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Confirmation is not an ending, but a milestone on a journey. As they affirm their Baptism, they affirm that in Baptism we are set out on a lifelong journey that is characterized by our relationship o God, our relationship to our faith community, our relationships in our community and the wider world. Our Baptism sets us out on a lifelong journey of following Jesus.

I hope you will take the opportunity to view their Faith Statement projects on display in the Narthex from April 28 - May 5 and celebrate with our 8th grade youth and their families.

On Sunday May 5 we will be celebrating with our 8th graders and their families a milestone in their faith journey, Confirmation. Confirmation at Kinsmen is a journey that includes studying scripture and the basics of the faith, forming friendships through

small groups, going to retreats and camps at Lutherhill, and serving in and through Kinsmen.

Our understanding of Confirmation is represented in the liturgy for the Affirmation of Baptism. On Confirmation Sunday, our 8th grade youth will affirm what God has already done for them. In Baptism, God united them to the life of Jesus and gave them an identity as a child of God. However, Confirmation is not graduation from church.

Pastor’s word

In Christ,

Mark England

Cody Miller has informed us that he has taken a leave from seminary. He has discerned that ordained ministry is not the path for him. We wanted him to stay and complete some of the ministry he started in the Young Adult Outreach role, but he has also resigned from his position at Kinsmen. Please keep him in your prayers and let Pastor Beth know if you have someone you would like to recommend for this position. We hope to resume this ministry as soon as possible.

The 32nd Assembly of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod will take place at Kinsmen Lutheran Church on May 17-18. The theme for the assembly, Sacred Shift, will explore the many shifts taking place in our culture, in the world, and in the church. This year we have a bishop election.

The Synod Assembly is a gathering of our congregations’ pastors, deacons,

and lay leaders for prayer, worship, learning, mutual upbuilding, elections, and business. This year, the synod is experimenting with a two-day assembly and also with meeting in a congregation. The synod wanted us to communicate this message: “Many thanks to the staff, leaders and volunteers of Kinsmen Lutheran

Church for being willing to jump into this opportunity!”

This May we will have an opportunity to host an Iftar meal with our Muslim brothers and sisters. We did this in June 2016 and so many people enjoyed this that we decided to do it again. Much of May is Ramadan which is the month where Muslims fast during the day. The Iftar meal is when they break the fast in the evening. The speaker who was here in 2016, Ozgur Karakazu, asked me again if we would like to host this meal with them. Misunderstanding is very high among Muslims and Christians and the Long Range Vision team thought this would be a good idea to do this again. We will be hosting this meal at Kinsmen on Tuesday, May 28. If you would like to attend this meal of learning with our Muslim brothers and sisters, or help host, please email Pastor Beth Warpmaeker at bwarpmaeker@kinsmenlutheran.org.

Staff Update

Kinsmen hosts Synod Assembly May 17-18!

Kinsmen hosts an Iftar meal May 28

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Kinsmen Summer University is an opportunity to learn something new, meet some new friends, and an opportunity to practice sensitive evangelism. This year’s classes are still being finalized but mark your calendars for the following:

Beer Tasting and Sing-A-Long Thursday, May 30 at 11 Below Brewery at 5:30 PM Address: 6820 Bourgeois Rd, Houston, TX 77066 Instructors: Dan Kolkhorst, Mark Hanson & John Boldt 11 Below is a local craft brewery that supports Kinsmen’s Crawfish Boil and Thanksgiving Feast. Beers are purchased using the token system. Three (3) tokens are $10 or one beer is $4. Food trucks are available onsite. You may bring your own snacks to the brewery.

DIY Plant Propagation Lecture and Hands-on Workshop Monday, June 3 at 6:30 PM Instructor: Patti Suler, Texas Master Gardener Class Sponsor: Caring for Creation Team Tips, tricks and budget friendly ways to create or expand your garden.

God and the Movies Wednesday June 5 at 6:30 PM Instructor: Rudy Flores Search for the Christ-like character in films as we explore religious movies, as well as main character development in newer movies.

CPR and AED Certification Saturday, June 8 at 9:00 AM or Monday June 17 at 6:30 PM Instructor: Capt. Steve Kramer Cost: $25 Learn the basics of CPR and how to use the AED.

“In Our Own Voice” (Mental Health) Monday, June 10 at 7:00 PM Instructor: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Class sponsor: Community of Hope A brief, yet comprehensive interactive presentation about mental illness including video, personal testimony, and discussion enriches the audience’s understanding of how people with these serious disorders cope with the reality of their illnesses

while recovering and reclaiming productive lives. Topics include: Dark Days, Acceptance, Treatment, Coping Strategies, Successes, Hopes and Dreams.

Probates, Wills and Estate Planning Wednesday, June 12 at 10:00 AM Instructor: Janice Pickett, an Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorney This class is an interactive discussion on what to do today to plan for tomorrow.

Music for Young Child (2-5 years-old) and an Adult (mommy, daddy, grandparent) Saturday, June 22 at 10:00 AM Instructor: Kristi Taylor This is a 45-minute music class with your child where you will sing, play instruments, dance, and use your imagination! This class will use music and different types of multisensory activities to enhance learning for the young child.

Reducing Waste in Homes & Houses of Worship Wednesday, June 26 at 7:00 PM Instructor: Lisa Brenskelle Class Sponsor: Caring for Creation Team. Reducing waste can have significant environmental benefits. This discussion will explain key differences in sources of waste in your home and houses of worship and teach an easy way to identify key actions to reduce waste for your waste profile.

Lotería (Mexican Bingo) TBD Class sponsor: Outreach Team

Kinsmen Summer University Registration Opens Soon

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GLIMPSES OF GRACE MARCH 2019

Noisy Offering/ TXLA Lutheran World Relief $1098.00

General Mission Support $9,948.85

Designated Mission Support $573.60

KCA Scholarship $0

Naomi/Women of the ELCA $105.00

Good Samaritan Fund $145.00

MARCH TOTAL $11,870.45

Y-T-D TOTAL $37,652.40

GLIMPSES OF SHARING GRACE:

CARE MINISTRY

APRIL 2019

Flower Delivery 39

Prayer Shawl 2

grace

Glimpses

KINSMEN BUDGET UPDATE - CHURCH ONLY

Operating Highlights for MARCH 2019

Budget Actual Variance

Total Income 124,445 150,397 25,952

Total Expenses 128,524 144,659 16,134

Net (4,079) 5,738 9,818

Year-to-date

Total Income 381,595 436,977 55,382

Total Expense 385,236 405,944 20,708

Net (3,641) 31,034 34,674

Giving Update

Thankoffering Budget Actual Variance

Month-to-Date 94,322 106,788 12,466

Year-to-Date 293,064 299,411 6,346

Total Pledges 105

Against Pledge 94

Over Paid Pledge 1

Non-Pledged 159

Total Households

Giving 254

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MAY BIRTHDAYS *

*This list is compiled from church records. If your name is missing or the information listed above is

incorrect, please notify the church office. (jhughes@kinsmenlutheran.org)

Berg, Rakel 5/1 Dunnam, Louisa 5/1 Holsberg, Emma 5/1 Jeremenko, Peter 5/1 Roth, Carter 5/1 Feldman, Paul 5/2 Garner, Evan 5/2 Needham, Cody 5/2 Zabadal, Kyle 5/2 Hjerpe, John 5/3 Kirkwood, Grant 5/3 Schroeder, Tim 5/3 Vindiola, Benjamin 5/3 Havran, Rudy 5/4 Harvey, Dawn 5/5 England, Pastor Mark 5/6 Hardy, Chase 5/6 Mc Coy, Michael 5/6 Strickler, Ashley 5/6 Hambrick, Kara 5/7 Johnson, Sandra Cavallino 5/7 Lueders, Sunetha 5/7 Parr, Abigail 5/7 Dillard, Sloane 5/8 Groth, Callie 5/8 Kobmann, Ainsley 5/8 Maisel, Mattison 5/8 Abt, Stephanie 5/9 Dankert, Matthew 5/9 Fox, Katelyn 5/9 Metting, Dave 5/9 Ashmore, Erik 5/10 Herwig, Winona 5/10 Nelsen, Jeanne 5/10 Ruen, Meagan 5/10 Plumley, Katelyn 5/11 Snyder, Carolyn 5/11

Tobin, Sean 5/11 Schmeisser, Gavin 5/12 Wehring, Michelle 5/12 Hakala, Royce 5/13 Benesh, Kyra 5/14 Williamson, Colby 5/14 Davis, Tania 5/15 Guerrero, Aaron 5/15 Johnson, Jaxsen 5/15 Smith, Andrea 5/15 Ebner, Jimmy 5/16 Moreno, Miguel 5/16 Tobin, Jeanne 5/16 Bowman, Scarlett 5/17 Peckhaus, Melesa 5/17 Vindiola, Jr. John 5/17 Warpmaeker, Rev. Mark 5/17 Augerinos, Lindsay 5/18 Holzman, Amber 5/18 Nordaker, Jane 5/18 Osmon, Tiffany 5/18 Parr, Dale 5/18 Rudy, Shirley 5/18 Watson, Jeffrey 5/18 Lockhart, Jason 5/19 Nelsen, Aidan 5/19 Wangsmo, Ben 5/19 Wilson, Olivia 5/19 Chow, Andrew 5/20 Heppner, Haily 5/20 Nott, Chuck 5/20 Awbrey, Jonah 5/21 Awbrey, Maggie 5/21 Boller, Carol 5/21 Nott, Diane 5/21 Sewell, Aaron 5/21

Groth, Doug 5/22 Hambrick, Amy 5/22 Lane, Tullia 5/22 Mulkey, Kayla 5/22 Zochert, Kenna 5/22 Ashmore, Kyle 5/23 Gillette, Jonathan 5/23 Gillette, Sarah 5/23 Walker, Russ 5/23 Fidler, Eric 5/24 Gibson, Amy 5/24 Groover, Kelly 5/24 Parliament, Ryan 5/24 Gordon, Carma 5/25 Madsen, Robert 5/25 Petrucciani, Grace 5/25 Edwards, Colette 5/26 Kloppenburg, Bob 5/26 Garlin, Lila 5/27 Hope, Robert 5/27 Maisel, Laura 5/27 Raschke, Lois 5/27 Shaw, Thomas 5/27 Bair, Nathan 5/28 Cook, Megan 5/28 Lester, Riley 5/28 Ludeman, Layne 5/28 Nau, Howard 5/28 Funke, Shannon 5/29 Gwamanda, Easton 5/29 Dillard, Hayes 5/30 Ford, Michael 5/30 Ortman, Melanie 5/30 Roth, Corrigan 5/30 Roth, Zachary 5/30 Karker, Victoria 5/31