Message From Pastor Karyn for February 2015
It seems like just yesterday that the Christmas decorations were put away and life got back to “normal”. It hardly seems possible that Lent and Easter are just a few weeks away. And yet, here we are again, getting ready to enter into the time of the year that calls us first to examine our own lives and sin and need for God and then to rejoice again in being saved by God through the death and resurrection of Jesus from our sin. All year, we have been focused outward as we consider how we can be of service to others but Lent calls us to spend some time looking inward. I sometimes consider this time of year the time for Christians to consider what needs to be changed in their lives, instead of the beginning of the new year. We don’t, however, stay in this inwardly gazing mode for long, but are called to acts of service and love. We once again dedicate ourselves to the disciplines of a follower of Christ: study, prayer, worship, giving and acts of service.
Helping Hearts
Some people have helping hearts. My friend loves to do just that; she helps people in her work, here at church, in our small group and with her family. She does it with a wonderful attitude of “what can I do for you.” She often reminds me that she is here to help out; all I have to do is ask. However, not everyone is so willing to help. Some will say “I’ve helped enough; do not ask me to help again for the rest of the month,” or “did it once and I won’t do it again.” I’ve had people tell me they won’t do something and others seek me out to ask me if they can help. I know not everyone can be like those who want to always help, but let’s not be so eager to say “no.” Before you say “no” when asked to do something, please thoughtfully consider before responding.
Sunday School Update for February 2015
Thank you!...
Thank you to all of our kids, teachers, opening leaders and volunteers who help each and every week to make Sunday school a success.
February Calendar includes:
February 8th:
4-year-old stepping stoneFebruary 15th:
4-year-old stepping stone
Sugar Creek Sunday- February 22nd:
4-year-old stepping stone during worship
OWLs Posting for February 2015
In spite of cold and snow the OWLs had a very enjoyable January. Our outing to the Johnsmith concert at the Pump House preceded by dinner at the Waterford provided much warmth, laughter and good music during our Friday Night Out. Our potluck with speaker Rob Wessler presenting his experiences in China was fun and informative.
In February our theme will be history and heritage. Our first event is our potluck which will be on Ash Wednesday, February 18 at noon in the narthex. As we have done in the past we will provide lunch to Lenten worshipers after the morning service. Please bring some extra food to share. For our program we will once again turn to ourselves and have an opportunity to get to know each other better through our stories. Our theme is history and heritage. We all come from different backgrounds and national heritages. Please come prepared to tell a little about yourself and your family heritage. Each person will have about five minutes to share memories, show family artifacts or simply tell a story about their youth or ancestors. If you know some of your family genealogy and would like to share, that is fine too. As always, you can sit and listen if you prefer not to share.
Message from Pastor Stanton for January 2015
I recently heard that 2015— according to Chinese astrology—is the “Year of the Sheep”. This, apparently, is not such a great thing if you are a couple considering bringing a child into this world. 2014 was an auspicious “Year of the Horse.” Sheep, though, are meek creatures, and raised for nothing more than slaughter. The thought is that children born this year will be followers, not leaders. Many Chinese believe they will be destined for heartbreak or failed marriages and that they will be unlucky in business, too. Have you ever noticed Christians call every year since the birth of Christ, “The Year of Our Lord”? Of course, Our Lord is likened in Scripture to a lamb… led to slaughter. The meekness of Christ is at the core of his ultimate power: the power to take the world’s abuse and transform it into peace, love and strength. For us, every year is a Year of the Sheep!…
Message from Pastor Karyn for January 2015
By the time this newsletter is in your hands, we will be right in the middle of the twelve days of the Christmas season of the Church. We will have sung Joy to the World, decorated the trees and opened presents, made and eaten and given away yummy cookies, spent time with family and friends. While we will still be in the midst of Christmas the world will have moved on. Yet, after weeks of waiting, we still celebrate the birth of Jesus. That celebration culminates on January 6th with the celebration of Epiphany, the day when those wise people from the East came to visit Jesus.…
Getting Your Feet Wet
Years ago as a family, when my girls were small, we would go ice fishing. Perry would open up several holes to fish in and start fishing, while I would try to fish and watch the girls playing in the snow. The girls would run around, make houses in the snow and play with the fish being caught. We would remind them often to watch out for fishing holes and not go too far from mom or dad. As they would play one of them or both of them would step into a fishing hole and get one or both feet wet before it was time to go home. I was usually prepared for this and brought with us dry socks and bread bags. We would change out of the wet socks, put dry ones on, with bread bags over them, and the feet would go back into the boots, after dumping all the water out. Getting your feet wet was the cost of being together as an ice-fishing family, and being prepared for wet feet was part of that.…
Stephen Ministry
I remember greeting my first care receiver with those words about six years ago. Since then I have had the privilege of serving two other care receivers, each in a totally different difficult life circumstance. When the first Stephen Minister class was started at First Lutheran, I thought it may be something I would be interested in, but I just wasn’t certain. Would I be capable of the training? Would I have the time? Is this what I was called to do? I passed on that opportunity, but the idea of serving just wouldn’t leave my mind. When the second class was started, I knew I was called to serve. I was compelled to serve....
Sunday School Update for January 2015
“Generously and extraordinarily blessed!” Those are the words that come to mind when we reflect on the 2014 Sunday school program. Within the halls of our Sunday school, on any ordinary Sunday, your heart would be warmed to witness the examples of generous lives and extraordinary blessings we experienced in 2014…..
Young Youth Update for January 2015
The return of MP3 Night! (Movie, Pizza, Pajamas, and Popcorn). Featuring the movie: The Sandlot or Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (I’ll let you and the kids vote, most votes wins)...
OWLs Post for January 2015
The OWLs did not let the cold of December slow them down. We started the month with a great day at Sugar Creek, including a Scandinavian lunch complete with lefse. The afternoon musical program was lively and entertaining. Our Christmas potluck was a feast to behold with great food and many Christmas goodies, followed by a spirited competition of Christmas trivia and guess the carol. The holiday spirit was further enhanced with the many beautiful Christmas sweaters worn to the event (see photo). Fun was had by all.
FAQs from Cottage Meetings
I’m using my newsletter this month to continue the conversations we had through cottage meetings. Something like a dozen meetings happened with anywhere from five to thirty participants each. In all, about 100 members took the time to hear more about the Plan and take the time to ask their questions. Thank you to those who participated! For those who were unable, I’ve included some of the most common comments and questions below....
Message From Pastor Karyn for December 2014
It isn’t even Thanksgiving yet, but the planning for Advent has begun and this ancient song has been ringing in my head for several days now. Come Immanuel. It is the prayer that we speak during the Advent season as we wait. Come Immanuel we say, hoping for Christ’s peace to come. Come Immanuel, God among us, come and bring your love, peace, wisdom to our lives, our world. It is a prayer that rings out across the world as people seek relief from hunger, war, political unrest, abuse, fear, anger, [insert your burden here]. And every day, God answers the people’s prayers....
Sunday School Update for December 2014
It is that time of year to enjoy traditions that the Christmas season brings. One of our Christmas traditions we are busy preparing for here at First Lutheran is our Sunday school Christmas Worship. It is a wonderful time of year and a great way for our kids to spread their Christmas joy! Below are some of the details that will hopefully help clarify any questions you may have. Please pay particular attention to the details for each age group on December 17th!...
Young Youth Update for December 2014
Meet at the church on Dec. 13th from 2:30–4pm down in the Fellowship Hall to decorate Christmas cookies. The cookies will be handed out as gifts to the residents that we visit when the church goes caroling on Dec. 14th at 5pm. Parents are more then welcome, even encouraged, to attend the cookie decorating event!
OWLs Posting for December 2014
The cold weather did not slow the OWL’s down in November. On Friday Nov. 7th we (27 of us) took the opportunity for a Friday night out. It started with a great dinner at the Westview Inn and ended with a fun Las Vegas style show featuring the “Phat Pack” at the Heider Center in West Salem. A great time was had by all....
A Christmas Welcome
As a little girl, I remember going to my mother’s parents for Christmas. The house was filled with family: my plump, white haired great-grandmother sitting in the kitchen, my aunts and uncles all over the place, and lots of my cousins everywhere. We were welcomed with noisy love and warmth. When we would go to my father’s parents for Christmas, it was much quieter: my grandparents, my parents, my brother, my great uncle, and my slim, gray haired great grandmother sitting in her chair in the living room. We were welcomed into a home filled with a quiet love of hugs, kisses and tender talks. These are my most precious memories, different but the same: Welcome and love flowed through these homes....