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First Hand First Lutheran Church

July 2019

First Lutheran Church

208 West Sandusky Avenue

Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311

937-592-7699

Fax: 1-888-471-1970

Website:

www.flcbellefontaine.org

Email:

info@flcbellefontaine.org Pastor Larry Novak– lnovak@flcbellefontaine.org

Office Manager,Brittanny Porter– bporter@flcbellefontaine.org

Director of Music, Judy Vassar- jandlv321@gmail.com

Bell Choir Director, Larry Walker- lwcw70@centurylink.net

Inside this issue:

From the Pastor’s Desk 2—3

Vacation Bible School 5

Fellowship Time 7

Park Clean-Up Date 8

July Events 9

Thank-you 12

July Birthdays/ Anniversaries 13

Serving in Worship 14

July Calendar 15

The Church Office will be closed on Thursday, July 4th

Mission Statement:

Sharing God’s grace through prayer, witness, and service.

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FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

Having completed a six-part sermon series on Revelation, my sermons

throughout the summer will focus on our readings from the Gospel of Luke. On

July 14, the Gospel reading will be one of Jesus’ most well-known parables; the

parable of the Good Samaritan. If you had to list Jesus’ three most well-known

parables, this one would most assuredly make the list, along with The Prodigal

Son and The Sower and the Seed. Even unchurched people are familiar with the

term “Good Samaritan”. The story is so familiar to us that we tend to let our

minds wander when we hear a sermon about it, convinced that we already know

everything there is to know about it. But take a close look at how the story

begins. A lawyer comes to Jesus with a question: “What must I do to have eternal

life?” To this lawyer, the concept of having eternal life is not what we think of

today. While we often think of eternal life as “living in God’s presence in heaven

after we die, forever”, for a first century Jew, the question meant “How can I live a

rich, fulfilling life that finds favor with God?” The answer to that question, as

Jesus rightly states, is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and

mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. Continued on the next page

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FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

Continued

The lawyer then asks a second question: Who is my neighbor? Note how, in

the parable, Jesus turns his question around. Instead of answering the question

“Who is my neighbor?” Jesus tells him what he must do in order to be a good

neighbor!

In crafting the vision for this congregation, that will be one of our goals we

will focus on: how can we be a good neighbor to the people in our community?

What are the most pressing needs in our community, and what can we do to

alleviate those needs? As of the date of the typing of this newsletter, our vision

planning date is not yet set. But look for an announcement about it. Do not be

like the priest or the Levite who passes by on the other side.

On this side of the kingdom, a rich full life, or what a first-century Jew

would call eternal life, is not found in wealth, fame or power. It is found in love; in

being in relationship with God and with our neighbor. On the other side of the

kingdom, eternal life is not gained by ANY works on our part, but by the grace of

God through faith in Christ!

In the abiding hope of the empty tomb,

Pastor Larry

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Report of Director of Music

Patriotism is love of country. But you can't love your country without loving

your countrymen and countrywomen. We don't always have to agree, but

we must empower each other, we must find the common ground, we must

build bridges across our differences to pursue the common good.

(Cory Booker)

Submitted by

Judy Vassar

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This year’s Vacation Bible School was a great success!! From Learning about God’s word, the way the many animals

on this Earth help us, and SO much Fun!!

The kids enjoyed:

• Rock Climbing

• Ziplining

• Canoeing

• Archery

• So many crafts, games, snacks, and songs!

CHECK IT OUT!

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Fellowship Time

July 14th at

9:00 am

Before the Outdoor

Service at Oakland Square Park

Do you find yourself on Sunday mornings getting ready for

church in less time then you thought it would take, and sitting at

home just waiting for the time to leave to come to church?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a cup of coffee, donuts, or juice and

enjoy morning conversations with your church family?

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Park Clean-up

Oakland Square Park Christian Action Ministry Team has adopted taking care of Oakland Square Park as a community

outreach project. The members would like to ask the congregation and any of the older youth to

help them with various jobs such as cleaning, painting, raking, planting flowers, and mulching.

Upcoming date that has been scheduled for clean-up:

Friday, July 12th at 2pm

Friday, August 9th at 2pm

If you have your own hand tools, please bring them with you.

Won’t you help us take care of Oakland Square Park and do God’s work with OUR hands!

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Out to Lunch Bunch

In July we will be going to

On July 20, 2019 5:30 pm

Menu Items Include: Italian Foods, Prime Rib, Steaks, and Seafood. It is located at 2323 N.

West St. Lima, OH 45801

All are welcome to come and be a part of the

fellowship. Contact Judy Vassar or the church

office !

Thanks to ALL who help at Our Daily Bread. The next evening, we will serve is Monday,

July 15th. If you can’t help us serve, but would still like to help, you could provide the

dessert. This month we are asking for cookies. If you haven't had the chance to help at

Our Daily Bread, please consider doing so. A sign-up sheet is in the upper narthex.

Volunteers are asked to arrive at Our Daily Bread about 4:15 pm prior to the serving time

of 4:30 pm. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the church office.

As part of our celebration of the Holy Supper of our Lord, we are asking you to

remember those around us who need to be fed. You can help keep the LCS pantry

stocked by bringing basic food items on the first Sunday of each month. What is needed

is canned items: especially fruits, vegetables, meats and soups; and basic non-perishable items:

cereal, flour, sugar and juices. There is a basket in the upper narthex to receive your

donations. Let’s remember Food on the First as part of our monthly celebration of

Holy Communion.

The church office will be closed on

Wednesday, July 4th in observance of

Independence Day

2019 LOGAN COUNTY FAIR

Sunday, July 7th – Saturday, July 13th

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Ministry Team Highlights

Christian Action Ministry Team

• Park Clean-up days

• Library Box for Park

Learning Ministry Team

• Evaluating recent VBS

• Sunday school classes options

Worship Ministry Team

• Summer Services

Property Ministry Team

• Upkeep on Outside

• Asphalt Decisions

F.L.I.R.T.

• Church safety strategy

Finance Ministry Team

• Monitor church finances

Copies of reports from the monthly

meetings of each ministry team is

Sunday Attendance for June 2019

June 2 106

June 9 98

June 16 69 outdoor service (rain)

June 23 TBA

June 30 TBA

June Average: TBA

May Average: 112

2019 Church Council

President– Chris McKenrick

Vice-President– Gail Keck

Secretary– Liz Rose

Members- Chris Gamble, Cheri Comstock, Adam Smith,

Ray Swisher, Chris Tillman, Susan Wyckoff, Ben Zoldak

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July Birthdays 7/02 Terry Thompson

7/02 Dave Comstock

7/03 Stephanie Oaks

7/05 Hayden Baxley

7/11 Tom Weikart

7/13 Betty Vondenhuevel

7/14 Tommy Belser

7/15 Dave O’Brien

7/17 Ray Swisher

7/20 Brenda Shively

7/20 Sherri Hodies

7/21 John Knisely

7/23 Kay Schroer

7/23 Abbey Shields

7/25 John Belser

7/29 Gene Barger

7/29 Scott Chamberlain

7/29 Hannah Young

July Anniversaries Bill & Joy Badenhop 7/2/1988

Chris & Karen Gamble 7/7/2012

Carl & Rachel Gillespie 7/25/1971

John & Rosalee Horn 7/30/1983

Tom & April Jameson 7/06/1991

Chris & Jennifer McKenrick 7/08/1995

Bob & Pat Mitchell 7/09/1977

Tom & Liz Rose 7/17/1993

Greeting Cards

Do you have Christmas, birthday or any

other greeting cards that you have received

and don’t know what to do with them? Don’t

throw them away … bring them in and we

will recycle them for you. Place them in the

receptacle located in the lower narthex. You

can bring your cards in all year long.

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Serving in Worship JULY 2019

Ushers

Dave Dishop

Dave O'Brien

Diane Anderson

Ray Swisher

Acolytes

7/7 Shelby Starkey

7/14 Open

7/21 Samantha Starkey

7/28 Josalyn Porter

Crucifers

7/7 Jacob McKenrick

7/14 Emma Heath

7/21 Sarah Starkey

7/28 Zane Gamble

Communion Helpers

7/7 Noah & Eden Smith

7/21 Maddox Keith & Layla Hoyt

Readers

7/7 Chris Tillman

7/14 Cindy Weikart

7/21 Susan Wyckoff

7/28 Brittanny Porter

Communion Assistants

7/7 Jim & Janet Donnelly

7/21 Jan Van Hoose & Jinny Fergus

Greeters

7/7 Don & Georgia Voorhies

7/14 Ray & Kris Swisher

7/21 Jan Van Hoose

7/28 Paul & Joann Karn

Worship Assistants

7/7 Sherri Hodies

7/14 Kris Swisher

7/21 Beth Harman

7/28 Dick Griffith

Altar Guild

Cindy Weikart

Brittanny Porter

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