FIRST LUTHERAN CHURC H 408 Ninth Street NW Mandan, ND 58554 Phone: 701-663-3594 Fax: 701-663-6217 E-mail: jackie@firstlutheranofmandan.org Building Faith and Transforming Lives in Christ. www.firstlutheranofmandan.org We re on the web! Sponsor for this month: Tammy-Lapp Harris 701-220-4908 C 701-751-6377 W ADDRESS LABEL The staff at First Lutheran Church would like to wish you and your family a Happy New Year! January 2016 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 January Newsletter First Lutheran Staff January 6 th marks the beginning of the season of Epiphany. Epiphany is always a quiet season, a time in the church where things have not yet picked up. The afterglow of Christmas is still fresh, and a new year has just begun. When I was in High School, I always looked forward to the season of Epiphany. At the start of Advent, we would place in front of the altar a huge wooden manger. It would stand empty except for a few animals during Advent. Then at Christmas, Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus would appear. Yet, the Magi were no where in sight. You see, they had a less direct journey to the manger. At the beginning of Advent they were in Narthex, hiding between the devotionals and handouts. During Christmas they moved to the back of the sanctuary, hidden under the shadow of the baptismal font. At the beginning of Epiphany, they made their grand appearance right in front of Mary and Joseph, bending down on one knee in worship of Jesus. I looked forward to Epiphany because the journey of those Magi were important. In many ways they reflected, my own journey toward the light of Epiphany, the light of God found in the Christ child. For many of us, the journey to worship at the crib of the Christ Child is not direct. Sometimes we find ourselves in the Narthex, looking through a glass window at the congregation gathered to worship. Just outside, but not quite in. Sometimes we find ourselves just on the fringes, at the very back of the church, the shadow of the font pushing us in uncomfortable and unfamiliar places. It can be a long journey, then quite unexpectedly we find ourselves face to face with the Christ child, face to face with the love of God found in Christ Jesus. Face to face and on bended knee, we come to worship. The journey may not be direct, but it is important. Epiphany is not just a quiet season, a time when things feel slow, or just something to mark the new year. Epiphany is time to celebrate the light, to honor our journey, to recognize that the journey is not over, that we don t journey alone. May the light of Christ be with you on your journey, now and forever! Pastor Chris
PAGE 2 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH January 2016 What: First Lutheran Church Annual Meeting When: Sunday, January 31 st Please join us as we discuss our ministries of the past year and plans for the coming year. Congregational Surveys regarding the blessing of same-sex unions: 232 surveys were returned. Here is the breakdown of the responses: 98 responses were NO We would not support the blessing of a same-sex union 97 responses were YES We would support the blessing of a same-sex union 37 responses were UNDECIDED or LET THE PASTORS DECIDE (The constitution of First Lutheran Church does not grant the pastor the right to vote so the pastors cannot decide) The church council at its meeting on December 17 th tabled this issue as the congregation is split in its response. This is a classic case of Damned if you do and damned if you don t or caught between a rock and a hard place as numerous responders indicated that they would leave First Lutheran if a change was made and numerous responders said that they would leave First Lutheran if a change was not made. We will continue operating under our existing policies which do not address this issue. Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete a survey or attend a listening post. Thank you to this months sponsor - Tammy Lapp-Harris of Integra Realty Group for sponsoring this month s newsletter.
PAGE 10 FI R S T LU T H E R A N C HU R C H J A NU A R Y 2 0 1 6 Thank you to everyone who took an angel tree name. We had 218 kid s names from Mandan Public Schools and all of the names were spoken for! Your thoughtfulness helped a family in need. Also, thank you to everyone who helped prepare and decorate the church for the Advent and Christmas season! Mark Your Calendar Upcoming Events Don't forget to mark your calendars! Donkey Ball is Coming to Mandan!!! 6th: No Confirmation 7th: LAF ~ Sandwiches 13th: 7pm - Confirmation Large Group 14th: No LAF 20th: No Confirmation 21st: LAF ~ Nachos Jared & Matthew Christen dropping off their angel tree gifts. 27th: 7pm - Confirmation Small Group 28th: LAF ~ Loaded Baked Potato January 9th at Mandan Middle School, First Lutheran Mission Trip Youth presents donkey basketball!! The event will start at 7:00 P.M., but please come early to get good seats. It will be fun for the whole family, with concessions, and FREE donkey rides to the first 125 kids age 12 and under at half time!!! Please see our youth who are pre-selling tickets for $10 for all ages, 5 and under are free. So get them early, tickets at the door will be $12 for all ages, 5 and under free. Please call the church office at 663-3594 if you have any questions. Caramel Roll Sale The youth will be selling homemade caramel rolls on Sunday, February 28th for coffee hour and also to go! We are taking pre-orders, starting January 10th. For PRE-SELL we will be selling a dozen for $20.00. The day of February 28th, 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 for the pre-sell. Please include your name, phone number & the amount you will want to buy. (we will call you the morning of Saturday, February 27th to pick up your pre-orders) Left: all the Christmas gifts getting ready to go to the schools. Top: all the food collected for the schools. Make sure to pick up some extra rolls and take them home to share with family and friends! All proceeds will go to Youth mission trip this summer!!
JANUARY 2016 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH PAGE 4 PAGE 9 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH JANUARY 2016 Pastoral Acts Baptisms: December 13 December 20 December 20 Lucas Anthony Rothschiller Emma Leigh Janz Tatyana Rae Martinez Weddings: Funerals: December 11 December 22 Michael Papka Erna Wagner Memorial Fund In memory of Shirley Dixon given by Gary & Claudia Tomanek, Arden & Pat Hagerott, David & Jennifer Bjork. In memory of Jacob Hertz given by Larry & Elaine Laubner, family & friends. In memory of Ben & Anna Kottsick given by Jacob & Peggy Hertz. Deadline for articles for the February Newsletter will be January 22 nd. January ~ Mission of the Month Special Thanks Aid Inc. Items needed are non-perishable food items, paper products, etc. Please put the items in the boxes in the Narthex. Thank you. 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! 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
PAGE 8 FI R S T LU T H E R A N C HU R C H J A NU A R Y 2 0 1 6 J A NU A R Y 2 0 1 6 FI R S T LU T H E R A N C HU R C H PAGE 5 First Lutheran Church Council Minutes Date: November 19, 2015 Time: 7:00 pm MEMBERS PRESENT: Pastor Lee Herberg, President Den Na Lee Fewson, Vice President Jill Miller, Secretary Jessie Hilfer, Tim Faller, Rynell Rusch, Jeff Bradford, John Pake, Brock Schmeling Absent: Dot Frank & Pastor Christina Martin Devotions: Pastor Lee led devotions. Den Na Lee called the meeting to order. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: passed. Moved by Brock, 2nd by Jeff to approve the agenda. Motion SECRETARY S REPORT/Review and Approval of the minutes: John to approve October minutes. Motion passed Moved by Jill, 2nd by FINANCIAL REPORT/Review: October income $55,389.68. YTD is $404,424.54. Expenses $42k making income over expenses $12k. Building fund is tighter this year. Lutefisk income $11,849.75. Increased ticket price by $2, up to $17, keeping in line with other local churches that do a similar meal. LAF is under budget even though we are feeding more kids. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Same sex marriage: Surveys were all mailed out. 228 have been returned. Will put cutoff date of 12-10-15 in the bulletin for returning them. Listening posts had 5 attendees. Newsletters: 70 people returned card wanting newsletter mailed out to them. We need 200 for bulk mail pricing. Will cost $1 each if not bulk mail. 45 want it emailed and 86 said to leave it how it is/pick up at church. Windows: Install date was later than stated and end of November won t work for the church because the Christmas decorations will all be up and we don t want to take them down and put them back up again. Will delay until January but will write the check in 2015 and hold until the work is complete. Retaining wall: Will address in the spring. Railings: Need to be sand blasted. Bid is 2 years old. We will need a new one. Janie Hague: We will pay half tuition in 2016 $4,400 Elevator: Reviewed 2 bids. Tim moved to have OTIS do the repairs (approx. $12,353) and have quarterly maintenance @ $55 per month. Jeff 2nd. Motion passed. NEW BUSINESS: Teams provided budget line item amounts. Facilities increase total $5,000 Postage: Possibly have sponsors for mailing the newsletter. Hold off until December.
PAGE 6 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH JANUARY 2016 Christmas services at 2, 4, and 11 pm on 24 th. Jeff moved to cancel Wednesday, December 23 service as it s been difficult to find anyone available to assist with service that evening. Jill 2 nd. Motion passed. REPORTS: Pastor Lee s report: 7 baptisms, 2 funerals, 1 wedding. Bill Dodd began his internship. Lee will provide a quarterly report and site supervision. Pastor Lee presided at communion services at Library Square II, Sanford Care Centers on Sunset and off Collins Care Centers. Pastor Chris s report: 1 baptism, 3 funerals, 0 weddings. Getting ready for Christmas program, working with the fundraisers for Mission Trip youth, and getting ready for maternity leave. 93 Christmas flowers were sold this year which is very good. Now on maternity leave. On November 8, 2015 baby William was born. She is scheduled to return December 20, 2015. Special Events: November 26 th is Community Thanksgiving at First Lutheran sponsored by AID Inc. December 8 th is the Senior Christmas Service and meal. December 6 th & 9 th is the Choir Christmas Cantata and children s Christmas program is on December 13 th and 16 th. Christmas Eve services at 2, 4, and 11 pm on 24 th. Stewardship: Follow up letter will be mailed 11-20-2015 for annual giving. Worship: High school youth leading worship on November 22, 2015. Parish Education/Youth: Confirmation and church school materials were purchased for the spring before Chris went on leave. Thank you to Jill Miller for taking on the direction of the Christmas Program while Pastor Chris is on leave. Evangelism and Outreach: LAF is going well. Trunk or Treat was successful. Approx. 380 kids. Property and Management: All items were reviewed in unfinished business. Correspondence: appreciation. Pastor Lee thanked the church council for the gift card for clergy Golden Age thank you for $118.55 for Home Delivered Meals. Golden Age thank you for $89.33 for Home Delivered Meals. Camp of the Cross thank you for $1,406.37. Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center thank you for $150.75 to the M Club. Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center thank you for $200.06 to the M Club. Motion to Adjourn/Lord s Prayer: Moved by Jeff, 2 nd by Jill to adjourn the council meeting. Motion passed. The meeting closed with the Lord s Prayer. Submitted by: Jessie Hilfer