The Wonder of Being Loved - First Lutheran Church of Sioux Falls

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Worship and Music Sponsor a hymnal Bless the ministries of First Lutheran Church and honor the life or memory of someone dear to you by donating one or more copies of Evangelical Lutheran Worship. The cost to sponsor a book is $22. Sponsored hymnals will include a book plate on the inside cover. Please complete the form below and turn it in to the reception desk along with your payment made payable to First Lutheran Church. Yes, I would like to sponsor a hymnal Donor name:_ ___________________________________________________ Number of hymnals sponsored __________ x $22 each =_ _______________ In honor of: _____________________________________________________ In memory of:___________________________________________________ First Word • February 2009 Make a Joyful Noise Organ recitals dedicating the newlyinstalled Alfred Führer pipe organ continue in Christ the Victor Chapel: • Sunday, Feb. 22, at 4 p.m. featuring First Lutheran Church organists • Sunday, March 22, at 4 p.m. featuring Michael Elsbernd, organ; Lisa Grevlos, soprano solo; Jason Burggraff, cello; and Anna Vorhes, harp. A reception will follow each dedication. Pastoral Care Ministries By Paula Bartels, Parish Nurse Writer’s note: Thank you so very much for the way you have showered me with your love by cards, phone calls, visits and especially your prayers. They have been of great encouragement to me since learning I had breast cancer and then surgery in December. February is the month of letting others know of our love for them. Parents, do you have a written family health history going back several generations for your children and grandchildren? It could prove to be very beneficial in the years to come. From personal Paula Bartels Let others know you love them, this month and always experience, I’ve learned that a family history can be instrumental in determining a plan of treatment. When doing a post hospital call, one parishioner said, “I never realized how much it meant to get a card in the mail until I was hospitalized! I’m going to be sure I send cards to those who are ill in the future.” It doesn’t take long to be kind! You never know how much your thoughtfulness will help someone along their journey. Such acts of kindness have helped my journey become an adventure. When God gives you opportunity to reach out to someone, do it. You will be rewarded. It will be good for your own emotional and spiritual health. God encourages us in 2 Corinthians 1:3–4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” So many of you do this. There is a bond when we share a common journey. Some of you have given me permission to give your name to another parishioner that is going through a similar illness or life situation, thus living out the verses in 2 Corinthians. If any others would like to give me your name for a resource file, please let me know by calling 339-1983, ext. 24, or email nurse@flcsf.org. It is so helpful for others to be able to connect with someone who understands what it is like to be in their situation. Being proactive in your health is a good way to take care of your temple. You never know when your world may change, so to try to be in the best shape possible: • Exercise 30 minutes daily, eat healthy, get enough rest and drink six to eight glasses of water daily • Have a yearly physical • Stay up to date with your immunizations • As you get older, get mammograms, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and colonoscopies as needed. We need to take care of our spiritual health as well. Spending time reading, studying the Bible and praying are essential. Good spiritual health will help you along the journey of life. Whatever challenges you may be facing, take heart. Think on these encouraging words of Jesus in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Or Hebrews 13:5–6, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid, what can man do to me?’ ” I think of you all often! When I was to go for the second surgery, I asked to walk instead of ride. It challenged the norm a bit, but when the time came, the transporter left the wheelchair outside my room. “You realize it is several blocks from your room to surgery?!” she said. I replied, “I don’t think that’s a problem, I’m used to walking a half hour a day. I’m a parish nurse and walking is one thing I encourage my parishioners to do. I think it would be fun to tell them I walked to surgery!” Have fun taking care of your temples! You may need to be in the best shape possible, physically, emotionally, and spiritually when you least expect it! Lenten Love Yearning for God’s presence within our own spirits One of my best memories of the Valentine season is of sitting in a one-room schoolhouse full of excited students surrounded by red streamers and paper hearts, red and white frosted cookies and red Kool-Aid, as we opened our Valentine treasures from our teacher and classmates. We’d spent the night before writing valentines and, in true “community fashion,” there was one for each of us—even for Pastor Barbara Wangsness those classmates we weren’t so close to. Valentine’s Day was a time to think about love—about friendships and how lucky we were to know we were also special to others! Often the “Valentine season” was close to the start of Lenten services in our small, white framed church set among the rolling, wooded hills of northeast Iowa, and it was here, as a little girl, where I first heard the profound, lyrical question in the beautiful hymn, “What Wondrous Love is This?” I’ve since learned this North American hymn, often considered anonymous, was actually written down by William Walker, as he traveled through Appalachia in the early 1800s. Both the song and its title question God Loves You! continue to be favorites of mine as its melodious and lyrical love song combines to gently caress our ears, stirring the very depths of our souls with a yearning for God’s presence within our own spirits. It is a love song of the highest kind possible! A gentle reminder of Jesus’ deep love for us and for all of God’s creation; a “Valentine reminder” that addresses us each Lenten season! Perhaps the original songwriter was thinking of St. Paul’s words to the church at Galatia, about how, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree’—in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13–14). Yes, indeed— what wondrous love is this? As we draw near to another Valentine’s Day and Lenten season, may the touch of God’s grace on our conscience remind us that the biggest gift of love/the biggest valentine we’ll ever receive is God’s gift to us of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ! For this is the One—our Savior and Lord—who lovingly claims us as God’s own and empowers us to walk through whatever Lenten journeys we will also face in our faith walks through this earthly life. Happy Valentine’s Day to you! First Lutheran Church • 327 S. Dakota Ave. • Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Phone (605) 336-3734 • Fax: (605) 336-8370 • www.flcsf.org
First Word • February 2009 Life Transitions through the month of December Baptisms • Julia Dianne Hedrick, daughter of John & Gretchen Hedrick • Nathanial Virgil Herbst, son of Dave & Kristen Herbst • Ava Ayash Thompson, daughter of Keith & Ashley Thompson • Carter Wayne Brady, son of David Brady & Amanda Kyte • Ingrid Pauline Ready, daughter of Benjamin & Laura Ready Weddings • Douglas Timm & Chelsea Johnson Deaths • Carolyn Vail • Alan Lidel • Donna Sivertson • Don Lien Financial Services Gifts and memorials from December 2008 Thank you to our generous donors who have shared many thoughts, prayers and financial gifts with the ministries of First Lutheran Church. We are blessed by the support of the following people… Gifts to the Foundation in honor of Pastor Dave Johnson: Foundation Board and staff Vi Smith’s 90th birthday: Barb Peterson; Kay Hegler Gifts to the Foundation in memory of Helen Carlson: Dorothy Grevlos Carolyn Vail: Jean Ellwein; Sharon Lehmann; Leslie & Carolyn Svendsen Gifts to Capital Campaign in memory of Clara Alexander: Warren & Phyllis Day; Herb & Dorothy Mikkelson John Gaalswyk: Frank & Joan Hansen Carolyn Vail: Norm & Muriel Ekeland Gifts to Capital Campaign in honor of Gladys Halstenson and Janet Naessig: Lydia Circle First Lutheran Church pastors: Emil & Carol Knapp Gifts to Caring Ministry in honor of Pastor Barbara Wangsness: Donald & Joyce Helberg FLCW Co-Chair Glenna Burns: FLCW Media Ministries Gifts to Caring Ministry in memory of Harold & Wm Shaff: Marlys Shaff Carolyn Vail: Donald & Joyce Helberg Gifts to Media Ministry in honor of FLCW Co-Chair Arlene Bich: FLCW Verla Park: Paul & Karen Van Bockern Gifts to Media Ministry in memory of Clara Alexander: Dr. RC & Glennys Meerdink Dorothy Bedford: Gordon Nelson Charles Cosand: Roger & Bev Lamp John Gaalswyk: Morris & Edith Magnuson; Marilyn Schmutterer; Viola Smith Dorothy Hink: FLCW Wanda Karli: Robert & Betty O. Johnson Dorothy Lewis: FLCW Alan Lidel: James & Elaine Berg; Gladys Bredeson; L. Dawn Doscher; Gerald & Barbara Entringer; Allan & Phyllis Knutson; Mark Loberg; Leslie & Ione Pereboom; Floyd & Carol Prouty; Viola Smith Don Lien: Dennis & Jane King; Rev. LeRoy & Elaine Nevin Duane Lindner: Gerald & Barbara Entringer; Shirley Magnuson Bergit Orke : Warren & Phyllis Day Carolyn Vail: Dorothy Bahnson; Dale & Joan Cota; Warren & Phyllis Day; Doug & Sharon Fahrendorf; Pearl Jamtgaard; Robert & Ramona Jensen; Johnson & Christensen Law Office; Bernice Larson; Mrs. Diedrik Nelson; Catherine Nelson; Rev. LeRoy & Elaine Nevin; Gloria Norton; Ronald & Patricia Park; Walter Ree; Jeff & Kathleen Scherschligt; Carol Twedt; Phyllis Vermeulen Leona Wilka: Jeff & Edna Husman; Gordon Nelson Gift to Women’s Choir in honor of Hazel Wek: FLCW Gifts to Women’s Choir in memory of Jeannie Baca: Family and friends Bonnie Griffith: Dorothy Vagstad Gift to Music Department in memory of Bonnie Griffith: Carol Twedt Gift to Organ Fund in honor of Michael Elsbernd: Agape Ringers Gifts to Organ Fund in memory of Rev. C.M. Bagaason: Arline Bagaason Consider a perpetual sponsorship opportunity Sponsoring a First Lutheran Church Media Ministry radio broadcast, telecast, or closed captioning is an excellent way to remember a loved one or to celebrate a special day. In fact, many people find that they would like to sponsor each year on a certain date. The Media Ministry perpetual sponsorship was developed to help sponsors lock in a specific sponsor date year after year. With a perpetual sponsorship, you can be KSFY telecast sponsored: Dec. 7: In memory of Verlyn and Corinne Petersen and Jill McCormick, by Brian and Denise Aamlid and family, and Linda Gores. Dec. 14: By Judy Jasper in memory of her parents, Jack and Mabel Jasper. Dec. 21: In loving memory of Orville and Sadie Doescher, James and Evelyn Williams, Leon Doescher and Earl Doescher by Bob and Margaret Doescher. Dec. 24: By Bob and Glennys Meerdink in thankfulness for First Lutheran Church assured that your date is reserved year after year without fail. You may choose to quit the sponsorship at any time. There are many creative ways to sponsor a broadcast perpetually, first you choose a date such as “the first Sunday in March,” or “any Sunday in June,” or even “any date during the year.” Payment may be yearly, or you may choose to pay through memorials to the Media Ministry Fund. A broadcast and its pastors. Dec. 25: By Roger Haugo in loving memory of his wife, Sandra, and his parents, Erling and Clara Haugo. Dec. 28: By the First Lutheran Church Women as a tribute to the pastors and staff of First Lutheran. Jan. 25: By Shirley and Rich Lauer with thanks to God for 50 years of marriage on Jan. 24. KELO broadcast sponsored: Dec. 21: In memory of two special friends, Lt. J.W. Findling and Lt. JG J.R. Arseneault, sponsorship on KSFY-TV is $1,200 or $600 for a partial sponsorship. A broadcast sponsorship on KELO radio is $100. Payment and other options can be discussed when you call. The perpetual sponsorship will help you to sponsor the date you like each year, automatically, until you decide to discontinue. For more information or to reserve a sponsorship, please call Financial Specialist LaVonne Wolf at 339-1983, ext. 18. by John Bergeland who was an honor guard for their burial in the Pacific. John says, “I want to bring them home with honor and dignity. Merry Christmas.” Dec. 28: In loving memory of Keith Ellwein, whose birthday would have been Dec. 27, by his family and friends through the earnings of gifts to the Media Ministry Fund. Jan. 4: In loving memory of Betty Martinek whose 79th birthday would have been on Jan. 10, and in honor of Carl and Craig Martinek who will celebrate John Gaalswyk: Edward & Eunice Mansfield Dwaine Lindner: Edward & Eunice Mansfield Merle Pflueger: Family and friends; Mary Myklebust; John R. Odney; Barbara J. Peterson; Mary Lee Scarbrough Financial update December 2008 Worship Attendance December 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,038 Total Revenues YTD 2008 Actual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,938,961 2007 Actual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,896,864 Total Expenses 2008 Actual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,876,522 2007 Actual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,039,740 Notes Payable Bank Loan - Capital . . . . . . . . . . . $1,963,428 Contract For Deed Ideal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$671,044 Capital Campaign Income Through December 2008 . . . . . $4,351,123 The Ash Wednesday service will be televised on KSFY at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25 December and January broadcast sponsors First Lutheran Church’s worship can be seen every Sunday at 11 a.m. on KSFY-13, KPRY-4 and KABY-9 in Eastern South Dakota, Southwest Minnesota, Northwest Iowa and Northeast Nebraska. A live radio broadcast of worship can be heard each Sunday at 8:15 a.m. on KELO-FM, 92.5. their birthday on Jan. 17 by Leonard Martinek. Jan. 11: In loving memory of Samantha Kramer, made possible by earnings from a gift by family and friends to the First Lutheran Church Foundation. Jan. 18: In memory of Cora Boneff through earnings from a bequest she made to the First Lutheran Church Foundation. Jan. 25: In loving memory of Helen Hay, whose birthday would have been on Feb 2, by her family. First Lutheran Church • 327 S. Dakota Ave. • Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Phone (605) 336-3734 • Fax: (605) 336-8370 • www.flcsf.org
Page 1 and 2: February 2009 Volume 63 • Number
Page 3 and 4: 327 South Dakota Avenue Phone: (605
Page 5: First Word • February 2009 Stewar

The Wonder of Being Loved - First Lutheran Church of Sioux Falls

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