Grace at a Glance- June 2017

Transcription

1 Grace at a Glance- June 2017 Member of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ We're on a Mission--Come Join Us! On a mission to grow in our faith... On a mission to reach out to others... On a mission to declare God's praises... Keeping Up with the Calendar: June 4: June 9: June 11: June 13: June 18: June 20: June 23: June 24: June 25: WORSHIP TIME -9:15 a.m. (changes for the summer) ( NO Sunday school - until September) Worship at 9:15 a.m. Confirmation Sunday Women s bible Study at 4 p.m. Worship w/holy Communion at 9:15 a.m. Women of Grace at 10:00 a.m. Worship at 10:15 a.m. Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. Women s Bible Study at 4:00 p.m. Church in reserve for Aschebrook wedding. (In case of inclement weather) (Church Office closed on Fridays) Worship w/holy Communion at 9:15 a.m. CONFIRMATION SUNDAY JUNE 4, :15 a.m. WORSHIP Jaxon Bulgrin, Ethan Meissner, Abbigail Mitchell, Madelyn Olson, Justin Post, Ben Salzwedel and Adam Zee OVERFLOW JULY 23 28, 2017 at Marshfield School Forest! Get your applications and authorizations in- you can get a copy on the table in the gathering space or on the website! VBS mornings and mission work in the afternoon, Join us, we are on a mission. Grace Lutheran Church and Child Care Center (a congregation of LCMC, Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) Highway 10 West, Marshfield, WI Rev. Mark Sabin, Interim Pastor pastor glc@tds.net Karla DeLeske, Office Manager gracemarshfield@tds.net Grace Lutheran Website: LCMC People on a mission The vision of the LCMC is that every church would be: 1) People of Prayer 2) Mission Minded 3) Connected to One Another 4) Trained and Equipped for Ministry. In this Issue: Keeping Up with the: Calendar pg. 1 Council pg. 2-3 Family pg. 4 Financials pg. 5 Ministries pg. 6 News pg. 7 Pastor pg. 8 June 2017 Page 1

2 Keeping Up with the Council: President s Corner Hello Grace Lutheran! Endurance and perseverance are two words that I would use to best describe the Call Committee and its ongoing work to find a permanent pastor for our congregation. I would also add the word patience to this list if I were to describe the congregation. When I hear the words endurance and perseverance, I immediately think of long distance running. There was a time in my not too distant past when long distance running was my passion. It started in the military with mandatory runs, then 10K s on my own, half-marathons, full-marathons and eventually an ultra-marathon. All of the training and races along the way built up my endurance and gave me confidence that I would somehow persevere. It wasn t always fun and it wasn t always pain-free, but, it was part of what was necessary if I wanted to continue to progress in my running. I don t bring this up to talk about myself, but only because I think it s a good analogy of what our personal and corporate faith journeys look like. There will be times when we seem to run effortlessly and there will be times when it seems really hard and challenging. As we read scripture, we should be encouraged: James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance Hebrews 10:36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance Colossians 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience Please continue to thank God for blessing us with so much. Pray for personal endurance, perseverance and patience. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit Romans 15:13 Your brother in Christ, Mike Lawyer (Council President) June 2017 Page 2

3 Keeping Up with the Council: COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 16, 2017 Call Meeting to Order Present: Marlene Broeske, Sheri Denowski, Rodney Dix, Larry Gilbertson, Mary Gilbertson, Mike Lawyer, Ezra Schier, Randy Schier Absent: none Prayer by Mike Lawyer Devotions Sheri Denowski: A Place of Rest is the Source of Strength Larry Gilbertson scheduled for June Secretary's Minutes - no changes or additions Treasurer's Report Larry Gilbertson Pastor's Report - willing to meet with Council - will be with us at least through June 30 - discussed call rejection Team Reports Building and Maintenance Teams: Motion by Sheri Denowski to return the (flower/weed) garden to lawn grass; seconded by Mary Gilbertson. Motion passed. Discussed roofing situation. Decided to get progress chart up in narthex. Connect Groups: Sheri D reported frustrations from group leaders regarding lack of response from group members. Calls will be made to determine which members wish to remain on a connect group. Education and Youth Teams: Discussed Bible Study groups, etc. Mission and Outreach Teams: Stewardship and Finance Team: Include preliminary budget creation. Worship Teams: Old Business Restore Sabbatical Fund monies Karla has restored funds used for candidate interviews to the sabbatical fund. Motion to freeze fund at $ there is $2400 from general fund put into this fund (8 yrs.@ $300/yr.) and $1551 came from other donations (needs to stay in the fund as given for that purpose). If stopping general fund additions at $ No monies would be returned to the general fund at this time. Total of Sabbatical fund at this time is $ (this would cover a pastor s salary for less than one month at our current budget). OK to leave at this total? [Karla, please put the $951 into the general fund leaving just $3000 per minutes of April 18] New Business Holiday pay - the GLCCC board voted to add Holiday pay for their employees for Christmas, New Year and the 4 th of July when the holiday falls during the work week. Would we like to extend/approve this benefit to our Office Manager? [Karla, have you ever been given a formal job description? If so, please give us a copy.] Karla requesting vacation days for May 24, 25 and June 14, 15. Larry made a motion to approve, and Mary seconded it. Motion passed. re-evaluate pastor compensation package table to next month review Pastor Scott's exit interview points table to next month Rodney Dix made a motion to adjourn; Larry seconded it. Motion passed; meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Next meeting date: Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. June 2017 Page 3

4 Keeping Up with the Family: Anniversaries Mike and Katie Johansson 6/01/2013 Chuch and Kerri Swiggum 6/01/2002 Rich and Kim Hoffmann 6/02/2012 Yngve and Roberta Johansson 6/05/1954 Ray and Colleen Bell 6/10/1950 Will and Jenny Salzwedel 6/16/1990 Richard and Carol Seehafer 6/21/1958 Vern and Virginia Gilbertson 6/23/1956 Josh and Sheri Meissner 6/27/1998 Don and Jodi Westerhausen 6/30/1990 Birthdays Linda Bulgrinn 06/02 Barb Hetzel 06/02 Heather Seubert 06/02 Braiden Degenhardt 06/03 Lori Scott 06/05 Jaxon Bulgrin 06/10 Don Lang 06/10 Mary Harris 06/13 Ryenne Zee 06/17 Alex Salzwedel 06/23 Michaela Lawyer 06/24 Carole Rasmussen-Heckel 06/26 Chuck Swiggum 06/27 Michael Johansson 06/29 Grace Lutheran Prayer List: 1 Timothy 2 -- I, Paul, urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. Pray for our Church Ministries: Sunday School teachers and students Women s Bible Studies Men s Discipleship Group Childcare Center Youth Group Confirmation Class Students and Mentors Pray for those who are homebound/in nursing homes: Evelyn Hewitt (at Stoney River) Viola Maslowski (at Three Oaks) Irlene Wagner (at home) Dorothy Riedel (at home) Pray for our church leaders: Our Church Council Our Call Committee Pastor Mark Sabin Pastor Mark Vander-Tuig, Service Coordinator for LCMC and the Board of Trustees of LCMC Pray for people serving our country: Governor Scott Walker, President Trump, Vice-President Pence and other leaders All those in military service A wise son brings joy to his father. Proverbs 15:20 June 2017 Page 4

5 Keeping Up with the Financials: Financial Snapshot of Grace (May 31, 2017) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse says the Lord. (Malachi 3:10) YTD Budget (Income) $ 62, General Fund is at $ 22, YTD Contributions $ 50, Bills waiting $ YTD Expenses $ 37, Savings Total is now $ 13, DATE Bldg Care Fund *General Misc. Bene. Overflow Savings May May May May May Totals April Contributions to funds. (*Needed for Budget $ 12,444.35/month ) Grace Council Officers President ~ Mike Lawyer Vice-President ~ open position Treasurer ~ Larry Gilbertson Secretary ~ Marlene Broeske Council Members Randy Schier Rodney Dix Sheri Denowski Ezra Schier Mary Gilbertson Father's Day Fathers are one of the most influential persons in our lives, they leave no stone unturned to help us out of every crisis and express their unconditional love towards us. They have always been our guide each and every day of our life. Now it is our turn to convey our love and respect toward him. They have been our inspiration, motivation, and have quietly and deeply influenced at the nook of every path of ours. Father's Day forms the most appropriate occasion to convey all our appreciation and admiration towards our dads. Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic Europe, it has been celebrated on March 19 since the Middle Ages. This celebration was brought by the Spanish and Portuguese to Latin America, where March 19 is often still used for it, though many countries in Europe and the Americas have adopted the U.S. date, which is the third Sunday of June. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. What Makes a Dad God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea, The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night, The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's flight, The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed, The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need, Then God combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece was complete, And so, He called it... Dad - Anonymous June 2017 Page 5

6 Keeping Up with the Ministries: June Worship Assistants Serving at Grace June 4 Confirmation Sunday June 11 Musician Tammy Marek Tammy/Larry Reader Ben Salzwedel Dave/Sheri Denowski Greeters Confirmands Roger/Dorothy Sanger Offering Ushers (4) Confirmands Roger/Dorothy Sanger Communion Assistant Linda Gilbertson Jenny Salzwedel Josh Meissner Diane Gilbertson Acolytes Emma Olson Jordana Meissner volunteers Treats Cake/ice-cream Roger/Dorothy Sanger Jeff/Marjean Weichelt Nursery Church Diane Gilbertson Sheri Meissner Bulletin Folder Laura Aschebrook Kim Hoffmann Counters Laura Aschebrook Don Lang Jenny Salzwedel Josh Meissner Deacon Linda Gilbertson Linda Gilbertson Serving at Grace June 18 June 25 Musician Reader Bulgrin Family Stacy Melbinger Greeters Bulgrin Family Melbinger Family Offering Ushers (4) Bulgrin Family Melbinger Family Communion Assistant No Communion Dave Denowski Sheri Denowski Acolytes Volunteers Volunteers Treats Bulgrin Family Stacy Melbinger Nursery Church Stacy Melbinger Sheri Denowski Bulletin Folder Don and Nikki Lang Todd/Marie Cattanach Don Lang Russ Rasmussen Counters Sheri Denowski Diane Gilbertson Todd and Marie Deacon Diane Gilbertson Cattanach Thank you to everyone volunteering to assist with worship this month! If you see a blank space and can help, please sign up on the bulletin board in the gathering space! June 2017 Page 6

7 Keeping Up with the News: CONFIRMATION SUNDAY We will be celebrating Confirmation with our 8 th grade Confirmation students at our regular 9:15 a.m. worship service (summer time change) on Sunday, June 4 th. Please join us as we uphold these young people and encourage them in their life-long walk with Christ. Jaxon Bulgrin, Ethan Meissner, Abbigail Mitchell, Madelyn Olson, Justin Post, Ben Salzwedel and Adam Zee WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY Our Friday evening Bible Study group has decided to meet on June 9 and 23 at 4:30 p.m. at Barb Meyer s house. We would love to have any ladies who are interested in studying join us. Anyone interested can contact Sheri Denowski at SheriandDave.Denowski@gmail.com or CEMETERY LAWN MOWING With the summer season in full swing, we need to be thinking of how to pay for the cemetery lawn mowing for Last year the cost was $1000 and the cemetery checking account is about depleted. Please pray about this and if you feel called upon to help, consider giving a little bit extra in contributions for this upkeep. You can designate on your giving envelope that you wish your extra amount to go toward the cemetery lawn mowing. Thank you in advance for any amounts you may contribute. If there are any ideas on how to raise funds for the cemetery, please contact RodneyDix at or Sign up NOW, don t miss this event! It is scheduled for July 23-28, 2017 at the Marshfield School Forest. Please pray about attending and get your paperwork in so we can continue to plan! Applications and authorizations for background checks for volunteers are available on a table in the gathering space. Come join us! Overflow is a great time for action, growth fellowship and fun! We hope you all plan to participate! June 2017 Page 7

8 Keeping Up with Pastor: IT S NOT A MATTER OF IF IT S A MATTER OF WHEN! Jesus teaches us in Luke 12:22; I tell you, do not worry... I mean it is hard for smaller congregations to experience the pain of extended pastoral vacancies. And along with that pain comes the unsteadiness that is a natural consequence of losing the predictable steadiness that came from the congregation s previously called pastor. So the questions include Who s preaching next Sunday, and who will be our interim pastor, and for how long? In 1990, I briefly served a congregation that was categorized as a mission restart. It really should have been called just a restart, because they truly weren t interested in doing God s great commission for them. Therefore, the wheels began to come off of the wagon. That put my family and I in a tight timeframe. I remember praying in the kitchen one evening, and I prayed; Lord I know it isn t a matter of if, it is a matter of when. But when Lord? When? I had to learn to trust that God truly knew what he was doing. 24 hours before the deadline I received a telephone call from the next parish I was going to serve. Jesus furthermore used the illustrations of ravens and lilies to drive home the point that since God takes care of them, how much more will he take care of you you of little faith. (Luke 12:28) That doesn t mean you ll avoid necessary distress, but learning to trust God is a difficult thing to do. But God still calls us to trust HIM more than anything else! So whether we re an individual or a congregation, Jesus teaching keeps its authority and promise that God does and will provide for all of HIS people. And, it is so easy to become calculating instead of trusting, because we want to be the ones in control, while preventing God from doing HIS thing in our lives. And, of course, God never lets us down. Consider more of what Jesus teaches; Strive for HIS kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid little flock, for it is your Father s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:31-32) Since God gives us HIS kingdom, how much more will he give us a pastor suited to serve a congregation like us? So, do we truly believe that God will take care of us? Not only in providing a pastor for us, but in everything of our lives? If there is any misleading, it is not God s doing, it is our own, because God never ever leads us astray. Clearly then, the if question is not the issue, so it only becomes the when question, and God will let you all know. God bless, and your Friend in Christ; Pastor Mark June 2017 Page 8