408 Ninth Street NW

Mandan, ND 58554

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH

Phone: 701-663-3594

Fax: 701-663-6217

E-mail: jackie@firstlutheranofmandan.org

Building Faith and

Transforming Lives

in Christ.

ADDRESS LABEL

The staff at

First Lutheran

Church would

like to wish

you and your

family a Happy

New Year!

www.firstlutheranofmandan.org

We’re on the web!

Council E-mail:

cc@firstlutheranofmandan.org

Before Russell and I got married there was a lot of

preparation. There was the venue to find, the church service to

plan, flowers to purchase, not to mention the cake, invitations,

party favors, etc. It took a long time to prepare for. When the

day finally came, it was over before I could even enjoy our cake.

All that time, all the preparation, and then it was over. I found

myself saying, “What now?”.

This time of year can feel like a “What now?” moment.

December was filled with preparation. There were trees to

decorate, favorite movies to watch, and presents to buy; all

leading up to Christmas. Christmas celebrates the true and

lasting light, Christ Jesus, in the midst of darkness. Now, it is

January. The world feels somehow less - less festive, less

glamorous, even as the “regular” routines of life take over.

Worst of all it is still dark.

So the “What now?” questions become: What do we do

after Christ is born? What do we do in world still filled with

darkness? What now?

Epiphany.

This is a season in which we celebrate the manifestation

of the Christ child, a day in which we celebrate the coming of

the magi. Epiphany is what comes after. During epiphany,

each time we worship together we will hear just one more

revelation of who Christ is, and in so doing perhaps a little more

of who we are called to be in Christ Jesus.

As we look for guidance asking, “What now?”, isn’t it

fitting that we might follow the star to the foot of the King? A

star, a light, to guide us through the darkness night coming

again and again to the foot of the King. A star, a light, to guide

us through a season of revelations as we discover who Christ is

and what it truly means to follow the star.

May the light guide you!

Pastor Chris

January 2018

Administrative Pastor

Rev. Lee Herberg

663-3594

Associate Pastor

Rev. Christina Martin

663-3594

Administrative Assistant &

Coordinator of Lay

Ministries

Jackie Schulz

663-3594 (o)

663-3082 (h)

Custodians

Ron & Mavis Watson

Financial Administration

Jennifer Scheet

First Lutheran Is A Mission

Partner with Camp of the

Cross Ministries

First Lutheran

Staff

First Lutheran Church

January Newsletter

PAGE 2 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH January 2018

Lunch At First (LAF) is a ministry of this congregation. Every Thursday from October through May, we provide a free lunch for students from Mandan High School. We serve a rotating menu of Sloppy Joes, Sandwiches, Loaded Baked Potatoes, Hot Dogs, and Nachos. We are serving over 400 kids each week! We have volunteers who help to cook and serve the meals and clean up each week. Why do we do this? Because we love these young people and want them to know it! We want them to come in our doors and see that this is a safe, inviting place. We do it because God’s love has no requirements. We are blessed weekly by their “Thank you’s”, laughter and smiles. We are also blessed by the company of the many volunteers each week as we work together. There are many ways that you can help! We always need people to help serve the meals on Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Lee or Jackie. We can also use financial donations to help the church with the cost. Stop by some Thursday and see the young people who join us each week and also see God’s work among us! ____________________________________________________________________ We extend thanks to all who participated in the 2017 Bismarck-Mandan CROPWALK for

Hunger.

This year the CROPWALK raised $8,579.12 to help alleviate hunger locally and throughout the

world.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of people who need our caring!

Allison Germolus

Mary Sherer

What: First Lutheran Church Annual Meeting

When: Sunday, January 28th

Please join us as we discuss our ministries of

the past year and plans for the coming year.

BLOOD DRIVE

The “Bloodmobile” will be here at First Lutheran Church on Sunday, January 21st

from 9:30 A.M.-Noon. There will be a table set up in the narthex starting early

January to reserve your spot so please keep your eye out for it. If you are 16 or

older and at least 110 pounds you most likely can give blood. Please help us fill

our spots and SAVE LIVES at the same time. Watch for more information in the

church bulletins. We will put information out there as soon as we receive more

details. We are looking to get at least 10 people to give blood (hopefully more).

Thank you so much for helping us try to reach our goal!

PAGE 10 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH JANUARY 2018

Mark Your

Calendar…

3rd: No Confirmation

4th: LAF ~ Hot Dogs

10th: 7pm - Confirmation -

Large Group

11th: No LAF

17th: No Confirmation

18th: LAF ~ Sloppy Joes

24th: 7pm - Confirmation -

Large Group

25th: LAF ~ Sandwiches

31st: 7pm - Confirmation -

Small Group

Caramel Roll Sale

The youth will be selling homemade caramel rolls on Sunday, January 7

th for coffee hour and also to go!

We are taking pre-orders until January 5th.

For PRE-SELL we will be selling a dozen for $35.00.

The day of January 7th, we will be selling a dozen for $40.00, 2 for $5.00 or 1 for $3.00.

There is a sign up sheet in the narthex for the pre-sell. Please include your name, phone number & the amount you will want to buy.

(We will call you the morning of Saturday, January 6th

to pick up your pre-orders)

Make sure to pick up some extra rolls and take them home to share with family and friends!

All proceeds will go to youth mission trip this summer!!

First Lutheran Penny War! February 4- 21, 2018

Put your spare change toward a great cause. All proceeds from our penny war fundraiser will go

to support our Mission Trip youth.

Pennies are “positive.” Here’s how it works:

Containers are located in the Narthex. Please note that the contain-ers will be available only before and after worship.

Each penny counts as one positive point for YOUR person of choice – Jackie, Pastor Lee, or Pastor Chris.

Each silver coin counts as negative points for the OTHER person. In other words, dropping a quarter in another person’s bucket takes 25 points from their total.

At the end of the day on February 21, all change/points will be tallied and the person with the most points will win a PERSONAL DAY OFF.

Start saving your change—it can make a big difference!

PAGE 4 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH JANUARY 2018

Sunday ~

8:30 am ~ Traditional

10:45 am ~ Contemporary

9:30 am ~ Coffee

9:30 am ~ Church School

Wednesday ~

6:00 pm ~ Transitional

6:00 pm ~ Church School

7:00 pm ~ Confirmation

Worship Schedule

Special Thanks

Thank you to all the greeters, ushers, communion servers,

readers, communion set-up, coffee hour workers, and to all

who have supplied goodies for the last month. Your help is

greatly appreciated!

Baptisms:

Weddings:

December 9 Lonny Magstadt & Kaylee Glarum

Funerals:

November 24 Mabel Meyer

November 29 Sandra Olson

December 11 Judith Oster

December 20 Virginia Ulrich

Memorial Fund

Pastoral Acts

In memory of Billy J. Hopkins, Leo & Ruth Renken &

Darrell & Randy Renken given by George & Sharon

Hopkins.

In memory of Dorothy Hertz given by Tom & Kim

Loberg.

In memory of Robert Priebe given by Lorraine Priebe.

In memory of Harry, Gerald, Sandy, Ruth & Herb

Renken, Alvina Chester, Darwin Jerabek & Sandy Olsen

given by Hilda Renken & family.

Deadline for

articles for the

February

Newsletter will be

January 22nd.

January ~ Mission of the Month

Weekend Meals for Mandan Kids

Items needed are Peanut Butter, Jelly, Fruit Cups, Canned

Fruit, Granola Bars, Cereal, Pudding Cups, Applesauce, Chef

Boyardee', Mac & Cheese, Soups, Hamburger Helper, Spaghetti

Noodles, Spaghetti Sauce, Pop Tarts, Instant Mashed Potatoes,

Rice A Roni, Pasta Roni, Pork and Beans, Baked Beans, Pancake

Mix-no eggs required such as Krusteaz Brand, Syrup.

NO GLASS JARS PLEASE!

You may put your items in the boxes in the Narthex. Thank

you!

PAGE 9 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH JANUARY 2018

PAGE 8 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH JANUARY 2018

Thank you to everyone

who took an angel tree

name. We had 265 kid’s

names from Mandan

Public Schools and all of

the names were spoken

for! Your thoughtfulness

helped a family in need.

Also, thank you to

everyone who helped

prepare and decorate the

church for the Advent

and Christmas season!

JANUARY 2018 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH PAGE 5

First Lutheran Church Council Minutes

Date: 11-16-2017

Members present: Pastor Lee Herberg, President Jessie Hilfer, Vice President DJ Campbell, Secretary Andrea Bonness, Ron Webb, Tim Faller, and Kevin Fishbeck.

Members absent: Pastor Christina Martin, Wayne Friesz and Jill Miller.

Devotions were presented by Pastor Lee Herberg *Special Guest Ken Will from the Western ND Synod Council. He presented a thank you presentation for con-tributions that support missions, projects and staff. 100% of dollars given go to these commitments.

Approval of Agenda: Moved by: DJ Campbell Seconded by: Kevin Fishbeck Motion Passed

Secretary’s Report and Approval of Minutes Moved by: Tim Faller Seconded by: Ron Webb Motion passed

Financial Report/Review Income was $55,508.94 Expenses were $42,651.35 Extra expenses included the confirmation banquet for $984.00 and the confirmation retreat for $595.00, paint repair for the church van for $599.21. The building fund earned an additional 800.00 plus. The extra income for October over the expenses for the month was from the Lutefisk & Swedish Meatball Supper.

Unfinished Business Topic: Reformation Sunday It was a huge success and a beautiful service. 2,449 attendees. Topic: Additional Cameras Security/Surveillance System Still waiting for information Topic: Portico Benefits Support staff would like to remain with the Thrivent plan. No further action. Topic: Team budgets Submitted and completed. Topic: Staff Evaluations They will be completed by Jessie Hilfer & DJ Campbell by Nov 30.

New Business >A church member will pledge $400.00 to LAF in return for the church to participate in the 2018 4th of July parade. Discussions will continue.

>Council Positions (2) 3-year positions and (1) year position need to be filled. Tony Michlitsch has accepted a 3-year position. Jessie Hilfer, DJ Campbell & Andrea Bonness will seek other candidates. > Church School 2 emails have been received about concerns over additional help and support that is needed. DJ Campbell will coordinate with Pastor Chris to form a committee to seek solutions.

Reports: Pastor Lee: 1 Baptisms 2 Funerals 1 Wedding 1Committal Blueprints were presented for review for the upcoming renovations. Correspondence was received from Lonnie Schuster from Thrivent Financial regarding the loan application. DJ Campbell will contact Lonnie with final specifications. Best option is a 20-year fixed rate of 5.35 %, estimated payment of $5,214.00 based on 232 months remaining to amortize after the project is complete. This would include refinancing our existing mortgage to which the new loan would be added. Tim Faller is also going to check with local banks to see if interest can be earned on this loan until the monies are used.

Pastor Chris: 0 Baptisms 0 Funerals 0 Weddings 0 Committals Library Square and Miller Point Worship Services Attending first Synod Council executive meeting this month Attended Synod Day Training on Nov 2-4. On vacation from Nov 15-Nov 25

Special Events: >Senior Christmas service and meal will be on December 12, 2017

Stewardship: No Report, researching

Worship: No Report

Parish Education/Youth: 18 students were confirmed on Oct 29. Pastor Chris attended Synod Day training on Houston TX Nov 2- Nov 4. The theme for the youth gathering is “This Changes Everything” and the theme for Synod day will be “Gods Hope Changes Everything”. Second grade bibles were handed out on Nov 8 & 12. Sunday and Wednesday school students are working hard getting the Christmas program ready. The youth will be selling caramel rolls starting in December with a limit of 70 doz.

Evangelism and Outreach: >Attendance numbers are up for LAF, approximately 400 per week >Trunk or Treat was attended by 754 kids and 27 trunks participated.

Property and Management: No Report

Correspondence: Thank you memos were received from Golden Age for contributions received for October of $80.04 and from the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center for October of $135.06. Thank you cards were also received from Aggie Moore for facility use, from Camp of the Cross for donations and from Pastor Lee & Pastor Chris thanking the council for the gift cards for pastor appreciation month.

Motion to Adjourn/Lord’s Prayer Motion by: Tim Faller Seconded by: DJ Campbell

Meeting was adjourned by Jessie Hilfer. The next Council meeting will be at 7:00 on December 21, 2017 at 7:00 PM. The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Minutes Submitted by: Andrea Bonness, Secretary

PAGE 6 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH JANUARY 2018