Mar. 2015 Pg. 1
“To Receive and Share Christ’s Embrace.”
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UPCOMING
EVENTS:
Message from Pastor Bill
Women’s Bible Study:
1st Tue. 1:00pm. March 3
New Possibilities:
Tuesdays, 6:00pm
Comforters:
9:30am Weds.
Choirs: Thursdays Bell Choir: 4:30pm
Adult Choir: 5:30pm
Ladies’ Luncheon:
Fri, March13, Noon,
Country Bounty
Torch Articles Due:
Mon, March 23, 9:00am
Packing for the Troops:
Tues, March 24, 9:00am
Soup Supper & Lenten
Devotion: WednesdaysSoup Supper 6:00pm
Devotion 7:00pm
Board of Elders Meeting:
Thurs, March 26, 1:00pm
Maundy Thursday Service:
April 2, 7:00pm
Good Friday Service:
April 3, 7:00pm
Easter Services:
7:00am – Sunrise Service
7:45am – Easter Breakfast
9:15am – Worship Service
Early Childhood as Outreach
Dear Friends in Christ:
During my second year at Concordia Seminary I began the process of
finding a church for my vicarage and my eventual first call as a pastor. I
completed an abundance of forms and questionnaires that are designed help
the placement office match students to congregations. One of the questions
dealt with my preference for a congregation with a school. The possible
answers were, “Yes,” “No” and “No Preference.” I checked “No Preference.”
At the time, I really didn’t care whether a church had a school or not. The
only plus I could think of was that a school might provide a place for Paula to
continue her teaching career.
My first congregation, St. Peter Lutheran Church in Schaumburg, IL, had a
preschool through 8th-grade school with about 300 students. One of my duties
was to teach confirmation to the 8th-graders. It had its ups and downs, but
after the first year I was eager to do it again. I eventually taught that class for
five years and loved every minute of it.
A true source of joy, however, was taking a break from the office and
wandering the school halls, dropping in on classes and interacting with the
kids, the younger the better. Sitting on the floor with preschoolers and reading
stories with them was a blast. Our second call, Trinity Lutheran Church in
Temecula, CA, was blessed with a wonderful preschool. Again, the highlight
of any day was when I could spend time in the classrooms with the little ones.
Fast-forward to the end of last year and two conferences I attended (see
my letter in the December 2014 issue of The Torch). I believe God used my
experiences at these two congregations and schools to prepare me for the
vision He planted in my heart: an early childhood program – preschool,
daycare or both – at First Lutheran Church.
Lest you think this is all about me and my desires, it is not. It is all about the
growth of the Kingdom of God and the spread of the Gospel. The two
previous congregations I served were as different as night and day. St. Peter
was established in 1847 and Trinity was barely five years old when I arrived.
Generation after generation of families graduated from St. Peter, and just a
(cont. page 2)
Mar. 2015 Page 2
“To Receive and Share Christ’s Embrace.”
Message from Our President
.
What
happened to winter? Time seems to be
moving faster every day. Be sure to move your
clock forward March 8th with the change to
Daylight Savings time. I would like to thank Pam
Christiansen for volunteering to coordinate the
meals for those members who are in need of
assistance with meals following unexpected
emergencies. What a wonderful and loving family
we have in Christ. Thank You, I am proud to
serve such wonderful people.
Remember out Lenten devotions which began on
Wednesday the 25th of February. We are having
our weekly soup supper before our devotions in
the church basement. I look forward to seeing you
there.
Thank you all for attending the Congregational
Meeting. I truly believe that having a single
mission emphasis is something our Church needs
to again pursue in earnest. We are still missing
chairpersons for the ministries of Education and
Missions. It is imperative that if we are going to
pursue this mission we need individuals to step
forward. Please, consider taking an active role in
one of these ministries. We are still in need of an
individual to work with myself and the PPC as
Vice President. Remember to place in your
prayers our need for guidance on what the Lord
wishes for First Lutheran Church’s Mission
Vision.
Message from Pastor Bill
(cont. from page 1)
few classes of Trinity preschoolers had been sent off to
Kindergarten.
The common denominator was the
presence of a school where children learned about
Jesus and took the Good News home to their moms and
dads. These families sometimes came to faith in Jesus
Christ and join the church, which is the hopeful goal of
Christian early childhood ministry.
If you were able to attend the Congregational
Meeting on Feb 22, you already know where I’m going
with this. I believe the single mission focus of First
Lutheran Church should be outreach through early
childhood ministry. Whether that outreach takes the
form of a preschool or a daycare center, or a
combination of the two, remains to be seen. I have
been working with a consultant, Amber Lappin from
Early Childhood Professionals, to determine the needs of
our community and our capability to meet them. Ms.
Lappin will visit us on March 7 & 8, at which time she will
evaluate our current facilities and report to us on her
findings concerning our local situation, state licensing
requirements, staffing needs, and other necessities.
(cont. page 3)
(cont. page 3)
Mar 2015 Page 3
“To Receive and Share Christ’s Embrace.”
Message from Our President
Message from Pastor Bill
(cont. from page 2)
(cont. from page 2)
Thank you to Pastor Bill for all the work you put
into the services and the additional work that
goes into the preparation for the Lenten Services.
Please remember Pastor Bill and Paula in your
prayers as we move forward throughout 2015
and the church year. Please continue to support
them with your prayers.
She would like to meet with various members of the
congregation as part of her evaluation. If you would like
to be part of this process and are available to meet with
Ms. Lappin on Saturday, Mar 7 at 2:00 PM, please let me
know. As always, you can contact me via email,
[email protected], or phone, 221-8069.
“To Receive and Share Christ’s Embrace.”
.
Thank you for placing your trust in me and in
your prayers for my wife, Kathy and me. Please
feel free to contact me at my email address:
[email protected]. I wish to thank the
other members of the PPC for their support and
their continued efforts to do the work of Christ in
our Church.
Whether you are able to be part of the interview
process or not, you can help through prayer. Pray for our
community, pray for our congregation, and pray that
God will show us how to best reach out to others through
an early childhood ministry.
Saved to Share,
Yours in Christ;
Gary L. Martin
March
Birthdays:
President FLC
Ladies’ Luncheon
Calling all ladies! Come one, come all,
bring a friend and join us for lunch at:
3rd
4th
9th
18th
20th
26th
The Country Bounty Fri. March 13, at
12:00pm
Joan Hapl
Phyllis Tietzel
Keith Surber
Betty Albers
Myles Shuey
Linda Maltas
March Anniversaries:
1st
Rock & Sharon Brekus
9th
Glen & Paula Saari
16th Willis & Janene Shuey
Mar. 2015 pg 4
“To Receive and Share Christ’s Embrace.”
“To Receive and Share Christ’s Embrace.”
OPERATION SPIRIT
Operation Spirit is a project of the First Lutheran
.Church that mails boxes monthly to soldiers in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Algeria, Malasia, Korea and Germany (to
the USO). Many of the troops have returned home,
some are still there and some soldiers are just now
being deployed. It is important to continue honoring
them with care packages. Over 80 packages were sent
in 2013 and over 60 packages in 2014. The troops are
thankful for your support. We have received e-mails,
letters, cards, American flags, certificates, and several
OPERATION SPIRIT FROM THE HEART OF THE
ROCKIES
*Homemade Goodies needed !!!!!
TRAVEL SIZE SUN SCREEN
MAGAZINES FOR MEN ie. GOLF DIGEST, MECHANICS
TRAVEL SIZE TOOTHPASTE
BLACK CAPS AND GLOVES
FLEXIBLE INDIVIDUAL BANDAIDS
BLISTER PADS
BATTERIES AA
PRINGLES SINGLES
INDIVIDUAL SIZE WIPES
INDIVIDUAL RAZORS
COFFEE PACKETS
POPCORN
SINGLES TO GO - DRINK MIX
ANY SNACK BARS
COCOA PACKAGES
BUBBLE GUM
RICE KRISPIES TREATS
MACARONI & CHEESE
INDIVIDUAL TISSUE PKG.
INDIVIDUAL CHAP STICK
INDIVIDUAL SOUP PKG.
INDIVIUAL TUNA
SMALL BOTTLES OF EYEDROPS
DEODORANT
OATMEAL
Any cards and letters you would like to send would be GREATLY
appreciated!!
PLEASE PRAY FOR: Cynthia Hardman, who is giving boxes to wounded
soldiers in the hospital in Germany, Mark Cunningham, and PFC Cole
Findley.
Monetary Donations NEEDED TO SEND THE BOXES Make checks to First
Lutheran Write “Troops” on memo line
PACK TROOP BOXES ON MARCH 24, 9 A.M.
items from the areas where individual
soldiers were deployed. Recently, Mark
Cunningham, the son of Ginny and Jerry
Cunningham, sent us a beautiful piece of
pottery crafted by the Berber tribe in the
Sahara desert in Algeria. Mark is now in
Bamako, Mali. The church also received an
American Flag that was flown in honor of
First Lutheran Church in Eastern
Afghanistan in support of “Operation
Enduring Freedom” for the men and women
who lost their lives during the Sept. 11, 2001
terrorist attacks. The flag was flown by: C Co.
1-168th Cowboy Dustoff-Salerno/Orgun-E,
Afghanistan. The mission date was Sept. 4, 2009.
The flag was flown on a UH-60A Blackhawk in
the face of the enemy on a Combat Medevac
Mission. SGT LeeAnna Roberts, who we sent
boxes to, was the Flight Medic who sent the flag
and certificate to the church. All of these items
as well as numerous other items that were sent
in appreciation by the troops since Operation
Spirit started in 2007 may be seen at our church.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed.
Cash donations for postage, which is usually
over $100/mo., are also appreciated.
If you have a soldier you would like Operation
Spirit toad to their mailing list, please contact the
church office @ 539-4311 with name and address
oversees. The soldier does not have to be from
this church or this area.
God bless all of you for your prayers for our
soldiers and for your participation in honoring
them through Operation Spirit.
Linda Hayden
Mar. 2015 pg 5
“To Receive and Share Christ’s Embrace.”
LETTER FROM A SOLDIER
“To Receive and Share Christ’s Embrace.”
2/24/2015
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Dear First Lutheran Church of
Salida,
HOLY WEEK
Maundy Thursday Service - April 2, 7:00pm.
Communion.
Good Friday Service – April 3, 7:00pm.
I would like to extend my
gratitude for your thoughtful
gesture - sending me a care
package. It is very much
appreciated and it definitely is a
morale booster. It’s really a great
feeling receiving a package,
especially one filled with goodies.
Thank you so much for your
support.
God bless,
Tanner Whaley
EASTER SUNDAY
April 5
Sunrise Services – 7:00am
Easter Breakfast – 7:45am
Easter Worship Service – 9:15
Mar. 2015 pg 6
“To Receive and Share Christ’s Embrace.”
“To Receive and Share Christ’s Embrace.”
.
March 2015
Sun
Mon
1
Tue
2
9:15 Worship &
Communion
10:15 Fellowship
10:30 Bible Class &
Sun School
8
15
29
Fri
6:00p New
Possibilities
6:00p Soup
Supper
7:00p Lenten
Devotions
10
5
16
11
9:30 a
Comforters
17
12
4:30p Bell Choir
5:30p Choir
18
9:30 a
Comforters
6:00p New
Possibilities
Sat
6
7
13
14
4:30p Bell Choir
5:30p Choir
6:00p Soup
Supper
7:00p Lenten
Devotions
19
Ladies’
Luncheon
Noon at
Country Bounty
20
21
27
28
4:30p Bell Choir
5:30p Choir
6:00p Soup
Supper
7:00p Lenten
Devotions
23
9:15 Worship &
9:00a Torch
Communion
Articles Due
10:15 Fellowship
10:30 Bible Class
& Sun School
9:15 Worship &
Communion
10:15 Fellowship
10:30 Bible Class
& Sun School
Thu
4
9:30 a
Comforters
6:00p New
Possibilities
9:15 Worship &
Communion
10:15 Fellowship
10:30 Bible Class
& Sun School
22
3
1:00p Women’s
Bible Study
9
9:15 Worship &
Communion
10:15 Fellowship
10:30 Bible Class &
Sun School
Wed
24
25
26
9:00a Pack
Troop Boxes
9:30 a
Comforters
4:30p Bell Choir
5:30p Choir
6:00p New
Possibilities
6:00p Soup
Supper
7:00p Lenten
Devotions
1:00pm Board of
Elders Meeting
30
31
6:00p New
Possibilities
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH
Sunday
9:15
10:15
10:30
Worship
Fellowship
Bible Class
Pastor Bill Cate
Phone: 719-539-4311
Email: Firstlutheran@ bresnan.net
Website: www.flcsalida.org
First Lutheran Church
1237 F Street
Salida, CO 81201
719-539-4311
719-539-
“To Receive and Share Christ’s Embrace”