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 December Newsletter Building Faith and Transforming Lives in Christ. www.firstlutheranofmandan.org We re on the web! ADDRESS LABEL December 2014 First Lutheran Staff Administrative Pastor Rev. Lee Herberg 663-3594 December marks the beginning of Advent, a church season that counts us down to Christmas. Yet, Advent is more than just a countdown, it is a season of expectation. The word Advent means "coming." During the season of Advent, many families spend these four weeks waiting for people to come. Waiting for children to come home from college, or for grandparents to come for Christmas dinner. For young children, these days of waiting can seem like a thousand years. Others are amazed at how quickly time is flying. Christmas Eve Services 2:00 P.M. 4:00 P.M. 11:00 P.M. 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 The coming scripture speaks of is both profound and magnificent. It is the coming end of brokenness and desperation. It is salvation from all that has torn us and our world apart. As we wait alongside people of every time and place, we too hear voices from the past in the prophetic words of the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel writers that prepare us to receive the one who is coming into the world: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The promise of Advent is that God is always at work in the world, bringing new beginnings and reconciliation to people and powers long torn apart and broken. Yet, we live in the time that exists between the "already" of Christ's resurrection and the "not yet" of God's full reconciliation. As with any long period of waiting, we know that the final days are the hardest to bear. Instead of becoming preoccupied with the waiting, we are counseled to live our lives in a state of preparedness. So how will you wait this Advent season? Peace of Christ be with you, Pastor Chris Merry Christmas!
PAGE 2 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH December 2014 Church School Christmas Program Sunday School Schedule Practice - Sunday, December 7 th & 14 th 9:30-10:30 A.M. Program - Sunday, December 21 st at 10:45 A.M. Wednesday School Schedule Practice - Wednesday, December 3 rd & 10 th 7:00-7:40 P.M. German Advent Service in Mandan ND on December 14 th Program - Wednesday, December 17 th at 6:00 P.M. This service will be held here on December 14, 2014 at 2:30 P.M. and will be led by Pastor Clayton Schafer. Come to hear the message in both German and English, join in group singing, and hear special music. Please stay and enjoy the maistub (fellowship) after the service.
PAGE 10 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2014 Mark Your Calendar Upcoming Events Camp of the Cross Ministries Summer 2015 Schedule Mark your calendars! Registration opens in December! Next youth gathering meeting will be held sometime in January. Please watch for more details. May 31st-June 5th Off Site Day Camps June 7th-12th Off Site Day Camps June 14th-18th "Specialty Camps Week" (ends on Thursday) Guitar, Sports, Art, Whittling, Fishing and "new" this year Sailing camp June 21st-28th (ends on Thursday) Homesteaders, Prairie Dwellers and Pathfinders week (Sunday to Friday) Voyagers (21st-23rd) June 28th-30th Celebration! Camp (Sunday to Tuesday) July 5th-10th Nigh Pathfinders and In-Tents Week (Sunday to Friday) July 9th-12th Senior High Camp and Discipleship Training (Thursday to Sunday) July 12th-17th Trekkers (Sunday to Friday) July 12th-14th Grandparent & Me and Parent & Me (Sunday to Tuesday) July 12th-14th Voyagers (Sunday to Tuesday) July 19th-23rd- United Church of Christ Camp (Sunday to Thursday) July 24th-26th Family Camp Weekend (Friday to Sunday) July 26th-31st "Christmas in July" (Sunday to Friday) Homesteaders, Prairie Dwellers, Pathfinders and In-Tents August 2nd-7th Buttes, Buffaloes and Badlands (Sunday to Friday) August 9th-11th Voyagers and Mini-Homesteaders (Sunday to Tuesday) 3rd: 7pm - Confirmation - Large Group 4th: LAF-Nachos 10th: 7pm - Confirmation - Large Group 11th: LAF-Hot Dogs 17th: 7pm - Confirmation - Small Group - Christmas Party 18th: LAF Sloppy Joes 24th: No Confirmation Spring Registration is now open for Wednesday School!!! If you were signed up for Wednesday School in the Fall we ask that you please sign up for ONLY ONE semester. Please note, that if you were signed up for the Fall semester of Wednesday school and would like to sign up for Sunday School for part of the church school year that is alright. In that case please contact Pastor Chris directly. 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 traditional youth group. This month W.I.N.G.S will be meeting on December 21st from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. For our activity we will be Christmas Caroling!! Please come for a time of fellowship, singing, and maybe some hot chocolate too!! If you would like to come please contact Pastor Chris. Rev Christina Martin 701-663-3594 Cell: 219-512-5517 christina@firstluthearnofmandan.org
DECEMBER 2014 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH PAGE 4 PAGE 9 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2014 Pastoral Acts Senior Christmas Gathering Baptisms: November 9 November 9 November 23 November 30 November 30 Weddings: Funerals: November 1 November 21 Bryar Scott Lunneborg Cruz Jaxon Auch Briar Elizabeth Bold Jack Stanley Wolf Danica Jean Monzelowsky Hollis Nappen Linda Mund Senior Service and Meal December 9 th, 2014 Service at 11:00 A.M. Dinner at 12:00 P.M. Roast Pork Dinner with Trimmings to follow. RSVP the church office 663-3594 ASAP!!! Come join us for Food, Fellowship, and Fun. Memorial Fund In memory of Hollis Nappen given by Walter & Leona Keidel, Dennis & Bernice Meyer, Loretta Quanbeck, John & Diane Rieke, Ralph & Naida Feland, Arden & Pat Hagerott, Don & Betty Maland, Betty Winkler. In memory of Kay Clark given by Suzanne Volk, Christine Demars, Russ & Jan Grabinger, Barb Dove, Arlene & Thorval Mack, Jay & Cindy Frohlich, Adele Johnson, Steve & Kathleen Vogelpohl, Ida Halweg, Ruth Gray, Tim & Karen Fobar, Helen Harper, Belinda Gustin, Erickson Enterprises. December ~ Mission of the Month Abused Adult Resource Center Items needed are non-perishable food items, bedding, cleaning & housekeeping supplies, baby & children s items, medicine cabinet supplies. You may put your items in the boxes in the Narthex. Thank you. Deadline for articles for the January Newsletter will be December 18 th. Worship Schedule Sunday ~ 8:30 am ~ Traditional 10:45 am ~ Contemporary 9:30 am ~ Coffee 9:30 am ~ Church School Do you need a Christmas gift for someone who is hard to buy for? We still have New Escape CD s for sale in the office. The songs are: Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing), Make A Difference, He Reigns, How Great Thou Art, How Great Is Our God, Grace Like Rain, Wade In The Water, Mighty To Save, Day By Day, I ll Fly Away, We Were Made For You, Forever, Sing, Sing, Sing. The suggested donation is $10.00. Thank you for your consideration. Thanks to all the workers listed below for all the help with the packing of Lutheran World Relief on October 23 rd. Through all of your help, we can help others. We packed 174 School Kits and 67 Quilts. Also thanks to Rod Skytland and Andrew Unruh for pickup and delivery of boxes. God s love Leona Keidel. 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! Wednesday ~ 6:00 pm ~ Transitional 6:00 pm ~ Church School 7:00 pm ~ Confirmation Walter & Leona Keidel Lloyd Keidel Anna Marie Oppegard Les & Darlene Sayler Ralph & Naida Feland Sheila Christianson
PAGE 8 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2014 DECEMBER 2014 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH PAGE 5 First Lutheran Church Council Minutes Thursday, October 16, 2014 7:00PM Present: Pastor Christina Martin, President Tammy Lapp-Harris, Vice-President Brock Schmeling, Secretary Jill Miller, Janet Reineke, Den Na Lee Fewson, and Dot Frank. Absent: Pastor Lee Herberg, John Pake, Terryl Gaebe, and Kris Elijah. Devotions: President Tammy Lapp-Harris called the meeting to order. Pastor Chris led devotions. Approval of Agenda: Moved by Brock, seconded by Den Na Lee to approve the agenda as presented. Motion passed. Secretary s Report/Review and Approval of the minutes: seconded by Dot to approve the September minutes. Moved by Den Na Lee, Financial Report/Review: September income was over the expenses by $8,557.05. Unfinished Business: Moving forward in faith: Nothing to report at this time. Air Handling Unit: Nothing to report at this time. Policy and Procedure Manual: Council should review and check for errors and be ready at the next meeting with any changes. Retaining Walls: Nothing to report at this time. Camp of the Cross Capital Campaign: Pastor Lee is still trying to find a Campaign Leader. NEW BUSINESS: All committee teams need to provide budget information at the November 20 th council meeting. Stewardship dates will be November 5 th for Wednesday services and November 9 th. Leingang Home Center provided a quote for eight doors in the Education Wing. The doors will be stained, lacquered, and installed. The quote is for $7,324. This does not include hardware prices, but does include the installation of the hardware.
PAGE 6 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2014 REPORTS: Pastor Lee s report 2 baptisms, 1 wedding, 1 funeral, communion services at Library Square II, the two Sanford Care Centers in Mandan and is continuing to mentor with William Dodd. Pastor Chris s report 3 baptisms, 1 wedding, 2 funerals. Special Events The Annual Lutefisk and Lefse dinner was held October 18, 2014. Stewardship No report. Worship Meeting Thursday, October 23 rd at 7 p.m. in the Friendship Room to discuss summer worship. Parish Education/Youth Pastor Chris was at the confirmation retreat for the freshman. 13 student showed up, a decision will be made if a make up for the rest will be in the spring. The confirmation banquet for sophomores to be confirmed will be Sunday, October 19 th, with confirmation service to be held Sunday, October 26 th. Evangelism and Outreach The Freezer Meal night had attendance of 10 and seemed to go over well for the ones that showed up. There is talk for another possible night in January. A Trunk-or-Treat event will be held on Halloween. So far there have been 5 cars to sign up. The hope is to have 25 cars available to hand out candy in the parking lot. In the basement of the church, food will be served and games and crafts will be set up. Property and Management No report. CORRESPONDENCE: None Motion to Adjourn/Lord s Prayer: Moved by Brock, seconded by Janet to adjourn the council meeting. Motion passed. The meeting closed with the Lord s Prayer. Submitted by: Jill Miller