|
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2026 BOLD MEMBERS OF FIRST LUTHERAN!
Cassy Shorey Cameron Shorey Jacey Fandrich Thank you for LIVING GENEROUSLY and sharing your time, talent and resources, as God has entrusted us to do. |
May Greetings, Dear Girlfriends in Christ,
As I reflect on April, I find myself (again) being so thankful to belong to a congregation of people who are steeped in mission and ever willing and ready to do “GOD’S WORK WITH OUR HANDS”. As a church, you carried out a very successful carnival and a very, very successful rummage sale. We also had a funeral. There was a Confirmation Banquet. Our church has been busy. I was personally involved in asking congregational members for food items for the funeral. I need to thank everyone that I contacted for responding to this very important mission of our church. It is the one mission that lets us hopefully be there in some small way to help a family navigate these very difficult and sad waters. We are fortunate that we can still navigate this powerful mission of hospitality. Some churches cannot because they just do not have people who will step up. That is not us! I am so proud of all of our Hospitality Mission Teams. When you are called upon, you respond. The concept of the Hospitality Mission Teams consisting of families is beginning to take hold. We have had a lot of success with the concept with the projects that involve the kitchen and serving food for various occasions. In my humble opinion, we are ready to expand that original concept to all other missions and projects that we have as a church. It will be our opportunity to involve more members in the work and mission of the church, and also steering members in the direction of where they feel that they have a skill or talent to offer. We are blessed with unbelievable strong lay leadership in this congregation. That is evidenced by the fact that, minus the ministerial leadership, we have still managed to continue to do everything that we have always done, and maybe even a little more. We are not lost sheep, not able to find our way. Good leadership is important, but leaders cannot do their job if they do not have willing followers. Our members have proven again and again their willingness to be “all about mission” as a congregation. Speaking of mission, God has been placing some different mission opportunities in front of us – mission opportunities that are tied to needs closer to home. Foreign mission is important, and that will still continue, but there is a feeling that we could be far more responsive to some of the real needs that we have right here in Harvey and North Dakota. There is going to be some thought and conversation going forward as to how we might be able to have an impact, as a church, in meeting some of those needs closer to home. As a church in the community of Harvey, we are definitely known for our hospitality. We display it in so many ways. I believe that we can add another prong of being known for really being there for the people in our midst who really need our help in some way – extending CHURCH beyond our walls, and continuing to do “GOD’S WORK WITH OUR HANDS”. FLCW UPDATE: ▪ MOTHER’S DAY is coming soon, which brings with it the opportunity to bring flowers to our members in the Nursing Home as well as some who are finding it difficult to attend church for health reasons and physical limitations. ▪ PLANT POTLUCK is also coming soon. It will be for the month of May. The table will be set up in the Narthex. ▪ Another successful RUMMAGE SALE is in the books. Many, many hands make that project happen, but if it were not for the hours and hours of preparation done by Gail Wangen and Joleen Swang, I am not sure that we could navigate this huge project. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GAIL AND JOLEEN. We appreciate very much this gift of time and your knowledge of how to run a very successful rummage sale. I do not know the final tally, but it sounds like it will be hefty. All of those funds have been dedicated to the upstairs bathroom. ▪ HONORING OUR GRADUATES – We have eight of them this year, and our faithful quilters have been very busy preparing, with love, quilts for our graduating seniors. We will also be hosting a potluck that day in honor of the graduating seniors and their families – Sunday, May 17th. “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 In His Service, Kathy Muscha, President, First Lutheran Church Women |
DID YOU KNOW - Every woman who is a member of First Lutheran Church is also automatically a member of FLCW (First Lutheran Church Women. That is why you are assigned to a serving group and asked to participate in the various missions of the women of the church. And, YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE MONTHLY MEETINGS of the FLCW, held the first Sunday of every month (except January, June, and July), at 8:45 am in the church lounge.
FLCW (First Lutheran Church Women) Your officers are: President - Kathy Muscha Secretary - Joyce Pestal Treasurer - Gail Wangen PLANT POTLUCK
The month of May Table will be in the Narthex Please include: the name of the plant and the care instructions Indoor and outdoor GREAT WAY TO EXPAND and/or DOWNSIZE WOMEN OF THE ELCA TRIENNIAL
in Des Moines, Iowa - July 16 - 19 If anyone is interested in attending, contact Kathy Muscha (701-341-1127) for information. Bible Conversations - All women are welcome!
Bible Conversations/Circle will meet at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13th at the home of Peggy White. We will be studying the April lesson from the Gather Magazine. It is called Gate and Shepherd. God, whose name is “I AM,” moves with us—knowing, protecting and leading us. All women are welcome! THANKOFFERING (Suggestions) -
March - $ .10 for each of the 40 days of Lent. April - $2.00 for the first crocus or meadowlark that you see. May - $5.00 in honor of your Mother. Sheets Needed
The quilters are in need of sheets for the backs of quilts and also for liners. Ones for backs should be in good condition, but ones for liners may have stains. Any size can be used. Cotton or cotton/polyester is preferred. They can also use sheet blankets, flannel sheets, and mattress pads. If you have any items to donate, please leave them on the bench by the “office” door or take them to the quilting room in the basement. Thank you! |