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!

Attention Church School Students & Parents!

Join us on Sunday, September 8th or Wednesday, September 11th for our Church

School Rally Day!

Sunday, September 8th: At 9:30 A.M. all students are encouraged to come downstairs to find their classroom and meet their teachers.

All kids are welcome to join in on the fun!

Wednesday, September 11th: At 6:00 P.M. all students are encouraged to come downstairs to find their classroom and meet their teachers.

All kids are welcome to join in on the fun!

Council E-mail:

cc@firstlutheranofmandan.org

Pastor’s thoughts,

Things are picking up at First Lutheran. School is around the corner and this means church school and changing back to our regular worship times and routines [like LAF]. Thank you for your openness and prayers as we have been doing the hard work of transitioning to call a new administrative pastor. Change is not always easy. I have experienced many changes in my life so I sometimes forget how hard change can be.

I grew up in Fargo and attended NDSU getting a BS and MS in Chemistry specializing in paint technology. I am a nerd. I worked in the paint industry for 12 years and was involved in many changes taking place in the agricultural equipment industry. I started working for Valspar in 1981 just when many government mandated changes were taking place. I worked on products for John Deere, International Harvester, J.I. Case, Sperry New Holland and others. I enjoyed my job and I was kept very busy.

I was very good at what I did, but early 1993 I was feeling uneasy with my career path and was praying a lot about what God wanted me to do – change companies, change career paths, even change career fields. We had an intern pastor at the church I attended who used to be a math teacher and was close to my age and had a very young child. So the Holy Spirit whispered in my ear, “if he can do it, so can you,”. So I started praying about this change, could this be real? Could I and my family do this? After a couple months of praying and more than a couple visits with the pastor intern, I talked to my pastor and started the process of becoming a pastor. I quit my job in July and started taking Greek classes in August.

You may hear more of my story as we worship this year and I serve First Lutheran as an interim pastor [that’s a whole other story!]. One of my favorite things is lively music [saying contemporary doesn’t really fit]. I’ve been on praise teams since I started college in 1974. My favorite instrument is the mandolin, but I also play violin and guitar. My one problem is that I enjoy all kinds of music; I served as a chaplain to a nursing home so I learned many of the oldies-but-goodies. You can see why I have trouble picking hymns; I like most of them. So I hope there is some grace while I try to work with you on worship music.

I don’t plan on making many changes, but I am willing to help you try things and even change things during this year serving as your interim pastor.

Yours in Christ, Pastor Gene

September 2019

First Lutheran Church

September 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 September 2019

Remember starting

September 8th we will

resume our regular

Sunday service schedule,

8:30 & 10:45 A.M.

ATTENTION ALL QUILTERS:

Quilting is starting up again!! September 23th & 24th and September 30th &

October 1st from 9:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. You don’t need any experience, just come

and have fun. Bring a sack lunch. ________________________________________________________________________________________

Many children in Mandan begin school each year without supplies. During the next few months, please check the school supply aisles and consider making a purchase for those less fortunate right here in Mandan. Supplies needed are 24 box crayons, pencils, erasers, glue, glue sticks, rulers, scissors, back packs, folders and regular or college ruled notebooks, earbuds (from the Dollar Store are just fine), Anti Bacterial Wipes. Any supplies received will be equally distributed among the 6 Mandan elementary schools. The schools last year were very appreciative of all the supplies that were given to them! There will be a SPECIAL BOX for these items in the narthex; please drop your donations in there. Thank you for your kindness!

Fall Women’s Retreat at Camp of the Cross September 17th-18th

It’s a wonderful and inspirational time of bible study, fun, food and conversation. You may go

to www.campofthecross.com to register. Please register by September 10th. Questions –

contact the camp office at 701-337-2246.

Church Picnic:

We will have a picnic at the Eagles Park in

Mandan-100 14th St NE, on Sunday, September

8th following the 10:45 service. All church

families are invited. Hamburgers and hotdogs

will be provided. Please join us for worship,

food & fun!

Last names starting with A through M

bring a SALAD & N through Z bring a

DESSERT.

Attention First Lutheran Church Participants:

On Sunday, September 1st

(Labor Day Weekend) there will only be ONE SERVICE at 9:30 A.M.

First Lutheran’s “Lunch at First” (LAF) program feeds about 400 of our Mandan High School students each week during the school year! It’s a ministry that has grown immensely over the past few years and promises to grow into the future. It’s great to witness God working through our volunteers as they serve and our young people as they are served – all disciples of Jesus Christ!

As the numbers of young people served has grown, naturally so has the budget for LAF. It costs about $400 a week to feed these young people – a cost of about $.95 cents per meal per student … a real bargain!!

So, we are asking individuals, families, businesses and corporations for some financial assistance as

we move into the Fall. If you, your family or business would like to sponsor a LAF meal – it would

go a long way toward funding LAF. Maybe a group of families would like to sponsor a meal … and help

serve it!! Whatever the case – let us know and thank you in advance for your contribution toward

bringing Jesus’ command, “Feed my sheep …” to our high school students.

Items needed for the 2019 Lutefisk supper which will be held

on Saturday, October 19th, 2019:

Cash Sugar

Cookies and Bars Milk

Rosettes and Krumkake Cream

Cans of Wondra Flour Coffee (Regular & Decaf)

Homemade Buns Soda Crackers

Quarts of Miracle Whip Pam

Red Washed Potatoes Chopped Onions

Eggs Gallon Ziploc Bags

Butter Quart Ziploc Bags

Flour Powdered Sugar

Kitchen Bouquet Waxed Paper

Salt & Pepper Vinegar

Cinnamon

Many workers – Friday setup from 10:00 – 11:00, Saturday - kitchen (many shifts available beginning as early as 7:30 A.M. through clean up which goes until about 10:00 P.M.), dining room (shifts beginning at 3:00 and 5:30), dishwashers (shifts beginning at 3:30 and 6:00), clean up (beginning at 7:30), lefse preparers and bar & cookie arrangers (shifts beginning at 3:00 and 5:30).

Come join the fun and enjoy the fellowship!!

If anyone is interested in chairing or co-chairing the Lutefisk supper please contact the church office at

663-3594 or Lori Meyers at 471-9436. ____________________________________________________________

Do we have any blood donors here at First Lutheran Church?

We are wanting you to put this date on your calendar because we are holding a blood drive on Sunday, October 6

th. If you are a regular

donor please schedule your appointments so you can donate here at the church!

Your help is GREATLY appreciated!

PAGE 10 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH SEPTEMBER 2019

Mark Your

Calendar…

Upcoming Events

Western ND LYO Gathering in Minot!!

Who: 9th - 12th Graders

When: October 17h, 2019 – October 19th, 2019

Cost: $50 (Church pays the other $100 of the cost)

Join high school youth from all over Western ND for a weekend

filled with worship, service, great music and a ton of fun in

Bismarck, ND! Please contact church to register. Registration will

be taken no later than September 30th.

We are in need of Sunday/

Wednesday school teachers

and Confirmation leaders!

Please prayerfully consider

helping out. Contact the church

at 663-3594 if you are

interested or would like more

information. We need your

help!

All Children Pre-k through 7th grade are invited to join us for the start of

our church school program.

Sunday, September 8th at 9:30 AM

or

Wednesday, September 11th at 6:00 PM

Please register via our website.

Paper registration on request.

Don't forget:

Sunday School

starts September

8th

Wednesday Schools

starts September

11th

PAGE 4 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH SEPTEMBER 2019

Sunday ~

8:30 am

10:45 am

9:30 am ~ Coffee

9:30 am ~ Church School

Wednesday ~

6:00 pm

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:

August 4 Isla Rae Sailer

August 7 Ryland Lee Kirchmeier

August 25 Lucy Jane Kienzle

Weddings:

August 3 Jeremy Braaflat & Tayon Nybakken

August 17 Adam Flegel & Laura Erickson

Funerals:

August 20 Paulette Bentz

Memorial Fund

Pastoral Acts

In memory of Arnold Albrecht given by Janice

Feeney, John & Twila Grunseth, Dennis Johnson,

Brad & Cathy Sheldon, Gary & Claudia Tomanek,

Kent & Jacqueline Ellis, Gaylee Johnson, Marie

Loynachan, Albrecht/Tomanek.

Deadline for

articles for the

October Newsletter

will be September

18th.

September~ Mission of the Month

Weekend Meals for Mandan Kids

Items needed are Chap Stick, Canned Tuna, Canned Chicken,

Canned Ham, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Fruit Cups, Canned Fruit,

Granola Bars, Cereal, Pudding Cups, Applesauce, Chef

Boyardee', Mac & Cheese, Soups, Hamburger Helper, Spaghetti

Noodles, Spaghetti Sauce, Pop Tarts, Instant Mashed Potatoes,

Rice A Roni, Pasta Roni, Pork and Beans, Baked Beans, Pancake

Mix-no eggs required such as Krusteaz Brand, Syrup.

NO GLASS JARS PLEASE!

You may put your items in the boxes in the Narthex. Thank

you!

CROP Hunger Walk - Bismarck - October 13

The 1st CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Walk started 50 years ago in Bismarck. Walk or sponsor a walker in the 2019 Bismarck/Mandan CROP Walk for Hunger on Sunday, October 13, at 1:30 pm on the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

To celebrate 50 years, the event will kick off at 12:30 with the walk's registration, an education fair, and a visit from Clark the Lark and Merifeather Lewis.

Special guests from Church World Services will be joining the Bismarck walk to help fight World Hunger. There will be two distances for the walk. A shorter walk of about 1/2 mile

and the longer walk of about 2.5 miles. Be sure to stick around after the walk and have an ice cream sundae to celebrate the 50th anniversary.

Not only does the CROP Hunger Walk help those around the world, but also those in need locally. 25% of the funds raised at the Bismarck/Mandan CROP Walk for Hunger will benefit the Soup Cafe, the Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry, the Abused Adult Resource Center and AID, Inc.

Let’s keep the ecumenical tradition of CROP Walk strong. Church World Service, our sponsoring organization, is made up of 35 different denominations of churches all working cooperatively to help people here and around the world. You can even designate the money you raise to go to a specific supporting entity. (ex. Heifer Project, Lutheran World Relief, etc.).

Sign up today to walk or sponsor a CROP Walker! To take part, contact the CROP Walk recruiter from your church, sign up online at crophungerwalk.org/bismarcknd or contact Allison Germolus at 400-0053.

If you know a loved one that is a shut in or is in the nursing home and would like a visit from the Pastors please call the church office so we know who to visit. The number is 663-3594. Thank you!

PAGE 9 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH SEPTEMBER 2019

PAGE 8 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH SEPTEMBER 2019 SEPTEMBER 2019 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH PAGE 5

First Lutheran Church Council Minutes

Date: July 18, 2019

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

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

Tony Michlitsch

Members Absent: Mike Hatzenbuhler, Ron Webb

Devotions presented by Pastor Chris: Survey from the Synod

Approval of the Agenda:

Moved: Tony Michlitsch

Seconded: Wayne Friesz

Motion Passed

Approval of Secretary’s Minutes:

Moved: Tony Michlitsch

Seconded: Wayne Friesz

Motion Passed

Financial Report:

Given by Kevin Fishbeck

No Unfinished Business

New Business

Banquet at Trinity July 27, August 24, will we do 2020?

Tabling a decision so that Evangelism and Outreach Team can coordinate

Call Committee Meeting Synod Office

Call Committee has been set.

Synod will be meeting with the committee on July 31 at 7pm to start the process

Memorials

There was a large memorial given to the church and discussion followed about a long

standing policy to donate 80% of undesignated memorials to the endowment fund.

There is question as to when this should occur.

Motion made by Cody Miller that any undesignated memorials have 80% deposited

into the endowment fund on a monthly basis. Designated Memorials will be

deposited to the appropriate account monthly. At the annual meeting, this item

will be brought up for review by the congregation. Seconded by Wayne Friesz.

Motion Passed.

Outside Pastors presiding at First Lutheran.

Discussion about other ministers presiding over weddings, funerals and other events.

Tabling discussion until next month so research can be done to see what Synod

Guidelines are for us to adopt our own policy.

Stewardship Drive

Discussion about adding a stewardship flyer to the monthly newsletter at a small cost

to the church.

PAGE 6 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH

SEPTEMBER 2019

Motion made by Tony Michlitsch to add this. Seconded by Mike Held. Motion Passed.

Adopt a Flower Bed

Discussion about congregation members adopting a flower bed to help with

maintenance

We will be making up a map and calendar for signups by congregation members.

Reports

Pastor Gene

Worship team was created to help with ideas for all areas involving a worship service

and to help plan out future services. Team comprised of 6 members, 2 representing

each service.

Pastor Chris

Recently returned from vacation

Will be creating a mind-map of her roles at the church so we can plan for coverage of

duties by others during her maternity leave

Stewardship

No report

Worship

No report besides creation of worship team

Parish Ed / Youth

Discussion over the need for background checks for all whom are working with the

youth. The synod has a service that they pay the overhead on. The church is only

required to pay for the service on a per check basis. This will be $45, but will also

include training for all participants too. This will be put into effect this fall. Initial

investment will be around $3,000, but checks are valid for 3 years.

Motion made to require background checks by Wayne Friesz. Tony Michlitsch

seconded. Motion Passed.

Evangelism and Outreach

No Report

Property / Management

Fans are getting installed on Monday.

Waiting on Jeepers Sweepers to get caught up on work to start on the parking lot

New Air Conditioner installed in Gene’s office

Correspondence

Thank you from Mandan Girl Scouts for letting them use the facility

Thank you from Ann Berge Barkel for a wonderful service for her father Gordon Berge

Thank you from Pastor Lee Herberg for a wonderful retirement luncheon at the church.

Thank you from Missouri Slope for supporting the Ice Cream Social

Motion to Adjourn by Wayne Friesz. Seconded by Tony Michlitsch

Ended with the Lords Prayer

Next meeting will be on August 15 at 7pm