First vangelical Lutheran Church 305 West 5 th treet orth Platte, ebraska 69101 eptember 2016 O f f i c e H o u r s Monday - Thursday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM - OO aturday: Closed unday: Closed Contact Us... Phone: 308-532-0250 Fax: 308-532-5291 mail: frstluth@msn.com www.firstevlutheran-np.com FLC TAFF enior Pastor: Rev. Frank H. Fitch III 308-520-7469 Church Council, President: Lori vans, 534-2263 Custodian: Wes Thompson Financial ecretary: Rae Gullion Front Office & Publications: Amy Lynch Music & Preschool Director: Gail Jensen, 534-4290 Office Manager: Olene Beck, 386-8677 Jr. & r. F.L.Y.: Mindee Mohr, 539-8549 Amy Lynch, 660-6283 unday chool: Church Office: 532-0250 Inside This Issue... Greetings 1 Council/Attendance/Lessons 2 Calendar 3 Prayers/Ministries/Thanks/ Flowers Announcements 5 WLCA 6 Birthdays/Anniversaries/ Financials/Thrivent Choice Upcoming events... 8 4 7 o unsigned checks I remember well being a young pastor and attending the first meeting of a committee been established by the congregation to study possible renovations to the congregation s building. It was a simple orientation meeting, for laying out the tasks and goals of the committee. As we were about to adjourn, one of the group s members said, I have a letter here that was sent with me to read to you all. From whom? I asked, curious that our little group was worthy of a letter. It s unsigned. The person who wrote it doesn t want to be named. I m not sure why, but before I knew what I was saying, I simply responded, Then it has no more value than an unsigned check. Bring it back when it s signed. That phrase has come in handy over the years. The congregations I ve served, like almost every congregation (probably since shortly after the first aster), have had no shortage of unsigned notes, or the ever-popular, ome people comments. In every instance, my response has been, That s as worthless as an unsigned check. Come back when someone s name is attached to it. Anonymity, except in acts of charity ( Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing ) has no place in Christ s church. It s a common tactic of bullies, used to suggest that they have far more support for their position than they in fact do. Because we want unity and fear conflict, threats of widespread discontent become powerful weapons. But just as banks won t cash unsigned checks and newspapers won t print unsigned letters, the healthy church won t honor unsigned letters or anonymous comments. We ve all seen how the anonymity of the internet has drawn out the cranky, the crazy and the corrosive; that s no one s model for Christian community. Anonymous comments are simply bad news. But we are a people of the Good ews, the Gospel. That Good ews is that God chose not to remain anonymous, distant and unknown, but became one of us, took a name Jesus of azareth and died and rose again to put God s claim on us. What s more, in baptism, each of us is given a name so that we won t be anonymous to God, either. And we don t need to be unknown to each other. There is great positive value in identifying oneself, especially when it comes to something as important as congregational life. A name with a comment opens the door to conversation, communication, cooperation and compromise. When we know one another, we can actually get things done! Following God s example, with Jesus as our model, differences in the church can be healthy and helpful. o here is the rule: o unsigned checks (or notes or comments). Because we live by this Good ews: in the unique person of Jesus Christ, and through his death and resurrection, God s grace to us was signed, sealed and delivered. And you can take that to the bank. ~Bishop Maas
Term: 2014-2016 Term: 2015-2017 Term: 2016-2018 Congregational Council Minutes: August 18, 2016 available in the arthex. Ashley Aloi Lori vans, President Worship & Music, MMI Jody Hill, ecretary Care Committee & Worship & Music Frankie Moore Library & MMI MIIO TATMT: Jake Wawrzynkiewicz Devin Lunzman Property teve Gulzow Jody Lamberty Worship & Music Gus Lieske Christian ducation/youth & Family/ Care Committee Dr. Daran Rudnick Jerry toll Preschool To make Christ known in our love for one another, by service to our neighbor, and in worship of God. 1st Lesson Psalm 2nd Lesson Gospel eptember 4 Deut 30:15-20 Psalm 1 Philemon 1-21 Luke 14:25-33 eptember 11 xod 32:7-14 Psalm 51:1-10 1 Tim 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10 eptember 18 Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113 1 Tim 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13 eptember 25 Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Psalm 146 1 Tim 6:6-19 Luke 16:19-31 Average Weekly Attendance August Year 2016 (3wks) 86 Year 2015 127 Year 2014 123
U M O T U W D THU F R I A T 1 2 3 O Worship w/communion 4 16 Pentecost 10:30 am Worship w/ Communion (O 8:15 RVIC) 5 7:00 Miriam Circle 6 1:00 Quilts/Library 6:00 Yoga 7 2016 9:30 WLCA Board Praise Band 7:00 Pastor s Bible tudy Preschool Meet & Greet 9:00-oon & 1:00-3:00 8 Preschool Meet & Greet 9:00-oon & 1:00-3:00 9 10 5:30 Worship w/communion 9:15 Donuts/coffee 10:00 Praise Band Preschool Begins! 11:45 WLCA Autumn Luncheon 11 17 Pentecost 12 13 14 15 16 17 8:15 am & 10:30 am Worship w/communion 9:15 Donuts/coffee 9:30 Property Mtg. 10:00 Praise Band 10:30 ending Comm. 2:00 Bingo at Cent. 6:00 Yoga Praise Band 7:00 Pastor s Bible tudy 1:00 sther/lois Circle Library 1:00 Quilts/Library 7:00 Council Mtg. 5:30 Worship w/communion God s Work, Our Hands 18 18 Pentecost 19 20 21 22 23 24 8:15 am & 10:30 am Worship w/communion 9:15 Donuts/coffee 10:00 Praise Band oon W & M Mtg. 6:30 Ruth Circle 9:00 Adah Circle at Airport Inn 1:00 Quilts/Library 2:00 Cent. Comm. 3:00 B.B. Comm. 6:00 Yoga Praise Band 7:00 Pastor s Bible tudy 1:00 Quilts 6:00 CCC Mtg. 5:30 Worship w/communion 9:30 Confirmation Meeting in Library! ewsletter Deadline 25 19 Pentecost 26 27 28 29 30 8:15 am & 10:30 am Worship w/communion 6:00 Yoga Praise Band 7:00 Pastor s Bible tudy 1:00 ewsletter 9:15 Donuts/coffee 9:30 ve Circle 10:00 Praise Band
P LA KP TH FOLLOWIG POPL I YOUR P R A Y R ~ M I I T R I T H A K F L O W R PRAYR! Katie Coriell Marion ffenbeck John & Joyce Feeney Ken George Mary ue Grabenstein Dan Guenthner Rae Gullion Mary Ann Jorgenson Joan Johansen Thomas Lortz Jon Petersen Don hahan hirley Tisher Family of Ardith Woolson OTHR PRAYR: Todd Chase, Justin Falcon, Tim alinas, amantha chlaffman-grosdidier, Trent chomp, van Williams and all in the military. If you know somebody or would like to be added to the prayer list, please contact Pastor Frank. If you are unable to reach Pastor Frank, please call Holly Fitch 530-8357; andy toll 534-2219; Arleen Petersen 530-1276 or Jennifer Hurst 696-6771. 2016 Altar Flowers: Available undays eptember 18 25 October 9 23 ovember 6 13 27 We are in need of Altar Flowers! If you would like to provide flowers for a special occasion, in honor of, in memory of or to the Glory of God, please pick up a form in the office. The cost is $35.00 for one pair of bouquets. BIBL TUDY Pastor s Bible tudy: Wednesday at 7:00 PM CIRCL (WLCA) Board Meeting: First Wednesday at 9:30 AM Adah Circle: Third Tuesday at 9:00 AM sther/lois Circle: Third Thursday at 1:00 PM Miriam Circle: First Monday at 7:00 PM Ruth Circle: Third Monday at 6:30 PM ve Circle: Fourth unday at 9:30 AM COMMUITY COMMUIO 3rd Tuesday at Centennial Park @ 2:00 PM 3rd Tuesday at Buffalo Bill Manor @ 3:00 PM GRAC MIITRI FOOD PATRY Friday from 1-3 PM QUILT Quilting: very Tuesday at 1:00 PM Tie Quilts: 2nd Thursday at 1:00 PM ALVATIO ARMY OUP UPPR First Lutheran Church will sponsor the Friday evening soup supper at the alvation Army on ovember 4. A big thank you to Claudette & Kathy for delivering the beautiful flowers for my birthday! ~Janice B. Thank you so much for letting us stay here! We truly appreciate your hospitality. Your floors are very comfortable and we enjoyed playing in the gym! ~Lands Youth Thank you for the beautiful flower arrangement brought to me for my birthday. Also, a special thanks to Claudette & Kathy for delivering it! ~Karla O. Thank you for offering us your preschool space to sleep while we traveled from Minnesota to Colorado and back again! It was nice to be able to spread out and have running water!! Thank you gain for sharing your church with us. ~First Lutheran-Le ueur, M Thank you to our church family for the beautiful flowers and expressions of sympathy on the passing of my mom. Thank you to Pastor Frank and everyone for their prayers. ~teve & Deb G Thank you so much for the pretty flowers. It really brightened my day & I thank you for thinking of me. I also appreciate the prayers and visits! I m much better now but the doctor says I m not strong enough to go home yet, but hopefully soon. Thanks again! ~ Mary ue G. Thank you to all who generously donated items and money for the health kits and backpacks! You are truly a blessing to those in need!
First unday of Advent: ovember 27, 2016 Donations will be collected at First Lutheran from ovember 27th to December 24th! Part-time Full-time ubstitute A O U C M T
W O M O F T H L C A
hortfall urplus Jason Reed eptember 1 Gordon Gosnell eptember 2 Amanda Janas eptember 4 Kaitlyn Aloi eptember 6 Matt LaRue eptember 6 Carleen Tabke eptember 7 Barbara Christensen eptember 8 Melvin ffenbeck eptember 8 arah vans eptember 10 Reese Grigg eptember 10 Joel Jensen eptember 10 Gary Bargell eptember 11 Lynn Riley eptember 12 Brandon iefford eptember 12 Misty Tobiasson eptember 12 Cindi Walz eptember 13 Ryan Gifford eptember 14 Devin Lunzman eptember 16 Jacoby ilos eptember 16 andra toll eptember 16 Douglas Fisher eptember 17 Marcia Higgins eptember 17 Gerry Krueger eptember 18 teven Gulzow eptember 19 ara Hinrichs eptember 19 Linda chimek eptember 20 Luke Fisher eptember 21 Brylie Robinson eptember 21 Kris Wardyn eptember 21 Bernie Ludemann eptember 22 Mark Obermeier eptember 23 Marilyn Anderson eptember 24 Theresa Kesterson eptember 24 Jimmy nyder eptember 24 Miranda Moore eptember 25 Renae Hinrichs eptember 26 Kade Mohr eptember 26 Barbara Workman eptember 26 Vicki Green eptember 27 Makenzie Dahlgren eptember 28 Gail Hubbell eptember 28 Mary Benzel eptember 29 Haley Piper eptember 29 Debbie Berry eptember 30 Amy Lynch eptember 30 Becky onneman eptember 30 Randy & Becky Robinson eptember 8 teve & Liz vans eptember 11 Kenneth & Jan George eptember 11 Don & Polly hahan eptember 11 Mark & Jill ilos eptember 14 Donald & Gail Hubbell eptember 16 Art & Theresa Kesterson eptember 21 Marvin & Lazette Knoll eptember 21 Brenda & Mike Monson eptember 21 Gary & loise Tesar eptember 27 Andrew & Courtney Feeney eptember 28 To fulfill the mission and ministry of First v. Lutheran Church, as we seek to reach out to others with Jesus, we require $24,561/month in General Budget offerings. 2016 Annual Budget $294,731 W HAV GIV BACK TO GOD JULY 2016 Year to date A General Budget Offering $18,494 $140,174 2016 xpenses $23,173 $165,021 urplus or (hortfall) $(4,679) $(24,847) A Included above: $20,000 from hrake Fund. JULY 2016 Month-To-Date summary: Offerings are $6,067 BLOW the 2016 budget. xpenses are $1,388 BLOW the 2016 budget. Monthly ummary: HORTFALL $4,679 Year-To-Date summary as of 7/31/2016: Offerings are $31,752 BLOW the 2016 budget. xpenses are $6,905 BLOW the 2016 budget. UMMARY: 2016 HORTFALL of $24,847 ote: aster: March 2016, April 2015 Thank you to all members who have designated Thrivent Choice dollars to First Lutheran. We are open to suggestions as to how to use this money. Contact one of the other members of the committee: Ardith Woolson, Mary Johnson, Joan Johansen or Betty Hamit. If you are a Thrivent member, you can designate your Choice dollars to First Lutheran Church by logging onto www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice or by calling 800-847-4836. Thrivent Choice has been sharing the gifts... Balance 08/01/16 $6,037.25 Thrivent Choice donations: +$333.00 Gifts given: Meals for VB 2016 -$57.76 Balance 08/31/16 $6,312.49
FIRT VAGLICAL LUTHRA CHURCH MIIO TATMT: First vangelical Lutheran Church is a church of the LCA. Our mission is To make Christ known in our love for one another, by service to our neighbor, and in worship of God. Worship ervices aturday vening: 5:30 PM ~ Worship ervice unday Morning: 8:15 AM ~ Traditional ervice 10:30 AM ~ Praise ervice FIRT VAGLICAL LUTHRA CHURCH 305 WT 5TH TRT ORTH PLATT 69101-3830 Address ervice Requested U.. POTAG PAID on-profit Organization orth Platte, ebraska PRMIT O. 7 unday chool chedule unday chool will resume in eptember, tart date will be announced. 2016 W AR I DPRAT D OF POWRPOIT VOLUTR! If you know how to make PowerPoint's or would like to learn, please call the church office! 532-0250 Thank you!! alute to First Responders in our community! We need baked goods and volunteers to deliver baked goods to the orth Platte Police Dept., Fire Dept. and heriff's Dept. Meet at the church on unday, eptember 11, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. to help deliver! We would also like to invite all First Responders of our congregation to attend our 10:30 Worship service on eptember 11, 2016 for a special tribute and recognition! Confirmation Class Meeting unday, eptember 18, 2016 9:30 am in the Church library. Confirmation is an intentional time of faith education and exploration for youth during their 7th grade year or when they reach age 13.