We will continue our study of “Extreme Makeover” and working towards our verse, “Have the same attitude as Christ Jesus had.”~Philippians 2:5closePhilippians 2:5 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (ESV) closePhilippians 2:5closePhilippians 2:5 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (ESV) 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (ESV) .  We have learned to be humble and to serve others from the stories of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector and the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet.  Come learn more about making over our attitudes and being more like Jesus.

February 5 – Lunch Meeting/SOUPER
BOWL SUNDAY…come prepared to play, and don’t forget your canned goods!

February 10 – (Friday) High School
to Bobcats game (Cost $10 for ticket and $ for dinner)

February 12 – Middle School Only
(Lunch out and bowling; $5 for bowling and $ for lunch)

February 19 – Dinner/Program (5:30
bells)

February 26 – Dinner/Program (5:30
bells)

Our dates/lessons/sermons for the series are as follows…

February
29 – Jeremiah 37:16-17closeJeremiah 37:16-17 16 When Jeremiah had come to the dungeon cells and remained there many days, 17 King Zedekiah sent for him and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house and said, “Is there any word from the Lord?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” Then he said, “You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.” (ESV) closeJeremiah 37:16-17closeJeremiah 37:16-17 16 When Jeremiah had come to the dungeon cells and remained there many days, 17 King Zedekiah sent for him and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house and said, “Is there any word from the Lord?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” Then he said, “You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.” (ESV) 16 When Jeremiah had come to the dungeon cells and remained there many days, 17 King Zedekiah sent for him and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house and said, “Is there any word from the Lord?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” Then he said, “You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.” (ESV) – Is There Any Word from the Lord?

March
7 – St. Mark 5:30-31closeMark 5:30-31 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” (ESV) closeMark 5:30-31closeMark 5:30-31 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” (ESV) 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” (ESV) – Who Touched Me?

March
14 – St. Luke 7:18-19closeLuke 7:18-19 Messengers from John the Baptist 18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (ESV) closeLuke 7:18-19closeLuke 7:18-19 Messengers from John the Baptist 18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (ESV) Messengers from John the Baptist 18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (ESV) – Are You the One?

March
21 – Romans 7:24-25closeRomans 7:24-25 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV) closeRomans 7:24-25closeRomans 7:24-25 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV) 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV) – Who Will Rescue Me?

March
28 – Romans 8:31closeRomans 8:31 God's Everlasting Love 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (ESV) closeRomans 8:31closeRomans 8:31 God's Everlasting Love 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (ESV) God's Everlasting Love 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (ESV) – If God is For Us, Who is Against Us?

Again this year, we will utilize our beautiful Vespers Order for Worship from the LBW (the “Green Book”) and will sing many of the wonderful old hymns that many of us remember singing in childhood. Services will be brief – lasting about 30 minutes…and a nursery is provided each evening.

2. Designate…a time for “family night” each week…enjoy a meal with family/friends once a week. Keep it “technology-free” and make it a special event.

3. Collect…coins during Lent. Drop all loose change in a container at the end of the day. Decide where to send the money as Easter approaches.

4. Rediscover…the art of writing letters. Choose someone you haven’t been in touch with (if it’s a relationship that needs mending, take the first step!)

5. Serve…at a community meal at church, work in the soup kitchen or donate to the food pantry.

6. Begin…planning a garden of vegetables or flowers for the spring. This heralds the coming of the Easter Season in a beautiful way.

7. Visit…someone who is homebound or in a nursing facility (Your pastors can provide names!). Take time to listen and ask questions about their faith and life…

8. Read…something with meaning and substance. Lent is a wonderful time to begin a program of daily Bible Readings. Our ELW provides a program to read through the Bible in a year…

9. Make time…to enjoy the arts. Visit an art gallery, begin music lessons, attend a concert, participate in a choir.

10. Keep…a journal of your Lenten Journey. List activities completed…and ideas discovered.

The possibilities for adding spiritual practices to your day to day living are endless. And some of these practices may stick around long after Lent and Easter.

From Lynne Morrow
Pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Park Ridge, Illinois

A one day retreat will be held Saturday, February 18 at Mt. Olive in Mt. Pleasant.  Registration begins at 9 and lunch will be served.  Our program will be “The Three R’s Renew, Respond, and Rejoice.  Cost is $8.00.  Please see our bulletin board for additional information.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH will NOT cancel Sunday Morning Worship Services because of inclement weather.  Please use your own good judgment before venturing out on snowy, icy days…but know that if you can get here, we’ll be waiting for you.

TIMOTHY HATLEY OF OUR PARISH is having a Spaghetti Luncheon Fundraiser to help with his Eagle Scout Project (Timothy is rebuilding a bridge on a trail at Morrow Mountain State Park) and would love to have you join him for lunch! A delicious lunch of Baked spaghetti, salad, rolls, tea and water will be provided (donation only!) on Sunday, February 19th in the Parish Hall, immediately following the Worship Service. Dessert donations would be greatly appreciated! Please contact Timothy at 704-983-2329 if you can donate a dessert item. All proceeds will help to fund his Eagle Scout Project.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ANNUAL BBQ IS February 23rd.  All churches have been asked to provide desserts and volunteer time.  Volunteers are needed to help on Wednesday, February 22 and during the BBQ on Thursday.  Please see the sign up sheets on the office window for work and desserts.

THRIVENT FINANCIAL FOR LUTHERANS will present a program on Social Security.  James Caulder, an authority on social security, will present this program on April 19th.  There will be no charge and the program is open to all Lutherans.  Please call Eleanor or Willie Plummer @ 704-474-7214 if you are interested.  Additional information will be furnished at a later date.

NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS will be installed during the morning worship services on Sunday, January 8th. They are: Granseur Dick, Wendy  Holbrook, Hoy Lanning, Carl McDow, and Anne Warner. Associate members serving a one year term are Lauren Cranford, Cici Ly, and Steven Fields.  We appreciate all who were willing to stand for council election this year.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH will NOT cancel Sunday Morning Worship Services because of inclement weather.  Please use your own good judgment before venturing out on snowy, icy days…but know that if you can get here, we’ll be waiting for you.

ORPHAN CELL PHONES  They lie in a remote drawer, neglected, replaced by the newest, jazziest product. They are dejected, sad.  But wait!  They can experience new life… as heroes!  Your unwanted cell phones can be rejuvenated, and placed with needy clients of the Crisis Council, or with elderly persons living  alone or ill.  Your old cell phones can save  a life!  Pack them up, with any chargers, and deposit them in the box in the foyer for pick up by the proper recipients… and… God bless you!

HOW GRATEFUL OUR STAFF IS for the many remembrances offered during the Holiday Season. Your outpouring of love, affection and affirmation is welcomed and appreciated…and members are so good about these gestures of love – not only during the Holidays, but indeed…all year long. YOU are appreciated as well!

WE ARE THANKFUL for members of  the Lutheran Men (and others in the parish) who helped serve lunch at the Community Table on December 31st. Wayne Bernauer headed this effort…and plans were being made to serve approximately 150 on the last day of 2011. Thank you!

PLEASE MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US on Sunday evening, January 8th at 6:00 PM for fellowship and a covered dish dinner marking the end of the Christmas Season and the beginning of Epiphany. We are having a game show format entitled: “Are You Smarter than a Wise Man???” A covered-dish supper will be on the menu and the traditional Epiphany Cake (with the three coins) will be served. Sign up slips are in the Sunday bulletin…we hope you’ll join us.

OUR THANKS TO ALL WHO helped with the annual Community Christmas Dinner which was held here at First Church on Christmas Day. To all who brought food, volunteered their time in the kitchen or dining room, made financial donations or kept the effort in your prayers…THANK YOU!!! A special word of thanks to Jim and Mary Senter and Lin and Cathy Senter who worked with the planning committee to make the luncheon a success. Remember – First Lutheran will again host the Dinner in this coming year…mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 25, 2012!

COMMUNITY ADVENT SERVICES Continue at Christ Episcopal Church each Wednesday at noon.  A luncheon will  follow each service in the Christ Church’s Parish Hall.

THE COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS DINNER is scheduled for Christmas Day here at First Lutheran from 11am – 2 pm.  Sign up sheets are available in the foyer for your use…to provide food or to work at the dinner.  All members of the parish are invited to attend this dinner…please call the church office if you need more information.  Many thanks to Jim Senter and the Social Ministry Committee who are coordinating our efforts for the Dinner this year.

NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS will be installed during the morning worship services on Sunday, January 8th.

They are: Granseur Dick, Wendy  Holbrook, Hoy Lanning, Carl McDow, and Anne Warner. Associate members  serving a one year term are Lauren Cranford, Cici Ly, and Steven Fields.  We appreciate all who were willing to stand for council election this year.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH will NOT cancel Sunday Morning Worship Services because of inclement weather.  Please use your own good judgment before venturing out on snowy, icy days…but know that if you can get here, we’ll be waiting for you.

ALL WOMEN OF THE CHURCH are invited to gather at Pastor Bud & Dot Walck’s home on Monday, December 12th at 10 am.  We will enjoy their Christmas decorations.  Everyone is asked to bring a favorite snack/dish to share.  You may bring a guest if you like to share this time together.

A WORD FROM PASTOR JOHN: I would like to remind my fellow members that as of December 1st, we are approximately $30,000 behind on our general fund budget. I am encouraging you – if you pledged for 2011 – to fulfill that pledge during the month of December. If you did not pledge, please make sure that you are supporting your congregation with your financial gifts. And for all of us, a special Christmas Gift to the Church would be a big help in lowering this deficit. Thank you for your support of this congregation and the work we do in the name of Christ Our Savior.

PLEASE MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US on Sunday evening, January 8th at 6:00 PM for a fellowship event marking the end of the Christmas Season and the beginning of Epiphany. We are having a game show format entitled: “Are You Smarter than a Wise Man???” A covered-dish supper will be on the menu and the traditional Epiphany Cake (with the three coins) will be served. Sign up slips will be in the bulletin beginning December 11th…we hope you’ll join us.