Newsletter

A Message from Pastor Judith

Another year is unfolding. We begin in prayer and hope that we will grow in our relationship with God and with one another. I just completed a book titled “Walk in a Relaxed Manner” by Joyce Rupp.
She writes about life lessons and focuses on our commonalities and our differences. The focus is on how each of those can enhance our relationships if we but let them.
She states, “If we are aware and attuned to the larger community of humankind, we will gain strength and hope from our commonalities. If we look outward and allow our minds and hearts to stretch, every day we will be connected to the hum of humanity. As we walk the road of life we will find we are united at a deeper level with each person we meet.”
She continues to say, “Only on the surface do we experience differences. Beneath what seems to separate us as human beings are comparable hopes and numerous opportunities to enrich and encourage all. What a changed world it would be if the hum of humanity became loud enough to drown out the deafening roar of what separates and divides us.”
It is my hope that our worship and outreach efforts at First Lutheran Church will add to harmony in the world. May we experience peace as 2012 reveals more of how God wants us to “be” today and in the days to come.      

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

A Note from Simone

Thank You!
A great big thank you to everyone that contributed efforts in putting together the Christmas Program: Nativity, Lights, Camera, Action! It was a blessed event that many enjoyed very much!

Heaven is for Real—Family Book Club
Have you heard of this book? Have you read it already? Join us to discuss the book as we reflect on our understanding of what heaven is about. We will be meeting as families (as there is a children’s book out as well). Please let Simone know if you are interested in participating, and we will schedule our times around all interested parties. To kick off this study, some will be attending the WELCA hosted event in Grand Island on Saturday, January 14 from 9-3pm. If you are interested in attending, see Simone to pre-register.

January Birthdays

Ronald Molle 1/4
Connie O’Boyle 1/6
Darlene Hansen 1/12
Chris Michener 1/15
Kathy Brahmer 1/16
Michael Rewolinski  1/17
Rose Brunner 1/18
Briana Givens 1/18
Brenda Hennings 1/19
Wendy Geier 1/20
Doyle Florke 1/23
Buddy Shanks 1/23

January Scriptures

January 1
First Sunday of Christmas
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Psalm 148
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:22-40

January 8
Baptism of Our Lord
Genesis 1:1-5
Psalm 29
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11

January 15
Second Sunday after Epiphany
1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20)
Psalm 139:1-6,13-18
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
John 1:43-51

January 22
Third Sunday after Epiphany
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 62:5-12
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

January 29
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28

A Stewardship Devotion: Hope

As vice president, George Bush represented the United States at the funeral of former Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev. Bush was deeply moved by a silent protest carried out by Brezhnev's widow. She stood motionless by the coffin until seconds before it was closed.
Then, just as the soldiers touched the lid, Brezhnev's wife performed an act of great courage and hope, a gesture that must surely rank as one of the most profound acts of civil disobedience ever committed: she reached down and made the sign of the cross on her husband's chest.
There, in the citadel of secular atheistic power, the wife of the man who had run it all hoped that her husband was wrong. She hoped that there was another life, and that that life was best represented by Jesus who died on the cross, and that the same Jesus might yet have mercy on her husband.
Gary Thomas
Christianity Today (10/3/94)

Submitted by Wayne Moeller
Stewardship Department

Where Did it Go?

The Clothing Pantry has moved from the hallway to the room around the corner. Everyone is excited with the additional space, lighting, and the open atmosphere. Special THANKS to Joel Engelbart and Jeff Hagelstein for moving the racks, tables and bookcases. I also want to THANK Jim Prouty for the additional racking. Donations are always welcome. This time of year winter coats, gloves, hats and blankets go fast. Other popular items are underwear, children’s and men’s clothes. We are also short of children's and individual slack hangers. Like the Food Pantry, the Clothing Pantry serves an increasing number of people in need. This is another example of a successful outreach program sponsored by First Lutheran Church.

Renewal in Retirement

Renewal in Retirement will meet at noon on Tuesday, January 10 for a pancake  luncheon. Cost is $2 per person. We will play Bingo after lunch. No reservations required. Remember to bring items for the pantry if you are able to do so.

Lane's Farm Fresh Eggs

Pastor Judith’s grandson, Lane (10) runs his own farm fresh eggs business. He is in need of egg cartons. Please bring your egg cartons to the FLC office. Thanks.

Announcements

Thank You
A big thank you to everyone at FLC and all our friends. We collected 50 Christmas cards for Oliver Palmer, a 10 year old that has an inoperable brain tumor. Oliver felt that he didn’t touch peoples lives. After hearing this, his mother asked for Christmas cards to be mailed to him.

“Safeguarding our Children” training session February 11 from 9am-12 at FLC for those working with children and Council Members.

Council Members and Staff Retreat February 18 9am-3p

Christmas Basket Update

The “Christmas Basket” Outreach was a Big Success!
Two Hundred Christmas Baskets (30 more than last year) were prepared to assist 837 people for their holiday celebrations.  What is a "Christmas Basket"?  It includes two sacks and one box of canned goods, apples, pasta, toilet paper, etc., 10 pounds of potatoes, 1 turkey, and a gift box from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of household goods. An experienced group of volunteers made the process lots of fun and very efficient. I would like to give special recognition and thanks to the following:
Matt Weber – ordering the food
Lois Knutzen and Michele Herrick – finance, registration
Steve Givens – Boy Scouts to prepare sacks
Connie Engelbart and Armeda Wascher – break and lunch
JoAnn Leo – apples
Galen Nitz – bags, potatoes, pickups
Arlene Dreher – boxes
Simone, Hope, Alexandra and Susan Weber, Sean Blake – music
Betty Findeis – front door hospitality
Jeff Hagelstein – setup and cleanup
Renewal in Retirement – toilet paper
Jackson Elementary School – Brenda Jeull, Alma Oellana, Janice Burris, and Josefina Arriaga
St. Paul's Lutheran Church – 118 gift boxes
Other contributors that worked very hard setting up boxes & bags, distributing the food, flattening the boxes and many other miscellaneous tasks that deserve a big THANKS are:
Hank Schiffbauer, Judy Geier, Justin Jenkins, Connie Czaplewski, Lawrence Yates, John McCaul, Wayne Moeller, Wanda Moeller , Kathi Ciurj, Fred Claycamp, Carl Olsen, Nadine Weberg, Karen Meredith, Don Meredith, Dennis Selzer, Art Clausen, Marlene Clausen, Rusty Findeis and Carol Colvin. We received Corporate support from the Omaha Food Bank, Two Men & a Truck, Bag & Save, No Frills and Hy-Vee. A big Thank You to Marian Wascher for organizing this program. It was very obvious how God blessed this program, workers and recipients.
(As of this writing there have been no reports of any “Basket Cases"
after this experience).

Worship and Folk Band News

Worship Band in 2012
Worship Band will be meeting as usual one day during the week (Tuesday or Thursday around lunchtime) to rehearse, and Sunday mornings at 10am-10:45am.

Folk Group in  2012
Folk Group will be regrouping for rehearsal times. We will not be meeting for rehearsal in January, but will begin in February on Tuesday evenings (every other week). Most likely 6pm on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. Please join us if you like to make a joyful  noise!

Calendar of Events

January 2012
January 1 Happy New Year Worship 10am
January 2 FLC Office Closed - No pantry
January 6 Confirmation meal 5:30-8pm
January 8 Worship 8:30 and 11am 
Constitution Meeting after 11 am service
January 10 Renewal in Retirement 12 noon
$2 pancake breakfast with Bingo after lunch
January 15 Worship 10am Annual Congregational
Meeting and Lunch
January 22 Worship 8:30 and 11am
January 29 Worship 8:30 and 11 am
January 30 No pantry
January 31 No pantry
 

February 2012
February 1 No pantry
February 2 No pantry
February 3 No Pantry
Confirmation meal 5:30-8pm
February 5 Worship 8:30 and 11am
Souper Bowl Sunday after 11am Worship Service
February 11 Safeguarding Our Children training at FLC 9-12noon
February 12 Worship 8:30 and 11am 
Heaven is for Real book club 12noon
February 14 Happy Valentine's Day 
Renewal in Retirement 12noon - Catered Lunch $6
February 17 Confirmation meal 5:30-8pm
February 22 Ash Wednesday - Lent begins