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

August 2017 Volume 20 No. 8

First Things First …

A teachable heart: Where God’s truth can produce good fruit

Everyone likes to hear a great story. Jesus often taught people by telling stories called parables. But Jesus didn’t simply tell stories to entertain or to get people’s attention, Jesus told parables because He wanted to change lives! An old definition of parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Parables tell a story using something we see every day to help us understand a spiritual truth that we can’t see with our eyes. When Jesus taught in parables, He used things that the people of His day were familiar with. If Jesus were here teaching with parables today, they would be different because our culture is different. There might be fewer stories about farming, and more stories about computers!

He said, "A farmer went out to plant his seed. He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. Birds came and ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky places, where there wasn't much soil. The plants came up quickly, because the soil wasn't deep. When the sun came up, it burned the plants. They dried up because they had no roots. Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and crowded out the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It produced a crop 100, 60 or 30 times more than what was planted. Those who have ears should listen and understand." - Matthew 13:1-9

Jesus said that the same seed produced no crop, some crop, or a great crop. The seed was the same in every place, but the condition of the soil was different. This is what Jesus was saying to the people: The seed that is sown is the gospel - the good news about Jesus. The soils are the hearts of the people who make a choice about the message. The condition of a person’s heart can be compared to the different kinds of soils that received the seed.

Let’s look at the four different “soils,” or hearts: Hard Path: Some of the seed fell on a path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some people hear the truth, but like hardened paths, they do not let it sink into their hearts (Zechariah 7:12). Soon Satan takes the truth away. If people do not receive and respond to the word with faith, their opportunity will be stolen by the evil one. Rocky Places: Next, some of the seed fell onto rocky places. These people hear the message with great joy, but like seeds on rocky soil, they do not let it take root. They seem to be happy to hear about Jesus and His great love, but they do not let it sink into their hearts. On the outside, they may express great enthusiasm, but inwardly, they do not carefully consider it. There were great crowds who followed Jesus, but only a few were His true disciples. When these people face pressure or bad circumstances, they quickly forget about God’s word. A true believer follows Jesus no matter what. Thorns: Still other seed fell among thorns. Some people hear God’s Word and start to grow and bear fruit. But soon they become worried about the problems of daily living. They may think if they only had more money and more “things” they would be happy. These wrong beliefs take up all the person’s time and energy, just like the weeds steal all the nutrients from the good plants. These people do not focus on living for God, so they don’t produce any spiritual fruit. There is nothing wrong with the sower or the seed. The problem is the soil - the person who hears the Word. He must trust God to deliver him from his worries and greed so that he can grow in God’s Word. Good Soil: Still other seed fell on good soil. It produced a crop 100, 60, or 30 times more than what was planted. Isn’t it great to know that some of the seed fell on good soil? This represents the people who heard God’s word and believed it. They put their trust in Jesus. Their hearts received the message of the kingdom, and the seed will take root.

But just like when you plant actual seeds into the ground, the message of the kingdom will grow gradually. We don’t plant a seed and see a plant the next day. True growth takes time. And sometimes when we plant seeds, we see different kinds of things that actually grow. Some trees produce fruit; some plants produce vegetables. Some produce lots of fruit, and some produce little.

Listen to God’s promise: I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. - Ezekiel 36:26 NLT (Adapted from an internet article by Jodi Hooper, “The Four Soils”, Bible.org)

First School

And Day Care ews First school currently has 75 children enrolled. We will

soon be in the new school year in which our children promote to the next class and we will start the afterschool pickup. That being said, there is a lot of planning and changes happening during August and September.

Along with all of that we will be evaluated by a representative from the Texas Rising Star in September. They will come in anytime that month unannounced and observe in our classrooms as well as review office files. During this period we have an opportunity to increase our “star level”.

Please keep us in your prayers during these challenging months ahead both with the new school year and with our Texas Rising Star visit in September.

Many Blessings, Bree Joines First School Director

First School Board Meeting – Thursday, August 17th, 5:00 p.m.

08/06 Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21; Isaiah 55:1-5, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21

08/13 Psalm 85:8-13; 1 Kings 19:9-18, Romans 10:5-15, Mathew 14:22-33

08/20 Psalm 67; Isaiah 56:1, 6-8, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32, Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28

08/27 Psalm 138; Isaiah 51:1-6, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20

Please let Jewel Deen House know if you are

interested in continuing to help once a year with the monthly birthday party at Garden Villa. In the

past, First Lutheran and St. Paul United Methodist

have been jointly hosting the September party for the residents.

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

08/03 Gaynard Wigginton

08/05 Alvin Yackel

08/05 Larry Young

08/06 Haley Stewart

08/07 Daniela Rodriguez

08/12 Milton Johnson

08/21 Lorene Bard

08/23 Liam Joines

08/26 Linda Atchetee

08/27 Nikolas Woodson

08/28 Norma Newton

08/31 Ryan Hanna

08/31 Heather Langston

08/01 Dorothy Atchetee

08/01 Jan Nelson

08/01 Diane Stewart

08/03 David Kight

08/06 Dagny Thane

08/13 Helen Kight

08/13 Ruth Speckels

08/29 Matthew Stewart

08/29 Landon Thane

08/31 Ryan Hanna

08/13 Bill & Ruth Speckels

08/14 Jimmy & Sharon Nielsen

COUNCIL MEETING Thursday, August 17

th

6:00 p.m.

Pray for our loved ones

In the Military

Jake Barosh Sarah Langston (Reserves)

U.S. Armed Forces

If you are in need of pastoral services, please contact a church council member (for contact info see the monthly calendar) or call the church office.

Our FLC Family

Dorothy Atchetee

Charles Bard

Calvin & Nora Borak

Nora Hollingsworth

Jewel Deen House

Bonnie Jones

Harry & Marilyn Kight

John Nelson

Forrest & Norma Newton

Betty Nielsen

Ty Schoenfield

Friends of FLC

Vanessa

Brian McMillan

Preston Dornak

Eugene Bard

Meredith Borak

Mike Bergstrom

Rozell Giesie

Debbie Hamman

Peggy Glaze

Verna Roy

Kim Walker

Monica Harris

Karla Johnson & Living

Waters Lutheran Church

–As they prepare for their

Guatemala mission trip

The people of Syria

Riley Sless Wilbert Talafuse

Yvette Teichman

Glenn & Delana Dromgoole

McKenna Kosanke

Cathie Fane

List will be cleared on the 1st

in January, April, July

and October. Please help us stay current; call the

office with changes or additions.

WOMEN OF THE WORD

MEETING

Monday, August 14th

6:00 p.m.

WOW Food Drive

Sunday, August 6th

Prayer Meetings

Wednesdays

August 2nd & 16th

5:30 PM

Everyone is invited!

LCMC Annual Gathering

October 8-11, 2017

Hilton Minneapolis

1001 Marquette Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN

Keynote Speakers – Worship -- Fellowship –

Networking – Service Project

Theme: We Confess Our Faith

To Register: Registration forms are available in the church

office

For more information and to register online:

www.lcmc.net/annual-gathering

Register by September 1st and save $100.00!!

Camp Eagle was awesome!! (Ask our youth about their fun time at camp.)

Mark your calendars for next year: Camp Eagle --- Summer, 2018 (TBA)

+ + + + + Thank you to Cindy Mathews and our volunteers who helped with VBS – to those who helped prepare and serve the meals for the counselors and the VBS kids and to those who donated money to cover the costs of the food! Our “Noisy Offerings” collected during June and July will help defray the cost of being one of the sponsors of the VBS this summer.

A Prayer for Students

Dear heavenly Father, hear my prayer on behalf

of those students beginning a new year of school.

Grant them, first of all, a reverent respect of Your

will and Your ways. Through their lessons, guide

them to a proper understanding of their vocation

so that they may grow to serve You by serving

their neighbors. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

--- Portals of Prayer (July-September, 2015) p.116

The community is asked to support our kids

by donating school supplies, backpacks and/or

cash donations. These may be dropped off at

Walmart from August 5th-13th or at the

ECISD Administration Building (Monday –

Thursday).

The supplies will be distributed on Saturday,

August 19th from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. here

at our Fellowship Hall. Immunizations will also

be available for those qualifying. Billie Jean

Bram is helping to coordinate this project

along with the El Campo Ministerial Alliance.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2

Prayer Meeting 5:30PM

3

4 5

6 Sunday School

9:30 AM Worship Service

10:45 AM w/Communion

WOW Food Drive

7

8

9

10 Manna Meals

5-6:30PM FLCEC Team

serves

11

12

13 Sunday School

9:30 AM Worship Service 10:45 AM

14 WOW

Meeting 6PM

15 Newsletter Items Due

16

Prayer Meeting

5:30PM

17 First School

Board Meeting 5PM

Church Council Meeting

6PM

18

19 School supplies distributed at First Lutheran

8-10AM

20 Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship Service 10:45 AM

w/Communion

21

22

23

24

25

26

27 Sunday School

9:30 AM Worship Service

10:45 AM

28

29 Church Council: Milton Johnson 979-543-6662 Sheila Herrington 979-541-4921

30 Sheila Miller 979-543-4927 Jimmy Nielsen 979-543-8476

31 Cathy Schoenfield 979-543-3001 Lynn Talafuse 979-578-3531

Daniel Wilfert 979-543-9079

August Responsibilities

ASSISTING MINISTER: Daniel Wilfert

SEXTON: Jimmy Nielsen

USHERS: Lynn Talafuse, Evon Atchetee

ALTAR GUILD: Karen Kight, Linda Atchetee

ACOLYTES READER

6th

Cathy Schoenfield 13

th Diane Stewart

20th

Helen Johnson 27

th Lynn Talafuse

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

AUGUST FLOWER

CALENDAR

August 2017

6th

Kirk & Pat Marek

13th

Open

20th

Open

27th

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.

Helen Marie Kight, Organist

Christine Richter, Office Manager Bree Joines, Director of First School

Join us on FACEBOOK or check us out at

www.FIRSTLUTHERANEC.COM

CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS: Sheila Herrington, Milton Johnson, Sheila Miller, Jimmy Nielsen,

Cathy Schoenfield, Lynn Talafuse, & Daniel Wilfert

Our Newsletter

can be found on

our website at www.firstlutheranec.com

Join us on Sunday mornings!

Sunday School – 9:30 a.m

Worship Service – 10:45 a.m.