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TRANSCRIPT
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On The
Road With
Jesus
Greetings to all the Saints at First Lutheran Church, Manhattan,
The theme of this month’s First Matters issue is “On the Road with Jesus.” This theme suggests a pilgrim-
age and future orientation. This forward movement is appropriate for a discussion of the interim process.
The interim process is always a threefold focus on the past, present and future. We examined our history
and its meaning for us in the present. The second focus is the present. We study ourselves as an organiza-
tion. We examine how we organize ourselves for ministry and mission. We observe how we communicate
and make decisions to maintain our organization in an orderly and efficient manner. We discover how our
values guide our congregational life at all levels. The third focus is the future of First Lutheran.
The focus on our future is now on our agenda. We have make progress in the first two time perspectives
as mentioned above. We now change our perspective to the future of our congregation. What do we see in
our future? What changes will need to happen to realize our vision for being God’s people in this place?
How do we discern our place in God’s plan in the world? How will we relate to our community as it
changes?
These questions are critical for you. The pursuit of God’s plan for your future is always a frightening en-
deavor. As you open yourselves to the anxiety of the unknown, you will realize that you can trust the pro-
cess of following our Lord into the mysterious future. Yes, you will not know the answers in advance.
However, the honest dialogue in the pursuit of your answers does build confidence in the process of seek-
ing. Through an open process you will grow in your understanding of each other. You will be built up
(edified) by each person’s contribution to this quest. Perhaps this process will provide unity and common
commitment through this task. You would not be the first congregation that experienced growth in a sense
of community.
As you develop your hard sought vision, you will reap another benefit that may not seem apparent. Your
vision for the future will provide the basis for engagement and valuable dialogue with the pastoral candi-
dates that you will interview. Your plan for your future will serve to provide a basis for deciding the pas-
tor that you need versus the pastor that you that you want. From the perspective of the pastoral candidate,
he/she will find the opportunity to interview with a congregation that has a vision and direction for its fu-
ture will be a gratifying and spiritual experience for both of you. Your ability to present your future will
allow you to make an articulate and clear decision as to the fit between you and your new pastor.
For all of these reasons and many more, I urge you to take the opportunity to participate at whatever level
you find comfortable.
Last but not least, you should pray without ceasing for the Transition Team, Council, the future Call
Committee, guidance from the Holy Spirit and your potential new pastor. I do hope that you are already
including me in your prayers.
God’s Love frees us to follow and to serve.
On The Road With Jesus
William O. George, Intentional Interim Pastor
Have you ever taken a really awesome road trip? For me,
it was a trip that I took with five friends after my fresh-
man year at K-State. My cousin was completing an in-
ternship at a big cattle ranch near Dalhart, Texas. He in-
vited me to come down and see him, so I invited a few
friends, loaded my Dodge Durango, and headed south.
This is the first time I had taken a large trip like this with-
out my parents. It was thrilling.
Now, if you have ever driven down US 54 past Wichita, then you know that there is not much to see.
The road was straight, flat, and quite frankly, boring. I was hoping for a little more scenery and ex-
citement my first time out. After ten hours in the car, we finally arrived at our destination, had a nice
visit and enjoyed emersion ourselves in West Texas culture.
We decided to take a different way home. None of us had ever been to New Mexico, and according to
our Rand McNally, it was only about an inch from Dalhart. The terrain began to change as we headed
further west. We saw a sign publicizing a mountain that used to be a live volcano and decided to
check it out. We entered the park and noticed a road spiraling up the mountain. How exciting! We
were sad to discover, about halfway up, that the road taking you to the top was closed. Budget cut-
backs had caused the parks department to reduce hours, and the park was only open on the weekend.
So we were forced to turn around and continued on our journey.
Our appetites were set for altitude, so we headed to Colorado Springs with hopes that we would be
able to ascend Pike’s Peak. Sure enough, that park was open and we were able to climb all the way to
the top. This was the first time up for most of us and the experience was exhilarating – a far cry from
southwest Kansas. There was one guy, though, that did not handle the experience well. He started
raging, “Let me out of here!” The combination of the heights and claustrophobia was too much for
him. He took his eyes off the beauty around him and allowed himself to be gripped by fear. I stopped
the car, allowing him time to compose himself and we continued up the mountain. We enjoyed the
views and then started home.
Being on the road with Jesus is much like my road trip.
Sometimes the road is straight and flat. You occasionally
have a detour or two, and sometimes even have to turn around
and go another way. Other times you feel as if you are as-
cending or descending a mountain. These times can make
you feel out of control and helpless. It is important to remem-
ber that Jesus is in the driver’s seat and God puts people in
our lives to help us navigate the scary parts. We are all on the
road together. One of life’s greatest purposes is to be there
for one another and we follow the Way found in Jesus Christ.
Road Trip
By Kyle Olson, AiM, Director of Spiritual Growth
Trusting in the Lord to Lead Us
By Sarah Diamond, Director of Congregational Life
Have you ever traveled somewhere by foot or automobile and even when you thought you knew where you were going, this was not really the case? Let me share a personal experience with you. Last year, my husband and I set out for what seemed like a lovely afternoon hike in the mountains of Colorado. I was somewhat familiar with the area being raised in Colorado although, this was many years ago now. Needless to say after several hours, no surroundings appeared familiar, but I had faith. I knew the Lord would lead us back to the parking lot safely! While I am a firm believer in the power of Mother Nature and how this impact the mind, body, and spirit, I certainly did a lot of reflecting that day!
As you know, we are currently experiencing a major transitional period. During this journey, there is a lot of learning occurring. While we are undergoing change, we cannot necessarily have a roadmap of exactly where we are going to be in the next several months. As long as we trust in the Lord and work together as a congregation during this time, amazing results will occur. We are all traveling this road together and learning from one another a lot as a result. I personally have learned a lot about my ministry are-as during this transitional period. I believe we are truly powered by Jesus to do amazing work. Each of us have unique gifts we bring to the church, our communities, and per-sonal lives. Now that we are in the Season of Lent, this is a time of being rejuvenated. I pray that you may be invigorated and have faith that as a congregation, we will be where we need to be during this journey of calling a new pastor. Speaking of being rejuvenated, I encourage you to participate in Walk Kansas which be-gins March 15 through May 9. This program encourages healthy living and is inspiring! Participants can registers as an individual or team. Please contact the church office for more details.
Photograph by Sarah Diamond
After the Baptism of Jesus by John, a voice came from heaven and said “You are my Son, the Beloved: with you I am well pleased.” Immediately, the spirit came and drove him out of the water and into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan for 40 days…and the angels waited on him. It was after these 40 days that Jesus went on the road proclaiming the good news of God’s message on the way to Jerusalem.
Along the journey, Jesus’s ministry unfolded as he gathered his disciples and patiently taught them who he was and where they were going. He performed many miracles, healed the sick, and taught parables along the way to thousands of followers. Not all the towns accepted him and he was scorned by many of his own people. It is during this time in being questioned about resurrection, Jesus reminds the disciples that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
On our journey through the 40 days of Lent, ending with the Easter celebration of life and re-newal, we will encounter many ways to understand our faith, sometimes by being tempted like Jesus in the wilderness. To go on this road we must ask ourselves, just as Jesus asked his dis-ciples “But who do you think I am?” It is this question we need to ask ourselves as we carry out Jesus’s ministry here in this place. How can we understand the path before us if we don’t know who Jesus is? We need to remember the transfiguration when the clouds parted and the voice of God came to those who were there saying “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”
On our path through the wilderness we will be reminded that Jesus proclaimed the first com-mandment to be “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater that these”
Let the road ahead of us be like being on the road with Jesus – teaching, being patient with each other, feeding the poor, healing the sick - walking with the living God at our side and knowing that the greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves.
On the Road: Loving Your Neighbors
By Kathryn Focke, Director of Evangelical Outreach
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No.531
Manhattan, KS 66502
Return Service Requested
First Lutheran Church 930 Poyntz Avenue
Manhattan, KS 66502
Phone:785-537-8532
Fax: 785-539-3507
Email: [email protected]
We’re On The Web!
Www.Firstlutheranmanhattan.org
“Rooted In Christ, we are growing in faith to bear fruit in the
world.” Pastor Bill George
Interim Pastor
Kyle Olson, AiM
Director of Spiritual Growth
Sarah Diamond
Church Admin./Dir. Of Congregational Life
Kathryn Focke
Director of Evangelical Outreach
Becky Marsh
Communication Specialist
Susan Schindler
Bookkeeper
Catherine Carmichael
Volunteer and Organization Assistant
Classifieds Choice Dollars March Offering
Food Pantry
Nutrition Awareness
This designated offering gives
each of us the opportunity to
make a transformational impact
on the ministries of our ELCA
church. It increase ELCA’s ca-
pacity to support congregation-
al renewal, the planting of new
congregations, and supports
disability ministry. The goals
are to start more congregations,
grow and renew our existing
communities of faith, and ex-
pand ministries with people
living with disabilities. Our
contributions help the ELCA
expand our mission capacity
and achieve things on a scale
and scope that we could never
do alone. To designate your
contribution to this ministry put
“Always Being Made New” on
your envelope or the memo
line of your check.
If you haven’t already done so, be
sure to direct your designated
Thrivent Choice Dollars by March
31, 2014. After that date, any un-
directed Choice Dollars will ex-
pire. Don’t miss this opportunity
to help support First Lutheran. Go
to Thrivent.com/thriventchoice or
800-THRIVENT and state
“Thrivent Choice”.
The food pantry needs a volun-
teer for the 3rd and 4th Wednes-
day of every month from 1-4
p.m. Please contact Dennis
Winter at 537-7393 for further
information on serving in this
ministry.
Endowment Fund
Several individuals have re-
membered First Lutheran
Church in their will. It was a
simple way for them to give,
and it offered them an oppor-
tunity to continue supporting
ministries that meant the
most to them beyond their
lifetime. Contributions can
be directed to the First Lu-
theran Mission Endowment
Fund through a will, life in-
surance policy, gift annuity,
or a designated contribution.
The earnings from the en-
dowed funds are used for
ministry in our community,
our community, our Central
States Synod, and elsewhere
in the world.
Please join us on March
8 immediately following the wor-
ship service in the chapel to share
your ideas of what you want to
know about healthy cook-
ing! Jean Lee, who is a retired
dietitian and member of First Lu-
theran, will be providing an open
session where you can share your
input. Jean will also discuss what
a healthy “plate” looks like. This
session will help guide the Health
ministry team in their planning
work. There will be coffee and
refreshments that day in the par-
lor, so after you grab a bite to eat,
come on over to the chapel!
Lent Services
Please join us every Wednes-day during Lent for a midweek service of worship. Two ser-vices times will be offered to help fit in your schedule. The afternoon service will begin at 5 p.m. and the evening service will begin at 7 p.m. Both ser-vices will be held in the Chap-el. Don’t forget to either stay/come early for the Lenten meal.
Lent Meal Sign Up A sign up sheet is located in the
Narthex for any group, commit-
tee, or team that would like to
host a Lent meal this season.
Meals will be held in the Fellow-
ship Hall in between the Lent ser-
vices each week around 6 p.m. A
meal will not be served if no one
is signed up.
Caring and Sharing
Sympathy We sorrow with family and friends Madeline Dunn who passed away.
Birth We rejoice with Matthew and Louisa Asbury on the birth of their son, August Sailor.
(Because of privacy concerns, we print the names of those who are ill only when requested to do so
by the individual.)
Our Work as Mission Partners
Our Financial Gifts
January Income $ 59,861.82 Income YTD $ 59,861.82
January Expenses $ 43,758.67 Expenses YTD $ 43,758.67
January Budget $ 45,671.00 Budget YTD $ 45,671.00
I Am The Resurrection And The Life
Madeline Lucille Dunn, age 95, of Manhattan, Kansas died Tuesday February 3, 2015 at Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan.
She was born on November 21, 1919 in Lincoln County, Kansas, the daughter of Edward and Nona (Gourley) Mathews. She attended schools in Lincoln County and graduated from Beverly High School. Madeline earned a bachelor’s degree at Emporia State Teacher’s College.
On June 14, 1942 in West Fall, Kansas, Madeline was united in marriage to Wellington “Joe” Dunn. He preceded her in death on September 26, 1983.
Madeline was an educator all her life, both professionally and through the life lessons she taught others. She was an English teacher, and most recently, worked at Kansas State University in the continuing education department from 1970 until 1983. As a military wife she traveled the world, teaching her children about the opportunities that come with change and encouraging a sense of adventure. Her family and friends were the constant threads that wove richness into the fabric of her life. Her warmth, energy and sense of humor brought joy to all who knew her.
Madeline was a faithful member of First Lutheran Church in Manhattan, where she played the piano for evening service for many years. She also was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, and the state Council on Aging. She had a flare for fashion and loved creative endeavors. She was a remarkable seamstress mak-ing everything from her daughters’ bridesmaid dresses to men’s sports jackets. Madeline made quilts for both her family and those in need. She did china and oil painting. Her oils included portraits of her daughters.
Madeline will be greatly missed by those who survive her: three children, Jeanne and husband Bill O’Connor of Azel, Texas, Janet and husband John of Columbia, Missouri, and Joyce Todd of Manhattan; 6 loving grandchil-dren, Johnna and Joshua (Neely) Todd, Julie (John) Gary, Christopher (Erin) and Michael (Erin) Farmer, and Teri (Brady) Lee; 9 great-grandchildren, Bree, Kaiden, Joycelyn, Braeden, Haidan, Kaidan, Jackson, Matthew, Viola; and many other wonderful family members and friends.
We thank God for Madeline and the eternal life won for her by Jesus Christ.