At The Center NewsletterMay - June Web viewHowever, you consume the Word, ... it is one element of faith. – Paul Tillich. Life is a series of disastrous moments, painful moments

He Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia! What an awe-filling time of year! Even with all the yardwork to be done, cleaning up some of last autumn and winter’s “leftovers,” I marvel at what I see every day. Most everything is blooming so beautifully, and I pray that includes your vision. Whaaat? You see (pun intended), one of the most beautiful facets of Lent and Easter, is the manner in which many of us have our vision become a bit clearer. For some, significantly clearer. Through our devotions and study of scripture, either on our own, or via Bible studies, God’s Holy Spirit continues to open our minds and hearts to help our vision become more vibrant. Yes, our vision of what God wants for us, as individuals, families, and the Body of Christ. To me, one of the most powerful resurrection stories is found in Luke 24 (our Gospel lesson for April 30), typically known as “The Walk to Emmaus.” You know the story: two disciples walking toward this little-known town of Emmaus. On their way, they encounter Jesus, but had no idea it was him. As they continued their journey they listened intently to him, still having clueless it was him – until they arrived and “broke bread” him. It was then their eyes were opened, yes, their vision became clearer. Now, more than ever, their understanding of the Holy Scriptures was profoundly more defined. Believe me – that happens every day! Being steadfast in scripture and prayer opens our eyes, hearts, and minds, allowing God’s Spirit to help us “see” with more clarity and understand with better purpose of where God is directing you/us. As we move through the Easter season, with God’s creation becoming fuller and more colorful, I pray you will join me in spending more time in God’s exciting - even animated – Word. Perhaps you’ll take extra time each Sunday morning at 9:30, and join the growing crowd in the “Adult Form Bible Study.” However, you consume the Word, I am confident God will help you see with a vision far beyond your wildest imagination. You’ll see what I mean!He Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!

Living Every Second!

Pastor Bob

At The Center Newsletter

May - June 2017

IN THIS ISSUEFrom the PastorMember UpdateChurch Mouse

Son-Rise ReCapHeritage Sale

Undercroft PlayersArticle: The TrinityFlower Order FormChurch Asst’s List

Member UpdateWe pray for these folks every Sunday during worship. As a family of God, we are called to keep these folks in our personal prayers. Please pray for their comfort and peace.

Rick Mitchell, Lillian Steele, Ruth Grodrian, Margie Simpson, Gladys Dorsey, Gene Ames, Trevor Andary, Ralph Sager, Barbara Shepherd, Jean Harman & family and Jenna Craig.

Please remember our homebound members in your prayers.

May: Paul Shank 05/01Sandy Wilmoth-Frazier 05/06Curtis HayesJudy Frech 05/10Peter Bracher 05/20Paul Tober 05/20Kyle Dicke 05/22Laura Monington 05/22Lois Haber 05/26Sandy George 05/30

June Ruth Grodrian 06/21Louise Bauman 06/25Pastor Bob Swanson 06/27

Light from the sun takes eight minutes and 18 seconds to reach the earth.

– Wikipedia.org

Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith. – Paul Tillich

Life is a series of disastrous moments, painful moments, unexpected moments, and things that will break your heart. And in between those moments, that’s when you savor, savor, savor. – Sandra Bullock

Son-Rise Breakfast Jan/Feb RecapDate #Worship #Meals # of People Mar 05 31 116 60*First Lutheran Dayton Mar 12 27 63 47Good Shepherd Kettering Mar 19 19 139 68St John Miamisburg Mar 26 24 115 70Good Shepherd Kettering (Youth) Totals 101 433 245

Date #Worship #Meals # of People Apr 02 32 125 70*First Lutheran Dayton Apr 09 27 133 79Good Shepherd Kettering Apr 16 79 133 32St John Miamisburg Apr 23 87 104 19Good Shepherd Kettering

(Youth)Apr 30 TBDTotals 225 495 200

HERITAGE SALEMay 18th & 19th, 2017

Fellowship Hall

The 1st Ladies of FLC will be having an indoor sale in May as an “in-reach” mission. Proceeds will benefit First Lutheran Church. We’re calling it a “Heritage Sale”, just as the ladies of FLC did years ago. Do you have any “gently used” items in your home that you would like to donate for a good cause? This is the perfect way to clean out your home and bless our wonderful church.

Please bring your items (includes any jewelry) to the church so we can get them priced and organized for the sale. Sharon Houseman and Judi Gilbertson will be joyfully collecting.

Most of all, please come to the sale. We will have a “pre-sale” for the church family on the Sunday, May 7th immediately following the 10:30 worship service (before the official sale for the public on Thursday, May 18 th and Friday, May 19th. Enjoy fellowship with your church family and take home a treasure!!

Undercroft PlayersSchedule

2017-2018 Season: Second Chances

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play

November 16-19, 2017

This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. The story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve.

The Selfish Giant Adapted by Michelle Van Loon

Youth Production - April 19-22, 2018

Oscar Wilde’s classic religious themed children’s story about a Selfish Giant who wouldn’t share his beautiful garden becomes a joyous play that touches on themes of friendship and heart-changing faith.

Little Old Ladies in Tennis Shoes By Sandra Fenichel Asher

Adult Production — August 9-12, 2018

Kate Corrigan has her life in order and a new house in the suburbs, and when she meets her new neighbor and her grandson, they overwhelm Kate's tiny existence with a roller coaster friendship and the problems of the elderly women on the block.

The Trinity“Good teachers are big talkers,” he said to me. I found this an interesting observation since this was coming from a man who had spent his entire life preparing teachers to teach in elementary schools. “They are people who are effusive, ubiquitous in their interaction with people. They are everywhere, all the time, talking.”

From our experience, and the testimony of scripture, our God seems to be like that – effusive, loquacious. Think of the Bible as a long story of God’s attempted conversation with humanity. We keep rejecting the words of God, turning in another direction, worshiping false gods, attempting to hide, evade, or end the conversation. But God keeps coming back to us. God comes to us in the lives of the patriarchs, in the words of the prophets, in the gift of God’s law. Then, stopping at nothing, God comes to us as the Son – as Jesus. Even when we hung him on a cruel cross, thinking that had probably ended relations between us and God, in three days, God came back to us as the risen Christ. God keeps coming back, again, and even again.

On Pentecost, we conclude the church’s celebration of the great 50 days of Easter; God’s supreme coming back to us in the resurrected Christ. But we end Easter in the confidence that we do not end God’s continuing conversation with us. This God is loquacious, effusive.

One way the church has historically attempted to talk about God’s effusiveness, God’s ubiquitous and loquaciousness is through the Trinity. Don’t think of the Trinity as some incomprehensible doctrine of the church, though God’s plenitude is often beyond our comprehension. Think of the Trinity as our earnest, though groping attempt, somehow to put into words what we have experienced of the overflowing love of God.

We might have been able to say, at some early point, “We all believe in the same God.” However, we believe that God came to us as Jesus. We believe that Jesus is God. And after experiencing that, all of our notions of God had to go back to the drawing table. If Jesus Christ is God, then we have a challenge in talking about God.

When God came to us as the Son, Incarnate in Jesus, God did not have to say, “Call me by my proper name, Trinity.” God didn’t have to. We did. That is, on the basis of our experience of God as complex, ubiquitous, and overflowing with love as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we just naturally started speaking of God as Trinity. We experienced God in these ways. Though it was the same God that we had experienced as the great creator of the world, the Father of Israel, now we also experienced God in the flesh as Son, as the power flowing from God, the Holy Spirit.

There is a modern word for talking about this dynamic structure: synergy. Within the Trinity, there is constant movement, interaction, as the Father gives to the Son, and the Son is constantly returning praise and glory to the Father, and the Father and the Son give to the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit constantly draws everything back to the Father and the Son. There is the beloved, the lover, and the love.

Not long ago, at a party, a friend and I watched a skillful hostess work the room filled with her guests. She moved from one person to the next, introducing people, helping them to meet one another, helping them to make contact, making community out of a group of strangers.

“She’s a perfect host,” I said. She wasn’t going to rest until everyone had been brought into the party. She was going to use any means at her disposal to get everyone connected, involved.

God, says the doctrine of the Trinity, is just like that.– William H. Willimon, excerpted with permission from Pulpit Resource, © Logos Productions.

2017 Geranium Order Form

for Pentecost Sunday June 4th

Tis the season again to order beautiful geraniums to honor and remember loved ones, and make the sanctuary beautiful at the same time. We will display the geraniums in the sanctuary for Pentecost Sunday, June 4th and then you may take your flowers home or they will be planted on the church lawn. Fill out the order form below and return it to the church office. Last day to order geraniums will be Sunday, May 28th.

NAME: _____________________________________________

IN HONOR OF: _____________________________________________

IN MEMORY OF: ____________________________________________

NUMBER OF PLANTS: _____ @ $5.00$___________

AMOUNT ENCLOSED: $___________

PLEASE MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH

May & June 2017 Church Assistants

All MayCounters: Paul Tober & Jean Harman

Ushers: John & Cathy Grody

May 07Organist: Linda SchuttLector: Joy JohnsonCommunion: Lois Mariscalco, Judy Zembo

and Sharon HousemanGreeter: Barb Ehler

May 14Organist: Ellen BagleyLector: Debbie DickeCommunion: Debbie & Steve Dicke

and Curtis Hayes Greeter Barb Ehler

May 21Organist: Linda SchuttLector: Michelle KlimkeCommunion: Sandy George, Joy Johnson

And Louise BaumanGreeter: Barb Ehler

May 28Organist: Ellen BagleyLector: Paul ShankCommunion: Karen & Paul Tober and` Judi GilbertsonGreeter: Barb Ehler

May Fellowship Cookies

07 Stephanie Brennan14 Debbie Dicke21 Michelle Klimke28 Wanetta Swanson

All JuneCounters: Sandy George & Judy Zembo

Ushers: Lois Mariscalco & Michelle Klimke

June 04Organist: Linda SchuttLector: Sharon HousemanCommunion: Jim Whitmore, Cathy Grody

And Paul KlimekGreeter: Barb Ehler

June 11Organist: Ellen BagleyLector: Jessy KigerCommunion: Sandy George, Joy Johnson

And Louise BaumanGreeter: Barb Ehler

June 18Organist: Linda SchuttLector: Cathy GrodyCommunion: Curtis Hays, Sharon Houseman

And Judy ZemboGreeter: Barb Ehler

June 25Organist: Ellen BagleyLector: Christopher BrennanCommunion: Karen & Paul Tober and

Lois MariscalcoGreeter: Barb Ehler

June Fellowship Cookies

04 Sandy George11 Karen Tober18 Barb Ehler25 TBD

First Lutheran Church Activity Calendar/May ►

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat017:30 pm Monday NIte Miracles

8:00 pm Alcoholics Anon

02 1:30 pm Staff Mtg4:00 pm Alcoholics Anon5:15 pm Restoring Hope Chapel Lounge7:30 pm Gambler’s Anon

03 04

:00 am/First Cup/Café

7:30 pm Gambler’s Anon

056:30 pm TOL

Cinco de Mayo

0612:00 NoonLife Line Ministries LunchFellowship Hall


078:00 am Son Rise Brkfast8:30 am First Praise9:30 am Bible Study10:30 am Trad. Worship7:00 pm Cocaine Anonymous7:30 pm Gambler’s Anon

087:30 pm Monday NIte Miracles


092:00 pm Widow’s Home4:00 pm Alcoholics Anon5:15 pm Restoring Hope Chapel Lounge7:30 pm Gambler’s Anon

10 11

7:00 am/First Cup/Café


12 138:30 am Men’s Bible Study Breakfast11:00 a.m TOL12:00 Noon My Brother’s Keeper Lunch/Fellowship Hall


14 Mothers’ Day8:00 am Son Rise Brkfast8:30 am First Praise9:30 am Bible Study10:30 am Trad. Worship7:00 pm Cocaine Anonymous7:30 pm Gambler’s Anon



16

4:00 pm Alcoholics Anon7:30 pm Gambler’s Anon

17 187:00 am/First Cup/Café7:30 pm Gambler’s Anon

196:30 pm TOL

20Armed Forces Day

12:00 NoonLife Line Ministries LunchFellowship Hall8:00 pm Alcoholics Anon





24 25

7:00 am/First Cup/Café7:30 pm Gambler’s Anon

26 2711:00 a.m TOL

12:00 NoonMy Brother’s Keeper LunchFellowship Hall



29 Memorial Day Office Closed4:30 pm Monday NIte Miracles8:00 pm Alcoholics Anon


31

HML Ministries: Holds worship service every Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel Lounge

First Lutheran Church Activity Calendar/June 2017 ►

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat017:00 am/First Cup/Café


02

6:30 pm TOL

03


04 Day of Pentecost8:00 am Son Rise Brkfast8:30 am First Praise9:30 am Bible Study10:30 am Trad. Worship7:00 pm Cocaine Anonymous7:30 pm Gambler’s Anon230 pm Piano Recital



06


07 08



09 10 11:00 a.m TOL8:30 am Men’s Bible Study Breakfast12:00 Noon My Brother’s Keeper Lunch/Fellowship Hall8:00 pm Alcoholics Anon


127:30 pm Monday NIte Miracles8:00 pm Alcoholics Anon

131:30 pm Staff Mtg



14

Flag Day

15

7:00 am/First Cup/Café7:30 pm Gambler’s Anon

16

6:30 pm TOL

17


18 Father’s Day8:00 am Son Rise Brkfast8:30 am First Praise9:30 am Bible Study10:30 am Trad. Worship7:00 pm Cocaine Anonymous7:30 pm Gambler’s Anon



202:00 pm Widow’s Home



21

Summer Begins



23 2411:00 am TOL12:00 NoonMy Brother’s Keeper LunchFellowship Hall8:00 pm Alcoholics Anon

Earth Day258:00 am Son Rise Brkfast8:30 am First Praise9:30 am Bible Study10:30 am Trad. Worship7:00 pm Cocaine Anonymous7:30 pm Gambler’s Anon

2630 pm Monday NIte Miracles


27 28 29 30

HML Ministries: Holds worship service every Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel Lounge

First Lutheran Church/Rev. Bob Swanson138 W. First St., Dayton, OH 45402Tel.: 937-222-7848/Fax: 937-222-7849Pastor’s Cell: 937-238-7238 [email protected] email: [email protected]

Announcements

Office closed Memorial Day, May 29, 2017

*Don’t forget to cut out and fill out your order form for your geraniums and mail in. We encourage you to leave the flowers so we may plant them in the front flower bed of the church

Men’s Monthly Prayer Study Breakfast -The breakfast will be 2nd Saturday of each month at 8:30 a.m. Bring your neighbor or a friend along, all are welcome!!

Widow’s Home Service/Address: 50 S Findlay St, Dayton, OH 45403). Worship service every second Tuesday of each month at 2:00 p.m.

Monthly Staff Meetings: First Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m.

FLC will be hosting an Informative Mtg on Heroin

One of the biggest menaces in Dayton - a killer to be more precise - is heroin. It is taking the lives of God's children of ALL ages, in ALL areas! That in mind, there will be a very informative meeting at First Lutheran discussing this very disturbing dilemma on Sunday, May 21, from 3:00 - 5:00 PM, in the Fellowship Hall. Knowledge is power, and the more we know about heroin and its choke-hold on people, the better we will all be.

Please make plans to attend - bring your entire family. While there will be light snacks and beverages, the feast is the information you'll receive. Hope to see you on the 21st!

May & June Worship Services

Service of Holy Communion8:30 a.m. First Praise/Fellowship Hall10:30 a.m. Traditional Liturgy/Sanctuary

Other Sunday Activities8:00 a.m. Son-Rise Breakfast/Fellowship Hall9:30 a.m. Adult Bible Study/Chapel Lounge

http://www.firstlutheranchurchdayton.com/

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:937-238-7238%[email protected]

mailto:937-238-7238%[email protected]

Documents

At The Center NewsletterMay - June Web viewHowever, you consume the Word, ... it is one element of faith. – Paul Tillich. Life is a series of disastrous moments, painful moments