FIRST LUTHERAN CHURC H 408 Ninth Street NW Mandan, ND 58554 Phone: 701-663-3594 Fax: 701-663-6217 E-mail: jackie@firstlutheranofmandan.org First Lutheran Church February Newsletter Building Faith and Transforming Lives in Christ. February 2015 First Lutheran Staff This month we mark the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday. This is the one day of the year we leave worship with a visible smudge on our foreheads, reminding everyone we see that we have been to church. It is also a day when the question arises about piety or faithfulness. www.firstlutheranofmandan.org We re on the web! Happy Valentine s Day from the staff at First Lutheran Church! Administrative Pastor Rev. Lee Herberg 663-3594 Associate Pastor Rev. Christina Martin 663-3594 Administrative Assistant & Coordinator of Lay Ministries Jackie Schulz 663-3594 (o) 663-3082 (h) Custodians Ron & Mavis Watson Financial Administration Jennifer Scheet First Lutheran Is A Mission Partner with Camp of the Cross Ministries It is no comfort that the Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday is the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus commends almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, but emphasizes that spiritual devotion must not be done for show. Then right after hearing that not so comforting message from Jesus we all the leave the church with a black cross on the forehead. So the Confirmation youth would say, Aren t we hypocrites Pastor Chris? After all what are you supposed to do, wipe the ashes off before stepping outside? Do you leave them on only to have the cashier at the grocery store say, "You've got something on your forehead"? Of course Jesus does not tell us to refrain from all acts of public piety. What Jesus seems concerned with is the why, not the what. Why do you pray in public? Why do you give alms? Why do you fast? If appearing faithful is a way to build yourself up before others, then it is not faithfulness but hypocrisy. On the other hand, if praying over a meal in a restaurant is something you do because praying at meals is part of your faith, by all means bow your head and pray. As the season of Lent begins each year, God's people are invited to take on three great disciplines: prayer, fasting, and alms-giving. Jesus' words in the gospel remind us that our acts of faithfulness always come as a response to God's gifts. Remembering this gives a note of humility to all we do. Piety is not something to brag about. Piety is not something to be proud of. Piety is but acknowledgment of the one who first gave us everything. So this Lenten season let us give thanks in all we do for the one who first gave us everything. Grace and Peace to you! Pastor Chris
PAGE 2 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH February 2015 The youth will be serving supper each Wednesday during Lent starting on Ash Wednesday. The meals are served each week starting at 5:30 p.m. and the cost is a free-will offering. All the proceeds from the Lenten suppers will go towards the Detroit Trip this summer. Come and join us for good food and fellowship as we journey together through Lent. Wednesday, February 18 th : Wednesday, February 25 th : Wednesday, March 4 th : Wednesday, March 11 th : Wednesday, March 18 th : Wednesday, March 25 th : Lenten Supper Menu 5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Knoephla Soup & Tangy Summer Sausage Sandwiches Loaded Baked Potatoes Sloppy Joes Homemade Cheese Buttons & Knoephla & Sauerkraut with Sausage Super Nachos Scalloped Potatoes and Ham MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO, the Souper Bowl of Caring began with a simple prayer from a single youth group: Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat. Since that day, more than $98 million has been raised for local charities across the country through Souper Bowl of Caring. It has become a powerful movement that is transforming the time around Super Bowl weekend into the nation s largest celebration of giving and serving. Through this mission, young people learn what it s like to make a positive difference in the world as they collect food, raise money and volunteer to work in charities that provide shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry and compassion to those in need. Be part of this movement that is sharing God s love with those in need. Please give generously on Super Bowl Sunday. The money we collect from First Lutheran will go to Community Action s Backpack for Kids program, our 2015 Souper Bowl of Caring charity of choice. We will take donations on February 1 st at both services. All 5 th graders and their parents are invited to come and learn about the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Parents and their children come to class together to learn about communion and prepare for the 5 th graders First Communion on Maundy Thursday. There is a cost of $15 for the chalice that each child paints and uses on Maundy Thursday. If you plan to attend the classes, please call or email Pastor Chris (christina@firstlutheranofmandan.org) by Wednesday, February 18 th.
PAGE 10 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 2015 Mark Your Calendar 4th: 7pm - Confirmation - Large Group 5th: LAF-Sloppy Joes 11th: 7pm - Confirmation - Large Group 12th: LAF-Sandwiches 18th: 7pm - Ash Wednesday Worship 19th: LAF-Nachos 25th: 7pm - Lenten Worship Upcoming Events Caramel Roll Sale The youth will be selling homemade caramel rolls on Sunday, February 8 th for coffee hour and also to go! We are taking preorders as well as selling them the day of. We will PRESELL a dozen for $20.00. The day of, we will be selling a dozen for $25.00, 2 for $5.00 or 1 for $3.00. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex. Please include your name, phone number & the amount you will want to buy. (we will call you the morning of Saturday, February 7th to pick up your pre-orders) Make sure to pick up some extra ones and take them home to share with family and friends! All proceeds will go to the ELCA Youth Gathering Trip 26th: LAF-Hot Dogs All 6th 12th graders you are invited to attend W.I.N.G.S.!!! What is W.I.N.G.S? Is the coming together of four local Lutheran churches and our youth for a night of fun and fellowship along the lines of a traditional youth group. This month W.I.N.G.S will be meeting on February 8 th from 6:00 to 8:30 P.M. For our activity we will be going to be playing broom ball!! Please eat before you come. If you would like to come please contact Pastor Chris. Rev Christina Martin 701-663-3594 Cell: 219-512-5517 christina@firstluthearnofmandan.org
FEBRUARY 2015 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH PAGE 4 PAGE 9 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 2015 Pastoral Acts Baptisms: January 4 Weddings: Funerals: January 3 January 20 Theodore Roger Hambrick Richard A. Steffenson Dorothy Zwarych Ash Wednesday is on February 18 th. Service times on Wednesdays during Lent will change to 7:00 P.M. Memorial Fund In memory of Dale Kostelecky given by Russ & Jan Grabinger. In memory of Richard A. Steffenson given by his family. In memory of Harry Renken, Olivia Jerabek, Herb Renken given by Hilda Renken & family. February~ Mission of the Month HIT Inc. West River Head Start Items needed are non-perishable food items, tissues, napkins, paper towels, toilet paper, diapers, new toys and books for pre-school kids. Please put the items in the boxes in the Narthex. Thank you. Special Thanks Thank you to all the greeters, ushers, communion servers, readers, communion set-up, coffee hour workers, and to all who have supplied goodies for the last month. Your help is greatly appreciated! Deadline for articles for the March Newsletter will be February 13 th. Worship Schedule Sunday ~ 8:30 am ~ Traditional 10:45 am ~ Contemporary 9:30 am ~ Coffee 9:30 am ~ Church School Wednesday ~ 6:00 pm ~ Transitional 6:00 pm ~ Church School 7:00 pm ~ Confirmation Lenten Schedule beginning February 18 th 5:30 pm ~ Lenten Suppers 6:00 pm ~ Church School 7:00 pm ~ Lenten Services Easter Garden Easter is right around the corner. As we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, it is also a wonderful time to beautify our church and honor our loved ones. The youth of our church are selling Easter Garden Flowers. They will purchase a mix of Lilies and Mums to decorate the Sanctuary for Easter. Flowers may be picked up after the 11:00 A.M. Easter service. Order forms will be available in the narthex starting February 1 st. Orders can be placed in the offering plate or the church office. The price for each plant is $13.00. Orders must be placed by Sunday, March 1 st. (We can t place late orders!)
PAGE 8 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 2015 FEBRUARY 2015 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH PAGE 5 First Lutheran Church Council Minutes Thursday, December 18, 2014 7:00PM Present: Pastor Lee Herberg, Pastor Christina Martin, President Tammy Lapp-Harris, Vice- President Brock Schmeling, Secretary Jill Miller, John Pake, Janet Reineke, Kris Elijah, Terryl Gaebe, and Den Na Lee Fewson. Absent: Dot Frank. Devotions: President Tammy Lapp-Harris called the meeting to order. Pastor Lee led devotions. Approval of Agenda: Moved by Janet, seconded by John to approve the agenda as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Secretary s Report/Review and Approval of the minutes: Moved by Janet, seconded by John to approve the November 20, 2014 minutes. Motion passed unanimously. Financial Report/Review: Total income through November of 2014 is down approximately $1,800 compared with the same period in 2013 and expenses are up approximately $30,000 for the same time frame. There were some high maintenance expenses this month, notably expenses related to ongoing issues with the boiler. Unfinished Business: Policy and Procedure Manual: Points of topic were whether or not to continue to have language with mandates an audit sub-team every year. It was decided to add As deemed necessary by the church council no later than every 5 years. to the policy manual for auditing. There are still some sections to review before the manual will be final. 2015 Operating Budget: Council reviewed the budget for 2015. Clarification was requested as to what composes the Miscellaneous Revenue in the revenue accounts. Miscellaneous Revenue includes coffee hour money, funeral honorariums for the Kitchen Fund, Thrivent Choice dollars, Confirmation and VBS registration fees and other small checks received that do not have specific accounts assigned for them. The 2015 proposed budget included columns with a 2, 3, and 4% increase for support staff salaries. In 2014, a 2% increase was given, in 2013 a 2% increase was given, in 2012 no increase was given. Moved by Kris, seconded by Den Na Lee to approve a 4% increase for church support staff. Motion passed unanimously. Doors for Education Wing: Leingang Home Center will still honor the original door bid, but will need to know soon if they will be doing the door project so they can order the doors and start the project. One other bid was received from Central Door & Hardware for $3,285. The doors were half glass doors, which is not what code states they should be. Central Door would not install the doors, which would mean trying to find a contractor to install the doors. Moved by Den Na Lee, seconded by Janet to approve Leingang Home Center s door bid and the money will come out of the Contingency Fund from the Renovation Account. Motion passed, with Brock opposing the motion.
PAGE 6 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 2015 NEW BUSINESS: The annual meeting will be held Sunday, January 25 th at 9:30A.M. in the church sanctuary. REPORTS: Pastor Lee s report 0 baptisms, 0 funerals, 0 weddings, communion service at nursing home, still mentoring Bill Dodd, and started helping with the remainder of the 2014-15 confirmation sessions. Pastor Chris s report 3 baptisms, 1 funeral, 1 committal service. Special Events No report. Stewardship Pledge cards for 2015 have been mailed and many have been returned. Worship No report. Parish Education/Youth Wednesday school had the Christmas program on December 17 th and there has been a lot of positive feedback on the change in the program. Sunday will be held December 21. Pastor Chris will send out reminders for the start dates of the spring session that will start in January. Evangelism and Outreach No report. Property and Management No report. CORRESPONDENCE: Lutheran Social Services: Thank you for $5,000 for LSS Capital Campaign for furniture. YTD giving total $7,310.13. Golden Age Services: Thank you for the $114.74 donation for Home Delivered Meals program. Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Inc.: Thank you for our donation of $187.21 for the M-Club. Kathleen Kelly, Family Outreach Coordinator Mandan Public Schools: Thank you for a monetary donation for family in need with a medical crisis. Motion to Adjourn/Lord s Prayer: Moved by Brock, seconded by Terryl to adjourn the council meeting. Motion passed. The meeting closed with the Lord s Prayer. Submitted by: Jill Miller