Faith Lutheran Church July, 2018 Newsletter From the Pastor Our Sunday Schedule 8:15am Worship Service 9:15am Brunch 9:45am Sunday School for All Ages (Youth classes for ages 4 thru 18; Two adult classes) 10:45am Worship Service If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32 Happy Independence! Hamburgers and hot dogs, ice cream, parades, and fireworks soon we will celebrate the 4 th of July. Our nation was born in 1776 with the Declaration of Independence asserting our freedom from the rule of the British Empire. We value our personal civil freedom; while as a nation we collectively strive for the common good. Our nation is one of self-governance and rule. Happy Interdependence! As the people of God, His nation, we acknowledge that we are completely dependent on His mercy in Jesus Christ. All things were made through Him. (John 1:3) We depend on Him for all our daily needs, most especially the freedom from our sin, guilt, and shame through the Gospel of His Son, our Savior. Jesus gives us true freedom by and through His Word and Sacraments. God s grace affirms the blessing of our interdependence on one another. We are the many members of the body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:12) We worship and serve Him as we serve our neighbor. We delight in sharing this journey in faith together. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all, Pastor Ed Auger Sermon Themes in July 07-01 The Faith That Makes Us Well (Mark 5:34) 07-08 The Carpenter s Honor (Mark 6:3) 07-15 The Evangelist s Honor (Mark 6:20) 07-22 The Food That Satisfies Us (Mark 6:42) 07-29 The Miracle That Gives Courage (Mark 6:50) Special Events 07/01 - Military Appreciation Sunday (Supporting Faith Comes by Hearing) 07/04 - Independence Day (all offices closed) 07/06 - Creative Kindness Craft Ministry at 10:00am 07/15 - VBS: 5:30pm to 8:30pm; light meal at 5:30pm 07/22 - Stephen Ministry Supervision & Continuing Ed 07/29-5 th Sunday Brunch & New Member Welcome From the Faith School Director This time of year, we are able to change things up and try out new ideas for the upcoming school year. June was a busy month with staff changes, and we are excited about what is to come. Lauren Johnson has been promoted to Director after serving as Assistant Director last school year. Her education in Early Childhood Development, combined with five-years experience here at Faith School, Lauren has my full confidence in leading by my side. Lisa Fergason will go back to the classroom, and will again serve as our Kindergarten teacher. Krystal Hatfield will move from Preschool to teach PreK; and Tana Mundfrom will move to Preschool. All of these teachers are ready for a new age group, and I have confidence each of them will make an eternal impact by sharing the Gospel daily. Pastor Ed was introduced to the kids during a walk through on his first day of school, and the children took a keen liking to him, as well did the staff. While being introduced to the ministry, he had a few conversations in Spanish which was an exciting surprise for some staff and students. At chapel the Wednesday after meeting Pastor Ed, many of them asked for him. Very sweet that they are looking to bond with him. Serving Him, Magan Carrasco 3000 NW Loop, Stephenville, Texas 76401 254-968-2710 Website: faithlutheranstephenville.com Email: church.office@faithlutheranstephenville.com
Sunday School Sunday school the hour between services is a time for everyone to grow in their knowledge of the Bible and their faith in Christ. Find a class for you and get plugged in! Preschool through 6 th grade are learning about Jesus feeding the 5000. Help our children learn and experience this miracle from the Bible. Sign up in the narthex to teach through playing games, journaling, a science experiment, or a kitchen activity. Students from 7 th through 12 th grade are learning about various Bible stories in the FLY room every Sunday. Adults are welcome to join Pastor Ed s class in the narthex or continue participating in the Christian Caregiving class in Room 9 of the family center. Youth Sunday is August 5 th Rally Sunday is August 19 th Dear Friends of Faith, It's been ten very busy days today since we bid you all farewell in Stephenville. Thank you for the wonderful send-off lunch. It was truly memorable, appreciated, and affirming. (The advice on how a retired pastor should dress and the bucket list for us both is especially welcome!) Thank you also for the twenty years of support, caring, and faithful ministry, not only to us, but especially with us as we partnered to share the love of Christ as He gave us opportunity. And speaking of "thank-you's", we so much appreciate the individual gifts and hands-on assistance which truly helped us in our move and moved us to give thanks to God for you even more. Those "thank-you" notes are still coming, but have been delayed because of the packed schedule we have had since our last Sunday with you and the unpacked boxes and pods yet to be opened. Those pods will arrive next week, just as the remodeling of our "new" 70-year old home winds down. (We are only the home's second owners.) Since we arrived last Friday, it's been non-stop scraping wallpaper (three layers), painting, and ripping out old carpet so that contractors can lay new flooring and remodel the bath. Fortunately, our family has been a tremendous help and lives about a block away. We are staying with them each night. God continues to be in the details. Having arrived at a good stopping point with all that, we are taking advantage of the PFS gift of Milwaukee Brewers vouchers to celebrate our 42nd anniversary at Miller Park in Milwaukee. (June 27) Driving a U-Haul van along with Cheryl's VW Beetle, we took our time getting to Wisconsin and enjoyed a brief lunch Thursday with Reuben and Mary Walter and their granddaughters in St. Louis. They are doing well and wish you all their love and prayers as you move forward in ministry. In our first worship service here, we kept thinking of Faith and of what you all were doing as the morning progressed. Another retired pastor here said that he still does that with his last congregation after four years. No doubt, we will also. We pray that you faithfully continue the work God has assigned you, encourage the new members, love each other, and follow the lead of Pastor Ed Auger and Cherie as they serve you in this incredibly wonderful opportunity to "lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim." Love to all, Pastor Tom and Cheryl Konz 204 Starry Avenue Monona, WI 53716
FLY Our youth thoroughly enjoyed Camp Lone Star. From Bible study to challenge courses and everything in between (like swimming, nap time, worship, and more games), the youth grew in their faith and were wiped out by the end of the week! Stephen Ministry At our recent District Convention, our Texas District President, Rev. Ken Hennings, service and retirement was celebrated. His message was his life, as also shared with us by his children. Stay in the Word. And so it is with us, in all our lives we are to stay in the Word. Not by merely endorsing it verbally, but by living it daily. We are taught to live it by His witness to all, especially to those in critical times of need and care. Encouragement and counsel to other members of the Body in such a way that they feel helped and healed. Stephen Ministry training may be one area to help you further develop and use your Spiritual gifts. Fill out an application; your Stephen Ministry leaders, Everett Seider, Sherre West and Greg Wertz will set up a meeting to discuss your interest and timing for expanding your gifts through this ministry.
Summertime is vacation time for many. Even though that is true for LWML with no monthly meetings June through August, we still have information to share about our serving the Lord with gladness. This month some will attend our LWML District Convention in Waco, so we are still anticipating church members helping with collecting the Ingathering Gifts from the Heart. Please help us fill the basket located by the bulletin board in the Narthex. Check out the list on the basket of needed items and respond by July 3 rd. You should not gift wrap the items! The blessings of MITE contributions continue to be generous. We would like to give a big hug to all who contributed the $37.16 toward our Mission Grants. In July and August, we will continue to collect MITES on the 3 rd Sundays. Also, July has a 5 th Sunday, so all of us have the opportunity to donate non-perishable goods to H.O.P.E. for its food pantry. Needed items include: peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, soups, rice, beans, canned vegetables and canned meat. As an executive group, we decided to give a monetary gift to Pastor Tom and Cheryl Konz to help with those unexpected moving expenses. It has been exciting to hear by text/fb about their getting settled in Madison, Wisconsin. Before the end of the summer vacation months, our LWML officers will meet to select programs and set our calendar of events. Please feel free to make suggestions for programs you would like us to consider; we want YOU!!! President, Lynann Simpson 254-592-6255 Vice-President, Whitney Lee 254-338-8610 Secretary/Treasurer, Rachel Moravec 254-965-4767 Christian Growth, Marlene White 254-967-3379 Arrangements, Rosanne Keilers 254-592-3194 5 th Sunday Brunch & New Member Welcome July 29 at 9:15am in the family center. Please bring a breakfast-type dish to share as we welcome our new members: Justin Hanson Barry Harpole & Cheri Spellmeier, C.J., Charidee & Addy Tana Mundfrom, Emily & Harper Amanda Spellmeier Jett & Liz Smith, Henry & Thomas
This Month s Feature: VBS
Let us pray for you. Please join the group by texting PRAY to 57711 on your cell phone. When a special or urgent prayer is needed, you will receive a text message from the church office with the request. If you need a prayer, contact the church office with the prayer request, and we will share with the prayer team. Ushers for 2018-2019 We are re-working the elder list, and we need volunteers. Please check out the form on the church bulletin and choose the month(s) you are willing to help. We need two sets of elders for each service. If you have not been an usher and have questions, please speak with Everett Seider or an elder. Thank you. Mowers Needed Look for the sign-up sheet on the church bulletin board. Sign up with a friend or a pair of friends. Mowing takes less time with a group. For online purchases through Amazon, use the following link, http://smile.amazon.com/ch/75-6099731, and choose Faith Lutheran as your charitable organization. A percentage of the proceeds from your purchases through Amazon Smile will be given back to Faith Lutheran. Thank You for Your Support! Altar Flowers We have open spaces for altar flowers throughout the remainder of the year. Please check the chart hanging by the church kitchen to sign if you wish to donate flowers. Thank you. Stay updated at faithlutheranstephenville.com July is a 5 th Sunday Food Collection Month for H.O.P.E. During months with five Sundays, Faith collects non-perishable food items to donate to H.O.P.E. s food pantry. If you would like to help, please bring your items to church during July and leave them on or under the table in the narthex. At the end of the month, we will take all collected food items to H.O.P.E. Thank you for supporting this important community resource. Items Needed: peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, soups, rice, beans, canned vegetables & canned meat. Like us on facebook at FaithLutheranStephenville