Faith Connection Newsletter June 2017

Transcription

1 Faith Connection Newsletter June 2017 Exciting Times at Faith Lutheran Church Summer is usually a time to wind down in congregational life with fewer activities and events planned but now, as I am reflecting on the staff trip to the Orange Conference, it seems just the opposite, more energy, more ideas, more possibilities. It seems like a mighty Pentecost wind is blowing as the Holy Spirit continues to revitalize the people of God to share this message of Jesus love with the next generation and to invigorate the community as we gather in worship and service. It is also exciting that we now have a revitalized Social Concerns/Green team expanding and creating new ways to respond to God's love. There are opportunities for everyone to get involved, from recycling to finding ways to help Transitions (The Lutheran Social Services center for victims of sex trafficking)..... Jan Taylor is the Council person serving with this team. There is also a new start to the Congregational Life and Evangelism team working with Council leadership from Cheryl Ashbeck. This team is working with members of the Dream Team and staff to find new ways to meet our neighbors; a Block Bash is being planned for July in conjunction with Vacation Bible School here at Faith. More ways for each one of us to Engage in the ministries of Faith and to reach out to our neighbors and meet them where ever they are on their life s journey. We are inspired by Jesus way of going out and meeting people, engaging them in conversations about their lives and their needs. As we reflect on this, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we see the transformation of church traditions and priorities, new insights into making the faith vital, speaking in and to the language of the culture. Church historians are acknowledging that the church is again in a time of reform. We are beginning to recognize the need to speak in a language the next generation will understand, with a vitality that will make the treasured message of this life giving Jesus relevant in their lives. The Dream Team has been reading, reflecting, praying and now inspiring people to gather in small groups to read Unbinding the Gospel; to be transformed by the Spirit as we talk with each other about the ways Jesus love is inspiring our lives and revitalizing us to live this love out loud and for our neighbors. As the Holy Spirit continues to inspire, lead, pull us into God's future, we never know what direction we will be going next nor what we will experience along the way, the new possibilities, the unexpected turns, the people who will be drawn into our circle, the outcome of our efforts, are all unknown and we follow in faith. These truly are exciting times at Faith Lutheran and God is still leading us forward, as one of my favorite prayers states: "O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN! God's Peace, Pastor Gisele P.S. If the Holy Spirit has been nudging you and you are wondering how to get involved or who to talk to about an idea, please see the poster on the church office window which lists current teams, leaders and council members. 9:00 AM Come Worship with Us WELCA Ice Cream Social Sunday, June 25th Following Worship Freewill Donations Mission Statement Our mission is to be a community of loving people who spread God s grace by teaching God s word, connecting followers in faith, and serving others. How to Contact Us Church Phone Office open 9-3 Monday Thursday Pastor Gisele Berninghaus pastorgisele@yahoo.com Dar Schubert, Secretary secretary@faithofmfld.org Beth Behnke-Seper, Director of Music friendshipgrows@hotmail.com Richard Brunson, Choir Director rbbrunson@gmail.com Kim Vrana, Youth Director kvrana@charter.net Anne Weber, Education & Family Ministry anneyfm16@gmail.com Website faith@faithofmfld.org

2 Faith Education & Making Connections 7 th grade Confirmation Camp Only a few weeks until camp at Waypost! Look out for an coming soon with a few more details about the week at camp! Plan to be in church on Sunday June 11 th for a camp send off. Anyone going to any camp this summer Come to worship at 9am on June 11 th as we send off our 7 th grade confirmation students and anyone else going to any summer camp this summer! Vacation Bible School Kids in Kindergarten to 6 th grade join us July 17th to July 20th for a week of learning, growing, and having fun. This year we will be at Faith Lutheran Church, and partnering again with Good Shepherd here in town. More information coming soon on Registering for VBS! Big Thank You- Thank you to everyone who has taught this year for Sunday School and/or confirmation. Thanks for all your help this year! Also thank you to everyone who helped on celebration Sunday with the carnival for the kids. It was a lot of fun! Block Bash Join us right outside Faith Lutheran Church on July 20 th at 5:30 pm for a fun night for the whole family. There will be games, food, music, and more! The Faith Fire band will be playing some music during the night. Everyone is invited to come, bring a friend! John 10:10 I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. Mission Trip 2017 Orientation June 11 7 PM - meeting for all parents (only) of youth participating in Mission Trip 2017 and Adult Leaders June 18 7 PM meeting for all youth (only) participating in Mission Trip 2017 and Adult Leaders More information about these orientation meetings will be going out to participants via in the next few weeks. Mission trip 2017 will depart on July 22 and return on July 28 FLY would like to give a very special thank you to the Piece Corps Quilters for the beautiful quilts given to our high school Seniors graduating this year. They chose their quilts on Saturday night and were presented with them on Sunday morning during a special portion of our Youth Service on May 14. Congratulations and God s blessings on our graduating Seniors including Noah Behling, Olivia Devadas, McKensie Dietsche, Zach Hanson, Gage Hergert, Tyler Mess, Luke Olsen, Ben Simon and Katelyn Zimmerman. The Mission Trip 2017 Team (all 31 of them) would like to thank the congregation again for its generosity during our many fund raisers this past year. Through your financial support, we have raised the funds necessary to complete our trip to the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation this summer. We look forward to sharing the trip with you through words and pictures during the trip and upon our return. YouthWork s (the organization that coordinates and facilitates the trip for us) theme for this summer is Jesus words from John 10:10 I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. Thank you again to all of the youth and adults that helped with the Feed My Starving Children mobile meal packing in April. We have received word that the food packed at this year s Marshfield Event was shipped to Haiti on May 4 th. It will be used at orphanages and schools.

3 Sign up to share Summer Special Music! If you are interested in sharing some special music during worship this summer please contact Beth at or Would you love to suggest a favorite hymn for a summer service? The Favorite Hymn box is in the Narthex Council Representatives Gary Grassman President, Parish Ed garyg@c21goldkey.com Jim Legge Vice President, Sharing the Faith no Treva Tisdell Secretary, Parish Ed ttisdell@pdcmarshfield.com Bill Olsen Treasurer billolsen@tds.net Karen Bohm Property, W/ELCA dkrbohm@frontier.com Cole Hansen Youth btzchanson@gmail.com John Campbell Technology jkcamp3@gmail.com Thom Gerretsen Worship and Music tgwert@hotmail.com Jan Taylor Social Concerns/Green Team jantaylor15@gmail.com Cheryl Ashbeck Congregational Life, Evangelism clynnashbeck@gmail.com Tis the season for spring cleaning and Garage Sales! The Piece Corps can always use donations of sheets for quilt backs and fillers. Flannel sheets are needed to make diapers for Baby Care Kits. Other items needed for the kits include onesies, cotton t-shirts, sleepers or gowns, receiving blankets, socks, sweaters, caps, hooded sweatshirts (size 3 months 24 months). Donations can be left in the Piece Corps collection box in the Narthex. Thank you for helping us! Your donations are much appreciated! NOTE FROM THE TREASURER: General giving thru May 21st 2017 $ 129, Principle loan payments 2017 (6,285.74) 2017 expenses thru May 21st 2017 (135,294.18) Deficit for 2017 (12,149.25) Loan Balance 4/17/17 $7, RESTRICTED DONATIONS AND SEASONAL GIVINGS PAID OUT THUS FAR World Hunger $ SOS food Pantry Malawi Lutheran Social Services 1, Faith Lutheran Youth 3, Intl Women s Leadership Initiative 2, Human Trafficking Shelter 1, Total $9, Council Briefs from May 18th: *Mission teams will be asked to provide input on what to feature on the Church's new website, designed by Clover Sites. Central Lutheran, Chippewa Falls, also uses Clover Sites, and its site is at *The Council approved a budget for a summer block party for our church building's neighbors. Date not set. *More requests from community groups are asking to use our building. The Council informally decided the following: Enforce the use of our application/request form, filed at least 30 days prior to the event; the Property Committee could grant permission for smaller activities, while the Council would approve larger ones. *In an effort to improve communication, the Council discussed the need for an organizational "flow chart" near the church office and on the new website. It would include key staffers, teams, etc., and whom reports to whom. Teams will be asked to provide chairperson/council rep contacts (names, s). *We have a full length movie on this fall's 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. The Council referred this to the Congregational Life team, perhaps inviting persons from other churches as well. *It was reported that $1, was given at Lenten Soup Suppers, to be donated to Transitions, a Lutheran Social Services facility that helps victims of human sex trafficking.

4 Sundaes on Sunday June 25th, after the 9:00 am service Please join us for an ice cream social after the church service. You can build your own sundae with strawberries, hot fudge, or caramel, whipped topping and sprinkles. Sherbet will also be available. This event is sponsored by the W/ELCA. Freewill offering will help with sending a representative to the Triennial convention. Summer Building Schedule In the summer the building hours will be the same as the office hours unless a group is using the building in the evening. The building and office will be open 9 am 3 pm Monday Thursday Both are closed on Friday and Saturday If you need to use a room for any time other than this schedule, especially on weekends, please be sure to confirm your scheduled time with Dar by noon. ** Also remember if there is nothing scheduled on the calendar in the evening the church will be locked. Thanks for your cooperation! Sign-up if you are available to help out with Worship Services. Sheets will be in the Narthex in June. Thanks for your help. Acolytes: There will be a sign-up sheet in the Narthex if you too if you would like to volunteer to acolyte this summer. Have you ever wondered WHY we do something during worship... but were afraid to ask? "This is Us" Where did the word Trinity come from and why can't I find it in the Bible? What is the purpose of Holy Communion and do we need it every week? What does the Holy Spirit look like? How can Jesus be God and the Son of God at the same time? Do you have questions like these? Do you have friends who ask you questions about the church or the Bible and you don't know how to respond? You are not alone. We will be gathering on Wednesday evenings in June to discuss questions like these and other questions that come to mind. This is an opportunity to gather with other members, with people who are curious but uncertain, with seekers and skeptics and everyone in between. Pastor Gisele will lead the discussions, there will be no tests and no foolish questions, only opportunities to wonder and ask and grow and learn what we believe or what you believe. "This is Us" is a place for everyone to feel welcome. Please plan now to attend, invite your friends, co-workers - all doubters, seekers and even those who are long time members but don't recall everything they learned in confirmation class, ALL are welcome. Questions can be submitted prior to Wednesdays In June 5:30 Snacks Provided There is an Ask the Pastor Box in the Narthex if you would like to put a question in ahead of time. Remember, there are no foolish questions. I want to express my appreciation for all my hosts and hostesses for volunteering their time for hosting coffee hour. Thank you so much. Also, my volunteers who baked many treats and goodies for coffee hour, I thank you also very much. I think everyone liked having the time for fellowship in between services. We will not be having coffee hour during the summer months. We will have coffee hour again in the Fall. Thank you to all the volunteers. Have a wonderful summer! - Lisa Behling.

5 What is Elder Abuse? Elder Abuse refers to intentional or negligent acts by a caregiver or trusted: individual that causes (or potentially causes) harm to an older adult. June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month June 15 th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Personal Development Center has services available to older adults and family members who are experiencing any type of elder abuse issues. PDC Building Strong Support for Elders Do you have a passion for helping people? The Personal Development Center, Inc. (PDC), a United Way partner program, is looking for individuals in the Marshfield area to fill the role of Volunteer as a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate and/or LAP (Lethality Assessment Program) for its emergency response phone. This rewarding position gives you the opportunity to directly help victims/survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence. Volunteers are needed to fill shifts between the hours of 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, as well as from 4:30 p.m. Friday though 8 a.m. Monday. Training is provided. For more information, please contact PDC at The Personal Development Center, Inc., a United Way partner program, invites you to attend the 2nd annual Block Party Event on Saturday, June 24, 2017 from 11am to 3pm. The family friendly event will feature music, children s events, food, silent auction and a raffle. The event is located at 214 West 2nd Street in Marshfield and is held rain or shine. For more information call PDC at , go to or find us on Facebook at Breaking through Silence on our Block! Summary of the W/ELCA Planning Meeting on May 15, 2017 Devotions/prayer-Karen Nursery Cleaning-Wednesday June 14 starting at 9:30 am. All are welcome to come! Ice Cream Social-June 25 after 9:00 am service. Free will offering. Proceeds will help with sending a representative to the Triennial convention. Faith Fire Concert- Pat Anderson will check on baskets for auction Fall retreat-october 28th here at Faith Next planning meeting- September 11, 5:30 pm. Pizza Planning meeting Did you Know...The Triennial Gathering logo is the joyful, organic shape of a butterfly or is it a flower? It represents transformation and growth. Splashes of color honoring the four elements (earth, water, fire, air) spill outside the lines to create an uplifting symbol that is bright, bold and vibrant. WANTED Covers of used greeting cards, crayons and candles. The cards will be used for senior activities. Crayons and candles are used to make fire starters. There is a box in the Narthex for these items. If you have questions call Jean Abel