14

NO

T FO

R P

RO

FIT

OR

GA

NIZ

ATI

ON

US

PO

STA

GE

PA

ID

TAYL

OR

S FA

LLS,

MN

PER

MIT

NO

. 5

561

Ch

estn

ut

Stre

et,

Tay

lors

Fal

ls, M

N 5

50

84-1

110

Things First January 2018

The Newsletter of

First Evangelical Lutheran Church

561 Chestnut Street,

Taylors Falls, MN 55084-1110

651-465-5265 www.tflutheran.com

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, and

the Word was God. He was in the

beginning with God. All things

came into being through him, and

without him not one thing came into

being. What has come into being in

him was life, and the life was the

light of all people. The light shines

in the darkness, and the darkness

did not overcome it.”

Epiphany - the season of the manifestations of Christ in our world. This is the season for paying attention to who God is, and what God is doing in our lives and in our world.

What a beautiful and inspiring Christmas! We began Sunday School this fall with 6 kids and had 12 children participate in the children’s Christmas program. The cantata was beautiful. Here's what I am certain of; our God loves us, and there is plenty of work to share God's love in this community. God will provide what we need to do what God wants us to do, but we may be required to change how we do things, or what we do. Our willingness to follow where God may lead might look different than it has in the past. The basics stay the same; we read God's word, pray to God and love & serve our neighbors. We teach our children to do these things, and we come together to worship the God who empowers them all. As the Creator of all the world around us, as the babe of Bethlehem came to our world vulnerable, as the Spirit, holy & mysterious, who calls & gathers us, who empowers us to do God's will, which is always for our good.

Continued on page two….

2

New Member WELCOME!

QUILTERS

SARAHCIRCLE

COUNCIL MEETING

OFFICE HOURS@FELC

You’ve heard from our council that our giving is about $15,000 behind our budget. We’ve been dealing with some newer financial realities, and we will be looking carefully at changes we are likely to need to make, including, as referenced in the Thanksgiving letter you received, some staffing cuts & changes. These challenges are common to many congregations, but with some members who have left our congregation for work or other challenges, and others who have died, our giving has dipped below what will sustain our budget. (It's also possible, as I write this, that Christmas & new year's giving will, like many years in the past, give us a surplus that will carry us thru about 1/2 the year, but giving trends don't seem to predict that.) Our council is committed to dealing responsibly with our realities, just as we've been committed to transparent communication, sharing monthly in the newsletter what our giving is, posting & publishing council minutes, and our council president & treasurer speaking in worship recently. Nothing has been decided yet, except that we'll continue to speak the truth in love, share what we know, and trust the God who always gives us enough. Because cutting budget does not require a congregational meeting, there won’t be one. But if you have ideas or wisdom to impart, (with your name attached), please share with me or with a council member. God's gifts are sufficient for doing God's will. Really. As we watch, we will see that.

In God's grasp, as you all are, Pr. Mary Kaye

Continued from page one….

13

Adult CHOIRSCHEDULE

JANUARYBIRTHDAYS

Paredes, Sydney 01/02 Vitalis, Peter 01/04 Krueger, Rhonda 01/06 Ellis, Heather 01/07 Olson, Duane 01/09 Langer, Isabella 01/12 Halstrom, Coby 01/14 Davids, Bill 01/15 Vodenka-Reed, Patricia 01/15 Johnson, Natasha 01/16 Larson, Cody 01/17 Peterson, Brynna 01/18 Magnuson, Dylan 01/19 Nelson, Timothy 01/19 Kelley, Brian 01/21 McDonald, Rylin 01/21 Dexter, Breanna 01/23 Larson, Terri 01/25 Olson, Marilyn 01/28 Linngren, Carli 01/31 Please contact the church office if there are any errors or omissions. Thank you.

MONTHLYGIVING REPORT

If you would like pastoral care

or a visit from Pr. Mary Kaye,

please call her at

(612)532-7083

or the church office at

(651)465-5265!!!

12

C O N N E C T

I N V I T E

E Q U I P

First Lutheran

Youth

FLYSchedule

The youth

group

shared a

meal

together!!

Thank you

Michelle Lynch and

Riley Linngren for

cooking the

delicious food ! 3

Friday, Feb. 2nd through

Sunday, Feb. 4th

Winter Retreat to Luther Point Bible Camp

with 100 White Flags Worship Band!

**Winter Retreat Sign Up Deadline is January 24th

4

Were You There

on that

Christmas Night?

11

Sundays at

10:15am in the

downstairs Sunday

School Room

10

A big and well deserved

congratulations to Dustin Valez!

He graduated on December 17th

from North Dakota State

University with a BS in Crop and

Weed Science with a focus on

biotechnology.

Faith Stretch 2 is a small group that will

come together on Monday, January 8th

from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Members and non

-members are welcome to join us for

Bible study, book study, group building,

prayer, service, worship (but not all in

one night )

Let Pr. Mary Kaye know if you’re coming,

or just come! Bring your Bible & check

with PMK or Angie in the church office

for book many of us are reading,

Surprise Me by Terri

Esau. (We’ll give you one

free!!)

FAITH STRETCH

A historic practice among Greek Orthodox Christians is

the blessing of homes on or near Epiphany. This year,

Epiphany, January 6th, falls on a Saturday. You are

invited to join us to “chalk,” pray over or bless homes

on Saturday, January 6th. We will meet at FELC at 3pm

and break into teams and we’ll be done no later than

7pm. If you’re interested in having your home or

apartment blessed, please contact PMK with your

address by January 4th. If you’re interested in being

on one of the blessing teams, please sign

up at FELC or contact PMK (612)532-7083

or email felcpastor.mk@gmail.com

5

Wills—Trusts—Probate and More

Do you need to know what to do and

what questions to ask or who to see to

help with your estate planning?

The questions and answers will be

available at a workshop in February 2018!

If you are somewhat interested in this

program, PLEASE CALL the church

office at 651-465-5265 or see a council

member.

The date, time and place will be set later.

Absolutely no sales—just good up to date

information.

Program is sponsored by FELC Council

and Thrivent Financial

A very special thank you to all who generously donated to our

Giving Tree this season. There were eight families from the Taylors

Falls Elementary in need this year and our congregation was able to

provide a wonderful gift to these families! We received donations

from Wild Mountain and Super America in St. Croix Falls as well!!

THANK YOU!

The Giving Tree was beautifully

decorated with handmade cards this

year and organizing, communicating

with Principal Jason Riebe from

Taylors Falls Elementary and

gathering all donations would not be

possible without our wonderful

coordinator, Carol Elliott Olson.

Thank you, Carol, for your time and

effort! The Giving Tree was a huge

success this year with your help!!!!!!

6

“To worship God as an intergenerational community, learning God’s Word, and

building lasting relationships as we grow in God’s love and grace.”

Joe Landgreen, Duane Olson, Pastor Mary Kaye, Don Hansen, Wendy Szczepanski, Rose Anderson, Members Absent: Gayle Langer

Where you have seen God working in your life this month? Joe- Shared a story about his recent visitation at nursing home, Rose also shared a story regarding her recent mishap with her vehicle and escape from injury.

8 new members, including 2 who were active non-members. Small group, Faith Stretch 2, will start in January. The Lodge book group continues. We has conversation regarding our mission and what will we be doing this 2018 for our mission outreach and funding raising.

There is a great need for service with and to the elderly. Next Lodge service will include the confirmation class.

Following the Epiphany season we will stop chanting the Psalms. It is important that the discipleship group leader connect to all people on the list. The most important objective is to build relationships, and to engage everyone possible, of every age, in worship.

Elevator repair update- The part needed to fix the elevator was installed and is repaired. Thanks Pete for being available for the repair by the contractor. Church Signage update- Don will follow-up again with the City, they have not called back Don also reported on the meeting with Trinity, Immanuel, Zion, Chisago Lakes churches to enter into conversation on sharing ministries. St. Paul Area Synod staff, Joe Lees, facilitated this discussion. These churches are also facing funding challenges.

9

Meeting Minutes Continued…...

Nothing to report

We are almost 15K behind in budgeted giving, there is about $1000 in checking, there is sufficient funds to pay bills this month. The Klinke fund was used in early December to pay a portion of the property insurance because of insufficient funds. If sufficient funds to make up a portion of the budgeted giving deficit is not received by December 31, there may not be sufficient funds to meet payroll beyond January. Joe suggested waiting till after Christmas to determine course of further action.

Duane visited with Leo and Carol Nelson, Lutheran companion’s members, regarding the use of the funds designated to Lutheran Companions. The consensus of that conversation was to transfer those funds to the general fund. PMK will consult with Carol, Leo and Eleanore this week, to verify intent of original group, and find minutes, if possible. Rose made a motion to accept the finance report; Wendy seconded. Motion carried

Other-Duane suggested FELC host an informational meeting on estate planning given by Thrivent’s Craig Stockel. The consensus was that this would be a useful informational meeting. Duane volunteered to follow up with Craig.

Motion to adjourn Joe, Wendy

8

Thank you for your generous purchase of a

poinsettia to decorate our worship space

throughout Christmas.

Given by In Memory of or In Honor of

Rose Anderson In Memory of Agnes & William Mallery

Eleanore Collins In Memory of Larry L. Collins

Miriam Flysjo In Memory of Oke & Grace Flysjo

Don & Verna Grover In Memory of Our Parents & Siblings

Arne & Miriam Lagus In Memory of Loved Ones

Dave & Debbie Landin-Cooper

& Josiah & Noah Casterton In Honor of Dorothy Landin

The Loen Family In Memory of Barb & Arden Loen

The Loen Family In Honor of Mary Anne & Joe Mattson

Michelle Lynch In Memory of Edna Lawson

Leo & Carol Nelson In Honor of Our Children & Grandchildren

Duane & Carol Elliott Olson In Memory of Loved Ones

Marilyn Olson In Memory of Paul & Brian Olson

The Parks Family In Memory of Loved Ones

Stan & Judy Peterson In Honor of Our Children & Grandchildren

Chieko Rogers In Memory of Timothy Rogers

Marcielle Rogers In Memory of Loved Ones

Janet Shepardson In Memory of Gordon Shepardson

Cheryl Slattengren In Memory of Former Family

Members of this church

Irv & Lorie Stolp In Memory of Loved Ones

7

Church Office 651-465-5265 www.tflutheran.org

2017-2018

Council/Officers: Don Hansen—President

Duane Olson—Vice President

Joe Landgreen—Treasurer

Gayle Langer —Secretary

Wendy Szczepanski

Rose Anderson

Pastor Mary Kaye Ashley

Financial Secretary

Jerry Rhoads

The mission of FELC is to worship God as an intergenerational community, to learn God’s

Word, and to build lasting relationships as we grow in God’s love and grace.

(Mission Statement approved 2017)

Please send submissions to: parishc@tflutheran.org

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.” Psalm 90:1

Mission Statement