RE-FOCUS
A Publication of Reformation Lutheran Church
Volume 18 March 1998 Number 3
From the Pastor
It is Ash Wednesday as I write these words. In a few hours
ashen crosses will adorn our foreheads. They are reminders of our mortality. "Return
to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in
steadfast love" is a Lenten refrain from the prophet Joel that we will hear again.
The annual 40-day journey begins.
This year two opportunities for midweek Lenten worship are
offered. A Wednesday service at noon themed "The Way" will begin March 4. At
this service of readings and Lenten hymns, sermons will focus on The Way towards the
cross. A luncheon will be provided each week.
In the evening at 7:30, following the Logos classes, Holden
Evening Prayer will be observed. This service of vespers with readings and music will be a
30-minute service of prayer. The choir will be leading us and helping us to learn this new
liturgy, loved by many youth.
We have just concluded the 10-day Resident Stewardship
Program. From the feedback I have received, the event has been of great value. Over 150
people attended the excellent Bible studies led by Stan Rose. The Fellowship Event with
about 240 present was a moving event. On Sunday, in the midst of some difficult
circumstances, more than 80 people were commissioned as stewardship visitors. The
stewardship commitments are still being received. Tom Cronk did a superb job in heading up
the Leadership Team.
We learned again that stewardship is not just about money
and the bills of the church. It is about managing our lives, all that God has given us.
Lent is a time to ask the stewardship question-- how am I doing in the management of my
life? Am I remembering God? My neighbor in need? Do I make prayer and worship high
priorities in life?
Lent invites us all. Return to the Lord, your God.
- Pastor Jerry Mansholt
From the Deaconess
What is a deaconess? What does a deaconess do? Those are
questions this congregation was asking nearly a year ago. They were also the questions
that I and 31 of my deaconess sisters were asking ourselves during a deaconess work group
in Chicago during the weekend of February 13th.
We spent three intense days visioning and making
recommendations for the future direction of the Lutheran Deaconess Association. Our
visioning focused on developing new ways to equip Christians for service.
As we finished the process on Sunday, we were amazed that
we had been able to agree on proposals in four different areas. How many of us have ever
experienced 32 people agreeing on anything! But it was the process itself that was so
amazing that I would like to share it with you.
First we worshiped and prayed, then we identified what we
were doing, and brainstormed what we would like to do; then we talked and listened and
talked and listened. We spent quiet time in prayer and meditation, then we formulated
plans. We talked and we listened and talked and listened. We worshiped and prayed, then we
revised and reshaped plans. After spending more quiet time we re-evaluated and asked
ourselves and each other if we could live with the plan. We talked. We listened. We
listened and talked. Then we came to a consensus. Our final act together was to worship
and celebrate Holy Communion.
In three days there were no votes taken; there were no
committees; there were three facilitators, but no chairpersons or bosses. At the end of
those three days everyone walked tiredly away feeling heard, knowing we had accomplished a
formidable task on which everyone could agree. This is
community at its best!
- Deaconess Doreen Leptien
Adult Inquirer's Class
A class for people wanting to explore the basics of the
Christian faith from the Lutheran tradition begins Sunday, March 1. The four sessions will
be done in two weeks, meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Sundays, March 1 and 8, and Thursdays, March
5 and 12. Anyone interested in the classes should call the Church Office or speak to
Pastor Mansholt.
New Member Sunday
A New Member Sunday will be held on March 22. New members
will be officially received into membership in the 11:00 service. A New Member Social will
be held on Sunday, March 15, 7:00 p.m. Those desiring to join the congregation in March
are asked to call the Church Office.
S.S. Offering - Papua New Guinea
The Sunday School offering for March will go to help our
brothers and sisters in Papua New Guinea where El Nino has caused devastating droughts
which have led to destructive fires. Pastor Gary Teske at Trinity Lutheran in Great Bend,
who served as a missionary there for 10 years, reports that there is a need for financial
assistance to help provide materials to replace buildings, to purchase school materials,
as well as to purchase Bibles.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea
(ELC-PNG) has a membership of over 800,000 people in 15 districts. The Kotte District is
the companion synod for our own Central States Synod.
Papua New Guinea lies in the South Pacific, about 100 miles
north of Australia. It consists of over 600 islands and has a population of approximately
3,900,000 people.
Attention, High School Youth!
If you would still like to participate in the retreat at
King's Camp near Goddard on March 21-22, please let Deaconess Doreen know. Cost is $35.
We will have evening prayer by Lake Afton, go on a hayrack
ride, live Jesus' Passion Story, and celebrate with an awesome closing worship at 2:30 on
Sunday. Families and friends are invited to come out for the worship service.
Join a ChristCare Group
Five ChristCare groups are beginning this month in various
locations in the area. If you have not yet signed up to be part of an eight-week
ChristCare group, please call one of the leaders today!
Tom & Dottie Caplan
2nd & 4th Mondays, 7:00 p.m.
610 W 2nd St., Andover
733-8532
Starts March 9, 1998
Deanne Fortney
2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.
1441 N. Rock Rd. #2103
636-2578
Starts March 10, 1998
Wil Johnson
2nd & 4th Thursdays, 7:00 p.m.
115 Summitlawn Circle
943-1313
Starts February 26, 1998
Carl Nelson
1st & 3rd Sundays, 7:00 p.m.
8811 Woodcrest Circle
634-0570
Plan to start March 15, 1998
Patty Taylor
2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m.
419 Stonegate Circle, Derby
788-2435
Starts March 10, 1998
Teacher Workshops
- Saturday, March 14 is our regular monthly teacher workshop from 9:00 to 11:00
a.m. We will begin with breakfast and then watch and discuss a video called Telling the
Stories. The video covers different ways to tell the Bible stories, sharing your faith
stories and how to draw out the children's faith stories.
On Friday, March 20, Area 5 is privileged to have Pam
Faro, a professional storyteller, present a workshop focused on helping teachers tell the
familiar Bible stories in new ways. This wonderful opportunity will be at Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church, Wichita, at 7:00 p.m. A freewill donation is requested.
Women of Reformation
CIRCLE MEETINGS
Priscilla March 10 9:30 a.m. at church. Nursery available with 24-hr. notice
Sarah March 16 7:00 p.m. at the home of Clarice Peters, 2003 S. Terrace Dr.
Dorcas March 18 1:00 p.m. at the home of Reeva Anderson, 4108 E. 61st St. N.
Ruth March 19 7:00 p.m. at church
Rachel March 26 7:00 p.m. at church. Nursery
available with 24-hr. notice
No Bunco this month because of spring break.
Women of Reformation Board Meeting will be Monday,
March 9, 1:00 p.m. at church.
Book Club meets Monday, March 23, 10:00 a.m.
Women of Reformation collected and sent three large boxes
of Christmas Card front panels to St. Jude's Ranch for Children and two large boxes of
canceled stamps to Bethphage Mission. Starting again in December, we will collect
these items to benefit these two agencies.
KNIT A DISHCLOTH
A special gathering of stitchers is scheduled for 9:30
a.m., March 9, at church (downstairs classroom). This is specifically planned for those
who would like to learn beginning basic knitting. Yarn and needles will be
provided, and we will learn to knit an exceptionally effective dishcloth.
Church Women United - World Day of Prayer
Friday, March 6, 1:00 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church
525 N. Broadway
The World Day of Prayer Committee of Madagascar has
prepared this worship service. Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean in the
African continental area. Carol Ott would appreciate some others going with her.
The Texans Are Coming!
The Texas Lutheran University Choir will present a concert
of sacred choral music at Reformation Church on Saturday, March 14, as part of their 1998
tour. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Under the direction of Dr. Sigurd Christiansen,
the select 46-voice choir continues the tradition of Lutheran college choral excellence
begun by Christiansen's grandfather, F. Melius Christiansen, founder of Minnesota's St.
Olaf Choir, and continued by his father, Paul Christiansen, director of the distinguished
Concordia College Choir in Moorhead, Minnesota, for 49 years.
The choir will present a diverse program of music, ranging
from 17th Century motets to 20th Century works. Also included will be hymn arrangements,
folk songs of Africa and China as well as spirituals and other works. In lieu of an
admission charge, there will be a freewill offering to help support the University Choir.
Choir members will need housing for Saturday night. Please
consider sharing your home with some of the choir members. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the narthex.
Best Time of Life
B.T.O.L. will meet Monday, March 9, at 12:00 noon in the
Parish Hall for the regular potluck luncheon. At 1:00 p.m. an informational program about
the Wichita Radio Reading Service will be presented by a member of the speaker's bureau,
Betty Marlman. Title of the talk is "Bringing Light to Darkness." This will
provide information about a valuable service for those who have friends or relatives who
have vision problems and difficulty in reading. All senior adults are invited to attend.
Men's Breakfast
Men of the congregation are invited to breakfast at the
church on Saturday, March 28, 7:30 a.m. Light breakfast, conversation, and study concludes
at 9:00. Bishop H. George Anderson's book, A Good Time to Be the Church, is
the current topic.
Lenten Devotionals
Additional copies of the daily Lenten devotional booklets,
which were mailed to members, are available in the church office.
Sunday School Stewardship Project A Big Success
What a wonderful success our February Sunday School
stewardship project was! Our Valentine bags were filled to the brim with special treats
and surprises for the residents of the Homestead Assisted Living Residence. The 5th and
6th grade classes filled the bags from offerings received by all the Sunday School grades.
These offerings included personal items like soap and shampoo, crossword puzzle books,
cards, etc. What a delight it was to spread some love to our neighbors at the Homestead.
All that was given was returned in kind with their smiles and appreciation. Thank you to
all who helped make this project a success!
Piano Available
The church now has an extra piano which is looking for a
home. This piano had been located at the end of the hallway across from the 4 year olds
Sunday School classroom. Whoever takes the piano will be responsible for moving it. If you
are interested, please contact Janice Yeskie at 683-3576 or the church office.
River Festival
The River Festival Committee is requesting proposals for
the design to be used on the bulletin at the Festival of Faith service. The theme of the
River Festival this year is "Flying into the Future," and the worship service
will also follow this theme. The design should be in color and be presented on the 8
½" x 11" format of the worship bulletin. The design will also be used on a
publicity flier and on tee shirts that will be available to purchase.
If you with to submit a design for consideration, please
submit it to Waldo Gerards, Wil Johnson, or Pam Whiting by March 15. If you have
questions, please call Waldo Gerards at 683-8602.
Middle School Youth Game Night
All 6th-8th graders are invited to bring their favorite
board game and a snack to share on Friday, March 13, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Parish
Hall. Come prepared to play your favorite game in a new way! Invite a friend to enjoy the
fun!
Nursery Needs
The nursery is in need of reading/listening materials for
children. Therefore, nursery parents are requesting donations of new or used hard-board or
plastic books for toddlers and also audiotapes and books for children. In addition,
donations of used children's magazines for use in the busy packets would be welcome.
The Lutheran Revisited
Concerned about the direction today's youth seem to be
headed? Don't feel alone; the newspaper daily reports alarming statistics on these teen
issues: violence, pregnancy, apathy, and many others.
A thought-provoking article in the February issue of The
Lutheran offers suggestions for parents and other adults who wish to raise moral,
responsible, and caring young people. Especially helpful is a list of "40 Building
Blocks of Healthy Development" as well as a list of "56 Ways to Show Kids You
Care." There is also information on a poster which can be ordered.
- Suzanne Koch, Evangelism Committee
Space Mission Bible Camp
10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1...Blast off!! Vacation Bible
School is up and coming! Dates for VBS are August 9-14 during evening hours. Space Mission
Bible Camp is a family event, and we are encouraging all age groups to attend this
fun-filled event.
Are you someone who loves God and wants to share this love
with children? You are needed as a Training Station leader or helper. Please share your
talents with everyone. For more information, call Patty Taylor, 788-2435, or Jill Brink,
634-2168. Come help us launch kids on a Mission of God's Love!
March Ushers at 11:00
Ushers scheduled for the 11:00 worship service during the
month of March are: Clarence Koch, Melvin Swanson, Paul Mistretta, Don Benton, Robert
Goeller, Larry Ehrlich, and David Johnson.
E-Mail From Hungary
"Do to others what you would have them do to
you." (Luke 6:31)
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, I gave several
lessons on racism and the "Golden Rule" that is reiterated throughout the Bible.
In one of my classes I asked my students what they would do if a friend was making racist
remarks. Should they say something? Could they stop the person from making such remarks?
Anticipating the temporary solutions of changing the subject or hasty explanations of it
merely being "wrong," I was surprised by one of my students. His solution was,
"I'd give them a Bible and say, 'read.'"
I had to smile to myself at how basic it seemed. But to my
student, whose English is limited, it was completely logical: the most important part of
his idea was conveyed. What took him one sentence would probably take me hours, and still
be awkward! Though spreading the Gospel's message is, perhaps, not quite as simple as
thrusting a Bible forward with the command, "READ," there is something to be
said for looking at the Bible for what it is--as a manual for life: counseling faith and
modeling behavior, teaching love and showing Christ. How often does the Bible and its
message get caught up in our language--in the "shoulds" and "buts" and
"ifs"?
Looking at the problems that plague our world today can be
exhausting, especially when we start adding "clauses" that distance us from the
Word. How often does our society seek to band-aid problems with deeper roots? How often do
I temporarily remedy problems that resurface later because I haven't treated the source?
Janos, my student, was addressing the larger problem--how can we love like Christ if we
don't know Christ, and, how can we expect others to? And so it is, the student becomes the
teacher.
In Him, Amy
P.S. I recently started a Women's Bible study group in
English--my prayer request is for God's guidance for this group and the women in it. And
of course, continued prayers for my students and the people of Bekescsaba. Thank you so
much!!
From the Seminary
Thank you for the generous financial and emotional support
you have offered me. At Christmas time I was able to visit with many of you about
seminary, but Reformation has many new members, and even some of the long-time members
don't know me well. It would be difficult for me to be attending the Lutheran Seminary
Program in the Southwest without your financial support. Please know how grateful I am.
The emotional support--calls, cards, e-mail--is also most welcome.
In some ways this is a lonely pursuit. The studies are
serious--15 or more hours of graduate work, and the subject matter is significant. It is
humbling to study the Scriptures and the Christian tradition. Our schedules are filled to
nearly busting with chapel duties and social ministry. Learning about the great needs in
the world and understanding a pastor's responsibility in addressing those needs sometimes
leaves me rather bewildered. However, by knowing that the congregation is behind me, I am
happy to press on.
All seminary students receive some support from their
congregations. Palm Valley Lutheran Church in Round Rock, TX, the church Quinn and Anne
and I attend, is supporting one student in seminary, one student in a deaconess program,
and their youth minister is planning to enter seminary next year. Full tuition and books
are paid for each of these individuals. Supporting future church leaders is a mission for
Palm Valley. First English Lutheran Church in Austin supports an intern each year. I am
acquainted with the intern serving the congregation this year. He says interns are a big
budget item and that he requires a significant amount of the pastor's time, but First
English's pastor, church council, and congregation consider training pastors part of their
job. St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wichita is currently hosting an intern. I spoke with
Mag Lester at Christmas. She says her work in Wichita has been rewarding and that the
intern experience is absolutely necessary for pastoral training.
From its very beginning, Reformation has had a reputation
of excellence. As in many endeavors before, it has become an important partner in seminary
and pastoral development. Thank you.
Peace and blessings, Dawn Gorges
AAL Branch Honored
Members of Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) Branch 4499,
Wichita, have been awarded a Gold Star rating by the fraternal benefit society in
recognition of exemplary volunteer service to the community.
AAL's 9,838 branches are ranked in several performance
categories. To achieve a Gold Star rating, branches annually must sponsor at least one AAL
benevolent activity (fund-raiser, work project, etc.), conduct at least 12 meetings,
sponsor at least one educational activity and one member awareness event, and comply with
AAL's attendance, voting, and reporting requirements.
AAL Branch 4499 is led by: Douglas Vandersee, president;
Richard McDiffett, vice president; Rebecca Hoyer, secretary; and Kathryn Drake, treasurer.
Branch 4499 is supported by AAL General Agent, Jack Holliingsworth, LUTCF, FIC,
Independence.
AAL, based in Appleton, Wisconsin, is a fraternal benefit
society of 1.7 million Lutherans joined together for insurance, investment, educational,
and volunteer opportunities.
