You are the Light of the World 5 th Sunday after Epiphany February 4 & 5, 2017
Ebenezer Lutheran Church Port Hudson The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 9100 Highway YY Leslie, Missouri Parsonage 573-459-6432 Church 573-459-6431 Rev. William F. Zastrow, Pastor Mary Sprick, Secretary ebenezerlutheran@hotmail.com ebenezerlutheranchurch.wordpress.com AS WE GATHER: Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, lead Thou me on! These poetic words by John Henry Newman, an English clergyman, begin a hymn that is much loved in many parts of the Christian community worldwide. The linking of the light that is Christ with the descriptive word kindly, which is related to the attribute of kindness, is appropriate to the Epiphany season. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls His hearers to be lights in the world. Letting our light shine with kindness is evidence of the fruit of the Spirit growing in, through, and among us. PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP: Father in heaven, in Your grace and mercy, You have revealed Your plan of salvation for all people through the cross of Christ alone. Strengthen our faith so that we do not rely on our reason, our own efforts, or anything else except the cross of Christ, the only source of forgiveness, life, and salvation; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. THE ORDER OF WORSHIP DIVINE SERVICE HS 98 page 6 HYMNS: 869, HS 98 page 18, 899, 856, 850 2
OUR MISSION AND MINISTRY We welcome our members and guests who are here with us today. May the Lord refresh you with peace and love during our worship service on this Fifth Sunday after Epiphany. Please join us here at Ebenezer again soon! Please sign the guest register near the front entrance with your name, address and Church affiliation. Thank you! Altar Flowers The flowers on our altar are in Thanksgiving and Celebration of Dottie Kasmann s 90 th Birthday. We all wish Dottie a very Happy Birthday and a Blessed Year! We welcome all the guests and family visiting this morning in honor of Dottie. Bible Class This Thursday, February 9, at 10:00 AM. February 9 - In Undertow Harry (David Ogden Stiers, Charles from MASH) is a father wracked with grief and bent on revenge. Losing his daughter in an ocean drowning, he blames the lifeguard Jim (Gil Peterson), who warned him about allowing his daughter to swim in dangerous conditions. Overcome by loss he turns his anger on Jim who s grappling with his own fatal mistake one that likely caused the death of his wife a year earlier. January 23, 2017 Voters Meeting: Meeting was called to order by Vice President Wilbert Baumann with 15 members present. Opening Devotion - After singing I Love to Tell the Story Pastor spoke about making disciples of all nations and teaching the story of Jesus Christ. Pastors Report - See attachment for official acts. In the 4th quarter, average church attendance was down 10 from a year 3
ago, Sunday School attendance was up 1, and contributions were up about $1000. There were 2 funerals, 2 marriages, no transfers in, and 1 transfer out. Reading of the minutes - Minutes of the October 17, 2016 meeting were read and approved. Announcements and Acceptance of New Members - No new members were present. Pastor reported that Lenten services start on March 1st. There will be evening services at 7:00 on Wednesdays and a service/devotion on Thursday mornings in the dining hall at 10:00. Treasurer s Report - Don Kappelmann reported that we had a good year, especially the last quarter. Roland Walkenhorst updated a couple of balances on the savings accounts and the interest income that he received after printing the report. Warren Bauche moved and Bryan Adams seconded a motion to accept the amended treasurer s report. Motion carried by voice vote. Elders Report - Warren Bauche reported that the elders have been meeting regularly. Trustees Report - Bryan Adams reported that the chancel lighting project is progressing slowly. Stewardship Report - Roland Walkenhorst reported that the 2016 Contribution Reports have been emailed to those for whom Roland has an email address and copies have been printed for everyone else. He encouraged everyone to print the reports and file them with their 4
tax receipts so that you have then when you do your taxes. He also encouraged everyone to provide him with an email address so that we can save the cost of printing and postage. We now have a Paypal Donate button on the website for anyone wishing to donate to the church in that manner. Paypal does take a small cut of any contribution made that way. Sunday School Teachers / Education Committee - Karen Sprick reported that we had a successful senior dinner. Margaret Zastrow and Karen Sprick attended a VBS workshop. VBS this year will again be the last full week of July, the 24th thru the 28th. Donations will benefit Grace s Place, Otis Woodward s mission, and backpacks for area schools. Evangelism Report - We have had several new guests recently; pastor is working to visit with them. Other Business The Election Committee presented the following slate of officers: Board of Elders Tom Anderson President Paul Brune Vice President Wilburt Baumann Secretary Mark Kassebaum Treasurer - Don Kappelmann Board of Trustees Alan Hilkerbaumer (3 yr term) 5
Board of Education Karen Sprick (3 yr term) Stewardship Committee Donald Hoemann (3 yr term) Evangelism Committee Judy Hubenthal (3 yr term) After no additional nominations were made, Warren Bauche moved and Karen Sprick seconded to elect the slate as presented. Motion carried by voice vote. Pastor announced that installation will be Sunday, January 29th. Don Kappelmann moved and Alan Hilkerbaumer seconded a motion to have the church picnic this year. Motion carried by a voice vote. Don will organize a committee. Meeting was adjourned and closed with the Lord s Prayer. Picnic Silent Auction - It was voted to have the picnic again this year, so there will also be a silent auction. Please be thinking about things that you might donate. If you have some craft that you do, perhaps you might consider an item that you made. If there is a business or restaurant that you frequent, perhaps you could ask them for a donation. Check as it gets closer to April for donation letters on the table in the back. The auction has been successful in the past because of your help. Please consider helping again this year. Thank you Karen Sprick Thrivent Information Remember to check and direct your Choice Dollars for Thrivent. Call the 800 number or go on line. You can direct your 2016 dollars until March 31 st. If you have any fund - raising project and would like to have $250 for seed money to buy supplies, it is available to any Thrivent member just by applying for an Action Team card. It can be done by going to Thrivent.com and click on Action Team. This money is available and relatively easy to get as 6
long as a service is done for some church, some community organization, charity or raising funds for an individual. 2016 Church Contributions Annual statements of contributions for 2016 have been e-mailed. Please print your statement immediately and keep it with your tax records. If you receive a printed statement but have e-mail, please give us that address so we can send your statements electronically in the future to minimize the congregation s printing and postage expense. Send it to rolandwalkenhorst@gmail.com. If you do not receive a statement and want one, call Roland at 573-459-6702. Immanuel Lutheran Church of Rosebud invites our congregation to its Annual Whole Sausage/Turkey Dinner (all you can eat): Date: 2/19/17 11:30AM - 2:00PM Menu: Sausage, Turkey, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Dressing, Sauerkraut, Green Beans, Corn, Salad, Applesauce and lots of good dessert. Bake Sale -To go plates as well. Proceeds will go to members of the congregation with financial need that have medical issues. Mission Society The Ebenezer Mission Society will be meeting February 20 th with the meeting beginning at 7:30 PM. We will once again be making rice bags for the Mercy Childbirth Center at Mercy Hospital. If you would like to join our Mission Society or help with the rice bags, you would be most welcome! St. Paul s Church in Berger will have a Sausage Supper & Quilt Raffle on February 19 th, 2017 from 11:00 AM 5:00 PM. Adults are $10.00, Children 6-12 $4.00, Children under 6 are free. 7
Those Serving Today Organist Saturday Organist Sunday Choir Director Head Usher Saturday Head Usher Sunday Altar Guild Acolytes Bell Ringer Laura Nichols Ruth Marschel Kathy Scheer Tracey Bade Lee Kassebaum Joyce Hohlt and Judy Allmeroth Confirmation Class Cody Adams Offerings and Attendance Weekly Contributions $1,215.00 Plate 144.00 Sunday School 23.35 Lutheran Witness 68.00 Portals of Prayer 35.00 Energy Needs 20.00 $1,505.35 Attendance: Saturday Evening Worship 23 Sunday Morning Worship 81 Sunday School Attendance: Children 11 Adults 17 This Week at Ebenezer Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Saturday Elders Meeting 7:00 PM Adult Confirmation 6:30 PM Confirmation 6:30 PM Bible Study 10:00 AM Worship 3:00 PM 8