A Message from

our Youth Director

It is the beginning of the new year and many of us are celebrating Epiphany and putting away our Christmas

decorations. But, what do we do now? Will you create a list of goals or resolutions? I myself have been working on a

list of goals for 2016. While I was brainstorming for my list I realized something, all of my goals were individualized.

Each item could be completed on my own. I believe this is why many of us (including myself) fail to be successful with

our New Year’s resolutions. So, I am switching gears and changing my goals for this upcoming year. I am going to set

goals not only for myself but with my husband and my friends. This way I have people I can count on to help me fulfill

my goals. It takes 21 days to create a habit. And according to the word of the LORD “Two

are better than one”.

So my challenge for you during this new year season is to create some new year

resolutions with friends and family members. Change is always difficult and it will not

happen overnight. It takes hard work, patience and dedication to be successful. Parents:

take the time to sit down as a family and create a list of goals that you want to achieve this

year. Take the time to pray about it. I just want to wish everyone luck this year and pray

for happiness, health, joy and love for all.

Ideas for growing together as a family:

Daily Prayer: At mealtime and/or bedtime

Talking more to your children (See photo for ideas).

Make church a routine , NOT a weekly choice.

Create a positive atmosphere at home.

Create a healthy lifestyle for your family.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their

labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up...”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a

Many Blessings this new year, Amy Gibson

F I R S T NEWS

Food Cart Requests For November

Canned meat products,

cereal, boxed potato mixes.

Contributions are made to the Findlay LSS Food Pantry.

Jan. 12—Martha Circle, 9:00, Church Library

Rachel Circle, 9:30, Church Lounge

Jan. 18— Hannah Circle, 7:00, Church Lounge

Jan. 31—Cookie Sunday, Martha Circle

For Thrivent members who still have questions

about how to apply for funds using an Action Team, a

special event is planned to help. Come for pie and ice

cream, win a gift card, and gather valuable information

to help you to continue to live generously.

Pie and Ice Cream Social

January 10, 2016 3:00 pm

The DOCK, St. Marks Methodist Church

800 S. Main Street., Findlay

To RSVP please call

John Spaeth at 419-326-4364,

Joanne Marquart at 419-365-5072, or

Jeff Hauenstein at 419-422-9255

This month’s

Noisy Offering

will benefit

Trinity Lutheran

Seminary

3

New Year’s Plan

I tried to think of a clever new phrase—

A slogan to inspire the next 365 days,

A motto to live by this coming New Year,

But the catchy words fell flat to my ear.

And then I heard His still small voice

Saying, "Consider this simple, daily choice:

With each new dawn and close of day

Make new your resolve to trust and obey."

"Don't look back caught in regret

Or dwell on the sorrow of dreams unmet;

Don't stare forward anchored by fear,

No, live in this moment, for I am here."

"I am all you need. Everything. I Am.

You are held secure by my strong hand.

Give me this one thing—your all in all;

Into my grace, let yourself fall."

So, at last I'm ready; I see the way.

It's to daily follow, trust, and obey.

I enter the New Year armed with a plan,

To give him my everything. All that I am.

--Mary Fairchild

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Join us as we:

Celebrate our accomplishments of 2015

(the Annual Report)

Approve the 2016 Budget

Vote on the 2016 Nominating Committee

Select our NWOS meeting representatives

Celebrate and discuss

your ideas for our ministry

Christ In Our Home

Some time this month, pick up

your Christ In Our Home

devotional for the new year

(Jan., Feb., and March 2016)

Copies for you to take home are

available in the narthex.

Tentative Schedule:

Wed., Jan. 6 Confirmation classes resume

Wed., Feb. 10 Ash Wednesday Service

(attendance required); sermon notes OK

Wed., Feb. 17 Lenten Services Begin

(attendance required at Lenten Services);

sermon notes OK

Wed., Mar. 23 No Class (Holy Week)

Wed., Mar. 30 No Class (Easter Break)

Wed., Apr. 20 Last Class

(8th

Graders and Parents Only)

Sun., Apr. 25 Confirmation Sunday

Do you love the hymns and carols we have been

singing on Sundays? Do you sometimes wonder

where the choirs get their music? Do you know

your oratorios from your motets.....well, maybe not

too many folks do.

Our God Sightings class is considering a course

on sacred music for 2016. If you are not involved

in a Sunday School class and would like to learn

more about hymns and other music of the church,

look for a sign-up sheet in January. We are hoping

to begin the class later in the month. It will feature

video and music from early church to modern. We

would like to know an approximate number so we

can plan where we will meet on Sunday

mornings. Please join us for this joyous melody

through the New Year!

Christian Response to Other Religions

Offered by Pastor Bob

in the Open Tomb, downstairs;

The Current Lectionary

(the readings for each Sunday)

Offered by Pastor Chris Dittmar (and others)

in the “Good News” classroom on the top floor;

All are welcome at any time.

New Adult Sunday School Class!

Additional Adult Classes

5

Attention all

Knitters!

Want to brush up on

your knitting skills,

or learn to knit?

Join us in the Prayer Room

Thursdays,

January 21 and 28,

6:30—8:00

All knitters and would-be knitters are welcome.

Bring a project you are working on, or just bring

yourself and we will get you started.

This would be great preparation for anyone

interested in the sock knitting class offered by Erika

Cunningham in the near future.

A sign-up sheet will be posted across from the

office.

Questions? Call Beth Maurer at

419-423–8781 or

Email Beth at

bmaurer@peoplepc.com.

The 2016 flower chart is on the hall bulletin board.

Choose a date which is meaningful to you and “Give to

the Glory of God.” Forms to write your tribute are

also available on the bulletin board.

You may be out of sight,

but never out of mind....

Removing the Christmas

decorations is Saturday, January 9,

at 9:30am. Come! Join the fun!

Today is the first blank page

of a 365 page book. Write a PERFECT one.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

And Have A Wonderful Epiphany! Sue and I want to wish you happy and joy filled holidays, filled with Christ’s presence for you and your family. We thank you for all the cards, gifts and best wishes connected with the Christmas season and that wonderful retirement party; it was a joy talking with all of you. Your gracious words were greatly appreciated and meant so much to us [not enough for me to start working again. Ha Ha!!]. We also thank you for receiving and welcoming our children and family for that made an impression on them. I have enjoyed serving all of you and having fun working with my junior assistant Pr. Bob. We have complimented one another in a positive way. I’ll never forget the time I greeted a visitor I knew as she was leaving worship and she said, “This is a happy place to worship”. Yes, we enjoyed serving the Lord and working together and had fun doing it. Thank you for allowing us to do this, because faith is filled with joy and that helps us when the storms of life come. I pray that the blessed peace and Joy of Christmas that the angel talked about has been received and welcomed in your heart.

Peace and Joy My Friends Paul and Sue DeMoss

EPIC NEWS Generation 4:12

“In your relationships with one

another, have the same mindset

as Christ Jesus”

Philippians 2:5

Bible Verse of the Month

Service

Opportunities

Around the

Neighborhood

Rake Leaves

Shovel Snow Off

Sidewalks/Driveways

Upcoming Events…

January 3rd Time: TBD Mad River Mountain $20 per youth

January 10th Youth Committee Meeting

January 15th-16th 7:00pm- 8:30am High School Lock-In Theme: 80’s Party

March 11th– 13th Quake Zone (Unbreakable) Chicago, IL $150 per person

Jan. 3rd: M

ad River M

ountain

(12:00-5:30pm)

Jan. 10: N

ew Year’s Resolutio

ns

Jan. 17: O

ne Step Closer to

God

Jan. 24: Si

mple Truth Ministry

Jan. 31: Si

mple Truth

Ministry January 9th 3:30pm-6:00pm

EPIC Service Project

7

Youth in Action

Zach

Youth Highlight

Favorite Bible Verse: Genesis 37, because it reminds me that brothers have to

stick together. Like, when Joseph had his family come live with him in Egypt.

Favorite part about church: Wednesday Soup Supper/Lent Services

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Food: Meatloaf

Favorite Place or Vacation: Anywhere outdoors

If you could have dinner with anyone from history (past or present) who would it be?

Johnny Cash, so I can talk to him about music.

Sports, Music, other activities that you are involved in: FEE, Football, FHS Musical,

Hunting and Boy Scouts

Plans after high school: Attend a 4 year college for either engineering or vocal

music/performing arts. Live somewhere I can have ATV’s and go camping.

Wow! Did we have fun at the Book Club Christmas party at Bev’s. The foods were varied and yummie! We had a

bajillion suggestions for next year’s reading selections. I is always interesting why we choose the ones we choose!

But choose we did and the year is listed below:

January 5, 2016 - Katie Up and Down the Hall by Glenn Plaskin

February 2, 2016 - Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

March 1, 2016 - Endurance by Alfred Lansing

April 5, 2016 - Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

May 3, 2016 - The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

June 7, 2016 - The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

July 5, 2016 - What’s so Amazing about Grace? By Philip Yancey

August 2, 2016 - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

September 6, 2016 - Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica

October 4, 2016 - Persuasion by Jane Austen

November 1, 2016 - Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen

December 6, 2016 - Christmas Jars by Jason Wright

Christmas Party and selection of new books

It will be an interesting year. I look forward to it. The books are loaded on the church e-readers. Let me

know if you wish to borrow an e-reader. Just in case you want to know what I am reading and what is on my list: now I have tons of actual books. I

also have probably forty books loaded on my e-reader. I know, I know…so many books, so little time. So much I

want to read. I have all of Harry Potter of which I have only read a book or two. Five Sisters by James Fox covers

the Langhornes of Virginia…I bought it because there were five sisters in my family. Oprah by Kitty Kelly, not

because I like Oprah but because I am curious. Along the Way by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez about the

bonding of father and son while they filmed the marvelous movie “The Way.” Also, I have not read the Myth series,

various today authors retelling the ancient Greek and Roman myths. I have all of the Forsythe Sagas by John

Galsworthy. Why? I can’t remember. Then there’s the Piers Anthony “Xanth” series…what fun this series of books that lives on puns and fantasy.

Ten Things You Might Not Know about Nearly Everything, Between Heaven and Hell -- A Dialogue Somewhere

Beyond Death with John F. Kennedy, C.S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley. How about the history of the tabasco sauce

empire? Eclectic reading selections? You betcha! Will I get it all read? Who knows? But there is always something

around here to read for whatever mood I am in. A big thank you to the candy fairies, the book fairies who keep leaving books, the money fairies who donate

money to the library, and the worker bees who donated to the Community dinner giveaway. You are always

appreciated and in my prayers. Thank you.

God Bless and keep reading. Kathy Brooks (Kbrooks@Lrbcg.com or 419-722-9227)

Oh, yes…Happy New Year!

New Year

New Books

9

LUNCH WITH PASTOR BOB

Tuesday, January 5th,

11:30, at Café Marie’s

John Adler adlerjd@tds.net

Adam August

Virginia Borger virginiaborger@yahoo.com

Carol Bridinger 419-425-9105

Casey Cox triciacox72@yahoo.com

Franks tfranks75@hotmail.com

Greg Johnson gregjohnson05@yahoo.com

Traci Roth troth@bvhealthsystem.org

Aaron Ried ried1024@aol.com

Wendy Short jshort@bright.net

Renee Smith rsmith0709@att.net

Alex Treece alextreece@yahoo.com

Senior Pastor: Bob Cochran: flcpastor@hotmail.com Assisting Minister: Chris Dittmar: cdit668995@aol.com

Organist: Miriam Gibson Sr. Choir Director: Jane Eakin

Christian Education Director: Tricia Cox flcchristed@hotmail.com Youth Coordinator: Amy Gibson: 1stlcyouth@gmail.com

Brass Choir Director: Diane Adler Kids Kingdom Directors: Sally Rice, Heather Nielsen, Jenny Welte

Financial Secretary: Ken Otte Treasurer: Tom Basinger

Admin Assistant: Nina Dukes (419-422-2638) Office Hrs- M-TH, 8:30-3:00; Fri,8:30-12:00) — flcFindlay@gmail.com

Building Manager: Wayne Dukes (419-306-3358 emergency only) waynedukes@hotmail.com

Assistant Building Manager: Ryan Buck

Y o u r

STAFF

ANNUAL REPORTS DUE!

To prepare for the slide

show at the January

Congregational Meeting, we

are asking all committees to

turn in their 2015 Annual

Reports to the office by the

first week of January.

Committee Chairs, please look

for the annual report form

in your email.

2016 CHURCH COUNCIL

COMMUNION BREAD Jan 3– Devra Hall

Jan 10– Sally Rice

Jan. 17– Pam Cochran

Jan. 24– Cyndy Rotman

Jan. 31– Arlene Schriner

ALTAR GUILD Pam Basinger, Bob & Arlene Schriner COUNTERS Pam & Tom Basinger LSS DELIVERY Carolyn Wilde FLOWER DELIVERY Karen Rose

DEACONS 8:15- Sue DeMoss, Steve Roth Tad Schell 10:45– Tim Franks, Steve Leopold, Bob Schriner,

ALTAR FLOWERS

Jan 3– Carolyn & Jerry Bryant

Jan 10-

Jan. 17– Nancy & Ken Bahler

Jan. 24– McCann/Rodman

Jan. 31-

January

Hands

February Newsletter Deadline

Monday, January 18th

Weekly Bulletin Deadline

Wednesday Mornings

COOKIE SUNDAY

Jan 3– Community Dinner

Jan 10– Social Ministry

Jan. 17– Worship & Music

Jan. 24– Youth

Jan. 31– Martha Circle

GREETERS Jan 3 9:30– Paul & Sue DeMoss Jan 10 8:15- Mary Lou McCann Shirley Ruehle 10:45- Jan. 17 8:15– Jeff & Jennifer Kamm 10:45- Jan. 24 7:00- Dave & Shirley Gerber 10:30- Jan. 31 8:15– Bart & Jenny Welte 10:45-

SOUND ROOM Jan 3 9:30- Jan 10 8:15- 10:45- Jan. 17 8:15- 10:45- Jan. 24 7:00- 10:30- Jan. 31 8:15- 10:45-

ACOLYTES Jan 3 9:30- Jan 10 8:15- Cole Westrick 10:45- Jan. 17 8:15– Anthony Sherman, Sam Ried 10:45– Jordan Spoon Jan. 24 7:00- 10:30- Jan. 31 8:15- 10:45-

LECTORS Jan 3 9:30– Kathy Kapostasy Jan 10 8:15- Acolyte 10:45– Acolyte Jan. 17 8:15– Jeff Kamm 10:45- Jan. 24 7:00– Tad Schell 10:30- Jan. 31 8:15– Jenny Welte 10:45-

WORSHIP ASSISTANTS Jan 3 9:30– Daryl Rotman Jan 10 8:15– Tim Cochran 10:45– Pam Cochran Jan. 17 8:15– Pastor Chris Dittmar 10:45– Pastor Chris Dittmar Jan. 24 7:00- Tim Cochran 10:30– PamCochran Jan. 31 8:15– Daryl Rotman 10:45– Daryl Rotman

10

Flowers need to be delivered by noon on Friday

11

January Celebrations

Madison Kirk 1/1

Jason Polder 1/2

Denise Burson 1/3

Tressa Benedetti 1/4

Ralph Tabor 1/4

David Wirt 1/5

Barbara Mills 1/6

Donna Mason 1/7

Patricia Taylor 1/7

Jerry Luth 1/10

Kaelee Mains 1/10

Chris Zawisza 1/12

Andy Schriner 1/13

Voleta Willford 1/13

Nancy Woodruff 1/13

Ryan Price 1/14

Sarah Kidd 1/15

Christopher Owen 1/15

Richard Polder 1/16

Lily Cox 1/17

Michael Fraley 1/17

Kevan Longano 1/17

Phillip Bash 1/18

David Gerber 1/18

Linda Schwemley 1/18

Elizabeth Brossia 1/19

Mark Kirk 1/19

Jason Clark 1/20

Gregory Rakestraw 1/20

Marilyn Schweitzer 1/20

Susan Waltermeyer 1/20

Richard Kondik 1/21

Mary Clayton 1/22

Lynnette Rice 1/22

Kevin King 1/23

Emily Betts 1/25

Raeleigh Bower 1/25

Justin Buckingham 1/25

Renee Smith 1/25

Steven Wilson 1/25

Kami Woltz 1/25

Bonnie Bosse 1/26

Jean Minard 1/26

Jon Burnside 1/28

Marguerite Constien 1/28

Kevin Breen 1/30

Mitchell Routson 1/30

Nathan Routson 1/30

Tracy August 1/31

Nancy Baxter 1/1

Laurel Beutler 1/1

John Biggs 1/1

Pamela Bott 1/1

Doris Brand 1/1

Carolyn Bryant 1/1

Jerry Bryant 1/1

William Chubb 1/1

Laura Colvin 1/1

Roger Freeland 1/1

William Freemyer 1/1

Henriette Gerlach 1/1

Alan Hartzell 1/1

Richard Herr 1/1

Audrey Hicks 1/1

William Hicks 1/1

Ann Hughes 1/1

Herbert Mahler 1/1

Craig Meier 1/1

Patricia Needles 1/1

Scott Perrault 1/1

Blaine Peters 1/1

Milton Peters 1/1

Shirley Peters 1/1

Sandra Rakestraw 1/1

Carol Roessing 1/1

Shirley Ruehle 1/1

Robert Schriner 1/1

Robert Stacy 1/1

Jack Taylor 1/1

Mike Waltermeyer 1/1

David Wirt 1/1

Kenneth Wynkoop 1/1

Juanita Yoakam 1/1

Norma Tabor 1/2

Laura Corle 1/8

Brooke Bowser 1/10

Kristen Sabol 1/11

Adelyn Tabler 1/12

Brandi Routson 1/13

Jayna Routson 1/13

Ryan Nunn 1/14

Karon Makrancy 1/18

Sandra Dale 1/21

Gianna Masterlasco 1/22

Gage Fraley 1/26

Phillip Tuttle 1/26

Andrew Maurer 1/29

Jeffrey Short 1/29

Adam & Jan Rakestraw 1/15/2000 16

Steve & Cheryl Seibert 1/21/1995 21

“Moving one step closer to God.”

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

US POSTAGE PAID FINDLAY, OHIO PERMIT NO. 338

This newsletter was mailed: January 4, 2016

Give or take a day

1stLutheranChurch.org

SUNDAY WORSHIP

8:15am & 10:45am

Sunday School at 9:30 am

Current Resident or

Rev. Robert C. Cochran

Senior Pastor

Rev. Christian Dittmar

Assisting Pastor

January 2016

The First Word

First Lutheran Church 109 E. Lincoln Street Findlay, OH 45840 419-422-2638