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The Epiphany Star February 2018

Newsletter of Epiphany Lutheran Church Fort Wayne, Indiana

Dear Epiphany Lutheran Church,

On February 14 (yes I know it is Valentine’s Day) we begin the Season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. I think it is interesting that Valentine’s Day/Ash Wednesday what a better way to combine the two “heart” factors in our lives. What do you think of when you hear the Season of Lent? It might be “The Cross” that Christ was crucified on or the need to focus more time on the repentance of our sins. It might bring thoughts of Mid-Week Lenten suppers and worship, or the “darker” tone of the music that we use in our worship services. The Season of Lent is six weeks long and leads us into the joyous celebration of Easter! Lent can be a high point in the church calendar. During the Season of Lent, I would encourage you to think about your relationship with our Savior Jesus the Christ. How much time do you spend on a daily basis in prayer with Jesus? How much time and effort do you spend helping others in your daily lives? The Season of Lent is a season (time) of fasting. Fasting is a discipline of restraint so that you can celebrate something greater later. Yet, even in that time of preparation and reflection one can experience some joy. We just need to remem-ber to do it with some restraint. Originally the Season of Lent was an intense time of preparation (fasting and prayer) for the sacrament of Holy Baptism on Easter Sunday. What could be more joyful that time spent preparing for a life with Jesus? All of the preparations were to say to the candidate- something great is about to happen. Get ready! Something great is about to happen at Epiphany! Throughout the month of February there are numerous activities and events that are designed to help us in our time of preparation for something greater. On Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. will be the traditional Fat Tuesday/Pancake Festival with Pastor and Dave York. Then starting on Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. we will begin the Lenten journey with a simple supper at 6 p.m. and Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m., and then will continue with the same schedule every week for the six weeks of Lent. On Feb. 23 from 5-7p.m. we are having a community Fish Fry. Be sure to sign-up to help and invite your neighbors and co-workers. This is a fund-raiser for the youth going to the National Youth Gathering in Houston, TX in July.

We are Christians, called by God, committed to: Sharing the Gospel, Serving others as Christ taught us, and Creating disciples for witness. Epiphany Lutheran Church’s Vision Statement: A Christian family of God committed to sharing the Gospel and serving others, through joyful worship,

E-mail Us:

Pastor’s office .................................. pastor@epiphanyfw.com Pastor’s home ...................................... rlhart49@frontier.com Dia’s office ............................................Dia@epiphanyfw.com

Please feel free to stop in or call for any of your Pastoral needs. Our office hours are as follows:

Pastor: Sunday – Thursday 8:00 am – 2:30 pm Monday and Wednesday evenings Some Saturdays

Dia: Wednesdays 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Other times as needed and available

WEB SITE: Epiphany Lutheran Church www.epiphanyfw.com

I would encourage you to seek some time during the Season of Lent to reflect on the priorities in your life and find ways to make them important. I know for me one of my priorities is improving my relationships with God and family. One of the important les-sons I have learned is that if you want to improve relationships you have to spend time in them. God bless you as you prepare to begin your Lenten journey.

In Christ,

Pastor Richard Hartman

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Our next Quarterly Congregational Meeting is scheduled for

Sunday, February 18th, at 9:00 am.

Breakfast will be provided. A few weeks before the breakfast,

there will be a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board;

please let us know if you plan to attend, so we know how much food to prepare.

Don’t miss out on this chance to be involved in the life of our church!

All are welcome!

Quarterly Congregational

Breakfast Meeting

Comfort Ye My People Our quilting group will meet on Sunday,

February 25th, at 9:00 am. We are making

great progress so far this year—please join us this month and help us care for God’s

children throughout the world!

The Saturday morning Men’s Bible Study will continue their study out of the book Fruits of the Spirit.

We will meet on Saturday, February 10th, at 7:00 am

for breakfast and the Word. All are welcome.

Start Cleaning Out Those Closets!

We are planning a church rummage sale in early May, so as you prepare for spring cleaning, bring your unwanted items to the church nursery. We’ll sort them from there! Thanks!

Dinner at 6 pm - Worship at 7 pm

February 14

th - Ash Wednesday

Fellowship Committee Pulled Pork

February 21st

Council Deli Sandwiches - Salad

February 28th

Quilting Group Baked Potato Bar

March 7th

Youth

Worship Assistants Needed

Dia is looking for:

Lectors, Assisting Ministers

Acolytes Ushers

Communion Assistants Altar Guild Members

for upcoming services

Ash Wednesday 2/14 Maundy Thursday 3/29

Good Friday 3/30

Please let her know if you can help.

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February 4th

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th Sunday after Epiphany

Isaiah 40:21-31 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Mark 1:29-39

February 11th

Transfiguration of our Lord

2 Kings 2:1-12 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

February 14th

Ash Wednesday Joel 2:1-2,12-17

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

February 19

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1st

Sunday of Lent Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 Matthew 5:38-48

February 18

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2nd

Sunday of Lent Genesis 9:8-17 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 8:31-38

Join us for Worship this month! Every Sunday at 8:00 & 10:15 am

Every Monday at 2:00 &7:00 pm

February 14th Ash Wednesday at 7:00 pm

Confirmation classes at 9:00 am on Sunday

Please join us!

Check out the bulletin board in the narthex by the library

for the lovely Thank You notes, letters and cards we received from those we have helped in

the past few months.

Angels Among Us! We have members of our congregation who do many things behind the scenes,

and we want to take the time to recognize just a few in this month’s issue! Thank you, Angels!

Christmas Decorations were put away for another year

The Epiphany Program was planned, and youth shared light! Juice and Wine were provided for Holy Communion each week Communion Bread was prepared and baked each month “Taxi Service” was provided to get members to and from worship Bulletin Boards were updated for upcoming missions

Newsletters were mailed to homebound church members

Please join us Tuesday, February 13th, 6:00 pm for

Pastor’s annual “Fat Tuesday” pancake supper! Shrove Tuesday is traditionally observed as the last day to enjoy a few indulgences before the penitential season

of Lent begins. Join us for food, fun, and fellowship as we anticipate this season.

A sign-up sheet will be posted on the bulletin board by the office—please let us know if you plan to come.

We hope to see you there!

Meals on Wheels

Thank you for your continued support of this vital mission in our community. Our congregation donated a total of

$134 in the month of January, bringing our total donations to over $8,700!

Please let Dia in the office know if you would like to be add-ed to the list to give $7 a month to this worthy cause. Thank

you for sharing the gifts God has given to you!

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Fishes and Loaves Collection

During the upcoming season of Lent, we will once again be collecting “fishes and loaves”

for the Associated Churches Food Bank. Food pantries often struggle to keep enough on the shelves

during this time of year. Please donate cans of tuna, salmon, or other fish as well as boxes of “Tuna Helper” and crackers to our blue bin in the

narthex. Thank you for your generosity!

Lillian was born in Arizona and moved to North Carolina as a baby. She has also lived in South Carolina and West Virginia before moving to Fort Wayne. She is married to her husband John and has a sister Susan in Kentucky, Brother Skip in Maryland and sister in law, Liza in South Carolina. She attended Converse College in South Carolina for her Bachelor De-gree, Winthrop University in South Carolina for her MBA and WGU in Indiana for her masters in Curriculum & Instruction, plus Indiana Wes-leyan University for Transition to Teaching. She is currently teaching at Concordia Lutheran High School! Lilly likes cross stitch and black work embroidery, Taichi and pilates. She has been helping the Quilter’s by making tops for the quilts and knotting on Sundays. When you see Lilly welcome her as part of our Epiphany Family

Mission Moment for February 2018

Thanks so much to everyone who donated items to our “Baby Shower for Jesus”. Every gift to a needy little one in His honor is a gift to the Christ Child. Lent begins in February and we’ll again be supporting the Associated Churches Fishes and Loaves collection. Items of canned fish such as tuna, salmon or mackerel as well as “tuna helper”, crackers and pasta are needed. We will continue to collect soup until the Super Bowl as well. Support your favorite team! Just hope it’s not the Pats. Also in our Lenten journey we will collect funds for Heifer International. This organization (started in Indiana) provides families with animals and agricultural items like trees and seeds and provides education and support so these families and their communities can become self-sufficient. Our young people will be choosing what animals we will collect for. Look for giving suggestions in you mail boxes and Heifer banks to take home and fill.

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Written by Jane Dawkins

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Rachel Jancso Jessica Williams Erin Robinson Ron Jancso Chuck Lehman

“Happy birthday” to those who celebrate their second birthday during the month of February! Martin Luther said, “When you wash your face, remember

your baptism.” Take time to remember and celebrate this month!

February Baptismal Birthdays

Lutheran Association For Institutional Ministries

(L.A.I.M) The L.A.I.M. Delegates Meeting will occur in February and the Board

continues to move the organization forward financially and spiritually.

We will add three new Board members in February as the current Board membership transitions. I will continue to serve until 2020 and keep you informed of our activities. As I mentioned previously, we plan to change the name in 2018.

Thanks to Epiphany’s congregation for serving as a Member Congregation in 2018! Dues assessment will continue to be $2 for each confirmed member or $442 per year. Your dues contributions and those of 29 other Lutheran congregations support the chaplains who serve 30 area facilities in weekly worship service and provide devotional books for residents and facility employees.

We hope to expand our ministry further in 2018 to serve additional residents and facilities and are grateful for your support!

Peace! Sue

Capt. Becky Roemer Dennis Payne Jim Davis

February 4

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Now The Feast

February 1tth

LBW II

February 18th

LBW II

February 25th

LBW II

Organist/ Pianist

Sara Davis

Sara Davis

Sara Davis

Amanda Pickett

Assisting Minister

Dia Herb

Jane Dawkins

Jim Davis

Mark Herb

Lector 8:00 am

Sue Davis

Sue Johnson

Cheryl Ralston

Anne Lohman

Lector 10:15 am

Barb Werling

Mike Rumfield

Alicia Davis

Shane Pickett

Acolyte Robert

Lohman Corey Davis

David Osheskie

Nathaniel Pickett

Communion Assistant 8:00 am

Connie York

David York

Kurt Unrue

N/A

Communion Assistant 10:15 am

Ron Roemer

Mark Herb

Dia Herb

N/A

Altar Guild

Roemers Jane

Dawkins Cathy

Rumfield N/A

Greeter(s) Ron & Becky

Roemer Denny & Karen

Payne Denny & Sally

Mertz Jack & Sandy

Swanson