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| Newsletters > Good News > 02-20-08 | ||
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From the Pastor... There are a few separate comments I’d like to share with all of you: In God’s Astonishing Grace,
Donuts & Dialogue Join the lively discussion of Daniel Erlander’s book, “Baptized, We Live,” on Sunday, February 24, as we continue to talk about Lutheran basics, and what it means to be a Lutheran. Then come and hear Rod Eissens on Sunday, March 2, as he shows slides and a power point on his trip to Guatemala! Hear about the culture and the extreme poverty that the majority of Guatemalan’s live in every day. Rod’s trip, which was through a partnership with Habitat International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, was both life changing and inspirational for him. Hear more about this partnership, and how you, as a member of First United, can participate in a trip to Guatemala with Habitat International and Thrivent Builds Worldwide! Donuts & Dialogue Schedule:
WANTED: Items for local Food Pantry! Did you know that First United collects food and other needed items for the food pantry at St. Mark Lutheran Church? A collection barrel is conveniently located next to the small “serving kitchen” (next to the Gathering Area). Non-perishable food items, paper products, detergents, soap, and other items can be brought in at any time, and are very much needed. Because the Special Offering for the first Sunday of every month goes to “Local Hunger,” we are asking everyone to please bring at least one non-perishable food item to worship on the first Sunday of every month. All items donated will go to the St. Mark Food Pantry, which is open the first and third Friday of every month from 10:00-11:30 a.m., and provides service to about 125 people. They are also in need of volunteers to help with registration and handing out food. Please call Bev Sorenson at 458-4279 if you can help. Items Most Needed: Canned Soups (No soup in boxes!) PLEASE DO NOT donate bags of Flour! Please place donated items in the baskets and/or the food barrel provided. Thank you!
Get involved with our Tanzanian partnership! Our congregation has had a partnership with the Maangashiny Parish of Tanzania for about one year. Since our main task for the first year or two is to pray for each other and get to know each other, we’ve offered picture displays in the Gathering Area, guest speakers (on Tanzania) for Donuts & Dialogue sessions, Good News articles, and a spirit-filled Tanzanian Rally Day! The Grounded in Prayer group prays for our partners each week, and we encourage all of our members to pray for them by printing special prayer requests for the Maangashiny Parish in our Sunday worship bulletins. Much has been done this past year. But it’s time that we learn even more. It’s time for us to get more personally involved with our partners in Tanzania! Are YOU interested in learning more about the people of Tanzania? Do YOU dream of traveling to Tanzania someday to visit our partners in the Maangashiny Parish? Do YOU want to be more actively involved in getting to know the members of the Maangashiny Parish? If you’ve answered “YES!” to ANY of these questions, then WE NEED YOU!! Sign up on the Kiosk, or talk to Gail Showerman or Deaconess Deb, to get involved!
Do you know someone who could use a Prayer Shawl or Lap Blanket? The Holy Knitters are committed to making Prayer Shawls and Lap Blankets for people who are confined to their homes, struggling with long-term illnesses or disease, recovering from surgery, or going through a difficult time. If you know someone in our congregation, a close friend, or someone in your family that would appreciate a prayer shawl or lap blanket, please call the church office (452-2401), or contact Deaconess Deb. We have lots of colorful, donated yarn that could be made into warm hats, scarves, mittens, or baby blankets. We just need people who are willing and able to do it! We also have some “grannie squares” and yarn for two different afghans for anyone that is interested in finishing those! Please contact Deaconess Deb if you are interested. JOIN US on the second Monday of each month from 5:00-6:00 p.m., in Room 8! We need and appreciate your financial support, so we can continue our ministry. Please write checks to First United, memo: Holy Knitters. THANK YOU!
Grief Support - February 25 Find the support of others who care at our next Grief Support meeting on Monday, February 25. We will meet from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Genszler Room. Invite your family and friends!
Meals on Wheels Needs Help We are proud of the fact that twenty-six of our members deliver meals on 14 different Meals on Wheels routes, Mondays through Fridays! Some of them are currently unable to deliver meals, so we need a few new volunteers to serve as temporary substitutes. We are in special need of two people (to deliver together) on the 2 nd Thursday and the 3 rd Monday of the month. Delivery time is from 11:15 a.m. to around 12:45 p.m. Can you help? Please sign up on the kiosk, or call Virginia Mikkelson at 458-1522, or me (452-2401). Thank you! Also, don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Eighth Annual Meals on Wheels Love Bowls event on March 2! It will be held in the Commons of Sheboygan South High School from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Come and enjoy delicious homemade soups and breads in colorful Talavera pottery bowls from Mexico. Raffle items will be available and local talent will be on stage! All proceeds go to support our local Meals on Wheels.
Good News Deadline The deadline for the next issue of the Good News is Monday, February 25. The next issue should be in homes on Wednesday, March 5.
Spring Softball League Forming The Sheboygan Area Church Softball League is looking for some new members! Both women and men, ages 18-80, are encouraged to join! For more information, please contact Lance Nennig (our maintenance man), no later than April 1 st.
Family & Youth Ski Trip Hit the slopes with your First United friends, families and youth! We’ll be leaving at 11:00 a.m. from the church parking lot on Sunday, February 24, for a full afternoon of fun in the snow! If you’d like to join us, please sign up on the sheet at the Youth & Family kiosk in the Gathering Area!
Daylight Saving Time It’s even earlier this year! So we thought we’d give you plenty of warning! On Sunday, March 9, we begin Daylight Saving Time, so be sure to set your clocks AHEAD one hour before you go to bed on Saturday, March 8 th!
Holy Communion Prep Holy Communion instruction continues for all 2 nd Grade youth and their parents (and for anyone who may be new to the congregation or has not received instruction yet), on Sunday, February 24, at 9:40 a.m. Please bring your Bible to instruction. Students that complete the classes will receive their First Communion on Maundy Thursday, March 20, during the 7:00 p.m. worship service. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Gorges at 452-2401.
HEAT WAVE Got your attention! Giving is a great way to warm your heart and that of many others. So don’t forget to give generously during these cold and snowy days. Our worship attendance has been lower in recent weeks due to the snow and cold. And as a result, our offerings have also been lower than normal for this time of year. Please consider mailing your gifts to the church office, dropping them off in the office (on a day that’s maybe easier to get around), or make an extra contribution the next time you worship. Remember, giving is a great way to warm a heart!
Roof Repair UPDATE Over $80,000 in special offerings have been received to help defray the cost of the recent roof repairs of approximately $342,000. Thank you so much for your generosity! Blue roof repair envelopes are still available in the pews and in the offering envelope packet sent to homes each month.
Special Offerings Special offerings during Wednesday worship services throughout Lent will be designated for Crossways Camping Ministry, an outdoor ministry of the ELCA, providing camping/retreat experiences for youth and families. Three camps are located right here in Wisconsin, and our own First United Middle and High School youth attend Crossways camps regularly throughout the year.
Great Beginnings Preschool Enrollment for the 2008-09 school year is now open to the public. If you have or know of a child who will be 3 years of age by September 1, 2008, please consider our preschool! Enrollment information is available in the church office, or call us at 452-2401.
Sing a joyful noise! Here at First United we are so blessed to have two wonderful children’s choirs that participate in worship about once month. We’re always looking for additional youth to sing with us! You don’t have to have a great voice to be a member of the choir, you just need to love to sing! Rehearsals take place each Wednesday afternoon. The Cherub Choir (4-year olds to 2 nd grade) practices from 5:00-5:30 p.m. in the Choir Room; the Christus Choir (Grades 3-8) practices from 5:30-6:15 p.m., also in the Choir Room. Please consider this wonderful singing and learning opportunity for your child/ren, directed by Wayne Wildman.
New Member Workshops If you are looking for a new church home, First United invites you to take a look at what we have to offer! New Member Workshops will be offered on the three consecutive Sundays of March 2, 9 and 16, at 9:40 a.m. in the Chapel (next door to the Genszler Room, just off the Gathering Area). At these workshops we will talk about what it means to be a member of a congregation and how you might grow in your faith life at First United. New members will be received into membership on Sunday, March 16, at 10:45 a.m. If you have any questions, please call Pastor Todd at 452-2401.
Supersize me! The Outreach Committee would like to become SUPERSIZED! We need to increase our membership in this critical committee. The outreach vision is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, and to inspire and welcome others into the faith community at First United Lutheran Church. If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact Lee Anne Gilson at 452-2401, or Steve Schick at 457-0629.
Men’s Group On Wednesday, February 20, the guest speaker at our Men’s Group meeting will be a Merchant Marine who served during World War II, who will share his war stories with us. All men of the congregation are invited to join us at these Wednesday meetings beginning at 1:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.
Our deepest sympathy We offer our Christian love to the family of Eunice Goettel at the death of her brother.
VILs Wear something GREEN to our March potluck luncheon, and join us for lunch at 12 noon on Monday, March 17, in Fellowship Hall. Then hear from our own Rod “O’Eissens” about his recent trip to Guatemala with the Thrivent Habitat for Humanity program. Make reservations by calling the church office at 452-2401, and let us know what you can bring for the luncheon.
Staff Extension Numbers... Can you hear me now? It’s come to our attention that people are having trouble reaching a staff member’s voice mail. For your convenience, listed below are each staff’s extension number. Please enter that extension number as soon as the phone is answered by the machine. Debbie Frick 310
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