First English Ev. Lutheran Church Inside this issue: Pastor Schmidt's Sunday Sermon 2 Call Process Update Summer Schedule 4 With the Members 5 Be a Friend- Bring a Friend Financial Summary 6 Adult Education 7 Gift Wish List Tuck pointing Organ Fund Columbarium 8 Board of Social Action Gardening Team 9 Board of Fellowship Sunday School/Youth News 10 Recycle Preschool Kroger Rewards 12 June Birthdays 13 Serving in June 14 Calendar 15 Spring At Last! Dear members and friends of First English, It is no stretch of the imagination to say we have just experienced one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record. Now we can celebrate and appreciate all the more the arrival of warmer temperatures, budding trees, flowers, and even the lush green grass that needs mowing. Yes, it’s spring at last and already many of you are making plans for the summer ahead. Here at First English there are some fun and exciting events to add to your plans now, and also some important details about our changing worship hours to take note of. Summer Worship Hours: (beginning May 22 nd ) Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM Sunday mornings at 9:00 & 10:30AM Music Sunday – June 8 th – one worship only!! 10:00AM Some special events you won’t want to miss: The Father’s Day Barbecue is back! During our 10:30 worship hour on June 15 th we will be recognizing our high school graduates with special parting gifts. Following worship, what better way to continue the celebration than to recognize the dads among us. Everyone is welcome! Please come join in the fun and enjoy some great food, conversation and games for the kids. Visitor Sunday – June 22 nd is another special day for your June calendars. What a great way to introduce your friends and neighbors to the church family you already enjoy being part of. It’s a known fact that the most often cited reason people choose to come to and join a church is that someone personally invited them. Be a friend! Bring a friend! The ever-popular road trip to Comerica Park to see our Detroit Tigers is scheduled for July 20 th . Tickets are already on sale here at First English between worship services each Sunday. Vacation Bible School – August 4 – 8. Yes I realize August seems all too distant when we just shoveled the last of our snow a few short weeks ago, but put it on your calendars now and consider being part of this important ministry of our congregation. You won’t want to miss our Jungle Safari! As you can see, the months ahead continue to offer a variety of events and worship opportunities to bring us together as the family of God. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 See you at worship! Pastor Chris J U N E 2 0 14 J U N E 2 0 14 J U N E 2 0 14
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Transcript
First English Ev. Lutheran Church
Inside this issue:
Pastor Schmidt's
Sunday Sermon 2
Call Process Update
Summer Schedule 4
With the Members 5
Be a Friend-
Bring a Friend
Financial Summary
6
Adult Education 7
Gift Wish List
Tuck pointing
Organ Fund Columbarium
8
Board of Social Action
Gardening Team 9
Board of Fellowship
Sunday School/Youth News
10
Recycle
Preschool Kroger Rewards
12
June Birthdays 13
Serving in June 14
Calendar 15
Spring At Last!
Dear members and friends of First English,
It is no stretch of the imagination to say we have just experienced one of the coldest and
snowiest winters on record. Now we can celebrate and appreciate all the more the arrival of
warmer temperatures, budding trees, flowers, and even the lush green grass that needs
mowing.
Yes, it’s spring at last and already many of you are making plans for the summer ahead.
Here at First English there are some fun and exciting events to add to your plans now, and
also some important details about our changing worship hours to take note of.
Summer Worship Hours: (beginning May 22nd)
Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM
Sunday mornings at 9:00 & 10:30AM
Music Sunday – June 8th
– one worship only!! 10:00AM
Some special events you won’t want to miss:
The Father’s Day Barbecue is back! During our 10:30 worship hour on June 15th we
will be recognizing our high school graduates with special parting gifts. Following worship,
what better way to continue the celebration than to recognize the dads among us. Everyone is
welcome! Please come join in the fun and enjoy some great food, conversation and games for
the kids.
Visitor Sunday – June 22nd is another special day for your June calendars. What a great
way to introduce your friends and neighbors to the church family you already enjoy being
part of. It’s a known fact that the most often cited reason people choose to come to and join a
church is that someone personally invited them. Be a friend! Bring a friend!
The ever-popular road trip to Comerica Park to see our Detroit Tigers is scheduled for
July 20th. Tickets are already on sale here at First English between worship services each
Sunday.
Vacation Bible School – August 4 – 8. Yes I realize August seems all too distant when
we just shoveled the last of our snow a few short weeks ago, but put it on your calendars now
and consider being part of this important ministry of our congregation. You won’t want to
miss our Jungle Safari!
As you can see, the months ahead continue to offer a variety of events and worship
opportunities to bring us together as the family of God.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let
us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage
one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
See you at worship!
Pastor Chris
J U N E 2 0 14J U N E 2 0 14J U N E 2 0 14
2
THE ABUNDANT LIFE –MOTHER’S DAY
4th Sunday of Easter May 11, 2014 FELC John 10:1-10
Our gospel lesson for today takes us out to the country side where we see the
sights and hear the sounds of sheep and their shepherds, not the typical sights and
sounds of suburbia of which we are more accustomed. This however, would be very
familiar to the residents of Israel in Jesus’ day. Thus, once again we find Jesus using a
common, simple illustration; one that would hopefully be understood by all, to get
across a more profound point. And for you and me to better understand what Jesus is
trying to get across, it is good for us to briefly look back at the custom of sheep herd-
ing in Jesus’ day as they are not so familiar to us.
The sheepfold that is mentioned in the first few verses was known as the
community sheepfold where often several groups of sheep would be housed at
certain periods, such as night time, or shearing time, or during a storm. This
sheepfold would be protected by a strong fence, with a gate and a guard stationed at
the gate.
Therefore Jesus says that the shepherds enter by the gate and the gate
keeper would of course know the shepherds and let them in. On the other hand,
someone who is trying to steal the sheep would obviously try to sneak in over the
fence, and the gatekeeper would be on guard for such an intrusion.
Now when it was time for the shepherds to take their sheep out of the
community sheepfold, each shepherd would call his own sheep and his sheep would
recognize their own shepherd’s voice and follow him out to the place where they
would find pasture for grazing. Thus Jesus says his sheep hear his voice and he calls
his sheep by name and he leads them out.
Now for those of you who are from the city, this may sound very strange, a
sheep recognizing the voice of their own shepherd. However, I can assure you, as one
who milked cows every morning and night for a good number of years; that those
animals do come to know and to trust the ones who care for them. When those cattle
or sheep or goats are your livelihood, you learn to pay pretty close attention to each
and every animal and each and every detail.
However, in spite of the fact that the hearers were very familiar with the
practice of shepherding, they did not seem to grasp Jesus’ application. What then is
Jesus’ point??? Simply this: that he and he alone is the only way to the father.
That he and he alone is the only true Good Shepherd who leads his sheep - that he
and he alone is the gate keeper; the only one through whom we have forgiveness,
meaning in life, and salvation. And, just as importantly, Jesus is reminding us that his
true sheep, his faithful followers, will only follow him, will only listen to his
Congratulations to our Confirmands who affirmed their faith in the One True God on Sunday, May
4, 2014. We welcome them as adult members of First English and look forward to the sharing of
their gifts and blessings with the Body of Christ, His Church. We wish them God’s richest bless-
ings as they continue their journey of faith. Our 2014 Confirmands are: Daniel Feldman; Nathan
Ford; Anna Jackson; Thomas Kohler; Katherine Link; Evan Nyquist; Samantha Potter; Ha-
ley Rozycki and Nora Smith .
JoVona Cisco passed away May 15, 2014. A Memorial Service will be held for JoVona on Satur-
day, May 31st. Thanks be to God who gives to us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
6
SCHEDULES & CONTACT NUMBERS Just a reminder concerning the schedules of Pastor Chris and Pastor Schmidt. Pastor Chris’ day off is Friday and in an emergency she can be contacted at 248-231-5091. Her email address is [email protected]. Pastor Schmidt’s day off remains on Monday and his home phone number for emergencies is 313-882-3520. His email address is [email protected]. Church office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the office closed for lunch from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Sue’s email is [email protected]
BE A FRIEND – BRING A FRIEND – VISITOR SUNDAY
Whom might you be able to invite to join you for worship on Visitor Sunday???
As you know First English’s “Mission Statement” is “Go, Make Disciples. This cen-
tral command of our Lord has a dual emphasis: growing in our daily discipleship and
reaching out by inviting others to worship and to grow in their relationship with Jesus
Christ. In order to focus our attention on our call to be our Lord’s witnesses our Board
of Evangelism has set Sunday, June 22, 2014 as “Visitor Sunday.” We are calling
this visitor emphasis “Be a Friend – Bring a Friend!” So, Be a Friend and Bring a
Friend!
7
9:30 a.m. THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
BILL O’REILLY’S - KILLING JESUS
Our last Thursday morning session on Bill O’Reilly’s book
KILLING JESUS will be Thursday, May 29, 2014. As we get
ready to break for the summer months, we take this opportunity
to thank all of the members and visitors who have faithfully
gathered together on Thursday mornings throughout the year.
We have had a very nice size group and your commitment is to
be commended!
We still have a few copies of the book Killing Jesus remaining,
which would make great summer reading, and are available from
Pastor Schmidt, Pastor Chris and Sue, in the office, at the dis-
counted price of $15.00.
We have approximately six weeks this coming fall following La-
bor Day before Pastor Schmidt retires, so we are looking for sug-
gestions for a six week study. Please share your suggestions
with Pastor Schmidt.
Grace Circle - Fourth Monday at 7:00 p.
Peace Circle - First Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
Faith Circle - First Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
Hope Circle - Second Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.
Check the calendar at www.feelc.org
WOMEN’S CIRCLE BIBLE STUDY
Our Women’s Circle Bible studies for this year have concluded
with the summer months, but a new series is published for this
fall: “Transforming Life and Faith.”
This study will look at the transforming power of Jesus, the
transformations of Paul and Moses and Lydia, Philip and the
Ethiopian, plus more. The September study begins with St.
Paul and a look at his transformation and faith - from one who
persecuted the church to become her greatest missionary.
All women of First English are encouraged to
attend a Circle; please check the calendar for the various
Circles meeting schedule.
9:30a.m. ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
Our Adult Sunday School
offerings do not meet during the
summer months, but we take this
opportunity to thank all of our
members who participated in these
opportunities to learn and grow in
our faith. We also extend a sincere
thanks to our members who led
these classes when one of the
pastors was out of town. Thank You!
As we look to the fall, what would
you like to study??? Please share
your thoughts with Pastor Chris or
Pastor Schmidt
8
GIFT WISH LIST TUCKPOINTING AND PILLAR REPAIRS
ORGAN FUND
COLUMBARIUM FOR FIRST ENGLISH
COLUMBARIUM FOR FIRST ENGLISH – CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
SET FOR JUNE 1, 2014 IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE LATE SERVICE
Please join us for our special congregational meeting after late service on Sunday, June 1, 2014
to vote on moving forward with the Columbarium Project for First English. Our Board of
Stewardship and Church Council have unanimously voted to proceed with this project and they
seek congregational approval to do so.
Members who have purchased niches have expressed that they want to move forward and create
closure for their loved ones by having the opportunity for committal. Before construction begins,
the companion niches, which hold two urns, will be sold for $1,500.00; after construction begins
they will sell for $1,800.00. We will give the congregation sixty days notice before raising the
price to $1,800.00. Niches will be assigned on a “first come-first-served” basis, with members
being able to choose the location of their niche within the Columbarium. To date nine double
niches have been sold. If you are interested in purchasing a companion niche, please speak to
Pastor Schmidt.
Our organ at First English is over fifty years old, and over the past 10 years has had switching
components beginning to fail. Because the original components of the organ console haven’t
been manufactured since the early 1970’s, the console and its related switching need to be rebuilt
to have the organ fully functional again. The Peterson Company, which would do the console
rebuild, estimates repairs to be approximately $110,000. We are currently awaiting one additional
bid so that we might move forward with the necessary repairs. Our policy is to obtain three
separate bids for major projects. Total funding at this point is at $63,008 in the Organ Fund,
including the gracious gift from the estate of Gladys Greenburg. If you wish to help with these
repairs, please mark your envelope "Organ Fund" and place in the offering plate or leave in the
office.
This past year the first unit of our facility required tuck-pointing of the outer walls to
prevent costly water damage. In addition the pillars by the southeast entrance to the
Narthex required repair. Our Board of Church Properties received bids for the above
repairs and the Church Council approved these projects. The total cost was $19,600.00, and
these repairs have now all been completed. If you would like to assist with the cost of this
project simply mail your check to the church or place in the offering plate. Please designate
your gift for “Church Maintenance.” Thank You!
9
BOARD OF SOCIAL ACTION
BUILDING REMINDER With the busy schedule of events at First
English….a friendly reminder to turn off lights when leaving a room, and make sure that all of the doors are locked if you are the last one out. We want to keep our utility costs down
and our facility safe and secure for all to use. Please remember that all facility requests should be made through Kyle Clor ((313)-881-9703 or via her e-mail at
Summer is here. Please consider hosting coffee hour during the summer, which begins on June 1 through August 31. Summer Worship services for coffee hours are 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. There is a sign-up poster on the Fellowship bulletin board in the hallway.
Back by popular demand: Father's Day BBQ on June 15! It will be on the church lawn after the 10:30 AM service (in case of bad weather in the Luther Center). We will be grilling Hamburgers & Hot Dogs, also serving a salad bar, chips, fruit and beverage. There will be a 50/50 drawing, as well as drawing for a pair of Tiger tickets.
Tigers game outing will be on Sunday July 20 at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale in the hall after services, cost is $33 - you can pick your seats.
Parish Education/Youth News from Renata Parish Education News The End of the Educational Year — Thank You!
Thank you all for a wonderful year of learning! Parents, we hope you will continue to read from the Spark Story Bible with your chil-dren this summer. A special thank you to all those who taught Sunday School, assisted in the nursery, were Confirmation small group lead-ers, acted as chaperones, or helped in any other way. We simply could not function if you were not so generous with your time, prayers, and creativity.
Sunday School will resume on Septem-ber 14, 2014 with Rally Day. We hope to see you all then and hope that you will join us for Vacation Bible School this summer!
Youth News
Fundraising Updates Once again, the FEELC congregation has been amazingly supportive of its’ high school Youth. The Drive-in Lunch raised $327 for the Work Camp mission trip this summer. Thank you so much!
It costs approximately $3,500 for seven student to attend Work Camp and, thanks to your generous support, we have grossed over $2,500 so far! There is one final fundraiser before our trip and we thank you in advance for your continued support. The Youth Car Wash is on Music Sunday, June 8th, in the church parking lot.
Important Dates
June 5, 6:45-7:45pm June 15, 10:30am HS Youth Visit to Sunrise on Vernier Graduate Sunday (Blanket Ceremony)
June 8, 11:30am-1:30pm June 20-28 HS Youth Car Wash Work Camp Mission Trip to Racine, WI
11
Now having said all of that, there is on the secular calendar a special holiday today, which I believe takes us
back to the Biblical notion of truly receiving and sharing.
And what I am talking about is obviously the role of mother! Yes, of course mothers, as well as fathers, do
have a responsibility to care for their children - after all it is the parents who gave them life or adopted them or
care for them as foster children.
But as we all know mothers go well beyond just the basics of what has to be done. Mothers are on call,
so to speak, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, doing whatever needs to be done for their family – above and
beyond the meals and school lunches and laundry and transportation to the game or practice or recital or scout
meeting or school or church activity.
Mothers are there sitting up half the night with a sick child. Mothers are there to give that shoulder to
cry on after that poor grade or disappointing game or nasty name that was hurled their kid’s way.
Plus of course mothers are the arbitrator of disputes between siblings, the planner of that fun-filled
birthday party, and the family vacation, the one who always seems to know where we left our hat and gloves and
homework when it time to go.
And certainly the one who taught us our bedtime prayers, who gets us up and ready for church and Sun-
day School, who strives to set that Christian example for her family and who is always rushed, but never too
busy to talk when we have a problem. Plus then when the kids are raised, but sometimes there are still kids at
home; mothers have the task of often caring for their parents, often parenting one’s parents!
I believe that this anonymous Mother’s Prayer sums it up quite well; it goes like this.
“If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place but have not love, I am a housekeeper
– not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love, my children learn
cleanliness – not Godliness.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh. Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned
window. Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys. Love is present through the trials. Love reprimands,
reproves, and is responsive.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, and then stands aside to let the
youth walk into adulthood. Love is the key that opens salvation’s message to a child’s heart.
Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God’s perfection of my
child.
As a mother, there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of these is love.”
Yes, thank you mothers for all that you do and the love that you have shared and by word and
example, taught your family.
Let me conclude this morning by asking us why? Why do mothers do so much for their family? Now
obviously responsibility comes into play, but mothers do what they do out of love, do they not?
And bearing that in mind, you know I can think of no better analogy or example than a mother’s
unselfish love and care for her family that we can use for the example of our daily life of faith and
commitment as we live out our lives following the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Yes, a mother’s love for her family is the perfect example of the kind of love and commitment that our
Lord calls each and every one of us to possess.
Just stop and think how our lives and families would be enriched - how our communities and world
would be a better place, if we would love God and love one another as a mother loves her family!!
Think about it and then DO IT!!
AMEN
Preached May 11, 2014 – Dr. Walter A. Schmidt
(Continued from page 3)
12
Accepting enrollment for 3 & 4 year olds for September 2014-15
First English Lutheran Preschool offers an academic program to help prepare your child for kindergarten. With a small class size, our program
includes Bible lessons, math, music, science, art, language, beginning reading concepts and physical development. We have a very large and bright classroom for your child to spend their
morning socializing with friends.
Please contact Christine Simone if you, or a friend is seeking a preschool for the fall. Call Christine at (313)655-7367 or email at [email protected] to
arrange a classroom visit.
First English Lutheran wraps up the school year on Friday, May 30 with an exciting day of
games, songs, stories and a pizza lunch. The 2013-14 school year was a busy year of learning
and fun. Mrs. Jackson and I have been blessed to share in the growth of 13 young children this
year. We have several children going off to Kindergarten and some that will return to us for their
second year of preschool in the fall. School will resume on Monday, September 8, 2014.
Have a great summer!
RECYCLE PAPER BIN BRING YOUR
PAPER for
RECYCLING!!
Please take time to drop all your clean, dry newspapers, magazines, office
and copy paper, advertising inserts and junk mail into the recycle bin in the
parking lot. You don’t have to sort anything or remove staples. Please bag
your shredded paper.
NO CARDBOARD OR PHONE BOOKS ARE ACCEPTED.
The AbiBow Recycling, LLC program is designed for organizations to recycle
paper -- most of all, it’s an opportunity for us to recycle and help the
environment.
Have you enrolled or re-enrolled yet?? Please take the time to go online and sign-up or renew your
card and make your donation designation to First English (#83535). If you don’t remember the
email address that you used previously to enroll, you can call (877)576-7587 to remove any email
attached to your card number and then proceed to enroll again. Our fundraising efforts, by
participating in the Kroger Community Rewards Program, have added up to significant money - just
by purchasing your weekly groceries! DOWN a little from the last quarter, our latest quarterly
check was in the amount of $263.40!!
If you have never signed up – go to Kroger’s website krogercommunityrewards.com and follow
the prompts. You will need your Kroger card.
KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM - PLEASE Re-enroll