FIRST FRUITS WE GIVE OUR FIRST FRUITS BECAUSE HE GAVE US HIS ONLY SON

April 2015 Volume 18 No. 4

First Fruits – April

First Things First

The Journey Continues…

It’s hard to believe that 40 Days have passed. We’ve been through a lot as we walked with Jesus from the Jordan River across the Judean wilderness into the Galilean region in and out of temples and around the scenic countryside as firsthand witnesses to his miracles and healings. In only 40 Days we fast-forwarded through three eventful years of his ministry on this earth! And I am thankful to all of you who joined me on this journey!!

Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent, marked the beginning of our journey and of our time of preparation for the holiest day of Christendom--Easter. We set off on the journey to the cross marked with the sign of a cross made from ashes from last year’s palms on our foreheads. Ashes which serve as both a reminder of our mortality and of our penitence, each of which we ought to reflect upon during Lent.

On Maundy Thursday as we gather together in a solemn communion service we remember the last night of Jesus’ life on this earth. “You will drink the cup I drink,” Jesus promised.” Later, the disciples broke bread and drank from the cup. “This is the NEW covenant in MY blood shed for all so that sins may be forgiven.” Did they know what they were doing?? Did they understand what they had gotten themselves into by doing this with Jesus? No more power. No more glory. Followers. Servants. They were now associated with the Crucified. I too sit among those foolish disciples. Did I fathom the significance of the decision I made when I first took the cup? What have I gotten myself into? Of great importance is that Jesus did know what he was getting himself into. This reminds me, too of my new covenant every time we celebrate Holy Communion together. No more power. No more prestige. But, yes, I will drink that cup of suffering. How about you? Were you there?

Ponder this on Good Friday as we listen to the enduring hymn, Were You There? It, I think, encourages us all to see the reality that, in some way, we were all there as it was all of our sins that brought Christ to the cross. And as we enter with Jesus through the Lion’s Gate at the start of the Via Dolorosa (The “Way of Grief” in Latin) on Palm/Passion Sunday make it personal and ask yourself the question, "Were you there?" And…will you be here…to carry on the God-ordained ministry through First Lutheran Church to which you were called and which Jesus began?? Yours, In the Cross of Christ,

Pastor Donna+

First School

And Day Care ews

Last week we had so much adventurous fun for Spring Break with our after school children! They had fun learning how to bowl and improving their skills at the bowling alley. Also, we had a great time on a sunny day having a pizza picnic at Friendship Park! We also got to see the new Disney Cinderella movie which was a blast with our special guest Pastor Donna! The week was full of special activities, games, and adventure!! We cannot wait until summer to continue the fun!

They also got to have Chapel Time with Pastor Donna. She shared the book God Gave Us Easter. “God loved us so much he wanted us to always be with him too. That’s why God knew he’s need to give us Easter.”

We also talked about how God had a bigger plan for us, kind of like how a river becomes bigger as it turns into a big ocean and that heaven is like an ocean for us. Because God gave us Easter, we can be part of Something Bigger – and even though we talk to Jesus now through prayer and know that he always listens, in heaven we get to see Jesus face-to-face one day!

Enrollment is picking up fast and recently we enrolled quite a few children to our classrooms. We have a current enrollment of 62 total and our factored full time enrollment is 37. Our goal is 50 factored full time enrollment and we are well on our way! Thank you Jesus!! You’re amazing and you are always near even during the chaos of trying to make First School a success. First School is asking you for your continued prayers during this VERY busy time!

Have a Blessed Day!

Bree Joines

First School Director

First School Board Meeting – April 7th – 6:00 p.m.

04/05 Psalm 118:1-2,14-24; Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Mark 16:1-8

04/12 Psalm 133; Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1-2:2, John 20:19-31

04/19 Psalm 4; Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48

04/26 Psalm 23; Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18

Meridian - Henrietta Bram & Lorene Bard

WE’RE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US

OR

Office hours: Tues & Thurs: 8:00am - 4:30pm Wed: 8:00am – 12:00pm

Phone: 979-543-5847 Email: office@firstlutheranec.com

04/02 Eric Nelson

04/09 Elsie Overstreet

04/12 Ivan Rodriguez

04/14 Sheila Herrington

04/20 Calvin Borak

04/02 Helen Johnson

04/10 Doug Mathews

04/11 John Nelson

04/11 Forrest Newton

04/20 Cindy Mathews

04/21 Eric Nelson

04/22 James Stewart

04/28 Haley Stewart

04/19 Calvin & Nora Borak

Crisis Center Abused Children

Candlelight Service

Wednesday, April 8, 2015 6:00 p.m.

First Lutheran Church

COUNCIL MEETING Thursday, April 9

th

7:00 p.m.

Our FLC Family First School – Teachers, EC Police Department

Dorothy Atchetee Families and Children Darwin Grewe

Evon Atchetee Shanelle Henson

Charles & Vernell Bard Friends of FLC Joshua Martinez

Judy Bezdek Eddie Graeter Daniel Cohen

Nora Borak George Jalowy Patrick Hanna

Parke Christenberry Lloyd Nelson Pat Whipmire

Elenora Hadash Gloria Schoenfield David Jewell

Marie Hall Andy Talbert Nelson Whipmire

Thomas Hernandez ARC of Texas Kenneth Chord

James & Sheila Herrington Vanessa U.S. Armed Forces

Nora Hollingsworth EC Volunteer Firefighters Lisa Hancock

Robert Hollingsworth EC Paramedics Denise Urbanovsky

Jimmie Joines Dave Schoelman Ryan Wolf

Bonnie Jones Lawrence & Marcy Berglund Carl Schoeneberg

Harry & Marilyn Kight Jett Garrett Melanie Garrett

Justin Lormand Valerie Gann Ethan Boriak

Forrest & Norma Newton Grace Lowery Peggy Lundquist

Odis & Lorraine Newton Rose Merta Lu Herrington

Sharon Nielsen Judy Brown Family of Sybil Speckles

Elsie Overstreet Norma Englund Joslin Delinda Hyer

Ted Schoenfield Vernon Winfield Hilda Mae Davis

Diane Stewart Arnold Johnson Family of Dollie Johnson

Esther Swanson Avery Roan

All caregivers of FLC Bernadette Terrell

Hilda Mae Davis

All caregivers of FLC Willie Gonzalez

Jeffery Garcia

Charles Anderson Kerr

Pray for our loved ones

In the Military

Jake Barosh Sarah Langston Michael Monreal

Pastor Donna Zipp:

Email: pastorfirstlutheran@yahoo.com Phone: 979-332-2938

WOMEN OF THE WORD

MEETING

Monday, April 13th

6:00 p.m.

WOW Food Drive

Sunday, April 5th

LCMC National Gathering

October 4-7, 2015

Frisco, Texas (Dallas)

An organizational meeting for the next national gathering will be held on Wednesday, April 29

th at

11:00 a.m. in Frisco. For more information please contact Pastor Donna.

Prayer Meetings

April 7th & 21st

5:30 PM

Everyone is invited!

Team Progress Meeting - 6:30 PM, Thursday, April 16, at the El

Campo Country Club. Join us for a burger and finalization of the Youth

Night Summer Program agenda, responsibilities and other youth activities

for the summer. If you will help in any one or several capacities

(enrollment, getting flyers out, food at Thursday evening events, teaching

or assisting with classes, transportation, outings, garden preparation and

care, etc), please contact Christine, Pastor Donna or Charlotte (601) 695-

1733/cell phone, before April 16th so we are able to verify which areas are

covered. The youth of Wharton County greatly influence the future lives

we will have living locally. Let's help these young people get off to a good

start!

The Yard Sale April 18th is coming right up! These funds will

help defray Youth Night and Summer Camp costs so please let us know if

you have furniture, baby strollers, toys, toddler items, clothing, dishes,

lamps or other "next to new" attractions for our fundraising event. We will

help with pick up of items, as needed. Also, assistance with putting

flyers/signs out before April 18th and man hours on the day of the sale will

be very helpful. Mark the calendar, and let us know early if/how you can

assist. Your help is appreciated.

Holy Week Schedule

Palm/Passion Sunday Sunday School 9:30 Worship Service 10:45

Maundy Thursday Service 7:00 p.m.

This service which affects all the senses is a traditional service of

remembrance of the last night of Jesus’ life on earth. There will be

a footwashing service, Holy Communion, and a Laying on of

Hands. We will conclude the service with the stripping of the altar

and exit in silence.

Good Friday Tenebrae Service 7:00 p.m.

The word “tenebrae” comes from the Latin meaning “darkness.”

The Tenebrae is an ancient Christian Good Friday service that

makes use of gradually diminishing light through the extinguishing

of candles to symbolize the events of that week from the

triumphant Palm Sunday entry through Jesus’ burial.

This increasing darkness symbolizes the approaching darkness of

Jesus’ death and of hopelessness in the world without God. The

service concludes in darkness symbolizing the death of Jesus. A

loud noise symbolizes the closing of Jesus’ tomb. The worshipers

then leave in silence to ponder the impact of Jesus’ death and await

the coming Resurrection.

Easter Sunday Easter Breakfast – 9:00 a.m. Choir Rehearsal – 10:00 a.m.

Festival Worship Service – 10:45 a.m.

Healing Oils of the Bible "Oils for healing, cleansing & holy anointing are

mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible. Modern

science finds some of them to be as effective as

antibiotics and to promote overall health, vitality &

longevity.

Come learn, enjoy, share and experience these holy

healing oils. Come and be anointed. ". Bring your Bible

and wear shoes you can easily remove to apply the oils to

your feet.

April15th at 6:30 p.m. $5.00 participation fee

To be sure we have supplies please RSVP to Pastor

Donna or the church office by Sunday, April 12th.

5th Annual Texas District WOW Retreat

Saturday, April 11, 2015 “Our Body, His Temple”

Holy Cross Lutheran Church Yoakum, Texas

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2015 LCMC Texas District

Annual Convention

Theme: “Down in the Heart”

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Victoria, Texas

Friday evening: July 31st & Saturday: August 1

st

Change in Friendship Sunday Lunch Calendar With all the wonderful family, friend and church celebrations this Easter, we have decided to hold off on the April 12

th Friendship Luncheon. Instead, we look

forward to an extraordinary May Friendship Luncheon to celebrate Mother's Day on May 10th. Please mark your calendar for this date and share our plans with family and friends.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 Maundy Thursday

7PM

3 Good Friday

7PM

4

5 Easter Breakfast

9:00 AM Choir Rehearsal

10:00AM Worship Service w/Communion

10:45 AM WOW Food Drive

6

7 Prayer

Meeting 5:30PM

First School Board Meeting

6PM

8

Crisis Center

Abused Children

Candlelight

Service

6PM

9 Church Council

Meeting 7:00PM

10

11 WOW Retreat @ Holy Cross

Lutheran Yoakum

12 Sunday School

9:30 AM Worship Service

10:45 AM NO Friendship Lunch

13 WOW Meeting

6PM

14

15

Healing Oils

of the Bible

Presentation

6:30PM

16 Team Progress

Meeting 6:30PM

@ El Campo Country Club

17

18 Spring Cleaning

Sale 9-3

19 Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship Service w/Communion 10:45 AM

20

21 Prayer

Meeting 5:30PM

Newsletter Items Due

22

23

24

25

26 Sunday School

9:30 AM Worship Service

10:45 AM

27

28

29 Annual

Gathering Planning Frisco, TX

30

****

GREETERS: 12th - Jaki Smith,

Charlotte (Englund) Watson &

Lori Fiedler

April Responsibilities

ASSISTING MINISTER: Calvin Borak

SEXTON: Forrest Newton

USHERS: David Kight, Evon Atchetee

ALTAR GUILD: Nerissa House, Jewel-Deen House

ACOLYTES READER

5th

Angelina Tijerina, Sarah Thane Cathy Schoenfield 12

th Ryan Woodson, Ashlyn Hanna Diane Stewart

19th

Gabriella Tijerina, Sarah Thane Helen Johnson 26

th Nick Woodson, Angelina Tigerina Kirk Marek

If you are unable to serve on your date, please find someone to take your place.

APRIL FLOWER

CALENDAR

April 2015

5th

Easter lilies

12th

Open

19th

James & Sheila Herrington

26th

Open

First Lutheran Church

304 Oscar

El Campo, TX 77437

979-543-5847

Email: office@firstlutheranec.com

ESTABLISHED FEB 1893

Worshipping Christ and Sharing the Word for over a century.

Donna Zipp, Pastor Helen Marie Kight, Organist

Christine Richter, Office Manager Lionel Chatel, Technology Specialist Bree Joines, Director of First School

1. 1.

Join us on FACEBOOK or check us out at

www.FIRSTLUTHERANEC.COM

CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS: Calvin Borak, Billie Jean Bram, Nerissa House, Doug Mathews,

Don Al Middlebrook, Sheila Miller & Ted Schoenfield.

Our Newsletter

can be found on

our website at www.firstlutheranec.com

Join us on Sunday!

Sunday School – 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service – 10:45 a.m.

1.