September 2024
ACOLYTES SUPPLY
Sept 1 Hannah Wharton Sept 1 – Casey Simmons
Sept 8 Nolan Muhlenbruch Sept 8 – Pr Gloria Friedrich
Sept 15 Jaxon Verba Sept 15 – Pr Jane Granzow
Sept 22 Hannah Wharton Sept 22 – Beth Hurt
Sept 29 Nolan Muhlenbruch Sept 29 – Casey Simmons
USHERS ALTAR GUILD
Loren &; Angie Lienemann Jeanette Wenzel & family
DEACON BREAD BAKER
Kim Brinkman Jeanette Wenzel
COMMUNION SUNDAYS
September 8 th at 9:00 a.m. service
September 15 th at 10:00 a.m. service
REMEMBER – ON SUNDAY, SEPT 15 TH WE WILL SWITCH WORSHIP TIMES
FLCW QUILTERS
September 10 th at 1:00 p.m.
FIRST COUNCIL MEETING
September 11 th at 6:00 p.m.
FIRST LUTHERAN COUNCIL MEETING
July 3, 2024
President, Jean Swanson, opened the meeting with 8 members present. A motion by Mary Anderson to approve of the agenda presented was seconded by Bev Weidemann. Motion carried.
Devotions: Jean read a devotion from Psalm 119.
President’s Report: Under Business section
Secretary’s Report: Jeanne read the minutes from the June 5th meeting. Under the Trustee’s report, the church had already been sprayed for wasps and ants, so that was clarified. A motion by David Ziesman to approve of the minutes, with the correction, was seconded by Jean Swanson. Motion was carried.
Treasurer’s Report: Summer fill for LP will be done in August. Expenses from the June 2nd dinner are $411.49 but the rent for the Dows Convention Center has not yet been paid. A motion by Mary Anderson to approve of the Treasurer’s report was seconded by Craig Russell. Motion carried.
Deacon’s Report: Our members in the care centers and at home, are being called on and receiving communion monthly.
Trustee Report: Mary Anderson sprayed around the church again today. David Ziesman will be putting up the new “exit” signs in the basement. Two new lights with fans are done in the kitchen and two more were placed in the Fireside Room.
Stewardship Report: None
Old Businesss: The new water leak sensor and exit signs will be photographed and added to the Church’s insurance policy. Larry Klatt and Craig Russell’s phone #’s will be on the sensor if there is a problem. Youth Minister – discussion was held on this and it will addressed at another meeting.
New Business: Education Wing New Door – it was decided to go with Z & Z Glass out of Iowa Falls for the replacement door. The cost will be over $8000 so a Congregational meeting will be held on July 21st to approve of the expenditure. There will be notices of that meeting on July 7th and July 14th.
Monthly Meal Funds –Since the monthly meals are done by the whole community the funds should be in the Dows Ministerial account. A motion to transfer those funds to that account was made by Craig Russell and seconded by Mary Anderson. Motion carried.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Maynard Agena and seconded by Craig Russell. Meeting was adjourned. We closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
The next meeting will be held on August 14th.
Submitted by, Jeanne Russell, Council Secretary
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH
JULY 21ST
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
An announcement was made to the Congregation on July 7th and July 14th that a congregational meeting would be held on July 21st to approve of spending $8000 plus tax on the replacement door of the Education wing of the church.
President, Jean Swanson, opened the meeting following the church service on July 21st.
She explained the reason for the $8000 plus tax to be spent on the new door. She mentioned that there is some Memorial Fund money that will be used for this expense.
A motion by Judy Gorder to approve of the expense, was seconded by Kim Brinkman. The motion carried.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Submitted by, Jeanne Russell, Council Secretary
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 14, 2024
A motion to approve of the agenda presented was made by Maynard Agena and seconded by Bev Weidemann. Motion carried.
Devotions: President, Jean Swanson, read devotions.
President’s Report: Jean brought forth a concern that she received that Deacons and Acolytes have not been wearing robes at the altar. A discussion was held by the Council members about the importance of the respect and sanctity of a Deacon and Acolyte when being on the altar during our Church services. A motion by Mary Anderson for the Deacons and Acolytes to always wear robes going forward when on the altar. Discussion was held following the motion that the robes must fit.Maynard Agena seconded Mary’s motion. Motion carried.
Secretary’s Report: The minutes from July 3rd meeting were read by Jeanne. A motion to approve of the minutes as read was made by Mary Anderson and seconded by David Ziesman. The minutes from the July 21st special congregational meeting was read and a motion by Craig Russell to approve of the minutes was seconded by Maynard Agena. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: Dan Hurt reported for Beth in her absence. The church’s insurance is going to go up from $600 to $900 a year. Pictures of the updates that were requested by the Insurance Company were taken and sent in to them. The contract for LP is signed and paid for – it is the same as last year. A motion by Mary Anderson to approve of the Treasurer’s Report was seconded by Maynard Agena. Motion carried.
Deacon’s Report: All the members that are being called on, are receiving communion during each visit.
Trustee’s Report: A capacitor was put in one of the air conditioning units.
Stewardship Report: Tammy & Larry Klatt – nothing new to report
Old Business: Constitution – it was mentioned that Pastor Tanner Howard does updates for church’s constitutions, so that is going to be checked out.
Other old business: Two new fans were installed in the Fireside Room by Craig Russell and Loren Lienemann. It was discussed about having 2 more fans added to the 2 already in the kitchen and 2 more in the Fireside Room. FLCW will be asked for help with the cost of the two in the kitchen.
New Business: Dan Hurt mentioned that the computer in Shelly’s office is needing to be updated because it is not handling updates from Microsoft. Dan will check out prices to get a new computer for the office to keep it operation and secure. He said he should be able to replace it for around $900 or less. Dan told us about the advantages of purchasing a Dell product. Craig Russell made a motion that Dan could spend $800 to get a new computer for the Secretary’s office. David Ziesman seconded that motion. Motion carried.
Dan told us that Beth was very surprised with the turnout of teens for VBS this year. He said that he and Beth would be willing and very interested in having a “Teen Night” the second Sunday evening of each month. This night would include a light supper, Bible Readings, movie, games, etc. Council discussed the importance of reaching this age group and a motion was made by Mary Anderson to allow Dan & Beth $100 a month toward costs of the evenings. A second was made by Maynard Agena. Motion carried. More information on these evenings will be in the bulletins and newsletters.
Harvest Festival Potluck – Mark your calendars for a potluck dinner on November 17, 2024 following church service.
Sunday School Christmas Program – December 15th
Bethlehem Garage Sale – December 15th Snow date – December 22nd
The September Council Meeting will be held on the 11 th .
Confirmation – October 27th – Reformation Sunday Our Confirmands this year are: Nolan Muhlenbruch, Hannah Wharton and Jaxon Verba
New Confirmation Class: There are 3 possible students for the next class.
Cement by the south door is pulling away from the building and needs to be repaired before the door is replaced. Jean Swanson is getting estimates for that work.
With no further new business, a motion to adjourn was made by Larry Klatt and seconded by David Ziesman. Meeting adjourned. All members closed saying the “Lord’s Prayer”.
Submitted by, Jeanne Russell, Council Secretary
PRAYERS for the family of Roger Stover, whose funeral was held at First on July 28 th , Kris Stein, Kehra Vinsand, all of the students and staff who are headed back to school, our shut-ins and care center residents.
Blessing of the Backpacks We invite all students and teachers to bring your backpacks to church on Sunday, August 25 th to receive a blessing for this school year!
THANK YOU
To everyone that helped with the Corn Days food stand this year! First will receive $453.65 as our share of the profits. There were 52 pies donated this year! Way to go, everyone!
We had a great group of kids show up for VBS this year. Thanks go out to all of you that volunteered your time and talents to make this a special week for the kids. A BIG thanks to Beth and Dan and their family for all of the organizing and decorating. The church looked spectacular!
REMINDER
During the month of September we will once again switch our worship time and begin Sunday school. Sunday school will be held at 9:00 a.m. along with a coffee hour for those who want to come down and hang out while the kids are in class. Worship will begin at 10:00 a.m. This change takes place on Sunday, September 15 th . Make sure to keep an eye on the calendar!
Check the attached flyer for information on the yearly Vernon church service which will be held on Sunday, September 8 th . All are invited to attend
LSI September 2024 – Impact of In-Kind Donations
At LSI, in-kind gifts (non-monetary) are just as impactful as financial donations. Director of Philanthropy, Deb Whitford, was inspired by the song “If I Could Dream” by Elvis Presley. She wondered, “What would I dream about for our clients? What would our clients dream for?”
A Story by Deb Whitford:
When is a yardage not just pieces of fabric? In the hands of someone learning to sew, fabric becomes a blank canvas of possibilities. A nearly empty closet containing the few items a refugee could fit in their suitcase when traveling to the US turns into a place of pride when filled with hand-sewn clothes made from that fabric. If I could dream...I dream of curtains for bare windows and cloth to cover worn tables. I dream of the magic of small pieces of fabric fitting into beautiful patterns in quilts to brighten homes and become treasured wraps providing comfort and warmth. These dreams are becoming a reality thanks to the generosity of an LSI donor.
Connie Hansen from Audubon, Iowa, is no stranger to fabric and sewing. Connie has enjoyed sewing for much of her lifetime. In her younger years, she shared her passion for sewing, serving as a 4-H leader in Melville Township, sewing clothes for herself and daughter. Through the years, her love and passion for quilting has grown friendships with others who love the craft. Connie dreamed of keeping her newest neighbors warm with her remaining fabric and donated the yards to LSI. This fabric will be used by our newly resettled immigrant and refugee families to create quilts and clothing, helping them feel more comfortable in their new homes. We hear about dreams every day at LSI from our direct service providers, team members, and clients. Thanks to your generosity, these dreams can become reality.
Help our clients’ dreams become reality by donating in-kind gifts to LSI. To learn more, contact philanthropy@LSIowa.org.
For more information, please contact Deb Whitford, LSI’s Director of Philanthropy and Church Relations, at Deborah.Whitford@LSIowa.org or 563-676-2065.