408 Ninth Street NW

Mandan, ND 58554

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH

Phone: 701-663-3594

Fax: 701-663-6217

E-mail: jackie@firstlutheranofmandan.org

Building Faith and

Transforming Lives

in Christ.

ADDRESS LABEL

www.firstlutheranofmandan.org

We’re on the web!

Christmas Eve

Services

2:00 P.M.

4:00 P.M.

7:00 P.M.

(note new time change for

the last service)

Merry Christmas!

Advent is a time when God’s

people are asked to wait; to

wait to celebrate the birth of

Christ; to wait for light to come

into a dark world. Wait…….

Waiting is something even

God’s people, you and I, are not

quite prepared to do. After all,

the world is a place of instant

gratification. You can get just

about anything gift wrapped

and delivered straight to your

door. All you have to do is

point, click, and buy. Then you

are done. All from the privacy

of your own home!

So when radio stations are playing Christmas music and stores

are stocking Christmas decorations before Halloween is over,

how can the church celebrate a season like Advent? Advent is a

time marked not by jubilant celebration but baited anticipation.

Who needs a faith of delayed gratification in a world of instant

gratification? Yet, we are left with this season called Advent.

I have to admit, I was already itching to put up my Christmas

tree that first week in November. I think Advent reminds us to

slow down and to wait for the Savior. Wait and anticipate the

One who descended to the dead for three days, coming back to

life. There is no pointing, no clicking, no purchase necessary.

Christ, bring light into the world. Bring life abundant not just

once, but for once and for all.

So we wait for the one who just might be worth waiting for.

Grace and Peace this Advent Season,

Pastor Chris

December 2016

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

First Lutheran

Staff

First Lutheran Church

December Newsletter

PAGE 2 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH December 2016

Senior Christmas Gathering

Senior Service and Meal

December 6th, 2016

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.

ANGEL TREE NAMES

Linda Anseth will be sitting in the narthex with angel tree names through December

11th. The gifts have to be delivered to the church no later than December 14th,

2016. Please stop by and pick up a name today. They are also wanting hats, mittens,

scarfs, & non perishable food items (canned goods with "pop top" lids) by the tree to give

to the children. If you have any questions please call Linda at 663-2933.

German Advent Service in Mandan ND on December 4th

This service will be held here on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at 2:30 P.M. and will be led by Pastor Clayton Scheaffer. Join us to hear the advent message in both German and English. Join in group singing, enjoy special music provided by the Grateful Five and Clyde Bauman. Please stay and enjoy the maistub (fellowship) after the service with coffee and treats.

Hosted by the Dakota Pioneer Chapter Germans from Russia Heritage Society.

Church School

Christmas Program

Sunday School Schedule

Practice - Sunday, December 11th &

18th 9:30-10:30 A.M.

Program - Sunday, December 18th

at 10:45 A.M.

Wednesday School Schedule

Practice - Wednesday, December 7th

& 14th 7:00-7:30 P.M.

Program - Wednesday, December

21st at 6:00 P.M.

Attention First Lutheran Church Participants:

On Sunday, January 1st

, 2017 there will only be ONE SERVICE of Lessons & Carols at 9:30 A.M.

First Lutheran Church Chapel to undergo structural repair to ceiling

As most of you know, our original facility was expanded in 1995 to incorporate a

chapel/multi-use room, a youth room in the lower level directly under the chapel with an

adjacent office, an expanded narthex on the north side of the building, and a new elevator to

serve both levels of the facility. This work was completed in 1995. For the past several years,

we have had problems with the ceiling in the chapel. In cold winters, the ceiling tile would

become completely saturated with water and fall to the floor. Additionally, the doors of both

narthex restrooms have to be kept open as if kept closed would cause the pipes in the restrooms

to freeze as neither restroom has heaters. In 2012, we added grills to the ceiling in the chapel

to alleviate the buildup of condensation and that resolved the problem of the ceiling tile

becoming saturated with water. However, the grills presented a new challenge—when it is cold

out, the ceiling grates allow extremely cold air to pour down from the ceiling grates… causing

the temperature in the chapel to fall to 55 degrees even with the heat on. This is particularly

noticeable during windy conditions.

Al Fitterer, the architect for the project made an inspection late this summer and noted

that the construction of the ceiling was incomplete compared with the as-built drawings. The

bulkheads at the location of where the flat part of the ceiling meets the angled central area of

the ceiling are missing as it the sheetrock and vapor barrier components that isolate the roof

area from the suspended ceiling below.

We have contracted with Tobias Marmon Construction to correct the deficiencies in the

existing structure. The process will take 2 weeks...the chapel will be unavailable for use during

this time period. The repair cost of $10, 394.00 will be taken out of the Building Fund, as this

fund is used for the mortgage payment in paying down the debt of the construction of this

expansion/renovation from 1995. The church council wishes to keep everyone informed of this

necessary repair from the incomplete work during the initial construction.

First Lutheran Church Council—update by Pastor Lee

Local brass ensemble "Symbiotic Tendencies" is presenting a free holiday concert on December 17

th @ 1:00 P.M. at First Lutheran Church. The group, which consists of

Jordan Boehm, Theresa Bickler, Drew Larson, and Daniel Bickler, will be joined by guest artist Shawn Boehm. Music performed will range from Handel's Messiah to contemporary favorites like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and a selection from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. We hope to see a good turnout to support local live music, and get everyone in the holiday spirit.

PAGE 10 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2016

Mark Your

Calendar…

1st: LAF ~ Sloppy Joes

7th: 7pm - Confirmation -

Large Group

8th: LAF ~ Sandwiches

14th: 7pm - Confirmation -

Large Group

15th: LAF ~ Nachos

21st: 7pm - Confirmation -

Small Group

22nd: LAF ~ Baked Potato

28th: No Confirmation

Upcoming Events

LOOKS WHATS BACK!

January 7th, 2017 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 at half time for the little ones!!!

Please see our youth who are pre-selling tickets for $12.00

for all ages, Pre-school and under are free. Get them early

as tickets at the door will be $15.00 for all ages, Preschool

and under are free.

Please call the church office at 663-3594 if you have any

questions.

PAGE 4 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2016

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

Worship Schedule

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!

Baptisms:

November 15 Janna & Avery Pastir

November 27 Emmitt Seth Thomas Schaff

November 27 Mila Rose Landeis

Weddings:

Funerals:

November 1 Donna Bahm

Memorial Fund

Pastoral Acts

In memory of Donna Bahm given by Ed & Ginny

Gall, Jodi & Gene Erenst, Betty Whitney.

In memory of Charles Bahm given by Betty

Whitney, Loretta Quanbeck.

In memory of Eloise Bernhardt given by James

Bernhardt.

In memory of Mary Nelson given by Barry & Carol

Beechie.

Deadline for

articles for the

January

Newsletter will be

December18th.

December ~ Mission of the Month

No Mission of the Month this month

due to the giving of the Christmas

Angel Tree! THANK YOU FROM OUR YOUTH:

The youth would like to THANK all of you

who have supported them through out their

mission trip so far. You have made our

fundraisers a HUGE SUCCESS so far! We

could not do this with out all of your help!

THANKS AGAIN FIRST LUTHERAN

MEMBERS!

PAGE 9 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2016

PAGE 8 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2016 DECEMBER 2016 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH PAGE 5

First Lutheran Church Council Minutes

Date: October 20, 2016 Time: 7:00 pm Members Present

Pastor Lee Herberg, Pastor Christina Martin, President Jill Miller, Vice President Jeff

Bradford, Secretary Jessica Petrick, Darrell Nitschke, DJ Campbell, Tim Faller, and Andrea

Bonness.

Absent

Rynell Rusch, Jessie Hilfer

Approval of Agenda

Moved by Tim Faller and seconded by Darrell Nitschke to approve the agenda.

Secretary’s Report and Approval of Minutes

Moved by Darrell Nitschke, seconded by Jeff Bradford to approve the minutes. Motion Passed.

Financial Report/Review

Statement of Financial Position is not as positive as the first part of the year. Cash on hand as

of 7/31/16 is $170,632.11.

Budget Overview:

2016 Income vs. Expenses is 53% (expenses) and 47% (income).

Line 553 “Repairs – Facility” in the Statement of Activities Year to Date Actual is $13,797.14

which is 205% of budget.

Line 550 “Supplies – Facility” is 70% of budget at $5,898.48.

Line 642 Contingency Fund includes the new security system of which 20% of the total has

not been paid until the system is running correctly.

Cash on hand is $145,744 as of 9/30/16 vs. last year $144,919.63. Cash on hand includes the

building fund cash balance.

Building fund current cash balance is $25,226.33

Unfinished Business

The task force will be meeting the first part of November. Task force agenda items include:

windows, flooring, railings, retaining walls – and ongoing issues as they relate to the

2013 Strategic Plan.

Sanctuary Projection System has been tabled as of 8/18/16.

Database Management/Accounting Software – Jeff Bradford is working on putting together

a document for replacing our current database and financial accounting software which

will not be supported as of 1/01/2017.

Retreat for Council Teams to revisit monthly meetings and options of having additional

people to volunteer – Will be reviewed during November meeting.

New Business

Pastor Chris is the Heart River Representative for the Synod Council. She reviewed how the

ELCA church wide uses our Congregation’s Mission Support. In 2015, congregations

gave 2.7% of their total regular offering to the ELCA. Also reviewed how the Western

ND Synod uses Mission Support.

Discussed Bishops challenge for our benevolence budget. Currently line item 632. We

currently give 7.5% a month.

Budgets will be discussed at next Church Council meeting.

Church received an insurance check to roof damage. Repairs will wait until Spring 2017.

Reports

Pastor Lee – 2 baptisms, 1 funeral, 1 wedding and still mentoring Bill Dodd with weekly

meetings. Attended Pastors’ Conference in Medora September 11-13th. Attended Heart River

Conference meeting in Glen Ullin.

Pastor Chris – 3 baptisms, 2 funerals, 1 wedding. Attended Synod Council, chaperone for LYO,

attending small group facilitator trainings online.

Special Events

Lutefisk was held on the 15th - $12,000 budgeted for revenue. Actual was $10,370 with a

$3,900 profit.

The third annual Trunk or Treat will be held on Monday, October 31st from 5PM until 8PM.

We will also have free hot dogs, chips and a beverage served downstairs during the event.

Stewardship

Nothing to Report

Worship

Nothing to Report

Parish Education/Youth

Mission trip to Denver is scheduled for July 23, 2017. There are 27 youth currently registered.

Church School Christmas Program is currently being practiced during Church School.

Evangelism and Outreach

Nothing to report.

Property and Management

Waiting for bids regarding the boiler and other projects.

Correspondence

Thank you’s received from most Mandan Schools for their deliveries of school supplies.

Motion to Adjourn/Lord’s Prayer

Meeting was adjourned by Jill Miller. The next Council meeting will be at 6:30 on November

17th. The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Minutes submitted by: Jessica K. Petrick, Secretary

PAGE 6 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2016