IMMANUELGRAM July-August, 2014 VOL. 42 NO. 7 & 8

The Thirty plus Second Elevator Speech: What DO you believe?

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, “The just shall live by faith [alone]” (King James Version)

Dear Folks of Immanuel Lutheran Church,

This past summer, we celebrated the children, volunteers, teachers, and supporters of the Deshler Vacation Bible School. We had around 109-110 students. I also attended an adult lecture on the Book of Judges. The book has some pretty heavy and violent material. But God’s hand is there at work. However, I cautioned other people in the class about taking some words too literally in Judges and the Old Testament. For example, harsh laws against divorce of that time era might not be as applicable today as they were then. So the question was put to me, “So what do you believe to be true?” I had my elevator speech prepared (and practiced!)

I immediately responded with my Thirty Second Elevator Speech. This idea is from the Melanie Griffith movie, “Working Girl.” She had to convince a business executive that she had the original idea for an advertising campaign that was being plagiarized and stolen from her. She had to do all of this in a 30+ second elevator ride from floor to floor of a building. It was her “elevator speech.”

Christians could learn from this idea. For me, I cited Romans 1:17, “The just shall live by Faith alone.” Just like Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformer, I use this text as my way to interpret the whole Bible. I believe like Paul and Luther that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave three days later. My faith in the risen Lord brings me eternal life. As I read the entire Bible, I have “The Just shall live by alone” in the back of my mind. I know that there are other churches with other texts they might prefer. Some might select Acts 1:8, about the power of the Holy Spirit to create witnesses. Others like John 3:16, as a main scripture to interpret the rest of the Bible. Still our friends in the Roman Catholic tradition could select any number of passages from the General or “catholic” epistles of: 1, 2, & 3 John, 1 &2 Peter, Hebrews and James. I am keenly aware that Martin Luther did not “like” the books of James and Revelation. They are in the Bible anyway. I am flexible in discussing my faith with other Christians. But I am a Lutheran. I do not apologize for this. However, I do think that Christians should find ways to “agree to disagree” on certain doctrinal issues so they can do badly needed ministry together. (Period)

If I am pushed to make additional statements or defenses, I add that it is all spelled out in Luther’s small Catechism. This covers what I believe about: The Ten Commandments, Apostles, Creed, Lord’s Prayer, Office of Sacraments (YES…this is the “means of grace!), as well as the office of forgiveness (or Keys). All of this is anchored in scripture! My Christian faith provides: structure, hope and direction in my life. I do not apologize for being a Lutheran Christian. Yes, I know there are other faith traditions in America. That is part of what makes this a great nation. We can live with people of other views on Jesus and God. As Luther said, “Here I stand!”

Throughout this summer, I might press other people with the question posed to me, “What do you believe about the Bible, God and Jesus Christ?” What strengthens your faith? What challenges your faith? What do you think you can teach other people of faith as well as learn from them?” These are my thoughts on a humid summer day.

Sincerely, David Coffin, Pastor

Church Council Notes

Immanuel Lutheran Church Council Meeting

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Those present were: Marty Panning, Sarah Arps, Robin Tussing, Pastor Dave Coffin, and Pat Scholl.

Marty called the meeting to order, Pastor Dave gave short devotions and prayer.

May meeting minutes were reviewed and approved. The Treasurer’s report was reviewed and accepted. It was noted that the gas bill should be caught up by end of August before the next budget year begins.

Pastor Dave reported that he continued with summer duties. He is in the process of working to set up a new member class for this fall and is looking at materials for next year’s catechism classes. Could be between 10-15 kids in two classes. Will look for another adult to assist during these classes. VBS starts next week being put on by the Community Council of Churches.

Committee Reports were given:

Worship – Worship Committee is not meeting during the summer months, will resume in August.

Education - Year end party seemed to go well. The Committee will be reviewing the classroom structure based on the number of kids in each grade for the new year starting in September. A new structure for the Adult Bible Study class is being discussed

Trustees – Work on the Parking Lot is to begin on Wednesday June 11, 2014 weather permitting. Areas to be ground out and repaved hopefully complete within 1-2 weeks. Repair to the front signs was discussed, contacting an individual to see about repair and cost.

Catechism/Luther League - Materials being reviewed for the upcoming year. 10-15 kids are expected for the classes. Pastor will run two different classes and will ask for another adult assistant.

Old Business:

Capital Improvement Fundraising project update was given; $35,209.00 pledged today towards the goal of $50,000.

Thrivent Grant money for the Community Dinners/Food Give Away was discussed. The $5000 will be divided in half with $2500 to the Community Dinners and $2500 to be used for Food Give Away Program. Pat to contact Carol Huerman and Kay Yantz and let them know this decision and council’s expectations.

New Business:

Parsonage bathroom, downstairs shower is in need of repair. Christman’s will be contacted to complete the repair.

Summer worship was discussed. Saturday evening services will be in Mittermaier Hall, Sunday worship will be church unless pre-arranged through council to move due to heat. Pastor reserves the right to shorten the length of the service if needed.(i.e. not singing all versus of the hymns)

Lutheran Youth Gathering in Detroit was discussed. Pastor to inquire with the youth and their leaders on if there is any interest from the kids to attend and will report back next month.

The next council meeting will be Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 6:30p.m.

The meeting was closed with The Lord’s Prayer.

June Visitors

Susan Rayle—Deshler Janet Smith—BG

Don & Carmen Hogrefe—Deshler

July Special Offering

Wernle Children’s Home

Prayer Concerns: Kenny Scholl, Linda Babcock, Kasey Spence, Cathy Hines

Luetta Arps: 419-878-6263, Otterbein of Monclova, 5060 Otterbein Way, Monclova, OH 43542

Linda Babcock: Oak Grove Healthcare Center, 620 Water St., Deshler, OH 43516

Wilma Gerken: Oak Grove Healthcare Center, 620 Water St., Deshler, OH 43516

Charlotte Harris: Oak Grove Healthcare Center, 620 Water St., Deshler, OH 43516

Millie Hoops: Oak Grove Healthcare Center, 620 Water St., Deshler, OH 43516

Janine Moelter: 419-278-8356, 224 N. Keyser Ave., Deshler, OH 43516

Barb Schnabele: 419-278-3246, 415 Oak St., Deshler, OH 43516

Raymond Sunderman: Van Crest Health Care Center, Room 3, 600 E. Joe E. Brown Ave, Holgate, OH 43527

Martha Van Horn: 567-208-5674, Birchaven Village, 15100 Birchaven Lane, Birch Rm 53, Findlay, OH 45840

Mary Ellen Wendt: 419-425-3791, Birchaven Village, 15100 Birchaven Ln, Edelweiss Rm 14, Findlay, OH 45840

Margaret Willier: Oak Grove Healthcare Center, 620 Water St., Deshler, OH 43516

August Special Offering

Deshler Free Community Dinner

Financial Statement for the

Month of May 2014

BEGINNING BALANCE

General Fund $ -139.21

Immanuel Scholarships 150.00

Total $ 10.79

RECEIPTS

General Fund $ 11,177.00

Immanuel Scholarships 50.00

Loan from Thrivent 25,700.00

Filling Home 135.00

Total $ 37,062.00

DISBURSEMENTS

General Fund $ 10,883.08

Immanuel Scholarship

BGSU—Alex Crouse 100.00

Defiance College—Kollin Spence 100.00

Loan from Thrivent to Savings 25,700.00

Total $ 36,783.08

ENDING BALANCE

General Fund $ 154.71

Filling Home 135.00

Ending Balance $ 289.71

Memorials for the Month:

none

Thank You

MEALS ON WHEELS

Thank you for delivering meals

on wheels in June:

Misty Behrman

Myra Mays

Bill Smith

Paul & Glennadine Burner

Deshler Community

Vacation Bible School

Deshler Community Vacation Bible School (sponsored by

Deshler Council of Churches) ran from June 16 thru June 20. The

theme this year was “Workshop of Wonders: Imagine & Build with

God!” Grab a hammer, find a paintbrush, and put on your creative thinking cap! At Workshop of Wonders

VBS, kids discovered how to imagine and build with God and discovered how the ordinary becomes

extraordinary with God. We experienced the love of Jesus, started an adventure and used our imagination

and creativity to build our faith. We met people from the Bible who used what they had to produce

something amazing with God. We used our heart, mind, and imagination to participate in the creative life

of God, the one who works wonders!

We had an awesome time at VBS this year! We topped 100 students EVERY day with Wednesday

being our biggest crowd with 110 students!!!! We had anywhere from 40-50 teens and adults volunteer-

ing their time to help the area youth learn about Jesus. Our closing program on Friday featured lots of Bi-

ble School favorites along with new music like “We Are the Clay” and “That’s What I’ll Do.”

This year, the children and their families contributed canned goods to the Deshler Food Pantry and

also donated money to the VBS fund for future programs. Thank you to all who contributed their time,

talents, and snacks to make this program a huge success! We had many children asking for an extra week

of Bible School. Such an amazing feeling to know the kids were having fun learning about Jesus!!!

Students who participated in Vacation Bible School from Immanuel:

Molly Hathaway, Rhiana Arps, Kynli Crossland, Becca Hathaway, Mason Panning, Kadin VonDeylen, Lilly

Henry, Blake Rumbaugh, Gabe Wright, Ethan Johnson, Connor Neiderhouse, Karder Haas, Carys Crossland,

Lillian Cook, Kiefer Holloway, Derek Crouch, Isabell Rumbaugh, Aubrey Johnson, Marshall Panning, Cooper

Hoops, Mariah Boyer, Aubrey Sizemore, Brock Behrman, Lexi Holloway, Seth Hathaway, Aiden Behrman,

Josh Tyson, Logan Smith, Lee Hogrefe, Joesph Boden, Trista Fintel, Reegan Arps, Layke Crossland, Makayla

Panning, and Chloe Ballow.

Leaders and Helpers from Immanuel:

Judee Suber, Myra Mays, Ryan Mays, Becky Tietje, Karen Breece, Kaydi McGill, Angie & Alex Ballow,

Glennadine Burner, Hope Dangler, Lisa Hathaway, Makayla Babcock, Pastor Dave, Barb Coffin, Haley

Crouch, Ryanna Tietje, Kaity Johnson, Romulus Arps, Mackenzie Moehrman, and Tori Petersen.

Robyn Neiderhouse

VBS Director

Greeters

6 David & Nedra Bartley

13 Mike & Joan Meyer

20 Don & Carolyn Tussing

27 Sonny & Wanda Smith

Acolytes

6 Zack Moehrman

13 Romulus Arps

20 Haley Crouch

27 Kaitlyn Johnson

Readers

6 Carlene Moehrman

13 Adyson Whitman

20 Angie Ballow

27 Sheri Quiroga

Communion Assts.

6 Sarah Arps

27 Bob Poulson

Wo r s h i p A s s i st a n t s f o r J u l y

Altar Care

Hope Yarnell

Carla Yarnell

Greeters

3 John & Linda Sharpe

10

17 Paul & Glennadine Burner

24 Josh & Lacey Powell

31 Luther League

Acolytes

3 Ryder Eis

10 Kolton Holloway

17 Brett Sugg

24 Ryanna Tietje

31 Zack Moehrman

Readers

3 Susan Eis

10 Pat Scholl

17 Larry Kruse

24 Kirk Behrman

31 Lori Hogrefe

Communion Assts.

3

24

Wo r s h i p A s s i st a n t s f o r Au g u st

Altar Care

Helen Petersen

Doris Botjer

1 Andrew Pearsall

2 Marilyn Baer, Sheri Quiroga, Jessica

Myers

3 Abagail Detmer, Colby Seedorf

4 Tressa Casillas

6 James Schnabele

7 John Fitzenreiter*, Gage Seemann

8 Valerie George, Jessica Bostelman

9 Dixie Harmon, Robyn Neiderhouse,

Thomas Bergman, Serenity Siefer,

Lexi Holloway, Aubrey Johnson

10 David Krauss, John Sugg

12 Wayne Moore, Kelly Gerken,

Christopher McCance

13 Kendra Haas

14 Ladina Suber

15 Carolyn Tussing, Kyle Krauss

17 Helen Petersen*, Korrin Fry

18 Sheila Schlosser, Kaitlyn McKitrick, Jenilee Myers

20 Megan Yockey

21 Ryan Tietje, Shawn Feehan, Tessa Diem

22 Myra Mays, Phyllis Ritter, Bradley Yarnell

23 Henry Godeke, Mary Mahlman

24 Margaret Willier*, Eric Bostelman, Bailey McCance

26 Cooper Trubee

27 Mark Bilow, Ryder Eis

28 Victor Gerken*

29 Rex Tietje

30 Philip Breece, David Yarnell

31 Carla Yarnell, Kieresten Petersen

1 Brenda Haas, Daryl Fintel,

Chloe Middleton, Evelyn Aderman

2 Donald Tussing

3 Robert Rumbaugh

4 James Botjer, Dennis Panning,

Mark Tussing, Britni Junge,

Gabriel Wright

5 Luke George, Hope Dangler

6 Dennis Bremer

7 Robert Schnabele

8 George Edmonds, Lee Bassett,

Marla Hawkins, Logan Colby

9 Mark Yungmann, Matthew Botjer,

Jacob Shidler, Joshua Croy

10 Trent Meyer

11 Jenny Krauss, Derrick Panning, Loren

Bauman

12 Nicholas Vance, Melissa Stone,

13 Kaydi McGill

14 Kathi Gottschalk, Louise Bishop, Matt Follett

15 Natalie Tolles, Terry Myers

17 Zackary George

19 Darrien Feehan

20 Kenneth Scholl, John Schnabele, Josh Tyson

21 Nikita Zachrich

22 Wanda Smith

23 Jodi Johns

24 Christine Plotts, Karen Van Calster

27 Kelsey Wright

28 Rita Mahlman, Darren Haas, Darla Feehan,

Kyle Haas, Whitney Diem

29 Sarah Babcock, Molly Hathaway

30 Jason Hogrefe

31 Lisa Kennedy, Brian Varner, Tori Meyer,

Kadie Varner

fun activities!!

Deshler Free

Community Dinners

July 23 Goulash, French Bread, Salad,

Desserts, Drinks

August 27 Deli Meat & Cheese Sandwiches,

Pasta Salad, Pickles, Chips, Desserts, Drinks

SERVING 5-6:30 pm Carry outs & Delivery Available

Immanuel Lutheran Church 220 West Elm St. Deshler, OH 43516 Address Service Requested

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Permit #2 Deshler, OH 43516

Immanuel Lutheran Church Pastor David Coffin

220 West Elm St. Deshler, OH 43516

Office: 419-278-1601 Home: 419-278-0035

dbcoffin@embarqmail.com

Office e-mail: ilcdeshler@gmail.com

Worship: Saturday @ 5 pm Sunday @ 9:30 a.m.

Staff:

Secretary: Robyn Neiderhouse

Treasurer: Gerry Kruse

Council Chairperson Marty Panning

Vice-Chairperson Jesse Quiroga

Elders: Robert Poulson

Robin Tussing

Sarah Arps

Trustees: Jesse Quiroga

Marty Panning

Eric Johnson

Recording Secretary: Pat Scholl

Custodian: Eric & Mary Bostelman

Organists/Pianists: Myra Mays, Ryan Mays, &

Marsha Wendt

July 21, 2014 1:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

Please call 1-800 REDCROSS or

visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor IMMACCONCEPTIONDESHLER

to make an appointment.

Walk ins are always welcome.