Mandan, ND 58554 December Newsletter - WordPress.com · 2019-12-11 · December 2019 First Lutheran...

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408 Ninth Street NW Mandan, ND 58554 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH Phone: 701-663-3594 Fax: 701-663-6217 E-mail: [email protected] 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. Merry Christmas! Council E-mail: [email protected] Pastors Thoughts WE enter a very holy time in the church year. Actually it is the beginning of the church year. We are special, we are loved; to prove that, God sent his Son. Religion, even faith is turned upside down. This becomes a time of joyous celebration, which is great and wonderful, but we have to be so careful not to lose sight of the specialness, the holiness. These are holy times for First Lutheran of Mandan. We all have the opportunity to connect and help in this process of calling a Senior Pastor. I invited you a while back to pray; pray for the call committee, pray for the pastors who are considering a call First Lutheran, even if you dont know their names, and finally pray for guidance in how we are to be the Church today so that we can be relevant in being the Church tomorrow. Pastor Chris and I [and some of you] have been attending meetings about church innovation. Studies on cultural trends are pointing toward almost apocalyptic changes happening within mainline Christian Churches. We are a part of a few churches in Western North Dakota Synod participating in this study. Our plan is, WE will have purpose; we will be relevant in sharing Gods word in the future. Our mission statement, Building faith and transforming lives in Christ”, is as solid as can be. It is the howthat will be dramatically different. I think the Holy Spirit is going to take us on quite a ride these next 20 years. Please share your gifts! Our worship and our ways of giving thanks and praise to God will continue to take shape as our praise group and worship team grow. I invite you to share your gifts, even if it is a onetime thing. This is the Advent/Christmas season and we are looking for any kind of special music for worship. If there are college students coming home for Christmas, they might want to share their gifts. Whole families might want to sing a carol. Be happy, be joyful, and share this holiday season. Yours in Christ, Pastor Gene December 2019 First Lutheran Church December Newsletter First Lutheran Staff Interim Pastor Rev. Gene Anderson 663-3594 Associate Pastor Rev. Christina Martin 663-3594 Parish Administrator Jackie Schulz 663-3594 Sunday School Ministry Coordinator Kama Hoovestol 663-3594 Wednesday Family Ministry Coordinator Savannah Miller 663-3594 Custodians Ron & Mavis Watson Financial Administration Jennifer Scheet First Lutheran Is A Mission Partner with Camp of the Cross Ministries

Transcript of Mandan, ND 58554 December Newsletter - WordPress.com · 2019-12-11 · December 2019 First Lutheran...

Page 1: Mandan, ND 58554 December Newsletter - WordPress.com · 2019-12-11 · December 2019 First Lutheran Church December Newsletter First Lutheran Staff Interim Pastor Rev. Gene Anderson

408 Ninth Street NW

Mandan, ND 58554

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH

Phone: 701-663-3594

Fax: 701-663-6217

E-mail: [email protected]

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.

Merry Christmas!

Council E-mail:

[email protected]

Pastor’s Thoughts

WE enter a very holy time in the church year. Actually it is the beginning of the church year. We are special, we are loved; to prove that, God sent his Son. Religion, even faith is turned upside down. This becomes a time of joyous celebration, which is great and wonderful, but we have to be so careful not to lose sight of the specialness, the holiness.

These are holy times for First Lutheran of Mandan. We all have the opportunity to connect and help in this process of calling a Senior Pastor. I invited you a while back to pray; pray for the call committee, pray for the pastors who are considering a call First Lutheran, even if you don’t know their names, and finally pray for guidance in how we are to be the Church today so that we can be relevant in being the Church tomorrow.

Pastor Chris and I [and some of you] have been attending meetings about church innovation. Studies on cultural trends are pointing toward almost apocalyptic changes happening within mainline Christian Churches. We are a part of a few churches in Western North Dakota Synod participating in this study. Our plan is, WE will have purpose; we will be relevant in sharing God’s word in the future. Our mission statement, “Building faith and transforming lives in Christ”, is as solid as can be. It is the “how” that will be dramatically different. I think the Holy Spirit is going to take us on quite a ride these next 20 years.

Please share your gifts! Our worship and our ways of giving thanks and praise to God will continue to take shape as our praise group and worship team grow. I invite you to share your gifts, even if it is a onetime thing. This is the Advent/Christmas season and we are looking for any kind of special music for worship. If there are college students coming home for Christmas, they might want to share their gifts. Whole families might want to sing a carol. Be happy, be joyful, and share this holiday season.

Yours in Christ, Pastor Gene

December 2019

First Lutheran Church

December Newsletter

First Lutheran

Staff Interim Pastor

Rev. Gene Anderson

663-3594

Associate Pastor

Rev. Christina Martin

663-3594

Parish Administrator

Jackie Schulz

663-3594

Sunday School Ministry

Coordinator

Kama Hoovestol

663-3594

Wednesday Family Ministry

Coordinator

Savannah Miller

663-3594

Custodians

Ron & Mavis Watson

Financial Administration

Jennifer Scheet

First Lutheran Is A Mission

Partner with Camp of the

Cross Ministries

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PAGE 2 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH December 2019

Senior Christmas Gathering

Senior Service and Meal

December 10th, 2019

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 15th, 2019. Please stop by and pick up a name today. They are also

wanting chapstick, 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.

In order for your contributions to be posted to 2019, contributions must be received in the

church office by Friday, December 27th, 2019. Our mailing address is: 408 9th St. NW,

Mandan, ND 58554.

If you bring your contribution to the church office anytime after December 27th, it

cannot be recorded in 2019.

Thank you for the many ways you contribute to the ministries of this congregation. When you

share the gifts that God has entrusted you, you are growing in your relationship with Him and

ministry continues. It’s with great joy that we can look forward to where God might be leading

us in the present and in the future.

Church School

Christmas Program

Sunday School Schedule

Practice - Sunday, December 1st &

8th 9:30-10:30 A.M.

Program - Sunday, December 15th

at 10:45 A.M.

Wednesday School Schedule

Practice - Wednesday, December 4th

& 11th 7:00-7:30 P.M.

Program - Wednesday, December

18th at 6:00 P.M.

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PAGE 10 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2019

Mark Your

Calendar…

5th: LAF ~ Nachos

12th: LAF ~ Hot Dogs

19th: LAF ~ Sloppy Joes

26th: No LAF

Upcoming Events

You are invited to join us on

December 15th at 10:45 AM

or December 18th at 6:00

PM for a Christmas

Program. Please note at

8:30 AM worship the

children will only sing.

Come and see the First

Lutheran Stars!

Every child will receive a

goodie bag as they leave. A cart will be in the Narthex.

Peanut-free bags are available on request.

You are invited to Pizza

Ranch on December 9th

starting at 5 PM. 20% of

the items purchased will

go to the youth going on

the mission trip. Just

bring page 10 of this

newsletter or show the cashier a picture!

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PAGE 4 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2019

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 17 Madalyn Mae Gieser

November 24 Harris Alan Foster

November 24 Peyton Elizabeth Pulkrabek

Weddings:

November 9 Cody Daniel & Ashton Gullickson

Funerals:

November 8 Jerry Jochim

November 15 Donna Hartwig

Memorial Fund

Pastoral Acts

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 for the Christmas

Angel Tree!

Sunday ~

8:30 am ~ Traditional

10:45 am ~ Contemporary

9:30 am ~ Coffee

9:30 am ~ Church School

Wednesday ~

6:00 pm ~ Contemporary

6:00 pm ~ Church School

7:00 pm ~ Confirmation

PAGE 9 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2019

Page 5: Mandan, ND 58554 December Newsletter - WordPress.com · 2019-12-11 · December 2019 First Lutheran Church December Newsletter First Lutheran Staff Interim Pastor Rev. Gene Anderson

Tax Planning information….

A State Tax Credit for Endowment Gifts is available for individuals if they make a gift to a qualified ND endowment (First Lutheran Church Mission Endowment Fund is a qualified Fund.). In-dividuals may receive a state tax credit for a contribution of $5,000 or more (lump sum or aggregate in one year) to a qualified ND endowment. The tax credit is 40% of the chartable deduction allowed by the IRS up to a maximum credit of $10,000 per year per taxpayer or $20,000 per year per couple filing jointly. Effective for taxable years starting in 2007.

Businesses (C corporations, S corporations, estates, limited liability companies, trusts, and financial institutions) that pay state income tax may receive a 40% credit up to a maximum credit of $10,000 for contributions to a qualified ND endowment. Effective for taxable years starting in 2007, except for financial institutions effective in 2011.

Please consult your own attorney, accountant or financial advisor for advise on your situation.

For other ways to contribute, please refer to the Leave a Legacy brochure located in the Narthex and complete the “Information Request Form” located in the brochure. Also, find helpful information provided by the First Lutheran Mission Endowment Committee in the weekly bulletins and monthly newsletters. Contact any of the Committee Members: Kristi Entzi (400-6900), Michelle Radke (400-9687), Heather Heinle (226-4956), Terry Bohn (471-7725), or Dave Anderson (400-5081) or call the church office for more information on how you can contribute (663-3594).

If you are not using your offering envelopes please call the

church office and let us know so we can save money on sending

them out! The church office number is 663-3594. Thank you!

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PAGE 8 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH PAGE 5

First Lutheran Church Council Minutes

Date: October 14, 2019

Members Present: Pastor Gene Anderson, Pastor Christina Martin, President Kevin Fishbeck, Vice

President Wayne Friesz, Secretary Jeff Bradford, Cody Miller, Ron Webb, Carol Nitschke, Mike Held

Members Absent: Tony Michlitsch, Mike Hatzenbuhler

Additional Present: Jen Scheet

Approval of Agenda: Addition of Baptism and Marriage Rules by Cody Miller. Motion to Approve by

Cody Miller. Seconded by Jeff Bradford. Motion Passes

Devotions: Kevin Fishbeck discussed Why we are called to Serve

Approval of Sept 16 Minutes: Motion to Approve by Wayne Friesz. Seconded by Cody Miller. Motion

Passes

Financial Report: Trending to close year with expenses above revenues, but expenses are significantly

below budget. More discussion to happen later in the meeting when planning for 2020.

Discussion about health benefits through Portico. Motion Made by Ron Webb to offer Portico Gold Plan

to pastoral staff. Seconded by Wayne Friesz. Motion Passed.

Discussion about Pledge Cards and Stewardship Sunday. Motion made by Ron Webb to:

Have Stewardship Sunday on November 17

Print Pledge Cards on single color cardstock versus using expensive ones we have traditionally used

Pledge Cards be added to bulletins starting on November 3

Temple Talk on November 3 about Stewardship

Mike Held to also talk about Vanco on Nov 3

Motion Seconded by Mike Held. Motion Passed.

Unfinished Business: None

New Business:

Vanco Update (Jennifer and Mike): Mike Held gave an update on the Vanco account creations

and the generally positive reception after talking about it at church. Singups continue to happen.

Church School Check in (Jeff) (Kidcheck and Icon): Jeff Bradford updated council on the

Kidcheck

Application that will add to the security and accountability of our youth programs. Icon offers a

similar solution that may integrate into our existing church software. Consensus from council

was to continue to research options as funding can come externally from the budget.

Annual Trunk or Treat: Trunk or Treat will continue to happen this year as it has been growing

significantly each year. Evangelism team will prepare supper and we have a great group of

volunteers for trunks already.

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Stewardship Sunday: Earlier in the meeting it was decided that Stewardship Sunday would be

November 17.

Baptism and Marriage Rules: Discussion was had regarding church policies for how we accept,

advise and teach participants of Marriage and Baptisms. Research for next meeting by pastoral staff

to come up with a 90% scenario for what we should be handling baptisms and weddings.

Budget 2020: Discussion about different scenarios regarding expenditures this year. No changes

were made to removing line items for the rest of the year. Portfolio teams will need to meet prior to

November meeting to come up with budget proposals to discuss.

Reports: (Secretary Note: As the meeting went late, it was requested by Kevin Fishbeck that reports

are submitted to the secretary electronically. They will be approved in the minutes at the next meeting.)

Pastor Gene: No Update

Pastor Christina: Pastor Gene and myself will be going to the healthy congregations workshop.

I am the heart river representative on Synod Council and part of the executive team. We will be

meeting this coming Friday/Saturday (October 25 & 26) and will be discussing the Bishop’s

transition.

Stewardship: Prepping and exploring ideas for stewardship Sunday. Plan on temple talk with

Kevin.

Continue to promote about not only Vanco, but electronic giving in general and the advantages to

both the church and its members

Worship: The worship committee continued to work with the teams from each worship service. The

teams are meeting monthly to set up music and service details. We have set October 27th and

October 30th for serving donuts and greeting before and after services. Tony will put together a flier

to be distributed asking people to participate/volunteer at our services.

Parish Education/Youth: Took two of our youth to LYO on October 17-19. The theme was from the

song “Chain Breaker” and Rachel Krutz was the guest speaker/ performer.

Confirmation Banquet was held on October 20.

Confirmation Service planning is well in hand. This is the first year since Chris has been here that

all the youth fulfilled the requirements. It is really exciting

Evangelism & Outreach: Trunk or treat for Halloween was a nice time for all with 23 trunk

sponsors. Served 670 hot dogs for the trick or treater folks in the fellowship area, a good time was

had by all.

The Lunch At First, LAF, program is ongoing with an average of 300 high school students on each

Thursday of the week. This is an excellent outreach for the church youth.

Property Management: No Update

Correspondence: Thank you letters from Missouri Slope and Golden Age Services for our continued

contributions.

Motion to Adjourn: Motion made by Ron Webb. Seconded by Jeff Bradford. Motion Passed.

Meeting ended with the Lord’s Prayer. Next meeting will be Monday November 18th.

PAGE 6 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2019