Are we having fun yet? Our Pastor Kris left on Sabbatical May 14, 2017 and in former times one might have interpreted the leader s absence as an opportunity to let things slide a bit. I don t anticipate that in our little group. Kris did a great job of putting together the guest pastor schedule and drafting weekly bulletins so we don t have to do that. Edna Mae Duncan and Dorothy Hanson are visiting people weekly, we continue weekly servant days, weekly book discussion, worship and fellowship, blood pressure checks, pinochle, and quilting. Thanks to everyone for being so helpful. The past few months have been a bit of a whirlwind Lent and Easter, preparing, holding and cleaning up the estate/rummage sale, preparing, celebrating and cleaning up the 60 th anniversary party. There is much to be done to get our building up to snuff. Our work days this summer will be filled with work that may require more craft than previous work days. I hope all will assist as they are able. We re rescheduling the work/clean-up days to June 22 and we will schedule another Saturday.. Please join us and help as you can. There s a list on the counter leading to the fellowship hall, so if you can t be with us June 22 but want to do something on the list before those dates, please feel free to do so, initial and cross it off the list. The physical space enhances our experience and I m sure there are other important aspects of our spiritual journey. Some of you have expressed concern for the future of Messiah, meaning our little congregation. It occurs to me that it may be time for all of us to ponder why we re at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church. I think it will be helpful for us to spend some personal quiet time in contemplating just that. And, I d like you to put some thoughts in writing if you will, please. Begin with considering these questions: Whose is Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church? How does coming here assist you... To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God as we are informed the Lord requires of us in Micah 6:8b? What brought you here? What keeps you here? What do you receive here? What do you offer here? T HE MESSIAH MESSENGER JUNE 2017 How do you carry this through the other 6 days of your week? What is your vision for the future of this little portion of the Body of Christ? If you will give me some of your thoughts in writing by June 19, I will try to compile them for July s opening letter. I have prayed for this to be a learning time for us, as well as for Kris; and this is part of the learning process, as I see it. I hope your late spring and your summer are filled with blessings of grace, peace and joy, Karen Duncan, Church Council President
Hal Haefer Pat Kirkpatrick Don Kirkpatrick Knud Kaae Mildred Tombre Several others with unnamed needs We are looking for volunteers to round out our roster of helpers! We are looking for lectors, communion assistants, handy men and women, creative-minded problem solvers, coffee hour servers, intercessory prayer leaders, or any service area you can offer your expertise.
June 8: June 10: June 11: June 18: June 22: June 24: work day at church Funeral service for CJ Dewey Catherine Card, guest pastor Tom Schlotterback, guest pastor Group work day Noennig memorial service at church Your Church Council met June 5, 2017 and some salient points follow: We rescheduled work/clean-up days to June 22, 10:00 AM. We will schedule another Saturday in July. Please see the list of tasks on the counter toward the fellowship hall. We are unsure if there were specific family wishes for memorial fund money that has been in an account for many years and Val, Sylvia and Wendy will look for records in that regard. If you are aware of any specific intents, please let us know. We want everyone to know that if you purchase things to share in the fellowship hour, you may submit your receipt(s) to Mary Morup and you will be reimbursed by WELCA. We had a bid to provide mowing and related services. We decided to consider including it in the budget next year. There is some continuing discussion of possibilities. We don t have sufficient funds to pay June s bills so the Council decided to access the Line of Credit. So far this year, our minimal monthly expenses have been $9500. I include this as a point of reference.
Tentative Guest pastor list and assorted summer details: July 2: Catherine Card July 4: Independence Day office closed July 6: Saint John s first summer concert: Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. Opening act at 6:00 July 9: Catherine Card July 13: St. John s concert: Diamonds in the Rough July 16: Karl Guhn July 20: St. John s summer concert: Parker Brown and the Bleedin Hearts July 23: Robert Leaverton July 27: St. John s Summer Concert: The Midlife Chryslers July 28-29: Anxuan Tran and Spencer Ball nuptials. Elisabeth Daniels presiding July 30: Bob Quam August 3: St. John s concert: Victor Wainright and the Wildroots August 6: Catherine Card August 13: Rob Nedbalek August 20: Pastor Kris returns/ Picnic at church August 25-26: Second Garage Sale August 27: Reformation 500 activity Beer and Brats at Atonement Lutheran
Messiah Lutheran will once again be in the Church Locator, a flyer sponsored by KURL 93.3 radio, that is found at the airport, in hotels, and various other locations around town so that visitors to Billings can check us out. Thanks to a church member for paying for this fine advertising. KURL S radio auction begins Saturday, May 20 th at noon. Check it out!
July Marilyn Bertsch 6/16 Reid Grayson 6/18 June Edna Hedges 6/5 Elizabeth Stengel 6/12 Marilyn Bertsch 6/16 Reid Grayson 6/18 June-July Charities April Income: $9,210 Expense: $11,325 May Income: $7,860 Expense: $12,844 YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS President: Karen Duncan Vice-President: Valeri Kaae Treasurer: Wendy Portman* Secretary: Rob Walker Financial Secretary: Curtis Whittmeyer* Pastor Kris Mitzman A place of welcome where God s love is shared Barb Hagler/Lana Metesh We are here to serve you and help fulfill Messiah s call and mission. Ideas, thoughts, Rhonda Smith and concerns are always welcomed. (*) = not a council member with vote Messiah Lutheran Church, a church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. God s work. Our hands. 2939 Colton Blvd in Billings 406 656-2018
JUNE 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 4 Winds Quilting Synod Assembly in Great Falls 2 4 Winds Quilting Synod Assembly in Great Falls 3 4 Winds Quilting Synod Assembly in Great Falls 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11am CJ Dewey Memorial Service Synod Assembly in Great Falls Work Day at Church 11 Catherine Card guest Pastor 12 1p LWR Quilting 7p Stamp Group 13 14 15 16 17 18 Tom Schlotterback guest Pastor 19 20 21 22 23 24 2 pm Noennig memorial service 25 26 27 28 29 30 1p LWR Quilting
JULY 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 Office Closed 5 6 7 8 9 10 1p LWR Quilting 7p Council 7p Stamp Group 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1p LWR Quilting 25 26 27 28 Tran/Ball rehearsal 29 Tran/Ball wedding Elisabeth Daniels officiating 30 31