FIRST FRUITS WE GIVE OUR FIRST FRUITS BECAUSE HE GAVE US HIS ONLY SON
August 2014 Volume 17 No. 8
First Fruits – August
A Change is in the Air!
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born,
and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn,
and a time to dance.” Ecclesiastes 3: 1-4
If the author of Ecclesiastes is to be believed, there is a time for everything. I was speaking with someone just yesterday about how even though we may be in the height of our “hot” season, there is a noticeable glimpse of fall in the air. Not so much how it feels perhaps, but how the sun light just shines a bit differently through sometimes hazy skies...or maybe it’s because we are entering into a season of transition, a season full of potential and of a fruitful harvest.
Recently, our gospel readings have been rich in agricultural imagery. We have been reminded that good seed has been sown on good soil here at First Lutheran. So as the corn and the cotton are harvested around us, let’s contemplate the direction in which the Holy Spirit calls us to sow good things that we may also reap a good harvest.
Please keep First School and Daycare in your daily prayers as school board, pastor and staff have embarked on a new time of revitalization and re-energizing of the school. Please pray for the School Board and staff as they enter into a season of special training in order that First School grow into a high quality early childhood program. The harvest will be plentiful…of young children who will be ready for school as well as growing in the love of the Lord. We look forward to sharing more news on this in the days ahead.
I look forward to entering into this year’s harvest fields together with you. July 27th marks a new beginning. So let’s be ready
to move forward into whatever direction God intends for us. Together, in being attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, I look forward to reaping an abundant harvest in the days ahead.
Pastor Donna
August 7th- Last Youth Night---All Hands on Deck for the Splash Party! Join us in celebrating the end of summer with the staff and families of First School and Daycare: 3:30-6:00: Bring your own chairs, and enjoy the children as they engage in "messy" art activities and games, water slides and wading pools under the trees! Then plan to stay for Youth Night: 6:00-8:30 and meet the kids who have been joining us every Thursday this summer. I am looking for some of you to help distribute flyers and release forms throughout the community and around the neighborhood as some of the kids I have spoken with are very interested. Since additional neighborhood youth are expected this night, a registration table will need to be set up outdoors and "personed" as we will need to make sure release forms are obtained for all of our neighbors who plan to attend. All hands will need to “be on deck” as there may be early arrivals. Everything will be set up outdoors between the church and school this evening. I will need water hoses available to run from the nearest water source (probably the parsonage) and people to help set up at 2:00. We will need plenty of people power to tear down following the activities. We will play first; then eat pizza, popcorn and snow cones following the activities that night.
Sunday, August 24: A Back-to-School Blessing will be given at our 10:45 worship service for students of every age (children - college students) and for returning teachers, both public and private school, as well as our Sunday School teachers.
Youth and Adult Sunday School will not meet during the month of August as we undergo preparation for the upcoming ministry year. Classes will resume on Sunday, September 7. We are in the process of program planning and choosing group studies for both youth and adults.
Youth Sunday School Teachers: If you are interested in joining our Children’s Sunday School teaching team, please let either Pastor Donna or Nora Borak know. Rest assured that the benefits are “out of this world”!
Mary and Martha Bible Study: We will be using the book: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy With God in the Busyness of Life. The best way to be ready for our class which will
begin on Wednesday, September 10 is to go onto amazon.com and choose your preferred format yourself. I will be happy to place an order for you, though. The price of the book will range somewhere between $5.00 and $16.00 as it looks right now. If you wish for me to order for you, I will continue to search for the best price and will let you know when I place the order.
First School
And Day Care ews
Once August arrives it will be three
weeks before school starts again! This
summer has gone so fast. We will be winding
up most of our summer activities during the
first week of August and then we will have
once a week movies until school begins.
First School is open to children ages six
weeks to 12 years. Our hours are 7:00 a.m. to
6 p.m.
Blessings to All,
First School
8/03 Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21;Isaiah 55:1-5, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21
8/10 Psalm 85:8-13; I Kings 19:9-18, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33
8/17 Psalm 67; Isaiah 56:1,6-8, Romans 11:1-2a,29-32, Matthew 15:[10-20], 21-28
8/24 Psalm 138; Isaiah 51:1-6, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20
8/31 Psalm 26:1-8; Jeremiah 15:15-21, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28
2014 LCMC Texas District Convention
August 1 & 2, 2014 Faith Lutheran Church Seguin, Texas
Focus: As is our custom in LCMC, we will focus our energies on Christ, Fellowship and Mission. We will handle some business, but it will be kept to a minimum.
Keynote Speakers:
Pastor Chris Magnell Pastor Steve Lien Pastor Paul Cross
Meridian - Henrietta Bram, room 402
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: [email protected]
8/03 Gaynard Wiggington
8/06 Haley Stewart
8/07 Ella Hernandez
8/10 Amy Konarik
8/10 Joseph Rosniak
8/11 Avery Falcon
8/12 Milton Johnson
8/16 Emma Nelson
8/21 Lorene Bard
8/21 Lionel Chatel
8/28 Norma Newton
8/30 Donald Carlsen
8/01 Dorothy Atchetee
8/01 Jan Nelson
8/01 Diane Stewart
8/03 David Kight
8/06 Dagney Thane
8/09 Paul Bard
8/13 Helen Kight
8/13 Ruth Speckles
8/25 Lionel Chatel
8/25 Matthew Stewart
8/29 Landon Thane
8/13 Bill & Ruth Speckles
8/14 Jimmy & Sharon Nielsen
8/14 Reygan & Belinda Sharp
8/31 Rodney & Donna Zipp
COUNCIL MEETING Thursday, August 14
th
7:00 p.m.
Our FLC Family Haley Stewart Lloyd Nelson
Dorothy Atchetee Esther Swanson Gloria Schoenfield
Evon Atchetee J.P. & Charlotte Watson Andy Talbert
Charles & Vernell Bard All caregivers of FLC Cathy Fane
Lorene Bard First School Steve Henderson
Lois Barosh Summer Youth Program Darlene Taylor
Buck & Judy Bezdek Clint Lannen
Bill Englund Friends of FLC ARC of El Campo
Elenora Hadash Donald Berglund Glenna Willey Zanes
Thomas Wayne Hernandez Joan Carter Charles Lucas
Nora Hollingsworth Mary Carter Shawn & Abby Freeman
Robert Hollingswoth Eddie Graeter Thelma Loshe
Bonnie Jones Ashlyn Hanna Vanessa
Justin Lormand Cindy Howell EC Volunteer Firefighters
Forrest & Norma Newton Debbie Hubenak EC Paramedics
Odis & Lorraine Newton Michael Hughes Curt Hall
Jimmy & Sharon Nielsen George Jalowy Cathy Leopold
Elsie Overstreet Connie Martin Dave Schoelman
Ted Schoenfield Mary & Frank Medina Lawrence Berglund
Nancy Mozicek
Pray for our
loved ones In the Military
Jake Barosh Justin Cerny
Sarah Langston Michael Monreal
Pastor Donna Zipp:
Email: [email protected] Phone: 979-332-2938
WOMEN OF THE WORD
MEETING
Monday, August 11th
WOW Food Drive
Sunday, August 3rd
+ + + + + + + + +
Flower Chart
There are open dates on the Flower Chart for the month of August. The Sundays, August 10th and 31st, are open. Please check the chart and sign up if you would like to provide flowers for those Sundays.
Prayer Meetings
August 5th & 19th
6 PM
Everyone is invited!
A Prayer for Pastors Almighty God, through your Son Jesus Christ you gave the holy apostles many gifts and commanded them to feed your flock. Inspire all pastors to preach your Word diligently and your people to receive it willingly, that finally we may receive the crown of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
---Lutheran Book of Worship, p.46
Service of Ordination And Installation
For Donna Lou Zipp
Sunday, July 27 3:00 PM
First Lutheran Church
304 Oscar El Campo, Texas
You are cordially invited to join us in
presence and prayer for this joyous occasion!
Following the service, a light meal and refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall.
Mary and Martha Bible Study
Wednesday, September 10
We will be using the book:
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy With God in the
Busyness of Life. Please sign up in the folder in the Narthex or in the church office.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Kyle and Megan House on the birth of their son, Kutter, on Wednesday, July 16. Congratulations also to grandparents, Kirk and Nerissa House, great-grandmother, Jewel-Deen House, and great-aunt, Sheila Miller.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
3 NO Sunday School
Worship Service w/Communion
10:45 AM WOW Food Drive
4 5 Prayer
Meeting 6PM
6
7 Summer Youth
Program 6-8:30PM
(Last session) Splash Party!
1/8
2/9 Fellowship Hall
reserved for 8/2/2014
10 NO Sunday School
Worship Service 10:45 AM
Friendship Sunday
11 WOW Meeting
6PM
12 orn
13
14 Church Council
7PM
15
16
17 NO Sunday School Worship Service w/Communion 10:45 AM
18
19 Prayer
Meeting 6PM
21
22
23
24 NO Sunday School Worship Service 10:45 AM Rally Day
25 26 Newsletter Items Due
27
28
29
30
31 NO Sunday School Worship Service 10:45 AM
August Responsibilities
ASSISTING MINISTER:
SEXTON: Evon Atchetee
USHERS: Lynn Talafuse, Daniel Wilfert
ALTAR GUILD: Karen Kight, Linda Atchetee
ACOLYTE READER
3rd
Sawyer Schoenfield Karen Middlebrook 10
th Sawyer Schoenfield Don Al Middlebrook
17th
Sawyer Schoenfield Jaki Smith 24
th Sawyer Schoenfield Ted Schoenfield
31st
Sawyer Schoenfield Sheila Herrington
If you are unable to serve on your date, please find someone to take your place.
AUGUST FLOWER
CALENDAR
August 2014
3rd
James & Diane Stewart
10th
Open
17th
Leroy & Billie Jean Bram
24th
J.P. & Charlotte Watson 31
st
Open
First Lutheran Church
304 Oscar
El Campo, TX 77437
979-543-5847
Email: [email protected]
ESTABLISHED FEB 1893
Worshipping Christ and Sharing the Word for over a century.
Donna Zipp, Interim Pastor Helen Marie Kight, Organist
Christine Richter, Office Manager Lionel Chatel, Technology Specialist Diane Garcia, Director of First School
Join us on FACEBOOK or check us out at
www.FIRSTLUTHERANEC.COM
CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS: Calvin Borak, Billie Jean Bram, Nerissa House, Doug Mathews,
Don Al Middlebrook, Ted Schoenfield, & Daniel Wilfert.
Our Newsletter
can be found on
our website at www.firstlutheranec.com
Friendship
Sunday
Join us for Friendship Sunday on
August 10th
!
Sunday School – 9:30 a.m.
Worship Service – 10:45 a.m.
Luncheon – 12:15 p.m.