408 Ninth Street NW

Mandan, ND 58554

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH

Phone: 701-663-3594

Fax: 701-663-6217

E-mail: jackie@firstlutheranofmandan.org

Building Faith and

Transforming Lives

in Christ.

www.firstlutheranofmandan.org

We’re on the web!

Happy

Thanksgiving

from the staff

at First

Lutheran

Church!

A song of Thanksgiving

On the last Friday of each month I gather with the Circle Bible Study Leaders to go through the upcoming lesson for the next month using the material contained in Gather, the magazine for the Women of the ELCA. This year the study is centered under the theme “In Good Company: Stories of Biblical Women”. The October issue was dedicated to Deborah, a judge in the early days of Israel, who was persuaded by Barak to lead 10,000 soldiers into battle. Thanks to Pastor Christina for meeting with the group the end of September as I was out of town that week for my mother’s funeral. I read the issue on Deborah later and marveled at her determination and vision.

In their earliest days the tribes of Israel were scattered and fragmented. They were not yet a single people, a single nation. But Deborah was a dynamic prophetess and a judge over the tribes of Israel. Unity, loyalty, and community increased under her charismatic leadership.

Deborah sang a song of thanks to the leaders of the people who had caught the vision of being Yahweh’s people and to the people themselves for their faithfulness. A nation was being born.

Believing in the potential and ability of the people around you—as Deborah did—is like blowing upon the coals of a fire. It is one life feeding and being fed by another life; it is infectious and animating. Others know you believe in them by the confidence that is placed in them, the responsibility committed to their care, and the respect accorded their insight and instruction. Believing in others creates a community of coequals. It makes a scattering of humanity into a gathering of community.

The Church is this gathered people. We are the bony structures, sturdy muscles, and throbbing heart of a God still active in this world. We need each other. We are each other. And we are more than just we ourselves because of each other.

Thank you to everyone for being ‘there for me’ and my daughter Mikaela in the death of my mom and Mikaela’a grandmother who was like a mother to her. Your care and concern afforded us at this sad time is more appreciated than you will ever know. This Thanksgiving we are thankful for all of this care and connectedness.

The exercise of living one’s life is often the act of blowing a gentle breath of life across the vision and talent found in those around us. It is to inspire unity of faith and commonness of purpose. It is to walk faithfully with God alongside one another. It is to sit at table with one another, offering prayers and thanksgivings for the One who is (“Yahweh”) and who is among us (“Emanuel”).

Until next time,

Pastor Lee

November 2013

Administrative Pastor

Rev. Lee Herberg

663-3594

Associate Pastor

Rev. Jack Carlson

663-3594

Associate Pastor

Rev. Christina Martin

663-3594

Administrative Assistant &

Coordinator of Lay

Ministries

Jackie Schulz

663-3594 (o)

663-3082 (h)

Custodians

Ron & Mavis Watson

Financial Administration

Jennifer Scheet

First Lutheran Is A Mission

Partner with Camp of the

Cross Ministries

First Lutheran

Staff

First Lutheran Church

November Newsletter

PAGE 2 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH November 2013

We have lutefisk & lefse available to buy. The cost

for lefse is $1.35 per sheet and lutefisk is $23.75 for 5

pounds. Please stop in the office or call 663-3594. Thank

you!

November is Stewardship Month!

As we gather for Thanksgiving this year in homes across community,

we also give thanks to God for our faith home. Wednesday, November

13th and Sunday, November 17th will be our stewardship ingathering

services as we pledge our commitment to Christ and his church for

2014.

Thank you to everyone who helped out for our lutefisk supper.

It was greatly appreciated!! This is a congregational event

that takes many people to accomplish great things.

Special thanks to Lori Meyers & Richard

Gaasland for again faithfully acting as

Coordinator.

The Saints who have departed from our congregation since our last All Saints observance on

November 4, 2012:

PAGE 10 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH NOVEMBER 2013

Shirley Armbrust

Ernest (Punky) Seeman

Al Lobeck

Donald Williams

Larry Senger

Marvel Martin

Clarence Bauer

Tom Friesz

Leland Olsen

Casey Austin

LeRoy Olauson

Marvin Lang

Lynn Lewis

Matthew Wuitschick

LaVern Affeldt

John Hagestuen

Erma Walker

Bertha Kilber

Thomas Thompson

Robert Schulz

Mildred Haggen

Lois Walz

Terry Pudwill

Merle Moum

Roy Tomanek

Wendy Germann

Willow Glarum-Magstadt

Maxine Willows

John Mitchell

Raymond Carlson

Ethel Rychlik

Marian Hoff

Sheila Tibke

Heidi Hertel

Mark Your

Calendar…

6th: 7pm - Confirmation -

Large Group

7th: LAF

13th: 7pm - Confirmation -

Large Group

14th: LAF

17th: WINGS @ Faith

Lutheran

20th: 7pm - Confirmation -

Small Group

21st: LAF

27th: No Confirmation

Upcoming Events

ATTENTION 8TH-12TH GRADERS….

Teens and Parents! We are in the beginning phase of

planning a mission trip for next summer, and looking

forward to the National Youth Gathering in Detroit in the

summer of 2015. Please help us in giving your input by

attending this planning meeting on Tuesday, November 5th

at 7:00 pm.

Dear Parents & Other Caregivers of 2nd Graders,

2nd graders will be receiving their own Bible on Wednesday,

November 13th at the 6:00 P.M. worship or Sunday, November

17th at the 10:45 A.M. worship. Here at First Lutheran we are

pleased and excited to join with you for this Bible Milestone.

Please come with your child to place the Scriptures in his/her

hands during the worship service. Please contact Jack or

Christina at 663 -3594 or email them at,

j a c k @ f i r s t l u t h e r a n o f m a n d a n . o r g o r

christina@firstlutheranofmandan.org and let them know

which day you will be attending.

Please contact Jack or Christina no later than

Sunday, November 3rd.

PAGE 4 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH NOVEMBER 2013

Sunday ~

8:30 am ~ Traditional

10:45 am ~ Contemporary

9:30 am ~ Coffee

9:30 am ~ Church School

Wednesday ~

6:00 pm ~ Transitional

6:00 pm ~ Church School

7:00 pm ~ Confirmation

Worship Schedule

Special Thanks

Thank you to all the greeters, ushers, communion servers,

readers, communion set-up, coffee hour workers, and to all

who have supplied goodies for the last month. Your help is

greatly appreciated!

November ~ Mission of the Month

Baptisms:

October 6 Braelynn Marie Shepherd

October 13 Greyson Michael Barnhart

October 13 Journey Carrigan Strilcov

October 27 Olivia Claire & Avery Katherine Kahl

Weddings:

October 12 Trevor Dressler & Becky Johnson

Funerals:

October 2 Marian Hoff

October 14 Sheila Tibke

October 15 Heidi Hertel

Memorial Fund

Pastoral Acts

In memory of Bernice Herberg given by Gary &

Claudia Tomanek, Jim & Donna Mellmer, Faye

Rodgers, Dave & Kathy MacIver, John & Twila

Grunseth.

In memory of Roy Tomanek.

In memory of Raymond Carlson given by Arden &

Pat Hagerott & Walter & Leona Keidel.

In memory of Ethel Rychlik given by Carrie

Thorson.

In memory of Dorothy Reisenauer given by Arden &

Pat Hagerott.

Deadline for

articles for the

December

Newsletter will be

November 21st.

Salvation Army Items needed are non-perishable food items,

diapers, toiletries, & paper products. You may put

your items in the boxes in the Narthex. Thank you

Be sure to set your

clocks back 1 hour

before you go to bed

o n S a t u r d a y ,

November 2nd.

PAGE 9 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH NOVEMBER 2013

Thanks to all the workers listed below for all the help with the packing of

Lutheran World Relief on October 17th. Through all of your help, we can help

others. We packed 174 School Kits and 67 Quilts. Also thanks to Rod Skytland

and Andrew Unruh for pickup and delivery of boxes. God’s love —Leona Keidel.

Walter & Leona Keidel Les & Darlene Sayler

Lloyd Keidel Ralph & Naida Feland

Anna Marie Oppegard Sheila Christianson

PAGE 8 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH PAGE 5

First Lutheran Church Council Minutes

Thursday, September 19, 2013 7:00PM

Present: Pastor Jack Carlson, Pastor Christina Martin, President Kris Elijah, Secretary Den

Na Lee Fewson, Darrell Nitschke, Kris Theurer, Janet Reineke, Dot Frank

Absent: Pastor Lee Herberg, Tammy Lapp-Harris, John Pake, Brian Zacha

Devotions: President Kris Elijah called the meeting to order. Pastor Chris led devotions.

Approval of Agenda: Dot Frank moved and Den Na Lee Fewson seconded the motion to

approve the agenda. Motion passed.

Secretary’s Report/Review and Approval of the minutes: Darrell Nitschke moved and

Dot Frank seconded the motion to approve the council minutes from August 15th, 2013. Motion

passed.

Financial Report/Review: Pastor Jack went over the August financials. Jennifer Scheet

explained discrepancies in expenses and income.

Unfinished Business:

Moving forward in faith: The men’s restroom downstairs is now complete. While

checking the boiler, a water valve was left open, causing water seepage into the northeast

corner. Estimates will be received to clean the carpet.

Strategic Plan 2013: Darrell Nitschke & Pastor Lee have begun to make calls to form a

Governance Team.

Snow Removal for upcoming winter: Received a bid from M & S Outdoor Services for

$200 per snowfall to remove snow from lot, walkways and stairs. Council asked for a

written contract stating that snow will only be removed prior to events occurring at the

church or when requested.

Air Handling Unit: Pastor Lee received estimates from Lindtech to address issues.

Welcome Event for Pastor Christina: Sun Oct 20th, Pastor Christina will be installed at

both services, with Bishop Mark Narum officiating. Following the 10:45am service,

members are invited to gather for a Potluck Lunch.

Condensate Pump issues with the boiler: The pump was not repairable, so a new pump

was purchased and will be installed.

NEW BUSINESS:

Pastor Lee will be revising and updating our Policy and Procedure Manual. The last update

was in 2009.

We are no longer mailing the monthly newsletter. We are printing 250 copies and placing

them in the Narthex, with very few being taken. Jackie asked to lower the number of

copies made. Council agreed and Jackie will print more if needed.

The wedding guidelines and procedures needs to be updated following several incidents over

the summer. Den Na Lee Fewson moved and Janet Reineke seconded to approve an

immediate increase to $500 refundable deposit for use of the basement for receptions.

Potential revisions include increasing non-refundable deposits for use of the basement for

receptions, music choices and the implementation of a wedding coordinator. Council

would like to review current wedding policy prior to making remaining revisions.

REPORTS:

Pastor Lee’s report – 4 baptisms, 2 funerals, 1 wedding.

Pastor Jack’s report – 2 baptisms, 2 funerals, 3 weddings and 3 nursing home worships.

Pastor Chris’s report – 4 baptisms, 1 wedding, 3 nursing home visits and 1 service at

Baptist Home. She also attended the Pastor’s Conference in Medora Sept 8-10th.

Special Events – Lutefisk and Meatball Supper will be held Oct 19th.

Stewardship – Pastor Lee visited with the staff at Dakota Community Bank. Two choices

were given to us to initiate a movement towards automatic giving. The first involves

internet usage and possible giving out of church account numbers. This first choice was

not acceptable to the council, so choice two was to have members go to their own banks

and request an automatic payment be made. More input is needed prior to making any

decisions. Set to discuss at next Church Council meeting.

Worship – Hymns have been chosen for Sept, Oct and Nov.

Parish Education – There will be 23 new students confirmed this year.

Youth – LAF begins again for the school year on Thurs Oct 3rd. Dakota Alpha will continue

to volunteer the first Thurs of each month. Dot Frank shared other groups that may be

interested in volunteering or donating. Pastor Jack will do the follow up. LYO is set for

Oct 17-20 in Minot. Pastor Chris will be attending.

Evangelism and Outreach – no report.

Property and Management – no report.

Website – The new site is up and running and everything is going great.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Motion to Adjourn/Lord’s Prayer:

Darrell Nitschke moved and Kris Theurer seconded to adjourn the council meeting. Motion

passed. The meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Submitted by,

Den Na Lee Fewson

PAGE 6 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH NOVEMBER 2013