Date/Time Elders Acolytes Ushers Greeters Readers

Saturday, January 06, 2018 Jim Lightfoot Michael McClure

Lynette Lightfoot

5:30 PM Bill Bierbaum

Sunday, January 07, 2018 Lloyd Hasche Mya Skoff Gloria Wilde Don Wilde Don Wilde

8:00 AM Dave Anderson Russ Hankins Karen Karl

10:30 AM Adam Hessler

Brandon Rasmus-sen Adam Hessler Cedric Doek

Derrick Antoni-ak Bill Jones Irene Jones

Saturday, January 13, 2018 Bill Bierbaum Kaylee Natho

Lynette Lightfoot

5:30 PM Jim Lightfoot

Sunday, January 14, 2018 Ron Coleman Michael McClure Wes Hansen Carol Lange Ron Coleman

8:00 AM Dave Broderson Ron Coleman Dave Broderson

10:30 AM Lloyd Hasche Lakin Winsick Bruce Clark Cindy Clark

Jeff Fox Liz Fox Jeff Fox

Saturday, January 20, 2018 Jim Lightfoot Kaylee Natho Linda Dick

5:30 PM Bill Bierbaum

Sunday, January 21, 2018 Lou Ferony Evelyn Ferony Don Wilde Gloria Wilde Astrid Ferony

8:00 AM Dave Anderson Louis Ferony Astrid Ferony

10:30 AM Dave Broderson Lauren Fillion Al Sledge Lynne Sledge

Jeff Fox Phyllis Timm Ruth Tempel-mann

Saturday, January 27, 2018 Dave Broderson Isaac Rasmussen Kelly Nichols

5:30 PM Lloyd Hasche

Sunday, January 28, 2018 Lou Ferony Alexandra Ferony Carol Lange Astrid Ferony Astrid Ferony

8:00 AM Dave Anderson Louis Ferony Lou Ferony

10:30 AM Derrick Antoni-ak Gnally Boukar Jim Hill Deb Hill

Jeff Fox Bruce Clark Cindy Clark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church … where by God’s grace, believers from all walks of life,

together WORSHIP Christ, GROW spiritually in Christ and SHARE His love with others!

Pilgrim Lutheran

Church

2311 Fairview Road Bellevue Nebraska 68123 Church Office: 291-2848 Pilgrim website: pilgrim-lutheran.org Facebook: facebook.com/pilgrim.bellevue

January

2018

Volume 80

No.1

Inside this Issue . . .

Happenings Around the Church From the Pastor From the Council of Ministries Elder’s Report Women of Pilgrim Education Center News In Our Thoughts and Prayers Missionary Spotlight Birthday’s and Anniversary Worship Schedule

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS Always a need, HAMBURGER HELPER is the selected JANUARY food item for the Bellevue Pantry. Please remember the needs of the Pantry and how important donations are to the community. Any non perishable food item is accepted. (The Pantry box is located in the coat room). Russ delivered 8 boxes of food to the Pantry in early December. Thank you for your donations in 2017, we pray your generous donations will continue in 2018.

Financial Report--Pilgrim Lutheran Congregation

For November 2017

Entity 17-Oct Year To Date

Income Expense Net Income Expense Net

Church $24,056.00* $21,235.00 $2,821.00 $26,5452.00*

$258,123.00 $7,329.00

Daycare $58,439.00 $59,146.00 ($707.00) $708,632.00 $732,934.00 ($247,302.00)

Preschool $5,675.00 $6,486.00 ($811.00) $62,676.00 $60,313.00 $23,696.00

Congrega-tion

$91,874.00 $86,769.00 $1,303.00 $1,036,760.00

$1,051,370.00 ($14,610.00)

* Cell tower excluded ($12,500 total Jan-Nov)

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special

possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness

into his wonderful light.

Every member of any congregation should keep these words in mind and take them to

heart. For it describes who we are when we are in Christ as we follow Him. For it

describes who we are as a member of the Body of Christ. A people set aside to do a

work that other organizations of the world do not do.

Through a body of believers, gathered in the name of Jesus, He has promised to be there

in our midst. The most important work of any congregation is the proclamation of the

Gospel to a world in darkness. The most important way this done is through issuing a

Divine Call to a pastor to serve in the Public Ministry on behalf of the congregation.

What does a pastor do? He practices the Office of the Keys, the proclamation of the

forgiveness of sins on behalf of the congregation, administering the sacraments and

proclaiming Christ.

Through every congregation, our Lord speaks through his people. His people are what

we call the royal priesthood or the priesthood of all believers. This includes the work of

a congregation’s Voter’s assembly. The Voter’s assembly is not merely a group of

people who gather to carry out a civic duty or act as shareholders of a company as

would be the case in the secular world. The gathering of God’s people, whether it is

formerly through a constitution or whether in less formal gatherings, our Lord works

through His people.

We may not always like the results, but God speaks through his people and we should be ready to listen.

In His Service,

Pastor Fred Simon

(1) William Reed (4) Paul Berg (4) Paula Jackman (4) Cristiano Marx (4) John Schmidt (5) Carolyn Parker (5) Christina Ristow (6) Phyl Engelkes (6) Lloyd Hasche (7) Kelly McIntosh (8) Jordan Thorstad (9) Lynne Sledge (9) Sharon Stuart (10) Sharon Kazmierski (10) Don Kjeldgaard (10) Kathy Skinner

Andrew McIntosh (12) Erv Bamesberger (15) Carol McQuatters (16) Alexandra Quint (16)

Olivia Edwards (17) Jordan Gamble (17) Ethelyn Hoins (17) Daniel Lucier (17)

Jacob Mikkelson (18) Sam Gentry (19)

Rita Mikkelson (19) Eric Long (21)

Tyler Worrall (21) Helen Mooney (22) Mary Harrison (24) Amy Plowden (24)

Judy Onken (25) Sonya Rodgers (26)

Nicole McIntosh (27) Laura Horne (28) Beth Kemp (28)

Anna Benshoof (31)

Wedding Anniversaries

David & Karen Karl (2) Ray* & Lee Bernesser (18)

Ron & Beda Stoner (25) Lloyd & Shirley Hasche (28)

LCMS Missionary Spotlight R ev . Sh au en and Kr i s t a T rum p :

Rev. Shauen and Krista Trump serve with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya. As the LCMS area director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Shauen works with other LCMS personnel serving in these regions of Africa and builds relationships with the leaders of partner churches. He also implements strategies, projects, programs and grants for roughly half the African continent, from Ethiopia to South Africa. Some of the largest and smallest Lutheran churches in the world are in this area, along with literally thousands of languages and cultures. Krista works part-time as the Africa region project coordinator, an unofficial logistics coordinator for various events, a hostess and an enduring and gracious wife and mother.

R ev . D r . J o hn ( H ans ) an d G r e t ch en T r in k l e i n : Rev. Dr. John (Hans) and Gretchen Trinklein serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as career missionaries in Seoul, South Korea. Hans teaches at Luther Theological University and Luther Seminary. He also works with LCMS’ partner church, the Lutheran Church in Korea (LCK), helping them with their strategic vision and planning, with church planting and with continuing education for their pastors.

From the Council of Ministries

If you can still change the January 2018 Newsletter, it should read: The continuance of the Called Voter's Meeting from Nov. 5, 2017 will be held on January 14, 2018 right after the 10:30 a.m. worship service. The meeting on the January 7, 2018 is not valid.

The COM and Elders met together Dec 19 and decided to move the next congregational meeting to Jan 14. In preparation for the budget portion of this meeting the COM would like to review a few facts for your prayerful consideration.

The current Council of Ministries has been in place since June 2016, about a year and a half. During that time we have authorized several large building repair projects. The first was the installation of sump pumps to control water in the basement. Then last summer there was a hailstorm and we had to replace our roof. Following this the boilers went down and they also had to be replaced. The total cost of these projects was over $300,000. Although we did get some money back from insurance, we have worked very closely with our elected Treasurer, Michelle McIntosh, to decide where we would find the money to pay these bills. There have also been several other, lesser repairs and issues that the Council dealt with during this time.

At the upcoming meeting the COM will present our budget which has been prepared by the Treasurer and approved by us. There is one very troublesome item facing us. Since expenses have been so high and giving continues well below previous years, we are recommending a cut to Pastor Simon's salary ($10,000/yr which will leave him with $107,000/yr). There are those who feel this is a personal attack on Pastor Simon. It is not. It is simply a matter of tremendous expenses while Sunday giving continues to go down.

The congregation will be asked to vote on and pass this budget. We understand that this may present very difficult decisions and we welcome discussion, as long as it is polite and respectful. Our intent for this meeting is to address the budget first, and discuss other issues following. We pray that this meeting will proceed peacefully according to this agenda.

We know that some people think Pilgrim has money hidden away somewhere. No, we do not. All of Pilgrim's assets are plainly itemized on the Treasurer's report.

We also know that the Council has been portrayed as "a small group of people who are trying to take over the church." No, we are not. We feel that we are doing the same things that previous Councils have always done, further Christ's mission by supporting ministries and being good stewards of what we have been given.

We pray that this letter helps you all understand this. Christ's blessings to all. Barb Lemke, Wes Hansen, Meta Barnett, Dave Britton, Rhonda Roth and Lynne

Sledge.

Elders’ Report: As 2017 comes to a close and our rebirth in Christ’s Christmas gift, we give thanks for

the many blessings we have. Thank You Pastor Dan for your 19+ years of service to

Pilgrim; may your retirement be peaceful, healthful and with many joyful memories of

our members love for you. Thank you for your service to the Lord is so many

ways. Thanks to Pastor Ziegler for leading us on a conciliatory path based on

Col 3:12. Thank You, Pastor Fred for keeping our focus on God’s word and sacra-

ment. May our worship continue in to grow and reach out to all. Thank you, Jim

Lightfoot and Bill Bierbaum for joining with elder team to fully serve. Thanks for our

Council of Ministry for their concerns and diligence in caring for Pilgrim and its re-

sources. Thank You Lord for our Pilgrim members, for their continued prayers and

contributions for our church. Thanks for our support staff for so much great music, ad-

ministration and facility care. Especially, we appreciate through their service to our

missions: Pilgrim Youth, Pilgrim Schools, Lutheran Missionaries, Bellevue Pantry,

Habitat for Humanity, Stephen Ministry, and so many more. Thanks to the Women of

Pilgrim and the Alter Guild for their service. Sorry, that we missed saying thanks to

all. We will keep trying. Thank You Lord for the many blessing received.

May God Bless you all.

“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your

hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:8)

In your time of personal prayer, Jean Hankins David Sanborn (Friend of the Stults’)

Bill Leonard Harlon Mills (Brother of Phyllis Timm) Lana Markworth Bob McCormick (Father of Loretta Taylor) Shirley Bailly Sue Reed (Niece of Bill & Mary Reed) Lawana Bierbaum Karen Bortner (Sister-in-Law of Cindy Ruffner) Sonya Beach Marina Fentress (Friend of the Skoff’s) Astrid Ferony Jody Bamesberger (Friend of the Bamesberger’s) Marilyn Neubert Eleanor Padjen (Sister of Margret Haugen) Wandyne Bamesberger Josephine Volk, (Mother of Rita Offutt) Emma Gehring Beverly Hurst (Niece of Alice Leonard) Lou Hurley Dennis Farnum (Father of Christina Ferony) Eleanore Barrett Kim Staroscik (Sister of Troy & Jenny Staroscik) Brianna Hessler Linda Siebenborn (Mother-in-law of Laura Conner) Rob Thorne (friend of the Schroeder’s) Joseph Bierman (Cousin of Rita Offutt) Becky Hessler (Sister-in-law of Adam Hessler) Jonathan Clark (Son of Rita Offutt) Ruth Consier (Mother of Rita Mikkelson) Rochelle Anderson (Friend of the Leonard’s) Debra Waechter (Cousin of Joyce Evener) Jennifer Dudycha (Cousin of Laura Conner) Don Friday (Cousin of Lynne Sledge) Kurt Wilson (Cousin of Patti Smith) Floris Sledge (Mother of Al Sledge) Erma Fretz (Mother of Sharon Stuart) Todd Paulson (Friend of Rhonda Leonard) Lisa Green (Cousin of Valerie Plowden) Steve Conner (brother-in-law of Laura Conner)Kathy Siebenborn (Grandma-in-law of Laura Conner) ShaoHannah Yates (Great-Granddaughter of Margaret Haugen)

Pray for the Lord’s blessings on… our country and its leaders

deployed & overseas military personnel …Scott Simants, Colin Lightfoot,

Carli Bilbrey, Lisa Kern and Jessica Lemke Lewis

Nebraska District and LCMS Church Leaders.

Our Missionaries… David Bush (Macau) Mrs. Krista Trump (Kenya), Pastor J.P. Cima & family (Vietnam), Rev. David Faulkner & Family (Uruguay), Gail Grieser (Southern Asia), Rev. James Sharp & Family (Uruguay), & Gary Thies, MS World Mission Director. Prayer Requests: Please fill out one of the “Caring Cards” available in the narthex of

the church. They can be given to one of the pastors or placed in the offering plate.

Season’s Greetings from the Childcare, This year has went by so fast, we are almost at the end of the year! We are so thankful for all the amazing this happening in the childcare. This year we started our parent’s referral program, giving each family that refers another family one free week of childcare. We are pretty excited that a few families have already started spreading the word and taking advantage of this resource. God has really been blessing us with great families and staff. I am thankful for the growth that we are experiencing, I am confident in knowing that if we continue to follow the will of God we will continue to see the hand of God working in and throughout the childcare. Our Christmas program was so amazing, the children did a wonderful job singing and telling the story of Jesus’s birth. Mrs. Rita worked so hard with both programs we had a great turnout. Most of all the parents were so happy to see their children enjoy singing about baby Jesus. How awesome!! We would also like to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers from the church that help us keep our building so beautiful. Your labors of love has not gone unnoticed. We are looking forward to a great year in 2018. Luke 6:38 -Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Sincerely,

Keana SeptMatthews Educational Director

Women Of Pilgrim News

We received a letter from our national organization Lutheran Women in Mission. The following is an excerpt: As we finished celebrating LWML's 75th anniversary in December 2017, we reflected on the mission grants impacted with the mites YOU gave over the years and are still in existence today! One such grant recipient is the Jonathan Ekong Memorial Lutheran Seminary (JEM) in Obot Idim, Nigeria. Lutheran Church in Nigeria (LCN) operates the JEM Seminary (named after the late Rev. Dr. Jonathan Udo Ekong, the pioneering father) in Obot Idim and continues to be an important partner for Gospel proclamation, preparing young men for the ministry in the LCN in the most populous country in Africa. According to the Rev. John A. Fale, Executive Director of the LCMS Office of International Mission, "the dormitories did and will continue to enable students to get proper rest and maintain focus on their rigorous studies in an environment that is clean and safe." Today, JEM seminary is expected to complete new dormitories for students in July of 2018. In recent years, the student population experienced record highs with 79 students in 2014 and 87 in 2015 compared to 54 students in 2009. It has been a blessing to see your mighty Mites reach the unknowing around the world and create a foundation for Gospel outreach for many years to come. From one generation to the next, you can share God's love to the ends of the earth. Prayers and support are needed monthly throughout the biennium in order for LWML to reach the mission goal of $2,075,000. We invite everyone to share the love of Jesus by remembering to fill your mite box with money and prayers. You can bring your mite box to a Circle meeting or to church on the first Sunday of each month.

January calendar

NO board meeting 8-Esther Circle 11-Acts Circle

16-Quilting