Farewell Party - Living Faith Racine · I give you a gentle reminder that I will not be available...
Transcript of Farewell Party - Living Faith Racine · I give you a gentle reminder that I will not be available...
Fed by God’s Word and led by the Holy Spirit, we gather together as a community of faith, to proclaim God’s love by ministering to our congregation, community and world.
Dear Living Faith,
I am writing today to tell you that I have accepted a new call to Trinity Lutheran Church in South Milwaukee. I will be concluding my ministry at Living Faith on Sunday, October 7.
Ministry at Living Faith over the last 17 years has been a joy and has been filled with all sorts of changes and growth: changes in how we are church together and changes in what it means to be church, growth in embracing God’s call to ministry with our neighborhood and the people we encounter at our two sites. I have also witnessed tremendous growth in focusing on mis-sion and developing strong leadership. Because of this and because of my trust in the work of God’s Spirit, I know that I do not leave you without the ability to discern God’s call and seek the opportu-nities that lie ahead. I do believe that this time of transition and change for Living Faith will present many opportunities for mission and ministry. Do not be afraid to wait on the Lord and seek those opportunities for seeking God’s call for you.
I have been trying to discern God’s call for me al-so in the last couple years. I have finally realized that God’s call for me is no longer at Living Faith. I have felt for a while that Living Faith needs some gifts that I simply do not have. Therefore, I have accepted this call to Trinity so that I can flourish in the gifts God has given me.
This new call for me and new transition for you will not change the love I have for you. You have
been a supportive and loving congregation to me and my family in these last 17 years. Through the birth of Anna-Lisa, the Confirmation of my chil-dren, Aliliywa’s cancer diagnosis and recently my mother’s passing.
I do want to say a huge thank you to Living Faith for your support of our family during Aliliywa’s treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia – she is doing so well and is in her 5th year off treat-ment! It was through your love and support dur-ing those years that I experience the reality of the Body of Christ. I expect that you will continue to be a congregation that lives out the reality of the blessing of being the Body of Christ in the world.
Your support of the Mt. Meru Tumaini Health Clinic over the years has been a place of growth in mission and joy in service. I can’t even begin to count how many of you have set foot on the ground in Ndoombo and seen the work we have been able to accomplish together. We will contin-ue that work and welcome others into the mis-sion of the Ndoombo Community Dispensary.
As I begin my ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church, I give you a gentle reminder that I will not be available for any funerals, weddings, baptisms or pastoral care. You will be calling your own new pastor in the months ahead and that person will be your pastor. I have faith in the opportunities God will place before you and pray that you seek those opportunities with trust and faith in the Lord.
Blessings and much love,
~ Pastor Denise M. H. Mbise
2 | The Journey A publication of Living Faith Lutheran Church
With Gratitude
I want to express my deepest gratitude for your support, prayers and memorials during the time of my mother’s pass-ing. She was truly an amazing person and I wish I had known her in the years before the be-
ginning of my memories of her.
When I prepare for the funerals of parishioners, I like to hear the stories of their lives so that I can craft the service to reflect who they were. Once I begin hearing their stories, I usually say to myself, or to the family, “I wish I had known that person during the time of these stories.” I am feeling the same way about my mother.
I have also greatly appreciated hearing the stories of people who knew her in church, at Gateway, as a teacher and nurse. These stories have also given me a glimpse into parts of my mother’s life that I was never really a part of, yet took up much of her time and energy. Thank you for sharing those sto-ries as well.
My mother shared this verse with me as I went off to West Africa with Youth Encounter:
Isaiah 41:13
For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’
She said that this verse helped her as she went to Ethiopia as a single woman to be a missionary nurse. It helped me as I traveled to Africa both with Youth Encounter and later to study and work. It helped me through the days of Aliliywa’s diagnosis and treatment for leukemia. It helps me now in the days when the reality of my mother’s death hits the hardest. It helps in the midst of the anxiety of un-certainty.
I pray that you too can trust in the Lord who holds your right hand during whatever situations you may be experiencing. And don’t forget God also says to us, “Do not fear, I will help you.” And God does and God will.
Thank you again ~ Pastor Denise
Please join us for a
Farewell Party
for
Pastor Denise Mbise Sunday, October 7th, 12:00 Noon
A Brunch/Lunch Buffet at Infusino ’s Banquet Hall 3201 Rapids Drive, Racine
Note: A card box will be
available for cards and gifts.
Adults: $15.00 Children Ages 5 to 10: $7.50
Children 4 & Under - No Charge
Please R.S.V.P. by September 25th
Name(s): _____________________________________ _____________________________________
# Adults ________
# Children ages 5-10 ________
# Children 4 & under _________
Total Cost: $__________________
Please make checks payable to: “Living Faith Lutheran Church”
adiós, adieu, addio, aloha, arrivederci, ciao, auf Wiedersehen, au revoir, totsiens, shalom
adiós, adieu, addio, aloha, arrivederci, ciao, auf Wiedersehen, au revoir, totsiens, shalom
SEPTEMBER 2018 ∙ Volume #3, Issue #9 3
Noisy Offering - The August Noisy Offering went to the Breaking the Chains con-gregation. As the world faces the many natural disasters (earthquakes in Indone-sia, Forest Fires in the west, Flooding in the east) that have been happening we will collect our September Noisy offering for ELCA Disaster Response. This ministry of our church is often among the first to arrive and last to leave of the organizations that respond to a natural disaster.
“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday - Coming Sunday, September 9. 9:00am joint worship at Resurrection. Our own Living Faith Choir will be singing at that worship service. We will be together with Resurrection, United and Emaus ELCA Lutheran churches. After worship we will have a continental breakfast. Then we will leave for our service projects in the community. If you haven’t signed up for a pro-ject yet, call the church office and let them know what you are interested in doing. If you have yellow shirts from previous years please wear them, otherwise some will be available on Sept. 9 for $8.00.
Did You Know? - One of the questions asked most at our Cottage Meetings last winter was “How can one
pastor possibly keep up with all there is to do at Living Faith?’” Well, the answer is that we are all ministers
of the gospel and Living Faith depends on your leadership and the giving of your time, talents and re-
sources to make it happen. Thank you for all you do & God Bless!
New Sermon Series - “The Agile Church” starting September15/16. There are still plenty of books in the
office at $15.00 each.
Thrivent Action Grants - We used Thrivent Action Grants to help fund National Night Out this year. There are so many opportunities for using your grants! If you need help using your Thrivent Action Grants or di-
recting your Choice Dollars please contact Pastor Denise. Use your grant today!
Church Directory Update - One Last Call! - Please let us know if you have an update to your contact
information – address, phone, cell, email address by filling out the space provided on the long yellow sheet
in the weekly bulletin, or by giving the office a call at 262-637-5671 Thanks much!
Member Care Needs You! - It could be just a little visit, maybe a ride to an appointment, running an er-rand or picking up groceries, or even providing a meal or special treat! It’s all about caring for our Living Faith family in their time of need while recovering from an illness or surgery or perhaps the loss of a loved one. Please prayerfully consider being a part of this very special ministry and give Alma Vacek a call today at 262-681-1738 or sign up on the long yellow sheet in the Weekly Journey.
LWR Boxcar Loading – Lutheran World Relief Box Car loading will be on Saturday, October 13 from 9-11 at the Sturtevant tracks on Hwy. H.
Racine Cluster (Belle City Cluster – our new name) – will be held on Thursday, September 20 at 6:30pm at Resurrection Lutheran. For all lay leaders and clergy – come find out what’s happening in our mission cluster!
Pet Blessing – at Living Faith West on Sunday, October 14 at 10:15 before the regular worship service.
4 | The Journey A publication of Living Faith Lutheran Church
Names in the News
Anniversaries: Peter & Linda Bushman will celebrate 50 years together on September 7th, Don & Sandi Hansen will be married for 52 years on September 10th, Ollie & Alberta Nielsen will celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary on September 12th, Lance & Nancy King will be married for 50 years on September 14th, Paul & Sally Cushman are celebrating 61 years together on September 21st and Donald & Jean Hemm will celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary on September 26th. Congratulations to you all!
Nonagenarian Birthdays: James Kimberlain will celebrate his 93rd birthday on September 28th. Best wishes to you.
Baptism: CARSON AVERY WOZNIAK, son of Andrew & Dana (Nielsen) Wozniak was baptized on August 5th at Living Faith Lutheran Church with Ashley Christensen and Ricky Polack as sponsors. Welcome, new member!
Condolences
Heartfelt love, sympathy and support to husband Rev. Fred Hofer, children Rev. Denise (Exaudh) Mbise & Joel Hofer and grandchildren Aliliywa, Alexander and Anna-Lisa Mbise and family at the death of NANCY HOFER who passed away at her home on August 8th.
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15
Known to be Hospitalized
Ascension All Saints: Anne Jaworski
Home Again: Jim Otto (at son’s home), Rose Rasmussen, Glenn Abbott & Pauline Vader
Pastoral Hospital Visits
Strict patient confidentiality rules prevent the hospital from notifying the church if you or a loved one is hospitalized. If you’d like a pastoral visit and/or having your church family praying for you, please let the church office know.
“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday is Sunday, September 9, 2018. This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Luther-an Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.
Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ – every act of ser-vice, in every daily calling, in every corner of life – flows freely from a liv-ing, daring confidence in God’s grace.
http://www.elca.org/dayofservice
SEPTEMBER 2018 ∙ Volume #3, Issue #9 5
Minutes from the July 24, 2018 Meeting
Present: Pastor Denise, Carol Hawes, Vicki Siefert, Margaret Robinson, Joy Webb, Rose Frey and Peg-gy Abbott
Excused: Bob Reinders, Ginny White, Sue Oertel
1. Devotion – Carol – God’ laughter.
2. Check-in
Consent Agenda – Margaret moved to accept with correction to minutes. It was seconded and passed.
a. Minutes – Correction add excused: Pastor Denise. Add Barb Elmer to Endowment Board.
b. Pastor’s Reports –Peggy Abbot spoke about choir. They do want to keep singing and will rehearse on Sunday mornings. They will begin with 2 Sundays a month.
c. Financial Reports
i. Statement of Income and Expenses
ii. Dedicated Accounts
iii. Balance Sheet
iv. Treasurer’s Report
3. Discussion/Action Agenda
a. AIM Disbursement - Suggestions from the yellow sheet: Juvenile Type 1 Diabetes (Pam Ehnert), HOPES Center (Joy) Wisconsin Humane Society - Racine Campus (Karin Langlois.) $587 was the total, $10 designat-ed for Accelerated Debt Reduction, leaving $577. Peggy moved to put $350 to National Night Out, $227 to HOPES Center. It was seconded and passed.
b. West Campus Lease – Update - Vicki and Bob have a copies of the lease and we are waiting for landlord to sign. It is month to month with 60 day termination with rent of $2,000.
c. Letter to Inactives – The letter went out and Dorcas Circle will meet in August and discuss follow-up calls on letter.
d. Security Update – Revisit Recommenda-tions – on hold
e. Endowment Board Start Up Mtg – They did
meet and awarded scholarships to Matt Burton and Ali Mbise. They will be present-ing on a future Sunday.
f. Finance Committee Mtg.- Meeting Aug. 16
g. Policy Manual / By Laws/ Personnel Policies Team – Update – Waiting for meeting date. Personnel committee is headed by Execu-tive Council members. This committee will begin in Fall.
h. Website Development – Update - Joy and Karin volunteered to help. We have grant and will begin to work with Image Manage-ment on new web site.
i. Stewardship Campaign – Live Courageously Cottage Mtgs. Pastor spoke on doing a ser-mon series on The Agile Church. We will continue building relationships, address cre-ative innovation piece and live courageously in mission. Schedule for cottage meetings is set and will begin seeking hosts in Septem-ber.
j. Building Repair – Update – Boiler room stairs were done. West South door locks on door. Parts on door on North East side of education building. Boiler pipe replaced. Work orders are now active. If you see a repair or cleaning situation, please use work requests that are in the office. Ollie and Jay will look at requests and handle them or send them to an outside company to be completed. Joy questioned expenses in Maintenance category. Ask Bob to explain the June summary of maintenance expens-es.
k. Volunteer Sunday – Went well. Thank you to Pastor Denise for PowerPoint presenta-tion.
l. Agile Church Book Study or Sermon Series - Offer Book – Coffee Hour Conversations?Pot Luck?
m. Eric Carlson – Mic System Update - Now have 3 working mics.
Continued on Page 6
6 | The Journey A publication of Living Faith Lutheran Church
Council President’s Corner
I love a good book and being able to give it great reviews; hoping others will enjoy it as well. So I am not kidding when I recommend to you the “Agile Church: Spirit-Led Innovation in an Uncertain Age!” I have never read a book that I have wanted to underline or highlight so many passages and sentences as I have with this particular book. I encourage you to treat yourself to this “good read” and see where the Spirit leads you!
Copies are available in the church office at $15 and you can also download to your Nook or Kindle from Amazon or go to your favorite book seller. Wishing you blessings each and every day, Vicki
n. AIM Now – Memorandum of Understand-ing – An update and change to the MOU. AIM Now will employee their own custodial staff. We will review and update MOU and have a lawyer review.
o. God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday – Septem-ber 9, 2018 This is a national ELCA day. Resurrection will host an opening service that day at 9am and a continental breakfast and then people would go out into the com-munity to do their work. We will worship at Resurrection. We will have Saturday ser-vice here at Living Faith. We will have some projects for people not able to be actively involved. Pastor Denise will write up article for The Journey. T shirts will be available.
p. Maintenance/Custodial
q. Godly Play and MET Thank You Dinner
r. August Council Mtg? No council meeting in August
s. “Did you Know” article in Journey. In the future if you have any “Did You Know” ideas, let Vicki know. Did you know we
decided to only support one pastor? So we need lay leaders to step up and help.
4. Old Business
5. New Business a. Are we doing Backpack for School program
this year? We need a leader for this project. We will ask Cathi to help with this. Money for backpacks can come out of the After School Program funds.
b. Ask Alma to put an article in bulletin about recruiting part time helpers for elderly.
c. Put together placemats to put in restaurants. Detailing Living Faith and events happening.
d. Commitment Sunday will be Nov 19th; same day as Annual Meeting.
e. Nomination committee – we have members available to serve and ready to give their bio for prior to Annual Meeting.
6. Getting To Know Our Constitution - Page 9 C12.08 - C12.13 (bring your constitutions )
7. Adjournment with Prayer - Peggy moved to ad-journ meeting. It was seconded and passed.
Is Council for You?
Have you been thinking of taking a leadership role in the future of Living Faith?
The Nominating Committee has been reaching out for potential candidates who are interested in run-ning for Council in November.
Being on the Council involves:
• Making a 2 year commitment
• Attending 1 meeting the 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:30 (a month is taken off in Summer)
• Being supportive of the Mission Site Profile goals for the future of Living Faith
If you would like to be considered a potential nomi-nee, please reach out to a member of the nominat-ing committee - Karen Barkow, Liz Kegel, Cyndy King, Sue Oertel, Margaret Robinson and Ginny White, or sign up on the yellow sheet to be contact-ed directly.
Continued from Page 5
SEPTEMBER 2018 ∙ Volume #3, Issue #9 7
Fall Sermon Series
A special sermon series is being planned for the Fall based on the book “The Agile Church: Spirit-Led Innovation in an Uncer-tain Age” by Dwight Zscheile.
The West Campus Vision Team has been reading this book in an effort to understand how to be the church in this day and age and Pastor Denise has been dedicating her re-cent Journey articles to share her insights. We wish to expand that study by offering it to all of Liv-ing Faith.
In the words of others who have read the “The Agile Church”: “Zscheile captures the moment the church faces and understands that innovation must be a way of life for churches in the next decades,,
“Our churches have the opportunity to be nimble, graceful, and creative” and “It’s just a plain, good read: easy to grasp, interest-ing, and thought-provoking.” During our recent Cottage Meetings, innovation and creativity were at the top of the most im-portant characteristics we were looking for in a pastor.
To get the most out of this series and the conversations to follow, we highly recom-
mend that you obtain a copy for yourself. We will have several copies available in the office – first come , first served- at a cost of $15 per book. You can also visit your favorite book store or order from Amazon which also offers the option to have it downloaded to your Nook or Kindle.
Vespers Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29
Tech Person Volunteer
Needed Volunteer
Needed Vicy Arnold
Volunteer Needed
Volunteer Needed
Living Faith East Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Sept. 30
Reader Marilyn Thygeson God’s Work. Our Hands.
Sunday (Worship at
Resurrection)
Joy Webb Karin Langlois Joy Webb
Tech Person Volunteer
Needed Lee Bahr Jennifer Miller
Volunteer Needed
Ushers Ollie Nielsen, Lois Beres, Rose Frey
Communion Assistants
Chuck Frahm Ollie Nielsen
Karica Munoz Dale Barke
Katie Barke
Peggy Abbott Rob Schneider
Gary King
Ginny White Sue Wellhofer Ollie Nielsen
God’s Work. Our Hands.
Sunday (Worship at
Resurrection) Coffee Hour Cyndy King
Sandy Fugate Linda Hendrickson
Carolyn Gibson Volunteer
Needed Volunteer
Needed
Many opportunities are available for you to actively participate in our worship services. Please contact the church office if you would like to help out.
Living Faith West Please check your email for the Living Faith West ministry calendar.
“The meaning of life. The wasted years of life. The poor choices of life. God answers the mess of life with one word: grace.” ~ Max Lucado
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SEPTEMBER 2018 ∙ Volume #3, Issue #9 9
Last Month to Gather Items for Lutheran World Relief Kits
This month, we’re going to try to fill out the kits we have started, so we especially need the following:
School Kits: ● 70-sheet notebooks ● Blunt scissors ● Pencil sharpeners (shavings catcher not required) ● Boxes of 16 or 24 crayons ● Sturdy drawstring backpack-style cloth bags with shoulder straps, about 14” x 17” Baby Care Kits: ● Gowns or sleepers without feet ● Cloth diapers, flat-fold preferred ● T-shirts, short or long sleeved, NO onesies ● Pairs of infant socks ● Jacket, sweaters, or sweatshirts with hoods, OR include a baby cap Personal Care Kits: ● Metal nail clippers ● Bath towels (about 27” x 52”, new or GENTLY used, NO stains) We also gratefully accept donations of money to purchase the needed items. Thank you for your support of people in crisis around the world!! (Photo credit: https://lwr.org/get-involved/build-kits-of-care)
Live Courageously Our Fall Stewardship Event “Live Coura-geously” will give us the opportunity to build relationships, decide what “innovation and creativity” mean for the future of Living Faith and how we can as stewards “Live Courageously” in mission
and vision.
In conjunction with our stewardship event, “Live Courageously Cottage Gatherings” will take place in member homes between October 20th and November 3rd and you will be able to sign up to be a host between September 8th and the 23rd. Perhaps you might like to co-host with someone from the Living Faith family you would like to get to know better.
Please sign up on the long yellow sheet in the weekly bulletin to let us know you would like to host and you will be contacted to choose a date/time/place that works best for you.
Thanks much and talk soon!
10 | The Journey A publication of Living Faith Lutheran Church
Volunteer Opportunities
Living Faith Tech Team
Have you ever wondered how things on the technical side of the worship service
work? Here is your chance to learn about it and help us out!
We need people to help operate the screen for an-nouncements, etc. Training will be provided at your convenience. If you have questions, please contact Vicki Siefert.
Our Harmony Club
Our Harmony Club pro-vides day programs for the elderly in our community who may have been diag-nosed with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, have suffered a stroke, or who are simply socially isolated.
They can spend up to 6 hours at our sites where they interact with other guests and volunteers in games, crafts, lunch, and bingo.
If you would like to volunteer with Our Harmony Club, contact Dawn Vlach at (262)880-5301 or via email at: DawnVlach@ourharmony club.org.
FaithWorks Food Pantry Needs
While every donation is greatly appreciated, with our new shopping arrangement at Feeding Ameri-ca, monetary donations actually go further than food donations. Checks can be made out to “FaithWorks Food Pantry”; you will still get credit on your contributions statement.
That said, all food donations are welcomed. Our greatest needs right now are:
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Egg Noodles
• Peanut Butter
• Toilet Paper
• Bar Soap
Volunteers are needed to staff the pantry during operating hours (Tuesdays 1-3pm and Thursdays 6-8pm.) Volunteers are also needed to package produce and bakery on Tuesdays from 10:30am to 12:30pm in the Food Pantry.
Please sign up on the long yellow sheet, or talk to Margaret Robinson or June Klingbeil if you are interested.
Funeral Luncheon Committee
Living Faith is blessed to have a wonderful funeral committee and we invite you to be a part of that by choosing one or all of the areas needed when it comes time to planning. We are looking for volunteers to help in the following areas:
Set Up - setting tables and getting food ready (which is usually ordered or catered)
Clean Up - clearing tables, doing dishes, putting away all serving pieces and packaging up leftovers
Baking a dessert or perhaps making some Jell-O
Church Office Assistant
Often times the office is in need of help to assemble bulletins or prepare special mailings. This is usually done on a weekday morning and requires only a few hours of your time while working with additional helpers. Sign up on the long yellow sheet in the weekly bulletin if you are interested in either opportunity.
“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands — one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” — Audrey Hepburn
SEPTEMBER 2018 ∙ Volume #3, Issue #9 11
The Friends in Fellowship Committee is offering two more sessions of
Let’s Get Moving!
A combination exercise class including chair yoga and gentle exercises designed for all ages and abilities.
Men and women are both welcome.
Session #1 September 12, 19 & 26, October 3, 10 & 17
11 am to 12 Noon in Fellowship Hall
Session #2 October 24, 31, November 7, 14 & 21, December 5
11 am to 12 Noon in Fellowship Hall
Registration Fee: $10.00 per person for the six week session. Checks should be made payable to: Living Faith, noting that it is for the ”Let’s Get Moving” class.
Payment can be made in the church office, or with Alice Frahm.
……………Place in the offering plate or drop off in the church office. ……………….
Sign me up for Let’s Get Moving!!
Name: __________________________________________________
Phone #:_________________________________
Session 1: _______ # attending x $10.00 = $___________
Session 2: _______ # attending x $10.00 = $___________
Total = $___________
Sundaes on Wednesday
Wednesday, October 3, 1:30pm in Fellowship Hall
Invite your family, friends and neighbors and join us for a delightful afternoon with Eleanor Roosevelt portrayed by Jessica Michna in “Brother Can You Spare A Dime.” The First Lady takes on the role of advocate for those American’s most seriously affected by the Great Depression. Following the program we will have a “Sundae Bar” will all the fixings for your enjoyment.
Please call the office at 262-637-5671 to make your reservations. Be sure to invite your family, friends and neighbors. We are asking for a donation of $5 per person to help with the speaker fee.
Keeping with the theme, we’re also asking for a non-perishable food item and a dime (or more) to benefit the FaithWorks Food Pantry.
Jessic
a M
ich
na
, Firs
t Imp
ressio
ns
Below: A few pictures from
National Night Out.
12 | The Journey A publication of Living Faith Lutheran Church
Senior Friendship Center
Sept. 5 Devotion & Communion “School Days” Lunch: Surprise Sept. 19 Bingo at 11:00 a.m. Lunch: Surprise
Tuesday Noon Bible Study - Resumes September 11
Join us as we approach the coming Sunday’s lessons using the Benedictine practice of Lectio Divina. In Christianity, Lectio Divina (Latin for "Divine Reading") is a tradi-tional Benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's Word. It does not treat Scripture as texts to be studied, but as the Living Word.
Men’s Breakfast - The Men’s Breakfast meets on the first and third Thursday of every month at 7:30am at Annetta’s Café (8020 Durand Avenue) in Sturtevant. Please join us!
The new book is “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” by Harold S. Kushner. Cliff Vacek and Chris Malik will be spearheading this study. If you have any ques-tions contact Cliff.
Theological Book Study - The book for fall is “The Great Spiritual Migration: How the World’s Largest Religion is Seeking a Better Way to be Christian” by Brian McLaren. Our first date will be Saturday, September 15 at 9:30 with brunch. We will discuss Part 1 of the book (Preface, Introduction and chapters 1-3). The book is available on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble.
Dorcas Circle - The Dorcas Circle invites any interested women to join us on the first Monday of the month September through June. We are going to read and discuss When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner this year for our Bible study. We also plan events for the whole congregation like Sundaes on Wednesdays, do a bingo party twice a year at The Villa at Lincoln Park and participate at the many other activities at church. We meet at 6:30 in the parlor. Any questions call Alma Vacek at 681-1738 or e-mail at [email protected]
Friends in Fellowship
The Friends in Fellowship Committee is having our fall planning meeting on Tuesday, September 11 at 4:00pm in Room 14/15 (across from the office.) We'll be working on some great new ideas and programs for our congregations for the upcoming fall and winter. Your input is most welcome!
Everyone is welcome. We hope you will join us!
SEPTEMBER 2018 ∙ Volume #3, Issue #9 13
News from the Crazy SCRIP Lady
It’s September and school has begun. Do you still need school supplies or know some-one who does? Use Scrip to make those purchases and Living Faith benefits, too. Cards are available for local and national retailers including Target, Dell, Office Max/Depot, and many, many more. Retailers set aside a certain percentage of their profits for chari-table giving. Those charitable dollars WILL go to someone – why not help make that money come to Living Faith to support our ministries?
To get your Scrip, see Dick Langlois at the Scrip table before the 9:00 service or at cof-fee hour at our East Campus. Feel free to pick up an order form in the narthex and call Karin Langlois at 672-0635 or email her at [email protected] to order your Scrip. Please note: The weekly order deadline is Monday evening. Scrip ordered by then can be picked up by Thursday evening, if you need it before the weekend, or on Sunday at church. If you attend our West Campus, June Klingbeil has order forms and a good selection of cards, and you can get your Scrip there.
All it would take is another 10 people to buy just ONE $25 gas card each month to increase the Scrip dona-tion coming to Living Faith by $120 – adding another $1,440 a year to support our ministries!
Focus: Cereal Bag Program
Each year, millions of cereal bags are needlessly discarded and end up in landfills. (Did you know that cereal bags create 75% less packaging waste than comparably sized cere-al boxes?) Malt-O-Meal® brand cereals want to take their commitment to creating less packaging waste one step further and have partnered with TerraCycle® to create a sec-ond life for cereal bags. Once collected, the cereal bags and liners are cleaned and melt-ed into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products. You can help, too! Bring your empty bags to church, less waste will go to our landfill, and we’ll send them to TerraCycle® – we don’t even have to pay for the shipping, the sponsors of each program (in this case, MOM Brands) cover that expense.
Cereal Bag Program accepted waste: Printed cereal bags & cereal bag liners from boxed cereal.
Turning in your collections is easy. A TerraCycle® collection container is conveniently located inside the south entrance. Or, you can bring your collections to the church office and tell Jill, Kim, or Cathi you have a “gift” for Karin Langlois!
Fundraising Made Simple
Did you know that when you shop at GFS and you mention Living Faith, we receive a percentage of some of the purchases you make? If you dine at Texas Roadhouse on Sundays and turn in a copy of the bulletin, they will donate 10 percent of your food purchases to Living Faith. A great opportunity to use those
Texas Roadhouse Scrip Cards you have purchased from Dick Langlois at the East Campus in the narthex or June Klingbeil at the West Campus. Thanks for supporting our fund-raising efforts!
Box Tops for Education
Thank you to everyone who has been bringing in those Box Tops for Education symbols. Keep ‘em coming! Reuse an envelope or baggie and put them in the offering plate, bring them to the church office, or give them to Karin Langlois.
14 | The Journey A publication of Living Faith Lutheran Church
SEPTEMBER 2018 ∙ Volume #3, Issue #9 15
16 | The Journey A publication of Living Faith Lutheran Church
September Readings
September 2: 15th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
Psalm: Psalm 15
Second Reading: James 1:17-27
Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
September 9: 16th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Isaiah 35:4-7a
Psalm: Psalm 146
Second Reading: James 2:1-10 [11-13] 14-17
Gospel: Mark 7:24-37
September 16: 17th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm: Psalm 116:1-9
Second Reading: James 3:1-12
Gospel: Mark 8:27-38
September 23: 18th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Jeremiah 11:18-20
Psalm: Psalm 54
Second Reading: James 3:13 — 4:3, 7-8a
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37
September 30: 19th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
Psalm: Psalm 19:7-14
Second Reading: James 5:13-20
Gospel: Mark 9:38-50
Service Times
Saturday Vespers Service (East Campus) ............................................... 5:00 p.m.
Sunday Service at Living Faith East Campus ………………………….. ..... 9:00 a.m.
Sunday Service at Living Faith West Campus ....................................... 10:30 a.m.
Thursday Community Worship (East Campus) ......................................... 5:15 p.m.
Living Faith Church Office Hours
Monday - Friday (located at East Campus) .............................. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Living Faith Staff
Ministers .............................................. The People of Living Faith Lutheran Church
Pastor ................................................................................. Rev. Denise M.H. Mbise
Administrative Secretary/Bookkeeper ...................................................... Jill Steiner
Secretary ............................................................................................Cathi Webster
Secretary ............................................................................................. Kim Saunders
Organist /Pianist .................................................................................Jill Wanggaard
Organist /Pianist ........................................................................................ Tina Perri
Pianist ................................................................................................ Tina Tempesta
Part time Maintenance .............................................................................. Jay Martin
Part time Janitorial ................................................................................. Ollie Nielsen
Senior Friendship Center Director .......................................................... Vicki Siefert
Nutrition Site Supervisor .....................................................................Donna Pankoff
‘The Journey’ Editor......................................................................... Diane Thygeson
Volunteer Parish Nurse ................................................................... Joannie Williams
Staff E-mail addresses
Rev. Denise Mbise ............................................. [email protected]
Jill Steiner .................................................................. [email protected]
Kim Saunders .................................................................... [email protected]
Cathi Webster ................................................................ [email protected]
Diane Thygeson ............................................................. [email protected]
General Church E-mail address
Living Faith E-mail ......................................................... [email protected]
Living Faith Website ........................................................... www.livingfaithracine.org
Living Faith Facebook .................................. www.facebook.com/LivingFaithRacine
Locations
Living Faith East Campus ............................................ 2915 Wright Avenue, Racine
Living Faith West Campus .................................... 8700 Durand Avenue, Sturtevant
FaithWorks Food Pantry
Volunteer Food Pantry Coordinator ............................................ Margaret Robinson
Volunteer Food Pantry Coordinator .................................................... June Klingbeil
Food Pantry Hours ............. Tuesdays 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., Thursdays 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Food Pantry Facebook ................... www.facebook.com/faithworksfoodpantryracine
Food Pantry E-mail ............................................................. [email protected]
Newsletter Deadline Articles to be included in the October 2018 issue of The Journey should be submitted to Diane Thygeson no later than September 20. Submit articles to: [email protected].
If you are not receiving The Journey please call or email the church office and let us know. Thanks!
Free Blood Pressure Clinic
A free blood pressure clinic will be held the first Sunday of each month follow-ing the 9:00 service at the East campus. Please stop down to Fellowship Hall
after the service and have your blood pressure checked.
~ Barb Elmer, RN and Marion Beyer, RN
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Living Faith Lutheran Church 2915 Wright Avenue Racine, WI 53405-5094 Published Once a Month
A new call for Pastor Denise
“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday
Fall sermon series: The Agile Church
Let’s Get Moving!
Lutheran World Relief Kits