newsletter february web

First News is a monthly publication of: First Lutheran Church 1200 Pinecrest Court, Placerville, CA 95667 (530) 622-3022 [email protected] www.first4others.org Pastor Mark Haas…………………....(530) 344-9410 Vicar Kevin Foley...............................(530) 903-3102 Church Office………………………..(530) 622-3022

Editor……………………….…..….Jean Haldeman

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First News

F i r s t Lu the ran Chu r ch LCMS Feb ruary 2016

Mon th ly Newsle t t e r

VOL. 136 NO.2

Fi r st L uthe r a n Ch ur c h LCM S 1200 Pi ne c r e st C our t Pl ac e r vi l l e , CA 95 667 Ph one 530 622 -3022 e mai l : f i r s t l ut he r an@ sbc g l oba l . ne t

We’re on the web!

first4others.org

A Rabbit-Tale By

Pastor Mark Haas

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During this year, 2016, I will quietly surpass two milestones: the first will be 30 years as an or-dained pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the second will note that I have been on the “Roster” of Synod for 45 years…the first 15 years of this time I served as a DCE, a Principal/Teacher, and these years also include my three years of seminary and vicarage. The pastoral time is divided between 20 years at Peace Lutheran in Sacramento and the 10+ years here at First. January 29, 2016 will mark my tenth anniversary in Placerville.

As it often happens, while serving as a Principal/Teacher, one winds up doing more than just supervising a teaching staff and classroom teaching! There are also “duties to be determined” which included for me teaching adult Bible studies, administering Vacation Bible Schools, providing children’s messages on Sunday mornings as well as midweek chapel services, and after school activities such as coaching! Coaching as in the sports of basketball and softball! I was very fortunate to have teams that won more games than they lost; in fact, we had a few seasons when we were undefeated. When I played team sports, victory was not always prolific so it was gratifying that the junior high school teams I coached performed as well as they did!

When I coached basketball at Good Shepherd Lutheran School in Hayward, the high point of each year was participation in the Canada Tournament, played on several campuses in the Redwood City area, with final round games, if you got that far in the competition, on the Can-ada College campus. It was a sign of competence to play on Sunday, as you knew that each team that day would go home with a trophy! My last year of coaching, the team went unde-feated in league play and we were considered to be unbeatable for the tournament! Howev-er, it turned out that our league was not as tough as others were that year, and when our shooting guard and small forward were injured in our first game, we weren’t around to play on Sunday! But our players were no to be denied…I found money in the school budget to reward each player with an individual trophy for their league play!

When softball season came around, we were undefeated again, so we finished the year on a

high note! The next year I stepped down from coaching and passed that “duty” along to a

new staff member who did well himself as a coach. I took up more administrative duties, only

taught half time, and was able to assist the pastor in a broader fashion working with the Sunday

school staff, Elders, preaching once a month and assisting the youth program, as well. The fol-

lowing year I was at the seminary…it just seemed natural in the progress of things. So from one

coaching experience: team sports, to another different and yet necessary “coaching” experi-

ence: pastoral ministry, my life changed and stayed the same!

“Duties to be determined” and coaching fit together like hand-in-glove! The coach is a leader, but simultaneously teaches and matches strengths and giftedness to meet the tasks ahead. And you play on Sundays, not because you won games during a tournament during the week, but because Someone else won “the Victory” for us! The trophy may be a crown given be-cause of His righteousness, but the crown is given for eternal display and not as a dust collec-tor to look back on as you age and relive your youth.

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I have always considered my five years as Principal/Teacher in Hayward as the best five years of my church work life. I believed Good Shepherd was my “home” congregation though I had served in others. There was just something about a staff of similarly aged and motivated teachers that jelled very well. We were always together socially outside of our campus duties. Our familiarity on campus drew us closer together rather than drive us apart. It was sad day when this person received a call elsewhere, closer to home, and that person decided to change career direction by attending the seminary. It was such a good time that each of us has attempted to recreate those years in new locations and it just hasn’t worked. But, when the phone rings and it’s one of that staff, three hours later you wonder where the time went and you promise to call again soon, knowing that you can pick up the conversation in mid-sentence and not miss a beat from when you last hung up! No doubt you can recount similar stories and joys!

Yesterday, By His Grace, led off the early service with the song, “I will Never Be.” Its lyrics have driven this column today. Here they are for you…

“I will never be the same again I can never return, I’ve closed the door

I’ll walk the path, I’ll run the race And I will never be the same again.

Fall like fire, Soak like rain Flow like mighty waters again and again

Sweep away the darkness, Burn away the chaff And let the flame burn to glorify Thy name.

There are higher heights, there are deeper seas Whatever You need to do, Lord do it in me

The glory of God fills my life And I will never be the same again.”

Many of you have asked what I plan to do once retirement comes this summer, if I’ll stay in the area, downsize by selling the house, do some interim ministry work, or come to worship at First, sitting in the pew and not leading from the chancel. As of right now, all I can say is … “I will never be the same again!” There are lots of decisions to be made the next six months as I wind down my ministry with you. I’ll be as open and surprised as I can be as the months come and go and those “decisions” are made; however, I hope I can honestly say … “Whatever you need to do, Lord do it in me, The glory of God fills my life and I will never be the same again!

Have a great February!

Yours in Christ’s service, Pastor Mark Haas, Soli Deo Gloria

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 8:15a NIA Exercise 9a Walking Group 5:15p Bells of Praise 5:30p Bible Study on Revelation John Mooney 6:30p Jubilate

2 7p OA Meeting

3 8:15a NIA Exercise 9a Walking Group 6p A.A.

4 10a Joy in the Word Bible Study 5:30p BHG Practice 7p Al-Anon

5 8:15a NIA Exercise

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7 8a BHG Practice 8a Adult Bible Study 9a Contemporary Worship 9:15a Adult Bible Study 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Traditional Worship w/Holy Communion Noon Confirmation 1p R.O.C.K. 7p A.A

8 8:15a NIA Exercise 9a Walking Group 5:15p Bells of Praise 6p Property Board 5:30p Bible Study on Revelation John Mooney 6:30p Jubilate

9 7p OA Meeting

10 8:15a NIA Exercise 9a Walking Group Noon Ash Wednesday 6p A.A 6p Soup Supper 7p Ash Wednesday.

11 7:30a Men’s Breakfast 10a Joy in the Word Bible Study 3:30p Upper Room 5:30p BHG Practice 7p Al-Anon

12 8:15a NIA Exercise 9:30a Quilters 5:30p KBS

13 3p Bunco

14 8a BHG Practice 8a Adult Bible Study 9a Contemporary Worship w/Holy Communion 9:15a Adult Bible Study 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Traditional Worship Noon Confirmation 1p R.O.C.K 6:30p A.A


16 7p OA Meeting

17 8:15a NIA Exercise 9a Walking Group 6p A.A. 6p Soup Supper 7p Worship Service

18 10a Joy in the Word Bible Study 5:30p BHG Practice 7p Al-Anon

19 8:15a NIA Exercise 9:30a Quilters

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21 8a BHG Practice 8a Adult Bible Study 9a Contemporary Worship 9:15a Adult Bible Study 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Traditional Worship w/Holy Communion Noon Confirmation 1p R.O.C.K. 6:30p A.A

22 8:15a NIA Exercise 9a Walking Group 3p Stephen Ministers 5:15p Bells of Praise 5:30p Bible Study on Revelation John Mooney 6:30p Jubilate

23 7p OA Meeting 3p Trustees 6p Elders

24 7a Marshall Meeting 8:15a NIA Exercise 9a Walking Group 6p A.A .6p Soup Supper 7p Worship Service

25 7:30a Men’s Breakfast 10a Joy in the Word Bible Study 5:30p BHG Practice 7p Al-Anon

26 8:15a NIA Exercise 9:30a Quilters 5:30p K.B.S.

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28 8a BHG Practice 8a Adult Bible Study 9a Contemporary Worship w/Holy Communion 9:15a Adult Bible Study 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Traditional Worship Noon Confirmation 1p R.O.C.K 6:30p A.A


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2016

February 7 February 14 February 21 February 28

9:00 Sound

10:30

Dale Lambert

Stephen Cass

Dale Lambert

Stephen Cass

Dale Lambert

Stephen Cass

Dale Lambert

Bill Swift

9:00 Elders

10:30 Bob Rios

Rich Yanick

Rich Yanick

Bob Rios

Acolytes

10:30 Lance Pavlusky Lance Pavlusky Lance Pavlusky Nick Salonites

Crucifer LeeAn DeMoss LeeAn DeMoss Tom Hayhurst LeeAn DeMoss

9:00 Ushers/Greeters

10:30

Kent & Francesca Jones

Laurie Lee

Cliff & Frances Thomure

Mike & Liz Lawless


Laurie Lee


Mike & Liz Lawless


Laurie Lee


Mike & Liz Lawless


Laurie Lee


Mike & Liz Lawless

9:00 Altar Guild

10:30 Kathy & Andy

Miller

Kathy & Stephen Cass

Peggy Dammel Clydene & Lionel Rogers

Cindy & Mark Runyan

Counters B & M Durand K. & F. Jones W & J Bryld C. Schultz, L DeMoss

9:00 Video

10:30

Kathy Cass

Cindy Runyan

Kathy Cass

Bill Leitz

Servants for ChristServants for ChristServants for ChristServants for Christ February 2016February 2016February 2016February 2016

Note to the Ushers: Please be sure to count and log attendance and communion in the notebook provided in the cabinet. It is vital for our records. Communion cards are collected and put in the office after the service. Please be sure to empty offering trays and return them to the altar. Put contents into a zipper bag located in the counters cup-board and put bag into safe after each service. If you are ushering at the 9:00 service, you need to start the coffee. Please DO NOT dog open the doors. There is no need for that anymore. The doors will remain open when you unlock them and the panic bars work without being dogged. If you are ushering at the 10:30 service, you need to clean up the coffee cart and put it away, remove all white sheets from the attendance pads and put them in the office. Check ALL doors in the church and Sunday school area to be sure they are locked and the lights are all off.

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COMING AND CONTINUING IN FEBRUARY 2016

LENTEN SEASON 2016

Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2016, begins our annual Lenten walk to Calvary and then the Easter empty tomb! We will have weekly soup suppers at 6 PM (please sign up when the poster arrives!), fol-lowed by worship services at 7 PM. This year’s theme is … Places of the Passion!

Additionally, there will be noon services on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. No meals are involved with the three midday observances! Join us in preparation for the great day of our deliverance from sin, death, and the power of the devil and the basis of our faith: Easter!

JOINING JESUS ON HIS MISSION

HOW TO BECOME AN EVERYDAY MISSIONARY

There are Five Questions and Five Practices for Missional Communities: 1. How did you see God at work in your life this week? 2. What has God been teaching you in His Word? 3. What kind of conversations are you having with pre-Christians? 4. What good can we do around here? 5. How can we help you in prayer?

WEEKLY SPECIAL OFFERING BASKETS

Share, HELP, Upper Room, and the Nomadic Winter Shelter…the free-will of-fering basket for each of these entities is located at the usher’s table in the Narthex. Watch for a favorite or donate to all! Your gifts are gratefully re-ceived! Thank you!

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Hey guys! Mark your calendar for the second and fourth Thursdays (February 11…and 25) at 7:30 AM! You are invited to a breakfast for guys held at the Golden Waffle Café on Broadway, hosted by Ken Freese. Come to talk about spiritual and social issues, vintage cars, likes and dis-likes, the Bible, and what’s ailing you! Join us for food and talk!

REVITALIZATION FUND

We continue to receive donations to the “Revitalization Fund.” You may recall that our stewardship program (2011) involved these items…Financial Growth by Three Means: (1) Commitment to tithing, (2) Increased contributions annually, and (3) Specific pledges to the Revitalization Fund. This Fund is designated for staffing sal-ary and new programming beyond our budgeted items. Thank you for your con-siderations and any special donations, especially as we have taken on the Vicar’s salary and benefits! The Fund is currently around $58K!

LUTHERAN TELEVISION

If you are looking for an LCMS television program, and you have DirecTV sat-ellite programming, every Sunday morning at 8:30 AM on Channel 377 (TCT-Total Christian Television) broadcasts from Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, a 30 minute program of lessons, choir, prayers and sermon called “Worship for Shut-Ins” is an option for you. If you need to miss a Sunday, try the program out! It is only available in the Placerville area on DirecTV.

PASTORAL ACTIONS

Transfer-In: Kevin Corson from Trinity, Fairfield, CA 1/6/2016

Good-Bye I’m finding this article very difficult to write. This will be my last newslet-ter. It’s funny because the one thing that scared me when I interviewed for this position over nine years ago was the fact that I needed to publish a monthly newsletter! Now that this is my last one, I have very mixed emo-tions. I find that it is time for me to say good-bye, but it is with a heavy heart that I do so. I have enjoyed working with and getting to know all of you over the years. Not being here every week will take a little getting used to on my part. I want to thank you for all of your love and support over the years. I want to thank you too, for the cake, cards, hugs and gift card to the Inde-pendent Restaurant that I received last Sunday. It was truly appreciated and overwhelming. God Bless You, Jean

February 2016 – LCMS - Stewardship Newsletter Article

We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves us is never alone. That is be-cause faith is a living, busy, and active thing. It inhales all of God’s riches in Christ and exhales this in love and service to the neighbor. But who is my neighbor? God in His mercy has placed us into three distinct com-munities: society, family, and the church. That means we have a duty to those around us in each of these communities. We pray for the people in these three communities daily. We rejoice with them in times of joy and suffer with them in times of sadness. And we give to them from the income that God provides as we are able and as they have need. So we pay taxes to our governments so that they may do the work that is needed for our neighbors in society. We give to our families so that they have food and clothing, house and home, even educations. And we give to our church—our local congregations—so that the gospel may be preached and the sacraments adminis-tered for us and others. The beauty of this is that God smiles upon all that giving. When you pay your tax-es, God is pleased that you have served your neighbor who needs what the gov-ernment provides. When you provide for your family, God is pleased. That you have helped your neighbor with the necessities of life by sharing with them what He has given to you, God is pleased. And when you give to your local congrega-tion to support the ongoing preaching of the gospel, God is pleased. To all this giving, He says to you, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Looking at giving in this light makes it a joy to give. The joy is multiplied. There is joy in you because you have served your neighbor in his need. There is joy in your neighbor for God has answered their prayers through you. And God rejoices and is pleased with it all. It might just make the humdrum of grocery shopping and mortgage payments a bit more joyous. It might even make April 15 tolerable (St. Paul had to have this pep talk with the Romans, also, “This is why you pay taxes….” Rom. 13:6). And it surely will make the envelope placed into the offer-ing plate a joyful thing. Indeed God is pleased with you. You are saved by faith alone because of Jesus Christ. And that saving faith is never alone. It is busy and active. It serves the neighbor in society, family, and church with free and cheerful giving.

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Lent As we enter into the season of Lent, we see Christ beginning his

journey toward the cross, where he pays the price for all of our sins. For this reason Lent is a penitential sea-son, where we remember our sinful-ness and failures. In our remember-ing of our sins our eyes also drawn toward the cross, where Christ suffers and dies.

We begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday, where we are reminded of our sin and the cost of our sin, which is death. It is the practice of many Luther-an churches to place ashes upon the forehead of those who are in attend-ance as a reminder that we are dust and to dust we shall return. (Gen 3:19)

This ancient act is a gesture of repent-ance and a powerful reminder about the meaning of the day. Ashes can symbolize our sin and remind wor-

shipers of the need for cleansing, scrubbing and purifying. If they are applied during an act of kneeling, the very pos-ture of defeat and submission expresses humility before God." Lent can also be a season where people decide to give something up for Lent, or begin a time of fasting and praying. While there is nothing wrong with such habits or spiritual disciplines, it is not a practice that scripture speaks of as far as preparing of Easter. Many people do it in order to give something up for Lent as a way of remembering and personalizing the great sacrifice that Christ made on the cross for our sins. If done in humil-ity and in a Christ focused way, it can be beneficial and helpful in our Len-ten journey to begin or increase certain spiritual disciplines. As we begin our season of Lent may we focus our hearts and minds on the

cross and Christ sacrifice for us.

Vicar Kevin

Board of Trustees February 2016

Newsletter Report

The Board of Trustees (BOT) met on Tuesday, January 19th 2016. Each month we re-view the Treasurer’s report. In January we were given the year-end report for 2015. Donna Kemppainen, Treasurer always does an excellent job explaining the report and its details. Unfortunately we ended the year in the “red”, even though our spend-ing was below budget; having said that, we are still healthy and are always on the lookout for ways to reduce costs. One such way is to install solar panels. Of course there is an initial cost of purchasing and installing the system but it is estimated we should break even in seven to nine years after which we will be money ahead. A spe-cial thank-you goes out to Steve Kemppainen and Bill Swift, along with the rest of the Property Board Jack Hertzberg and Doug De Valon for their research and bringing the proposal to the BOT. The topic will be on the agenda at the January 31st Voters’ Assembly meeting. We are starting the process of redoing our five year strategic plan. We worked long and hard on it last year but the lion share had to do with the options /decisions of hir-ing a Convertible Vicar or other church leader (s) and calling a new senior pastor when Pastor Mark retires this summer. Since the Lord blessed us with Kevin Foley for our vicar, and presumably our senior pastor, our focus can now be expanded else-where. As such we want to give our five year strategic plan another look before bring-ing it to the congregation for a vote. Our next meeting is scheduled for February 23rd. If you have ideas / suggestions you would like the BOT to discuss, please contact the pastor or any BOT member in ad-vance. In His service- Laurie M Hertzberg President, BOT (530) 626 - 7464

SAVE THE DATE Saturday, February 20th, 10:00 a.m. Downstairs Fellowship Hall at church Thrivent Action Team – Massive Easter Card Making Event Share the love of Jesus by helping to make Easter cards for the residents of Gold Country Health Center. We are planning to make at least 200 cards. No experience is necessary. Thrivent Financial has donated the money to purchase all the materials needed so there is no cost to you. Please bring a sandwich for yourself, and if you are able, bring a side dish or dessert to share. Although it is not required, it will be helpful if you RSVP to Laurie Hertzberg at (530) 626-7464. (This way I can ensure enough tables and chairs are set up in ad-vance.) Enjoy the comradery and the fun. Feel free to bring a friend or two.

FEBRUARY FELLOWSHIP AT FIRST 2016

January provided us with some cozy indoor Fellowship activities, except for the hardy walkers who braved rain, wind, sleet and snow (well, maybe just some of those) to get in their healthy post-holiday exercise! Maybe they will have to invest in rain ponchos to keep up the good work in this El Niño year. Thanks again to Mindy Durand who organ-izes this. Join them at any time. They continue to meet on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Locations are announced weekly. Two operas were enjoyed this month at the Regal El Dorado. They were very spectac-ular events full of pageantry and beautiful music. We especially enjoy that it is live from the MET in NYC. We get to see the NY audience preparing for the opera and are taken back stage to meet performers, conductors and crew before the performance and at intermission. The next opera we plan to attend is Puccini’s Madama Butterfly on April 2nd at 10:00 am. It’s an especially long one….but don’t forget there’s always pop-corn! Give it a try!

On a rainy, blustery day in January, eleven of us got out our coloring pages and pens and worked diligently at creating our masterpieces. We learned that the smaller scenes provided in the adult coloring books take some concentration but they don’t hamper our conversations around the table. Look for a repeat of this fun event in the future. And most of us “stayed in the lines”! February will bring us Ash Wednesday on the 10th. We will have our traditional Soup Supper prior to each Wednesday night Lenten service. Dust off your crock pots. Satur-day, February 13th is a date to circle on your calendar for a rousing afternoon of Bun-ko in the Fellowship hall. Come and win a prize or two! Fun and snacks a part of this not-to-be missed event. A new movie is coming out in March entitled, “Young Messiah”. Once theater and dates are determined we will get a group together for a showing and maybe dinner. More good news, Tom Hayhust is interested in leading another star gazing event at the observatory! The previous one was very, very cool. We hope to plan this for March as well. With all the snow piling up in the Sierras we are contemplating a train trip from Rose-ville to Reno. The vistas along the route should be spectacular! There will be more de-tails about the train ride and hotels in Reno very soon. It will most likely take place in April. So we’re off to a great start with Fellowship events for 2016 meant to bring us closer together and to be an opportunity in which to include our family and friends. Come one, come all!

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Fellowship –February 2016

Coloring day was a big suc-cess, everyone enjoyed their project! There were fourteen colorers coloring and two coloring friends!

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THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to our acolytes Melanie Haas, Lance Pavlusky, Cliff

Thomure, Greg Mott, and our newest acolyte Nick Salonites.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to our crucifers LeeAn DeMoss, Tom Hayhurst, and

Jerry Burk.

Your contributions to our worship experience are very much ap-

preciated. God be praised!

If any others would like to participate in these important ministries,

please contact Dorothy Wilson at 295-1638 or [email protected].

As you read this note I will be in Ghana, Africa! Please be part of my prayer team. I would ask that you would please pray for me daily, starting now and continuing until our return home from Ghana on February 13th. Here are some specific prayer needs: -Safety -Good health now, as well as overseas -That God would be moving in the hearts of those we will

teach, that they might be open to His word. -Protection again evil for me, my family and our team. (Pastor Deuel, Janet, Steve, Ingrid, Mailo, Scott, Jamie, and Tori) -That Christ will work through me and our team, that we would do His will.

Thank you once again. Please know that I will be lifting you and your families up in my daily prayers as well.

May the peace of Christ be with you all. Blessings in Christ,

Cindy Runyan

The Sending Place

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Prayer Warriors Corner Prayer Warriors Corner Prayer Warriors Corner Prayer Warriors Corner –––– February 2016February 2016February 2016February 2016 Kathy Cass, Lay Prayer Minister Dear Friends in Christ – Shalom! I was so glad to hear Vicar Kevin issue the challenge to us to read 2 chapters a day from the bible. It fits right in with the theme I have felt God putting on my heart for this Prayer Warriors Corner. As you know the focus I have had for most of the years I have been your lay prayer minister has been what we do together as God’s family. But lately He has been telling me to share what I do in my own prayer/devotion time.

“You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your

presence.” Acts 2:28

Prayer is work but has great benefits. There should be joy also which comes from drawing into His presence whether solo or in the company of others. Identify the place and time which is good for you to pray. For me it is first thing in the morning but another time might be better for you. I try to start the day out and end the day by kneeling be-side my bed and saying The Lord’s Prayer. First I immerse myself in God’s Word. I use the prayer inserts from the bulletin. I have been stapling the inserts together. I not only read over the current one but usually at least 2 of the others. Either I read the whole insert to refresh my mind on the insights God gave me when writing it up or sometimes just read the scripture verses and just let them sink into me. I also read the previous Sunday’s scripture lessons from the bulletin. I include the “Portals of Prayer”, not only the daily devotion but pray some of the includ-ed prayers. I held onto the prayer pamphlet for the last prayer vigil and try each day to pray one of the sections in it Now, I have added the challenge to read 2 chapters a day to my list .And I will use any other devotional books God sends my way. It’s a lot but it focuses my mind and heart in our God and prepares me for the intercessory part of my prayers. I start next session by first praising, adoring, and thanking the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for being just Who He is and anything else He puts on my heart at this time. I also praise and thank Him for the wisdom, care, and love He took in making His creation: for the universe, for our small planet, for putting into it all we would need, for making humans in His own image and breathing His life into us that we may appreciate Him, choose to worship and adore Him, to love Him. I thank the Father for send His Son to become one of us to teach us, suffer and die for us; I thank Jesus for coming and all He did for us. I thank the Holy Spirit for the gifts of faith, repentance, courage, hope, and joy and all the other things He does that we are not aware of. Now I use the prayer list. I first pray for my family and myself. Then I start with our members. I bring them each to God by name. If I know their need I will spend little more time with them but for most it is just listing them. I ask Him to meet them where their need is, and that whatever crisis is going on in their lives it will lead them to a clos-er relationship to Him. And I follow the same format with the family and friends who are not members.

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I have taken to writing on a prayer list people or things that are not on the prayer list that are on my heart, friends, people in the medical field, those in hospitals and care facilities, military in general especially those in war torn areas, for those in government, judges, the upcoming elections, missionaries, El Nino, etc. Whatever God puts on my heart…and also all of you in general. I go through all those listed at bottom half of the list. On the weekly members listed I expand it to include their extended family mem-bers. I’ll hold onto it for several weeks and as it gets frayed transfer those written notes to the latest list and put the old one in the shredder. This I realize is a bit overwhelming. It took years before I got to this place in prayer and I’m sure God has a lot more to teach me. But it may give you some ideas to enhance your prayer life. The most important part of fulfilling prayer is to immerse yourself in God’s Holy Scripture. I urge you to take up Vicar Kevin’s challenge to read 2 chap-ters a day. I try to start each time I get into God’s Word with a prayer that He open my spirit, mind and heart to what He wants me to learn from that section. Often I use the prayer at the top of each prayer insert for it brings the entire Godhead into the process. Even if on a conscious level you aren’t sure of what He wants you to know on the spir-itual level, it stores up, working to bring you closer to Him. Reading scripture is sort of like pealing back one of those onion blossoms at Chili’s, one layer at a time. God knows we can only handle just so much at one time. This why when you finish reading through the bible, start over, He will show you something else. He longs to draw us closer in a loving relationship with Himself. He will never deny a request to grow closer to Himself. This article is long but so is my prayer time. Now there is one more thing I would like to note. I imagine I may have annoyed some of you with my constant call to coming to-gether to pray but Sunday mornings for 1 hour is not enough by itself. As God’s believ-ing children we should jump with joy filled hearts at any chances we are presented with to gather together to worship our God. It dismays me when we have mid-week Advent or Lenten services or a prayer vigil and have probably less than a third of our congre-gation involved. Even though God has greatly blessed us with His peace in sending Pastor Mark and Dee to us, I very clearly remember the dark days. I do not want to see those days return because we neglected our God as His family. I encourage you to read Acts 2:42-47. I liked to share with you how it starts and ends: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to break-ing of bread and to prayer…praising God and enjoying the favor of all the peo-

ple. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

God’s blessings to each of you. Love in Jesus, Kathy

This is a reminder to all members regarding the rack of cards for sale in the Narthex. All cards are handmade by your card ministry team. We know that many of you have found this offering to be convenient-to be able to stop by on your way in or out of church and pick up a card for an upcom-ing event in your family or circle of friends. To those who have stopped to

shop or browse, we thank you! For those who may have missed it, please take a moment to check it out.

The cards are in a rack on the cabinet in the Narthex, where they remain sheltered from the ele-ments. They are divided into categories-Birthday, Thinking of You, Get Well and Thank You, to make your browsing easier. The Thinking of You cards are also appropriate for Sympathy, Encouragement or Anniversaries. There is also a “Seasonal” category, which changes with the season. Currently, there are Winter themed cards and a selection of Valentine cards. Soon, we will be switching these to Easter cards, then perhaps Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, patriotic themed cards, etc. as the season dictates.

All cards are $3 each or 2/$5, and there is a small cash box in which to deposit your money. All sales support a variety of community causes. If you would like to make any suggestions for requests, leave a note in the small blue notebook marked “Card Ministry ~ Card Sales” and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. Be sure to leave your name in case there are any questions.

Thank you all for supporting this outreach. Your Card Ministry Team

14

Charlie Church Mouse Adults –please read!!!

Meet Charlie Church Mouse. He is a new addition to the upper grade Sunday school class.

He mostly stays in the class room or goes into the younger children’s class; but we know

that sometimes he has a tendency to wander.

If you see him around the church, please give him to a Sunday school child so they can bring him back to the classroom, or bring him down yourself! They will want to know where you found him and what he was doing when found. We will keep a journal about his travels, when he disappeared, when he was found, who found him and what he was doing when he was found.

We have also been using RIGHTNOWMEDIA in our Sunday school class room and in ROCK! Last week the children watched a video about the Parable of the Debtors.

The ROCK kids watched a Louie Giglio video ti-tled, “Seeing God as a Perfect Father”. The ques-tion presented in the video was ‘”What do you think about when you think of God?” What image do you paint in your mind? It is actually a 4 week lesson, we just watched the first one. There are many Louie Giglio videos on Right Now Media. Check them out: especially this one!

If you want to see what it’s all about you can use the church’s login, then if you decide you like it, you can create your own.

Rightnowmedia.org

User name: [email protected] Pw: first123 You will be surprised at what is available to you on this website! If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call Donna either at home or in the office!

Upper left and right, Julianne and Alice mak-ing an alabastron, used for precious oils. Left: Isabelle, Gemma, Jesse and Emiliee at ROCK

2/9/1963 Larry and Patty Adloff 2/14/1965 Ray and Judith Engler 2/16/1985 Dale and Denise Lambert 2/22/1969 Cliff and Frances Thomure

1 Russ Salmen

Marcia Swift

3 Carolyn Labahn

Eli Stein

6 Jesse Jimenez

17 Rick Gundran

21 Pam McElyea

25 Denise Lambert

27 Gerry Henkell

Kathy Tong

28 Bill Franklin

15

Thank you from New Morning Children’s Shelter! We received a donation for $50.00 for New morning, I got a gift card and sent it off instead of waiting until our next collection.

We received this card:

Thank you so much for your ongoing support of the shel-ter. All your wonderful donations go directly to the chil-dren and are greatly needed. Our kids come in sometimes without any belongings or

necessities, and to have all the items they need on hand is wonder-ful! Your are greatly appreciated. Mary and Staff

March will be New Morn-ing month, they can use almost anything from clothes to snacks to hy-giene or school supplies or gift cards! We can mix

it up! We’ll use the green tub in the Nar-thex for the items.

Save your recyclables for ROCK, the money will go for their expenses for the National Youth Gathering in July. They can take aluminum, any plastic as long as it didn’t contain anything toxic, and glass.

Please bring them the last Sunday of each month.

Thank you!

1

Anouncements

Contemporary WorshipTeam

If you have musical aptitudes, and are wondering how to use them in service to the Lord, this may interest you. Our contemporary worship team, By His Grace, is looking for people who like to sing, play an instrument, or want to try playing an Orff instrument (think xylophone). You’re welcome to join us for practice on Thursdays at 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM. Try it out. You may find your calling.

☺ Call Bill Rosenberry at 644-8533 or email Bill at [email protected].

Computer Basics Class

We are planning on having a basics computer class here at church. Eve-rything would be displayed on the screen or for hands on, you could bring your own lap top!

We would like to set a date for this but first need to know how many would be interest-ed. Also would a week day or

weekend be the best time? Contact the church office or Donna and let me know your thoughts.

Saturday, February 13 at 3:00pm in the Fel-lowship Hall. Bring a light finger food to share. Just something we can munch on while we play!

If you have a card table we can use, please contact Laurie Hertzberg or Vicki Hermone.

This game is for ALL ages old enough to add up the dice quickly!

Adult Information Class If you are not a member of First and would

like to become one or if you are just inter-

ested in learning more about the Christian

faith from a Lutheran perspective please

join us on Wednesday evening beginning

February 10th at 5:00 pm. The class will

be every Wednesday evening for about six

weeks. Please let Vicar Kevin know if you

are interested in attending.

Please bring your recycling to church on

February 28, to help the youth raise funds

for the National Youth Gathering.

newsletter february web

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