first lutheran church march 2015 * volume 35: issue...
TRANSCRIPT
First Impressions
“That which we have seen and heardconcerning the Word of Life, we
proclaim to you.”
First Lutheran Church March 2015 * Volume 35: Issue 3
Rev. Timothy W. OlsonCell 517-231-2396
Daniel LongdenDirector of Youth & Family Ministry
Phone 517-543-4360 ext. [email protected]
First Lutheran Church550 E. Shepherd St.,Charlotte, MI 48813Phone 517-543-4360
Email: [email protected]: firstlutherancharlotte.org
Worship TimesSundays 8:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Contemporary Worship 2 & 4 Sundays - nd th
11:15 a.m. with live praise bandCommunion 1 , 3 , & 5 Sundaysst rd th
Mid-week WorshipWednesdays 7:00 p.m. during Advent & Lent
The Lutheran Church Missouri SynodLutherans are part of the Christian Churchestablished by Jesus Christ. We trace our
history back to the time of the Apostles and theNew Testament Church. While we take our namefrom Martin Luther, the 16 century reformer ofth
the Church, our faith is in the Triune God(Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and centers inJesus Christ as the only Savior of the world.
Marian Granger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 1Gary Hamilton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 3Dave Huva III. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 4Graycee Kalush. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 4Grace Miller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 4Brayden Morgan.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 5Dick Brummette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 6Tom Cardenas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 7Zachary Creger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 7John Symmes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 7Julie Haskell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 7Madison Carter.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 7Charlene Sutherland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 10Deegan Minaya. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 11Marcelina Hatter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 13Dylan Malcuit.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 13Bennett Braeutigan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 14Ayla Lietzke.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 14Cleo Cortright. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 15Carol Creger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 15Leslie Dybas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 15Donita Firman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 15Bob Hildebrand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 16Tessa Stoltzfus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 19Norma Kremke-Snepp.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 20Mackenzie Murray.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 20Max Wehr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 21James Ensign. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 22Ricky Hetu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 22Karista Collins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 22Ashleigh Reinbold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 24Jon Arends. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 27Jennifer Packowski. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 28Dana Tousley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 29Alexandra Withey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 29Mackenzie Hamilton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 29Jim Thomas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 29Aaron Wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 30Kelli Arends. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 30Brittany Walters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 31
If you have a birthday or anniversary in December and you do not see your name listed here - please let thechurch office know so we can update our records.
Church office: 517-543-4360 ext. 221
FLC Statistics for March 2015Confirmed Membership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403Baptized Membership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 570Child Baptisms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)Adult Baptisms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)New Confirmed Members. . . . . . . . (1) Brian Moody New Baptized Members.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)Transfers Out (Confirmed).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)Transfers Out (Baptized). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)Releases (Confirmed).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)Releases (Baptized). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)Deaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)Weddings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
*Please make a note of the following address/phonechanges in your membership directory:
Wedding Anniversaries for March
Ken & Diane Stults. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Please note: if you move, change your phonenumber, or have changes to your family status
such as a birth, divorce, marriage, etc. please letthe church office know so that we can keep our
records up-to-date. Thank you.
First Lutheran Schedule and Events forMARCH 2015
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES, CLASSES, AND REHEARSALSSunday Worship at 8:30 & 11:15 a.m. (Communion on the 1 , 3 , and 5 Sundays)st rd th
Contemporary Worship Featuring Live Praise Band - 2 & 4 Sundaysnd th
Coffee Hour - Sundays at 9:45 a.m.Adult Bible Studies - Sundays at 9:45 a.m.Sunday School - Sundays at 9:45 a.m. Children’s Choir Rehearsals - Sundays at 10:35 a.m. Youth Choir Rehearsals - Sundays at 10:35 a.m. Eaton County Medical Care Facility - 4 Sunday only at 1:30 p.m.th
WEEKDAY BIBLE STUDIES, CLASSES, AND REHEARSALSMen’s Bible Study at the Eaton Place Restaurant - Mondays at 7:00 a.m.Bell Choir Rehearsal - (suspended until a director can be found)Youth Confirmation Class - (concluded for this school year)Adult Confirmation Class - *See Pastor OlsonThe Family Project Small Group Study - Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m. @ FLC (beginning March 10)Adult Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. during Lent)Wednesday Bible Study at FLC - Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. (Recessed until April 8, 2015)Women’s Bible Study at FLC - Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.
OTHER EVENTS/SPECIAL WORSHIP SERVICES FOR MARCHMid-week Lenten Dinners - Wednesday, March 4 - 25, 5:30 p.m. Mid-week Lenten Worship Services - Wednesday, March 4 - 25, 7:00 p.m.Elisabeth Guild Meeting - Thursday, March 5, 1:30 p.m.Movie “Irreplaceable” - Friday, March 6, 6:00 p.m. @ FLC*Spring Forward! (Set your clocks one hour ahead before going to bed on Saturday, March 7)FLC Council Meeting - Thursday, March 12, 7:00 p.m.Worship Service at Sensations Memory Care, Charlotte - Thursday, March 19, 11:00 a.m.Youth Group Midnight Madness - Friday, March 20, 7:00 p.m.Worship Service at Eaton County Medical Care Facility, Charlotte - Sunday, March 22, 1:30 p.m.FLC Board of Elders Meeting - Tuesday, March 24, 6:30 p.m.Palm Sunday - Sunday, March 29, 8:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Directory of Staff and GroupsChurch StaffPastor: Rev. Timothy Olson Preschool/Daycare Director: Cindy VanNesteFamily & Youth Director: Daniel Longden Preschool/Daycare Administrative Assistant: Carol VasquezOffice Manager: Amy Garnsay Adult, Youth, & Children’s Choirs Director: Patricia GreeneCustodian: Scott Marshall Bell Choir Director: VacantOrganists: Patricia Greene & Christine Olson
Committee and Group ChairpersonsCongregational President: Brad Gingrich Congregation Vice-President: David CarterCouncil Secretary: Donita Firman Church Treasurer: Erica MorrisFinancial Secretary: Tina Lietzke Elder Chairman: Bob SchlueterEducation Chairperson: Deb Reinbold Trustee: Cleo CortrightOutreach Chairperson: Stacey Gingrich Stewardship Chairperson: Shawn McKellarAltar Guild Chairperson: Wendy Jorgensen Fellowship Chair: Marj HuvaChristian Care Chair: Jill Withey
Altar Guild: A group of women from First Lutheran who take turns preparing the altar area for worship. All women are invitedto join. For more information please contact the Altar Guild Chairperson.
Council: The church council is a group of communicant members that are elected by the voters assembly to act on behalf of thecongregation in the management of the church. The council is directly responsible to the congregation. For more informationplease contact the Congregational President.
Elders: A group of men who are appointed by the council to oversee the spiritual welfare of the pastor and the congregation,individually and collectively. The chairman of the Elders is not appointed but elected by the voters assembly. For moreinformation please contact the Elder Chairman.
Elisabeth Guild: A ladies group that meets on the first Thursday of the month (see schedule) giving all women in thecongregation opportunities for Christian fellowship as well as Christian service through mission projects and preparing meals.For more information contact Elisabeth Guild President, Marj Huva.
FLC Quilting Group: A group of members that makes quilts for Lutheran World Relief (LWR). All are welcome to join thisgroup - no sewing skills are necessary. Donations of thread, material, clean good-condition sheets and blankets are alwaysappreciated. See calendar for meeting dates. For more information contact Karen Bursley.
Greeters: A group of members who volunteer to greet both members and visitors at the doors before worship services. Men,women, couples, and families are encouraged to volunteer to be greeters. For more information please contact the church office.
Prayer Chain Ministry: A group of members who individually pray on behalf of those who are troubled, ill, or in need. Prayernotices are sent via email to prayer members. If you would like to join the prayer ministry, please contact the church office.
Ushers: A group that helps prepare the church for worship, greets people, hands out bulletins, and assists in seating whennecessary. Men, women, and couples are encouraged to serve as ushers. For more information contact Cleo Cortright.
Voter’s Assembly: The voter’s assembly is made up of all FLC communicant members over the age of 18 that are gatheredtogether for a voter’s meeting to make decisions concerning the matters of the workings of the congregation. Please see yourcalendar for voter’s meeting dates.
“Christians are Under Attack around the World: What can we do?”
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devilprowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,
because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. Andthe God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will
Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
(1 Peter 5:7-11)
These twenty-one Coptic Christians were brutally murdered by ISIS on February 14, but what did the world do? Whatcan we do? How do we respond to such a genocide against fellow brothers in the faith? Today, we learned that theyhave captured five-hundred more Christians. It is estimated that three-hundred Christians are killed around the worldeach month simply because they bear the name of Jesus.
St. Paul says, “If one member suffers, all suffer together...” (1 Corinthians 12:26a). How have you and I suffered withthese brothers in the faith? Out of sight, out of mind, but not out of God’s sight or mind. We are called as fellowbelievers to stand with them. How can we do this?
! Pray for them and their families (1 Thessalonians 5:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; James 5:13, 5:16; 1 Peter 4:7).! Study God’s Word to be strengthened and to know that this same suffering could be / will be upon us some
day in the future (Ephesians 6:10-20; Hebrews 4:12).! Send money to aid these Christians who are being persecuted.! Write your congress to get our nation to stand with these persecuted and suffering Christians.
This is a lesson for all of us about what it means to be a Christian. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mindit hated Me first. If you belonged in the world, it would love you as its own...If they persecuted Me, they willpersecute you also...All of this I have told you so that you will not go astray...They will put you out of thesynagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God” (John15:18, 20b; 16:1-2)
(Continued on next page...)
(“Christians are Under Attack...” continues here...)
As God’s people in Jesus Christ, we are different. We pray for our enemies and ask that God would bring them tosaving faith in Jesus. We love our enemies as our neighbors and want then to know the love of Jesus. Look at the wordsof our Savior and how different we are from all other religions.
! Jesus said: “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude and insult you and reject yourname as evil, because of the Son of Man.” (Luke 6:22)
! Jesus: “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless thosewho curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)
! Jesus said: “Everyone who does evil hate the light...” (John 3:20a)
This point to the truth of the Gospel. It point to the real enemy as the devil. This is why St. Paul says, “For ourstruggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of thisdark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:10)
Unfortunately, ISIS and all false religions follow Satan and his evil minions. All are following the darkness of sin,death, and the devil. They do unspeakable things in his name, but God is still in control. Jesus said that not even thegates of hell could overcome Him (Matthew 16:18). God’s Word is sharper than a two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). It changes lives and gives forgiveness andsalvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone. “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God forthe salvation of everyone who believes...” (Romans 1:16a). The Psalmist says again and again, “The Lord is mylight and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”(Psalm 27:1). Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraidof the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell...Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will alsoacknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him beforemy Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:28, 32-33).
It is the simple truth that God is in control! We do suffer with all who suffer for the sake of the Gospel of Christ. Wedo not fear as men who have no hope or aim, but we stand firm in the Gospel of Christ knowing how the end turns outand knowing that we will be with the Lord forever in heaven one day (Philippians 3:12-21). While we are on this earth,we are doing battle against the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh, and we have been given the armor of God as St.Paul lays that out for us in Ephesians 6:10-20 so that we can win the battle through Christ. We do not remain silent,but speak of the truth that we know from God’s Word so that many more will be added to God’s kingdom and be withus in heaven one day.
It is my hope and firm belief that we can do something now for those who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ.I recommend these two webpages to you as you pray and seek to support the suffering and persecuted Christians aroundthe world: http://www.vom.com.au/ and http://blogs.lcms.org/2014/statement-on-christian-persecution-in-iraq The firstweb page is Voice of the Martyrs and has much to say about persecuted Christians and gives opportunities to supportthose persecuted around the world. The second web page is from our own synod about how we are wroking to supportthe persecuted Christians around the world with our dollars and prayers.
In His Service,Pastor Tim
Praise Worthy Enough?By FLC Directory of Youth and Family Ministry, Daniel Longden
I have a question I have been mulling over lately, a test, if you will. The test? “Is catastrophe praiseworthy?” My hypothesis?“Praiseworthiness can only be validated through the good that comes through God.”
One can not simply make a hypothesis without verifying it through empirical data. Let me share a most recent experience to helpyou track with my theory. A couple of weeks ago I learned a new term, “The Widow Maker“, which refers to the main arteryin the heart. My wife shared this terminology with me as she overheard multiple doctors discussing an astounding result – Kim’sFather, sitting in his hospital bed, alive and well! Let’s go back a bit to Thursday night, the time of her father’s heart attack.A massive blood clot entered his left coronary artery with a swift and fierce burning sensation. To be clear, this is deadly, butnot the same as cardiac arrest. However, if not properly treated within less than 20 minutes, the Widow Maker has a highlyeffective kill rate as a result of cardiac arrest. Empirical data: Kim’s Father had 100% blockage for more than 20 minutes; Kim’sMother was present (phone in hand) at the onset; The Paramedics Post was literally a block away; The hospital – less than 2 milesaway; The doctors identified the clot location, removed it and added a stint opening a path of blood flow, saving Kim’s Father’slife.
Let me add some more experiential data to a potentially theoretical praise. Earlier in the morning, prior to Kim’s Father’s heartattack, I was discussing with my two oldest children how God intervenes to protect us. My attempt was to communicate withMicah and Grace how the LORD intervenes in our lives to protect us, not knowing that He was going to do just that for theirGrandpa hours later. A common discussion Kim and I have with our children in situations like these is a matter of choice. Wecan believe in great coincidences, or we can believe in a Great Physician who orders our circumstances for His great glory. Thelatter is something we could go on and on about in how God was glorified through this life threatening event.
So I will leave you with one simple verse of Scripture to bring my hypothesis home. “We will not hide these truths from ourchildren; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about His power and mighty wonders.”Psalm78:4 NLT
I’d say that the empirical data speaks for itself in how praiseworthy our LORD truly is. God is more than worthy of our praise,accolades and mad props – no matter what the circumstances are.
It's time to start thinking about Swap Day 2015! That's right...we're having "Swap Day" again! This year we're having it a little earlier - April 17 & 18. We will be teaming it upwith the High School Youth Group 30 Hour Famine. Stay tuned for more details on what the combination of these two eventswill look like, but in the meantime it's time to start spring cleaning!
You can start bringing Swap Day items in to the old preschool room in the church anytime during church office hours (pleasecall ahead to be sure someone will be there to help you if you do not have a key). Items will be accepted up to Friday, April 17.
Wondering what "Swap Day" is? Here is an explanation that may help: As you're gearing up for spring cleaning, please take amoment to consider a different option for all of the stuff you don't use anymore. Instead of just getting rid of all of that extra stuffthat's still in good condition bring it to the church with the possibility that it might fulfill the need of a brother or sister in Christ.Maybe that extra couch you've been tripping over downstairs could be perfect for someone else's living room because their couchis falling apart, or all those perfectly fine clothes you no longer wear could be perfect for someone just starting a new job. Whoknows what needs could be fulfilled within our midst just by sharing our abundance?
On Friday, April 17 , First Lutheran Church will hold a "Swap Day" for church members where we will be able to come together,th
thanking God for His abundance, and browse the things that fellow members have donated - taking things that fulfill a need inour lives or the lives of those around us. This can be a way that we can bless those we sit with in church every Sunday and thosewe come in contact with during the week. It can also be a way for God to provide us with some of the material things we've beenneeding in our own households, thus freeing up the money we would have spent on those things to be able to serve Him in otherways.
On Saturday, April 18 , First Lutheran will hold “Swap Day” for both members of First Lutheran and for the community inth
general - allowing us also to bless our local community with the abundance God has provided for us. (Acts 4:32-37 All thebelievers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everythingthey had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so
powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.) Questions? Please speak with Kim Longden.
Stewardship Newsletter ArticleMarch 2015
Why does giving seem so difficult? In reality, it isn’t. But we make it difficult. We make it difficult because we’reafraid. We’re afraid that it isn’t worth the investment. We’re afraid that what we give to the church might be wasted,or that we could use it for something better, something more enjoyable, something more real, more tangible, moreimmediate, even more important, something more important than God and His gifts.
The point is this: We struggle with giving because we don’t believe as we should. We should fear, love, and trust inGod above all things. And so we fail to give because we don’t love God with our whole heart, soul, and mind. We failto give because we don’t fear Him more than we fear other things. We fail to give because we don’t trust Him morethan we trust the things we can more immediately see, taste, and touch. We don’t trust that He will give us everything(EVERYTHING!) we need to support this body and life. For if we did fear, love, and trust in God above all things, wewould see and know that all the other things that vie for our time, our talents, and our treasures pale in comparison tothe joy of the real, tangible, immediate love God has showered upon us in the proclamation of the forgiveness of sinson account of His Son’s death, resurrection, and ascension.
The only proper response to this is repentance: to confess our sin, our stinginess, our lack of fear, love, and faith inGod’s promises, and to trust in Him to help us bring our desire to do better to fruition. For God is not holding out onus. He never has. He never will. For if He has given you His only Son, how will He not also give you all things? Hewill. It is His promise. And these promises are sure and certain.
The reality is that God doesn’t need our giving. He doesn’t need our time, our talents, our treasures. He is God. Weare not. He can do all things without our help. And even what we do give, even the good and righteous things we doaccomplish, these are but filthy rags, as the prophet Isaiah tells us (Isaiah 64:6). Our gifts to God and to the Church arelike a child’s gift of dandelions to his mother. They are weeds, which most of us spend an entire summer trying to ridour yards of them. And yet despite the fact that they are weeds, mothers always receive them with a smile and with joy.They will even put them in vases and display them on tables and countertops. They will recount to friends and otherfamily members how their child gave them “flowers,” just to say I love you and I’m thankful for all you do.
Our Lord, too, receives with joy and a smile the gifts we give in thanksgiving and praise of what He has done. Eventhough these gifts are but weeds, filthy rags, and despite the fact that He doesn’t need them to accomplish what Hewills, He receives them and puts it to use for our and our neighbors good. That is the real joy of giving. He doesn’t needus. Yet He makes use of us, He employs us in His service despite it. He makes all that we do—our giving, our work,our service to our family and friends and neighbors—holy. And He blesses it for their and our good and to the gloryof His name.
So is giving so hard? Nah, it’s like giving dandelions to our mothers. And when dinner is ready, when the food is onthe table, she’ll gladly have a vase full of them right in the middle. The Lord has prepared a table for you. Dinner isready. The table is set. His Body and Blood is given to strengthen and nourish you. And right there, where Christ iswith us, are the dandelions we gave. He has put them to use for our good, for our forgiveness, for our life in Him.© Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Used by permission.
Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday, March 8.Don’t forget to set your clocks one hour ahead before going to bed on
Saturday, March 7 or you will be late for church.
Lent and Holy Week Schedule...
Mid-Week Lenten Worship ServicesWednesday, March 4 - 25, 2015 - 7:00 p.m. First Lutheran Church
Mid-Week Lenten DinnersWednesday, March 4 - 25, 2015 - 5:30 p.m. First Lutheran Church
Palm SundaySunday, March 29, 2015 - 8:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Maundy Thursday Worship ServiceThursday, April 2, 2015 - 7:00 p.m. First Lutheran Church
Good Friday Worship ServicesFriday, April 3, 2-15 - 1:00 & 7:00 p.m. First Lutheran Church
Resurrection Sunday WorshipSunday, April 5, 2015 - 7:00 & 10:00 a.m. First Lutheran ChurchEaster BreakfastSunday, April 5, 2015 - 8:30 a.m. First Lutheran ChurchChildren’s Holy Treasure HuntSunday, April 5, 2015 - 9:20 a.m. First Lutheran Church
*First Lutheran Church Offices will be closed on Good Friday.
Everyone is Invited to a One-Night Theatrical Event...March 6, 2015, 6:00 p.m. - First Lutheran Church
“Irreplaceable” a Focus on the Family movieThere is no charge for this event. You may bring friends and family.
Questions? Please see Daniel Longden.
Small-Group Experience - “The Family Project”begins Tuesday, March 10, 6-7 p.m. at First Lutheran
This 12-part, DVD based small-group curriculum explores positive, hope-filled stories showcasing the beauty of God’s design in our everyday lives.Dive deep into the theology of the family and receive practical resources
to help your family thrive!Please register at http://firstlutherancharlotte.org/the-family-project/
A Big Thank You to the Following...~ Thank you to everyone who donated funds to the Kids Against Hunger Project and also to
everyone who came and helped fill bags with food for the needy!~ Thank you to everyone who donated coats and boots to Project Resource Connect. We gave
out almost all the boots and shoes and many coats to the needy in our community.~ Thank you to everyone who donated money towards the Military Bible Sticks - you have
helped members of the armed forces to be able to listen to God’s Word wherever they maybe in the world.
Bible Study Groups at First Lutheran...First Lutheran offers a variety of adult Bible study groups including:
_ Sunday Morning Adult Bible Studies 9:45 a.m._ Men’s Monday Morning Bible Study - 7 a.m. Mondays at the Eaton Place
Restaurant, Charlotte_ The Family Project Small Group Study - Tuesdays, 6 p.m. at First Lutheran
beginning March 10._ Wednesday Evening Bible Study led by Pastor Olson - *recessed until April 8._ Women’s Bible Study - 9:30 a.m. Thursdays at First Lutheran Church
*Note: if you have an idea for a Bible study group or if you would like to lead a Bible study, please see Pastor Olsonor Director of Youth and Family Ministry, Daniel Longden.
Just a Friendly Reminder...The deadline for newsletter articles and information is the 15 day of the month prior toth
the month in which your article is to appear.The deadline for Sunday bulletin and Sunday announcements information is Thursday
mornings at 8:30 a.m. unless otherwise advertised.Thank you for your help È
Elisabeth Guild News...All ladies of First Lutheran are welcome to attend the Elisabeth Guild meetings. Our nextmeeting will be held on Thursday, March 5, 1:30 p.m. at the church. Devotions will be led bySally Bower. Sally will also be giving us a presentation about Helen Keller and her inspirationallife.
Our April meeting will be held at the church on Thursday, April 2, 1:30 p.m. Our hostess will be Shirley Lea. Ourspeaker will Charlotte Mayor, Carrie Burch.
Volunteers are Needed to Make Easter Baskets for Shut-ins...First Lutheran is in need of volunteers to dye Easter eggs and put together Easter baskets for ourshut-ins, as well as residents of a couple of local nursing and adult foster care homes, on Saturday,April 4, 9:00 a.m. Please watch your Sunday bulletin for more information.
Donations of individually wrapped candy (including sugar-free candy) are needed for thebaskets. A donation box for candy is located in the old kitchen. We will also need donations ofeggs and fresh fruit the week before Easter. Thank you.
Use of Church Building or Tables and Chairs...Use of building - First Lutheran may be used by members for private events such as baby or weddingshowers, anniversary parties, birthday parties, etc. The cost for members is a $150 deposit. Use is limitedto the kitchen, fellowship hall, and old preschool room. Please sign-up through the church office bycontacting the office manager (517) 543-4360.
Use of tables and chairs - tables and chairs located in the church garage are available for use by membersof First Lutheran and must be reserved through the church office. Tables and chairs from inside the churchbuilding are NOT for use off-site, only tables and chairs from the garage are available for use off-site.
Please do not take tables or chairs without reserving them through the church office as someone may have alreadysigned up to use them and is counting on them to be there, and also so we know who has them if they are not returned.Please return tables and chairs promptly after your event. Thank you.
Please Note: our church custodian will no longer be working on weekends. Anyone using the building, especiallyanytime after Friday morning, will be responsible for cleaning up after themselves. This includes both private eventsand church group events. A list of cleaning responsibilities is located in the church kitchen and in the fellowship hallfor your convenience. Thank you for your help.
Youth Group Midnight Madness!Friday, March 20, 7:00 p.m. until Midnight
Adult volunteers to help out are needed (especially female chaperones).If you can help, or for questions, please speak with Director of Youth
and Family Ministry, Daniel Longden (517) 543-4360 ext. 229.Thank you!
A Special Thank You to Dave and Karen Bursleyfor all their work on the new Lenten Banners for the sanctuary!
They are BEAUTIFUL!Thank you!
FLC Quilting Group...The First Lutheran Quilt Group will be meeting on the Wednesday, March 11 & 25, 9:00 a.m. andalso on Wednesday, April 8 & 22, 9:00 a.m. Anyone who would like to help make quilts iswelcome to come join the group - no sewing skills necessary and men can help too.
Donations of new or clean, good-condition used material, blankets, and flat sheets are alwaysneeded. You may drop donations off to the old preschool room in the church. Thank you toeveryone who has donated items in the past! If you have any questions, please see Karen Bursley.
Coffee Hour...Everyone is welcome to attend the First Lutheran Coffee Hour every Sunday at 9:45 a.m. Thisis a time to enjoy coffee, juice, etc. and some goodies while visiting with other members ofyour church family. Volunteers are needed every Sunday to provide and serve refreshments.These refreshments can be store-bought or homemade and may include items such asdoughnuts, coffee cake, cookies, fruit, bagels and cream cheese, veggie pizza, etc. Volunteersproviding goodies will also be in charge of making coffee on their day and setting up the cups,plates, etc. The coffee, juice, plates, napkins, etc. are provided by the church. Thank you.
Altar FlowersPlease consider signing up for flowers to decorate the Sunday altar. A sign-up sheet is locatedon the bulletin board. Cost per bouquet is $12. Please make checks payable to FLC ElisabethGuild and place in Shirley Lea’s mailbox. Please state the reason for your flowers, such asanniversary, birthday, in memory of a loved one, etc. If you do not state a reason for yourflowers, we will assume you are grateful and publish that in the bulletin. (
Cancellation of Church or Church Activities...If Charlotte Public Schools are closed due to bad weather, all children’s and youth church group events for that daywill be cancelled also. All other groups will need to contact the person in charge of their event in case of bad weatherto find out if your event, class, rehearsal, etc. is cancelled. Church services may possibly be cancelled in the event ofextremely bad weather. If church services should be cancelled we will send out an email to everyone on our email listto let you know. We will also try to change the phone message at the church (which will almost certainly need to bedone remotely by one of the office staff from their home via a process similar to programming the space shuttlecomputers which may, or may not be successful due to the complicated nature of the process and the whimsical attitudeof our phone system). If the weather is bad and there is continuously no answer at the church including no answer byvoice mail, then the power is out at the church.
You Can Help the Needy in Our Community!There are a variety of ways you can help the needy in our community and in our congregation...
The Good Samaritan Fund - this fund helps members of First Lutheran Church who findthemselves in need of financial aid. For an application and explanation of requirements, please
see the church office manager. All requests for help will go before a small committee for approval. All requests for helpwill be kept confidential. To donate to this fund, please mark “Good Samaritan Fund” on your envelope and the dollaramount you wish to contribute.
The Esther Fund - this fund is used by First Lutheran to help provide housing for the homeless in our community.Help from the Esther Fund is limited to two nights emergency lodging in a local hotel or $50 towards rent or rentdeposit to keep families in housing or to keep them from becoming homeless. All recipients of help from the EstherFund must be working with either DHS, SIREN Shelter, Charlotte Housing Services, or CACS to resolve theirhomeless situation and be residents of Eaton County. To donate to this fund, please mark your envelope “Esther Fund”and the dollar amount you wish to contribute.
Helping Hands of Charlotte, MI - located at 600 S. Cochran Avenue, Charlotte, Helping Hands Food Pantry helpsthe needy in our community with emergency food and supplies. First Lutheran collects food and supplies for HelpingHands on an on-going basis. Food donations should be of a non-perishable nature and must be in-date and unopened.The most sought food items include: pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, jelly, canned soup, canned meat, canned fruitsand vegetables, rice, cereal, and any other dry or canned items that would be suitable for feeding a family. Donationsof in-date baby food and formula, diapers, hygiene products (soap, shampoo, feminine products, etc.), bathroom tissue,cleaning supplies, and over-the-counter pain medication etc. are also very much appreciated. You may drop offdonations to the Helping Hands tote located in the First Lutheran Church lobby or coat room, OR you may dropdonations off to helping hands directly. Helping Hands also accepts monetary donations and can turn each dollardonated into three dollars worth of food. Please mail donations directly to Helping Hands at 600 S. Cochran Ave.,Charlotte, MI 48813.
SIREN/Eaton Shelter - SIREN, our only local shelter, primarily helps homeless families with children, and victimsof domestic violence, by providing them with temporary housing. There is a waiting list for SIREN Shelter. Familieswaiting for housing through SIREN depend on help from local churches and agencies to house them in a local hoteluntil a space is available for them. SIREN Shelter has an on-going need for financial assistance as well as donationsof non-perishable food items, blankets (can be used but must be clean and in good condition), pillows (must be new),infant supplies (diapers, formula, baby food), cleaning supplies, toiletries, paper products, etc. SIREN Shelter is locatedat 520 Robinson St., Charlotte, MI. You may drop donations off directly to the shelter at that location, or you may mailfinancial contributions to that address.
A New Beginning Pregnancy Center - this Christian center located in Charlotte encourages women to seek analternative to abortion by providing them with counseling and help. Donations of new-born sized diapers, sleepers, andOnezies are needed as well as in-date baby formula. A donation box for these items is located in the First Lutheranlobby or coat room.
Crosswalk Teen Center - Crosswalk Teen Center is an after-school program in downtown Charlotte that allows teensto participate in activities that focus on educational, everyday life, community connections, and expressive art tosupport and encourage teens between school and home. First Lutheran has helped support the center and you may helpsupport them as well. To make a donation please go to http://www.crosswalkteencenter.org/ or to their Facebook pageat https://www.facebook.com/CrosswalkTeenCenter .
THE LUTHERAN CHURCHMissouri Synod
Lutherans are part of the Christian Church established by Jesus Christ. We trace our history back to the time of theApostles and the New Testament Church. While we take our name from Martin Luther, the 16 century reformer ofth
the Church, our faith is in the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and centers in Jesus Christ as the only Saviorof the world. Today Lutherans form the largest Protestant denomination in the world, numbering more than 70 million.In the United States the Lutherans rank third in size among Protestant groups, numbering 9 million baptized members.
WHAT WE BELIEVEScripture Alone
We believe that the Holy Scriptures in their entirety are the inspired and infallible Word of God and that they aloneare the only source and norm of faith and life for the Christian. We believe that the Bible is complete and requires noadditions from any other source and that it clearly reveals God’s plan of salvation for mankind.
Faith AloneBelieve that man was originally created holy by God but later rebelled against God and is now, by his nature, spirituallydead and blind. Only when man is brought to faith by the Holy Spirit working through the Word of God is it possiblefor man to be saved. Faith is God’s work - not man’s work - and comes only by hearing the word of God. Man isjustified before God by faith alone and not by good deeds.
Grace AloneWe believe that we are saved by grace alone and that man cannot earn his way into God’s favor. Grace is theundeserved love of God who sent His Son Jesus into the world to take our place under God’s law and to suffer and dieto pay the penalty for our sins. Whoever trusts in that redemptive act of Jesus Christ will not perish but have everlastinglife.