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