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Things First January 2018
The Newsletter of
First Evangelical Lutheran Church
561 Chestnut Street,
Taylors Falls, MN 55084-1110
651-465-5265 www.tflutheran.com
“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. He was in the
beginning with God. All things
came into being through him, and
without him not one thing came into
being. What has come into being in
him was life, and the life was the
light of all people. The light shines
in the darkness, and the darkness
did not overcome it.”
Epiphany - the season of the manifestations of Christ in our world. This is the season for paying attention to who God is, and what God is doing in our lives and in our world.
What a beautiful and inspiring Christmas! We began Sunday School this fall with 6 kids and had 12 children participate in the children’s Christmas program. The cantata was beautiful. Here's what I am certain of; our God loves us, and there is plenty of work to share God's love in this community. God will provide what we need to do what God wants us to do, but we may be required to change how we do things, or what we do. Our willingness to follow where God may lead might look different than it has in the past. The basics stay the same; we read God's word, pray to God and love & serve our neighbors. We teach our children to do these things, and we come together to worship the God who empowers them all. As the Creator of all the world around us, as the babe of Bethlehem came to our world vulnerable, as the Spirit, holy & mysterious, who calls & gathers us, who empowers us to do God's will, which is always for our good.
Continued on page two….
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New Member WELCOME!
QUILTERS
SARAHCIRCLE
COUNCIL MEETING
OFFICE HOURS@FELC
You’ve heard from our council that our giving is about $15,000 behind our budget. We’ve been dealing with some newer financial realities, and we will be looking carefully at changes we are likely to need to make, including, as referenced in the Thanksgiving letter you received, some staffing cuts & changes. These challenges are common to many congregations, but with some members who have left our congregation for work or other challenges, and others who have died, our giving has dipped below what will sustain our budget. (It's also possible, as I write this, that Christmas & new year's giving will, like many years in the past, give us a surplus that will carry us thru about 1/2 the year, but giving trends don't seem to predict that.) Our council is committed to dealing responsibly with our realities, just as we've been committed to transparent communication, sharing monthly in the newsletter what our giving is, posting & publishing council minutes, and our council president & treasurer speaking in worship recently. Nothing has been decided yet, except that we'll continue to speak the truth in love, share what we know, and trust the God who always gives us enough. Because cutting budget does not require a congregational meeting, there won’t be one. But if you have ideas or wisdom to impart, (with your name attached), please share with me or with a council member. God's gifts are sufficient for doing God's will. Really. As we watch, we will see that.
In God's grasp, as you all are, Pr. Mary Kaye
Continued from page one….
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Adult CHOIRSCHEDULE
JANUARYBIRTHDAYS
Paredes, Sydney 01/02 Vitalis, Peter 01/04 Krueger, Rhonda 01/06 Ellis, Heather 01/07 Olson, Duane 01/09 Langer, Isabella 01/12 Halstrom, Coby 01/14 Davids, Bill 01/15 Vodenka-Reed, Patricia 01/15 Johnson, Natasha 01/16 Larson, Cody 01/17 Peterson, Brynna 01/18 Magnuson, Dylan 01/19 Nelson, Timothy 01/19 Kelley, Brian 01/21 McDonald, Rylin 01/21 Dexter, Breanna 01/23 Larson, Terri 01/25 Olson, Marilyn 01/28 Linngren, Carli 01/31 Please contact the church office if there are any errors or omissions. Thank you.
MONTHLYGIVING REPORT
If you would like pastoral care
or a visit from Pr. Mary Kaye,
please call her at
(612)532-7083
or the church office at
(651)465-5265!!!
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C O N N E C T
I N V I T E
E Q U I P
First Lutheran
Youth
FLYSchedule
The youth
group
shared a
meal
together!!
Thank you
Michelle Lynch and
Riley Linngren for
cooking the
delicious food ! 3
Friday, Feb. 2nd through
Sunday, Feb. 4th
Winter Retreat to Luther Point Bible Camp
with 100 White Flags Worship Band!
**Winter Retreat Sign Up Deadline is January 24th
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Were You There
on that
Christmas Night?
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Sundays at
10:15am in the
downstairs Sunday
School Room
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A big and well deserved
congratulations to Dustin Valez!
He graduated on December 17th
from North Dakota State
University with a BS in Crop and
Weed Science with a focus on
biotechnology.
Faith Stretch 2 is a small group that will
come together on Monday, January 8th
from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Members and non
-members are welcome to join us for
Bible study, book study, group building,
prayer, service, worship (but not all in
one night )
Let Pr. Mary Kaye know if you’re coming,
or just come! Bring your Bible & check
with PMK or Angie in the church office
for book many of us are reading,
Surprise Me by Terri
Esau. (We’ll give you one
free!!)
FAITH STRETCH
A historic practice among Greek Orthodox Christians is
the blessing of homes on or near Epiphany. This year,
Epiphany, January 6th, falls on a Saturday. You are
invited to join us to “chalk,” pray over or bless homes
on Saturday, January 6th. We will meet at FELC at 3pm
and break into teams and we’ll be done no later than
7pm. If you’re interested in having your home or
apartment blessed, please contact PMK with your
address by January 4th. If you’re interested in being
on one of the blessing teams, please sign
up at FELC or contact PMK (612)532-7083
or email [email protected]
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Wills—Trusts—Probate and More
Do you need to know what to do and
what questions to ask or who to see to
help with your estate planning?
The questions and answers will be
available at a workshop in February 2018!
If you are somewhat interested in this
program, PLEASE CALL the church
office at 651-465-5265 or see a council
member.
The date, time and place will be set later.
Absolutely no sales—just good up to date
information.
Program is sponsored by FELC Council
and Thrivent Financial
A very special thank you to all who generously donated to our
Giving Tree this season. There were eight families from the Taylors
Falls Elementary in need this year and our congregation was able to
provide a wonderful gift to these families! We received donations
from Wild Mountain and Super America in St. Croix Falls as well!!
THANK YOU!
The Giving Tree was beautifully
decorated with handmade cards this
year and organizing, communicating
with Principal Jason Riebe from
Taylors Falls Elementary and
gathering all donations would not be
possible without our wonderful
coordinator, Carol Elliott Olson.
Thank you, Carol, for your time and
effort! The Giving Tree was a huge
success this year with your help!!!!!!
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“To worship God as an intergenerational community, learning God’s Word, and
building lasting relationships as we grow in God’s love and grace.”
Joe Landgreen, Duane Olson, Pastor Mary Kaye, Don Hansen, Wendy Szczepanski, Rose Anderson, Members Absent: Gayle Langer
Where you have seen God working in your life this month? Joe- Shared a story about his recent visitation at nursing home, Rose also shared a story regarding her recent mishap with her vehicle and escape from injury.
8 new members, including 2 who were active non-members. Small group, Faith Stretch 2, will start in January. The Lodge book group continues. We has conversation regarding our mission and what will we be doing this 2018 for our mission outreach and funding raising.
There is a great need for service with and to the elderly. Next Lodge service will include the confirmation class.
Following the Epiphany season we will stop chanting the Psalms. It is important that the discipleship group leader connect to all people on the list. The most important objective is to build relationships, and to engage everyone possible, of every age, in worship.
Elevator repair update- The part needed to fix the elevator was installed and is repaired. Thanks Pete for being available for the repair by the contractor. Church Signage update- Don will follow-up again with the City, they have not called back Don also reported on the meeting with Trinity, Immanuel, Zion, Chisago Lakes churches to enter into conversation on sharing ministries. St. Paul Area Synod staff, Joe Lees, facilitated this discussion. These churches are also facing funding challenges.
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Meeting Minutes Continued…...
Nothing to report
We are almost 15K behind in budgeted giving, there is about $1000 in checking, there is sufficient funds to pay bills this month. The Klinke fund was used in early December to pay a portion of the property insurance because of insufficient funds. If sufficient funds to make up a portion of the budgeted giving deficit is not received by December 31, there may not be sufficient funds to meet payroll beyond January. Joe suggested waiting till after Christmas to determine course of further action.
Duane visited with Leo and Carol Nelson, Lutheran companion’s members, regarding the use of the funds designated to Lutheran Companions. The consensus of that conversation was to transfer those funds to the general fund. PMK will consult with Carol, Leo and Eleanore this week, to verify intent of original group, and find minutes, if possible. Rose made a motion to accept the finance report; Wendy seconded. Motion carried
Other-Duane suggested FELC host an informational meeting on estate planning given by Thrivent’s Craig Stockel. The consensus was that this would be a useful informational meeting. Duane volunteered to follow up with Craig.
Motion to adjourn Joe, Wendy
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Thank you for your generous purchase of a
poinsettia to decorate our worship space
throughout Christmas.
Given by In Memory of or In Honor of
Rose Anderson In Memory of Agnes & William Mallery
Eleanore Collins In Memory of Larry L. Collins
Miriam Flysjo In Memory of Oke & Grace Flysjo
Don & Verna Grover In Memory of Our Parents & Siblings
Arne & Miriam Lagus In Memory of Loved Ones
Dave & Debbie Landin-Cooper
& Josiah & Noah Casterton In Honor of Dorothy Landin
The Loen Family In Memory of Barb & Arden Loen
The Loen Family In Honor of Mary Anne & Joe Mattson
Michelle Lynch In Memory of Edna Lawson
Leo & Carol Nelson In Honor of Our Children & Grandchildren
Duane & Carol Elliott Olson In Memory of Loved Ones
Marilyn Olson In Memory of Paul & Brian Olson
The Parks Family In Memory of Loved Ones
Stan & Judy Peterson In Honor of Our Children & Grandchildren
Chieko Rogers In Memory of Timothy Rogers
Marcielle Rogers In Memory of Loved Ones
Janet Shepardson In Memory of Gordon Shepardson
Cheryl Slattengren In Memory of Former Family
Members of this church
Irv & Lorie Stolp In Memory of Loved Ones
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Church Office 651-465-5265 www.tflutheran.org
2017-2018
Council/Officers: Don Hansen—President
Duane Olson—Vice President
Joe Landgreen—Treasurer
Gayle Langer —Secretary
Wendy Szczepanski
Rose Anderson
Pastor Mary Kaye Ashley
Financial Secretary
Jerry Rhoads
The mission of FELC is to worship God as an intergenerational community, to learn God’s
Word, and to build lasting relationships as we grow in God’s love and grace.
(Mission Statement approved 2017)
Please send submissions to: [email protected]
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.” Psalm 90:1
Mission Statement