FIRST FRUITS. January 2013 Volume 16 No. 1

FIRST FRUITS WE GIVE OUR FIRST FRUITS BECAUSE HE GAVE US HIS ONLY SON January 2013 Volume 16 No. 1 First Fruits January Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go (Josh. 1:9). A new year is upon us. Some come into it with fear and trepidation and others with a sense of hope and expectation. Wherever you may be on that spectrum, the above verse tells us to be strong and courageous, not based on our own ability, but based on the fact that our covenant God is with us wherever we go, and that is Good News. We will be taking this Good News into our Vision Meeting on Jan. 6 th. The Vision meeting will follow after the service and a potluck meal. It will be a time to talk about the past year and see where God is leading First Lutheran for the future. This vision meeting will not only be a time for the pastor to share some thoughts, but also to hear from you as to where you think the Holy Spirit is leading us as a church or you as an individual. The church is made up of various members who all have their own gifts and abilities that are given them by God for the edification of the Body. One question that we would like all members to ask themselves this year is, what can I do to move First Lutheran along the path God has set for it with my gifts and abilities? Many times people come to church thinking that the pastor will come up with all the programming and activities to keep the church healthy and moving forward for the future. The pastor does plug in some of the basics for the healthy and life of the church and for the equipping of the saints such as Bible study and other activities such as movie nights, extra services or times of prayer, but the members of the church are also to see how God is leading them to contribute to their church. We have had some good examples of members moving forward with visions God placed on their hearts recently. Susan started a children s ministry on Sunday mornings. Liz started a prayer meeting on every other Tues. night, which also blossomed into people praying for others on Communion Sundays. What things has God placed on your heart to make First Lutheran a more vibrant expression of His Love? If nothing comes to mind, ask God what He would have you to do. We all must take ownership of our church and see how God is leading us to contribute. For some, those activities may be changing due to age or responsibilities elsewhere, but all are called to do their part. Some may need to become more active to help others that need to step back a bit. Others may be moving forward in their Christian maturity and realize they need to step up and take on more responsibility. No one is exempt though; God wants to work through every one of us. Some of the men of the church have resolved to do their part by covenanting to be better spiritual leaders in their homes. The verse that starts this edition of First Fruits is one of the memory verses that was suggested for those men who were in The Resolution for Men book study. Many people will be making resolutions in this new year; what resolutions will you be making in regard to your church? Some courageous men in our church will be voluntarily signing a resolution from the book study that is included later in the newsletter. No one is required to do this, but some men have wanted to make a commitment to themselves, their families (or future families) and their God to resolve to be better spiritual leaders for the future. Those men that are interested, will be signing their resolutions on Life Sunday, Jan. 20 th during our service. I hope you will come out and support them in their commitment on the 20 th. Life Sunday is an especially appropriate time to have this signing as we celebrate Life and our commitment to protect it the main responsibility for the protection of life falling to men. If you were not able to come to the book study, but are a man who would still like to sign the resolution, please talk with Pastor Taylor before the 20 th. This is not something we are entering into lightly, but would love to have more men commit to their Biblical role

of spiritual head of their families, present or future. To assist us in our commitments and to seek God s face with regard to how God is leading First Lutheran for the future, we will be joining with other LCMC churches this Jan. by committing to pray on the 8 th, 9 th and 10 th of Jan. The LCMC has asked that all congregations and members make these days special times of prayer. As such, we will be having Evening Prayer on the 8 th and 10 th at 6:30pm and Morning Prayer at 6:30am on the 9 th. Please do your best to adjust your schedule so you might attend one of these prayer times or all, but if you cannot attend, please take some extra time to pray on these days. The LCMC does not often give us directives or suggestions, but it is asking for prayer these days, so let us be obedient to a good call from the leadership of LCMC. Along with our full range of Life activities such as Sanctity of Life service on the 23 rd of Jan. and the Rally for Life in Austin on the 26 th, we will also be having a movie night on the 17 th of Jan. to see, Captivated. The movie, Captivated, deals with a growing problem in our lives technology. Is it making our lives better, or is it actually disconnecting us from more meaningful things in life? Captivated will look at this question and help us to work through how we can be good stewards of technology and innovations that men come up with so we can honor God with our lives. As always, January will be a busy month -- possibly a month of new things for some and new commitments for others. Regardless, know that God is with us wherever we go, and that fact should give us a boldness as we move forward into a new year. May God bless you as you contemplate how He wants to use you in 2013! In His Agape, Andy Taylor + LIFE SUNDAY JANUARY 20 TH Events for the week: Sanctify of Life Jan. 23 rd Texas Rally for Life Jan. 26 th Austin, TX March starts @ 1:00 PM Rally 2:00 3:00 PM For more information call (512) 477-1244 or check out the website www.rally@texasallianceforlife.org A special Thank You to all involved in the Christmas Program. Congratulate all the actors and people behind the scenes: Angelina & Gabi Tijerina, Elizabeth & Stephanie Flota, Ryan & Nick Woodson, Ella Rodriguez, Sarah & Landon Thane, Emma Hall, Ted, Cathy, Ty & Sawyer Schoenfield, Dagney Thane & Nora Borak.

First School & Daycare News First School s Christmas program and parties went very well. We are now getting ready to start our new year. We will be welcoming new infants to our nursery. We will also be moving some children up a level to make room for others. Hope your Christmas was Merry and your New Year is happy from all of us at First School. God Bless, Diane VISION MEETING TH JANUARY 6 TH Following Worship Bring your favorite Pot Luck dish to be enjoyed prior to the meeting Christian Sympathies Please keep the Wigginton family in your prayers. Eunice Pfeffer recently went home to be with our Lord. FUND BALANCES as of 12/27/12 Jesus Well $ 0 Building Fund $ 1522 Paint the Church Fund $ 6157 Youth Fund $ 387 Flower Fund $ 1,020 Scholarship Fund $ 939 Memorial Fund $14,395 Luke Johnson Fund $ 891 Radio Advertising Fund $ 175 Chair Fund $ 117 Scottie Englund Fund $ 1,895 $27,498* * Figures are rounded OUR EXPENSES FOR DECEMBER Monthly Offering needed to meet Budget $10,137 December Offerings Rec d as of 12/24 $17,813 Thrivent Choice Deposits -0- Wednesday Night Offerings 31 Offerings $ 44 Total Income for Budget Expenses $ 17,888* *One more Sunday left in December as of newsletter print. * Includes a gift of $5,000 Budget Needs thru December: $ 121,640 Income received thru 12/24: 102,869 Amount (under) budget ($18,771) Total Annual Income as of 12/24/12 -$ 102,869 Total Annual Expenses as of 12/24/12 - $117,125 Annual Income Actual Expenses = ($14,256) Christian Sympathies Please keep Steve and Lori (Cykala) Fielder in your prayers. Steve s Dad, Frank Fielder, recently went home to be with our Lord. 01/06 Psalm 72, Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:2-12, Matthew 2:1-12 01/13 Psalm 45:7-9, Isaiah 42:1-7, Acts 10:34-38, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 01/20 Psalm 36:5-10, Isaiah 62:1-5, I Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11 01/27 Psalm 113, Isaiah 61:1-6, I Corinthians 12:12-21, 26-27, Luke 4:14-21

Garden Villa: Gertrude Nordin and Frank Hallinger Meridian - Henrietta Bram, room 402 03 Sarah Langston 07 Forrest Newton 08 Nora Hollingsworth 09 Helen Johnson 09 Kirk Marek 12 Ray Overstreet 13 Kalin Christenberry 16 Teresa Berglund 18 Bill Englund 18 Sheila Miller 20 Odis Newton 21 Dorothy Atchetee 22 Bill Speckles 27 Cathy Schoenfield 30 Cindy Mathews Teddy Ash Dorothy Atchetee Evon Atchetee Charles & Vernell Bard Lorene Bard Lois Barosh Donald Berglund Buck & Judy Bezdek Alice Byrd Martha Cantu Kristine Mock Carroll Mary Carter Justin Cerny Janice Cox Bill Englund Jake & Melissa Fain Ronnie Fehmel Glen Gann Elvis Garcia Eddie Graeter Eddie Hadash Anitra Haynes Nora Hollingsworth Robert Hollingsworth Cindy Howell Kyle House Debbie Hubenak Michael Hughes George Jalowy Kathleen Joines Bonnie Jones Lillian Konarik Gene Ladewig Justin Lormand Connie Martin Janice McCleskey Anna Marie McColgan Jack McDonald Joyce Mendez David Moore George & Alice Morris Odis & Lorraine Newton Joe Novak Ray & Elsie Overstreet Leona Piekert Boyd & Virginia Powell Pierson & Wyatt Prasek Debbie Reeves Dorothy Riha Dave Schoelman Jonny Sibley Gaynell Smith Glen Socha Ed Spradlin Allen Stavinoha Haley Stewart Ann Strarup Esther Swanson Mary Lou Thane Jeff Thigpen Tony Tupa J.P. & Charlotte Watson 01 Kathee Cerny 03 Karen Kight 08 Susan Schoeneberg 13 Norma Newton 18 Jake Herrington 26 Clarissa Berglund HOLY BAPTISM Thank you to all the prayer warriors. Our list is getting very lengthy. Please review the list and let the office know if anyone needs to be deleted or added. Jake Barosh, Justin Cerny, Jenny Hernandez, Sarah Langston, Michael Monreal, 05 Diane & James Stewart 26 Cathy & Ted Schoenfield WE RE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US OR COUNCIL MEETING Thursday, January 3rd 6:00 pm Pastor Andy Taylor Cell #979-320-7862 Email: pastortaylor01@yahoo.com Email: office@firstlutheranec.com

JANUARY 27TH BENEVOLENCE MEETING January 28th @ 7PM Annual Meeting Everyone is invited to be a part of the team that decides how the church s 10% benevolence is distributed. Bring your ideas and join us on Monday, Jan 28th. Following the Immediately after Services All donations must be in the church office by Dec. 31st or postmarked by Dec.31st in order to receive credit in 2012. All contributions received Jan. 1st or later will be credited to 2013, regardless of the date on the check. You can contribute online at www.firstlutheranec.com. The new Flower Chart is hanging in the back of the Church. Select your dates and sign up for Altar flowers. Please consider January and February first. Sunday, January 20th Signing of the RESOLUTIONS

January 2013 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 Council Meeting 6 PM 4 5 6 EEEEpiphany Sunday Worship 10:45 am 7 8 Day of Prayer Evening Prayer 6:30 p.m. 9 Day of Prayer Morning Prayer 6:30 a.m. 10 Day of Prayer Evening Prayer 6:30 p.m. 11 12 First School Workshop 8 am 1 pm Vision Sunday 13 Lord s Baptism Worship 10:45am Abigail s Baptism 14 15 Men s Revolution Meeting 7 p.m. 16 17 Movie Night Captivated Finding Freedom in Media 7 p.m. 18 19 Dorothy s 80 th Birthday Party in Parish Hall 20 Life Sunday Worship 10:45am 21 22 23 Sanctify of Life 7 p.m. (1 st Presb.?) 24 25 26 Texas Rally for Life Austin, TX (see details in newsletter) Sign Resolutions 27 Worship 10:45am Annual Meeting After services 28 Benevolence Committee 7 PM 29 30 31 1 FEB 2 January Responsibilities ASSISTING MINISTER: Forrest Newton SEXTON: Harry Boogie Kight USHERS: John Nelson ALTAR GUILD: Billie Jean Bram & Cori Bram ACOLYTE READER 6 th Stephanie Flota Ty Schoenfield 13 th Kalin Christenberry Mary Lou Thane 20 th Ty Schoenfield Karen Middlebrook 27 th Sawyer Schoenfield Don Middlebrook If you are not able to serve on your date, please let Pastor know. JANUARY FLOWER CALENDAR 6 th Nora & Calvin Borak 13 th open 20 th Sheila & James Herrington 27 th open There are a lot of empty spaces on the Monthly Assignment list. Be supportive of your church by participating if your health allows it.

First Lutheran Church 304 Oscar El Campo, TX 77437 979-543-5847 Email: office@firstlutheranec.com ESTABLISHED FEB 1893 Worshipping Christ and Sharing the Word for over a century. Andy Taylor, Pastor Helen Marie Kight, Organist Felicia Vickroy, Office Manager Diane Garcia, Acting Director of FS Join us on FACEBOOK or check us out at www.firstlutheranec.com CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS: Billie Jean Bram, Calvin Borak, Doug Mathews, Jimmy Nielsen, Jaki Smith, Ted Schoenfield & Daniel Wilfert. Dates to remember: BE SURE TO check out our new website at www.firstlutheranec.com January 6 th - Epiphany Sunday/Vision Sunday with Pot luck Lunch January 13 th - The Lord s Baptism Abigail will be baptized January 20 th - Signing of the Resolutions If you are interested in signing a Resolution and you were not involved in the Men s Book Study, please contact Pastor Andy. January 27 th Annual Meeting following A Pot luck Lunch after services Thank you for the wall hanging/yard ornament you gave me for Christmas. I will cherish it for many years to come. I appreciate all of you making me feel welcome. Felicia