Buit Chuck Chaffee Samantha Hinkleman Deb Hinkleman Norma Johnston Jim Shuff Neil Sloffer Sally Hebbeler Nelson Hornick If you don't see your birthday listed, it s because we don t have it on file. Please share!

9 March Calendar Wednesday, Mar. 1 7:30 AM Men s Prayer group 10:30 AM Bible Study 7 PM Ash Wednesday service Thursday, Mar. 2 6:30 PM Bible Study Sunday, Mar. 5 9 AM Worship followed by Coffee Fellowship 2 PM Women in Transition training 6:30 PM Confirmation Monday, Mar. 6 7 PM Council meeting Tuesday, Mar. 7 Ministerium in N. Manchester Wednesday, Mar. 8 7:30 AM Men s Prayer group 10:30 AM Bible Study 7 PM Lenten Service Thursday, Mar. 9 11:30 AM Seniors Flannigan s 6:30 PM Bible Study Sunday, Mar AM Worship followed by Coffee Fellowship 6:30 PM Confirmation Monday, Mar :30 AM Preschool Board Mtg. Wednesday, Mar. 15 7:30 AM Men s Prayer Group 10:30 AM Bible Study 7 PM Lenten Service Thursday, Mar. 16 6:30 PM Bible Study Sunday, Mar AM Worship followed by Coffee Fellowship 6:30 PM Confirmation Monday, Mar. 20 Newsletter deadline Wednesday, Mar. 22 7:30 AM Men s Prayer Group 10:30 AM Bible Study Thursday, Mar. 23 6:30 PM Bible Study Sunday, Mar AM Worship Baptism & New Member reception 2 PM Women in Transition training 6:30 PM Confirmation Wednesday, Mar. 27 7:30 AM Men s Prayer group 10:30 AM Bible Study 7 PM Lenten Service Thursday, Mar. 28 6:30 PM Bible Study Staff Listing Pr. Jeanie Barnes - Interim Pastor home cell jbarnes@risensavioron line.org Aaron Smith - Liturgical Coordinator, Music Director, Musician asmith@risensavioronl ine.org Kirsten Smith - Communications ksmith@risensavioronl ine.org Debbie LaBelle - Preschool Director preschool@frontier.co m Sheryl Fry - Preschool teacher, 18 mo. Petronella Eloff - Preschool teacher, 2 yrs. Annette DeRoche - Preschool teacher, 3 yrs. Tina Fischer - Preschool teacher, Pre-K Jack and Mary Cox - Custodians 9

10 Risen Savior Lutheran Church Our Mission: We come together, welcoming all, to worship and grow in faith, and we go to serve in Christ s name Council President - Joe Hyndman Vice President - Dave Klein Secretary - Andrew Lutz Financial Sec. - Nicole Fleischman Hospitality - Jo Kruse Property - Warren Eddy Stewardship - Judy Bruns Worship - Pam Sullivan Communications - Mary Shuff Youth - Deb Hinkleman Education - Cleo Swager Risen Savior Lutheran Church 8010 W. Jefferson Boulevard Fort Wayne, IN ksmith@risensavioronline.org office@risensavioronline.org