The Scribe. Black Forest Lutheran Church March, 2017 Vol. I

Transcription

1 Black Forest Lutheran Church March, 2017 Vol. I The Scribe Ash Wednesday March 1 at 7:00p Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. Lent is the 40 day season of prayer, learning and reflection prior to Easter. On Ash Wednesday we receive a cross of ashes on our forehead as a reminder that we are not here forever. We are dust, and to dust we shall return. Rediscover Jesus This year we are providing the devotional book for you called Rediscover Jesus. Author Matthew Kelly provides 2-4 page chapters to guide our thoughts through 40 days of Lent. Begin reading on Ash Wednesday and read a chapter a day (not weekends). Lenten Wednesdays On Wednesdays of Lent we will gather for Soup Supper at 6:00p in the fellowship hall and then meet for worship at 7:00p. We will lift our voices in the Holden Evening Prayer services and focus our thoughts on themes related to our devotional book, Rediscover Jesus. Sign-up in the fellowship hall bulletin board. Leadership Retreat Saturday, March 4 8:30a-12:30p What is God calling you to be? And do? How do we follow Jesus today? What does it mean to be his disciple? Come join our church council and other leaders as we focus on these questions with Ray Scheck, a Lutheran pastor from Maryland.

2 Ash Wednesday-March 1 service at 7:00p Soup Supper and Lenten Service begins March 8 6:00p-Lenten Soup Supper 7:00p-Lenten Worship It has been our tradition for many years to come together on Wednesday evenings before the Lenten service to share a bowl of soup and some bread. It is a good time of eating simply and communing with one another during this season of reflection. Sign-up on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall to bring a pot of soup or a loaf of bread and join us for these meaningful evenings. Choir Practices- March 1 (Ash Wednesday) is at 8:00p Beginning March 8 choir practice is at 7:50p through April 5. Lenten Offerings This year s Lenten offerings will be collected for our Good Samaritan Fund. The Social Ministry Committee administers this fund whose purpose is intended to provide funds to predominately Coloradoans who have suffered a personal or natural disaster. The broad areas of assistance include help for natural or man-made disasters, people in need, health problems, or housing needs. Over the past several years, contributions to this fund were used to buy trees for Black Forest fire victims, a foster parent who had cystic fibrosis, and victims of the Canadian wildfires (they had helped us in the past). Recently, the Social Ministry Committee spent money from this fund to help Colleen Little Moon in Pine Ridge purchase a used car when hers broke down. We really appreciate your contributions during Lent to this fund!

3 Book Stew has begun it is set-up in the fellowship hall! Proceeds will go to Springs Rescue Mission. THANK YOU! Senior Social Mar. 22, Apr. 26, May 24 Join us for our monthly get together to socialize, play dominoes, or do crafts. There is no obligation to participate in the games. Individuals bring their own crafts to work on. Others use the opportunity to just sit and talk. Light snacks are provided. Daylight Savings Time Move your clocks forward 1 hour. Sunday, March 12.

4 Intergenerational Event March 19 at 9:30a Meet, greet and connect with other members of the congregation young and old. Come and join us! HABITAT FOR HUMANITY APOSTLES BUILD This year Thrivent and the local Lutheran Churches have joined other churches in Colorado Springs to build a home for the Rodriguez-Cruz family in the Fountain area. Two churches are being assigned each Saturday to provide volunteer help. The work date is March 11th. Location is in Fountain. As in the past there will be a morning session and an afternoon session. Each church is asked to provide 5 workers for each session. Sign-up sheet for Habitat is in the fellowship hall. Further information contact Ray Sherrier.

5 What the Book Group is reading for March The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis Discussion on Wed., March 15th at 1 PM This short book is a classic of Christian literature and a masterpiece of satire that has entertained and enlightened readers the world over with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life and sin from the vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to "Our Father Below." At once wildly comic, deadly serious, and strikingly original, C.S. Lewis gives us the correspondence of the worldly-wise old devil to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. All are welcome to join us at the church for discussion and refreshments Copies of the book on loan from the Pikes Peak Library District Book Club Collection are available in the church office to be signed out. Please call Nancy Lord at with any questions. Attention Thrivent Financial Members If you are eligible for 2016 Choice Dollars, it s time to direct them! They will expire March 31, It s easy to do on line, just access your Thrivent account at Thrivent.com. Another reminder - It s a new year and every Thrivent member is eligible for TWO Action Teams with funding of $250. Talk to Ed Story or Mary Montie to get started. If you don t have an idea on how to use $250, Social Ministry can supply one!

6 All Sign-ups First Communion Retreat Saturday, April 1 10:00a-2:00p All 3rd graders and up. Easter Lilies Sign-up for Easter lilies has been posted on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall. Cost is $10.00, put in offering plate or on office desk. PRINT information on the sign-up sheet. Black Forest Cares needs Hams! Would you like to donate a ham for an Easter dinner basket? Please let Lydia know or sign-up. Hams need to be at the church by April 9.

7 Palm Sunday-April 9 Kids gather in the fellowship hall prior to worship for Palm procession. Maundy Thursday Worship-April 13 at 7:00p Good Friday Worship-April 14 at 7:00p Easter Sunday-April 16 6:00a Sunrise Service 7:00 Breakfast 8:00 Worship 9:45 Easter Egg Hunt 10:30 Worship Easter Morning Breakfast Sunday, April 16 at 7:00a This is a fundraiser for Youth Mission trip and Confirmation Camp. We need your help to bring food items and/or cook breakfast on Easter morning. Sign-up coming soon!

8 A Special Thanks from Pine Ridge & Colleen Little Moon As some members remember, our congregation has been supporting the people of the Oglala Lakota Native American reservation at Pine Ridge, South Dakota for roughly the last 20 years. The area is among the poorest in the US. Rob Martin, a former member of our congregation had been the most recent advocate and leader of our support. Over the past years, many of you have performed numerous construction projects, provided supplies for school-aged children and youth or supported anti-suicide efforts and drug resistance training. At Christmas we led clothing and toy drives that were driven to Pine Ridge and distributed. Your gifts of your time, talents and treasures were very much appreciated. One of our contacts there in the Pine Ridge area was a woman named Colleen Little Moon. Colleen has been leading an often uphill battle to help the children and youth in the area. Colleen continues to overcome the many challenges and continues working with Rob Martin. Rob is now leading the support effort from his new congregation. As Black Forest Lutheran Church now steps away from our ministry to help the Lakota Sioux, here is a short note of thanks from Rob: Thanks to BFLC for all the support you ve provided to the Lakota people over the past 20 years. It may not have seemed to make a difference, but I can assure you, IT DID! Take care and God Bless all of you at Black Forest Lutheran Church!!!!! Please keep Rob, Colleen and the Lakota Sioux in your prayers as Rob continues the mission begun here some years ago. Missed a Sermon? Listen at bflchurch.org

9 HELP US HELP YOU!!! We would all like to think crisis or death will not befall us but it will. BFLC would like to be there for you and for your family. Please let us know a good point of contact for you should be we need to reach someone on your behalf in case of emergency or death. Call or the office with this information. Your name Your point of contact and their relationship to you Their phone number and address Thank you for helping us to be there for you. Dear Congregation, Thank you very much for your support, love and care for our youth ministry. The youth and I deeply appreciate your participation in making the Sweetheart dinner a continued success. We thank you for your prayers, attendance, donations of money as well as items to decorate. Your BFLC Youth Please pick up your card table in the fellowship hall, thank you for bringing them.

10 Didi in the Congo By Ed Storey It sounds like Didi and Serafina are both well and healthy in Boma. Didi is teaching at a theological school part time. The school is 100km (60 miles) from his home, over dirt roads. This is an opportunity for the students to have another qualified instructor. There will be some March visitors in Africa. Early in the month, Didi and Serafina are going to a conference between the NALC, the Mekane Yesus Church and World Mission Prayer League. The conference is in Ethiopia & they will be there for 3 days. After the conference the Africa Director for the WMPL will travel back to Boma with Didi. Dr. William Obaga is the African director and he will be coming to Boma to learn about Didi s plans to start a refuge for battered women and orphans. Political tensions are still high in the DRC. As the government fails in its democratic process, violence breaks out in many places. Didi is still in need of the generator, as the power fails almost every day. Black Forest is in the process of sending $1000 to help pay for the generator. Ethiopia is in the northeast corner of Africa and Boma is in the Southwest. It will be a long trip and African airlines are not as safe as those in the US. Pray for the safety of Didi and Serafina in their many travels. Phone Scams-Be prepared! If you receive a phone call from a family member in trouble asking for money be careful. Lots of scammers are at work. This month another of our BFLC members got such a call. Double check the information make sure you know who you are talking to.

11 March 1 March 8 March 11 March 12 Ash Wednesday Soup Dinners begin Lenten Worship Habitat for Humanity Daylight Savings Dear BFLC, On behalf of LMVFM, I want to thank you for your donation of $ to our ministry. Lutheran Military Vets and Families Ministries Council Members-2017 Council Officers Dave Reily-President Kathy Schwindt-Vice President Dave Henderson-Treasurer Secretary Council Members Amy White-Christian Education Fran Falldorf-Congregational Life Barry Cavanaugh-Evangelism Dave Henderson-Finance Kathy Schwindt-Mission Endowment Fund Al Kobilan-Long Range Planning Patsy Wurster-Mutual Ministry John Poss-Property Dave Reily-Social Ministry Mike Regennitter-Stewardship Michele Robinson-Worship

12 Confirmation Camp-June 4-6 VBS July 2-7 El Paso Mission Trip July 8-15 El Paso Mission Trip BFLC and Cristo Rey have been partners for almost two decades. Over the past few years, BFLC has consistently sent adults and youth to be part of the El Paso Border Immersion Program each summer. The El Paso Mission trip is not only an opportunity to strengthen relationship between the two congregations and their youth ministries, but also a chance for our youth to learn about the immigration realities and life on the borders from the various sides. Besides, the youth of BFLC will have a chance to grow in their faith and love for God and in serving his people as they lead the Vacation Bible School program for that week. This is a great opportunity for the youth to grow in worship, ministry, evangelism, discipleship and ministry. Dates: July 8-15 Let Sedra know if you are interested.

13 OUR STAFF Pastor - Kenneth D. Hohag Director of Ministries - Jan Duncan Youth & Ed Director - Sedra Fitahiana Raz Administrative Assistant - Lisa Regennitter Organist - Barbara Gurnett Senior Choir Director - Melanie Hohag Ministers - All Members Weekday Hours 9:00am-2:00pm OUR HOURS Tuesday-Friday (Closed Mondays) Sunday Hours Phone: Fax: bflc@bflchurch.org Web site: bflchurch.org SUNDAY WORSHIP SUNDAY SCHOOL SUMMER WORSHIP 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. 9:30 am (September - May) 9:00 am (June August) Contemporary Worship Schedule 8:00 & 10:30 am 1 st Sunday of each Month 10:30 am - 3 rd Sunday of each Month Communion is offered at all services. OUR MISSION Our mission is to reach out to the world with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ through worship, education, service and witness.