RE-FOCUS
A Publication of Reformation Lutheran Church
Volume 19 June 1999 Number 6

From the Pastor

Her name was Alma Klopmeier. Alma and her husband lived on a farm east of Bunker Hill, Illinois, and were members of Zion Lutheran Church where my family attended. I remember Alma as a white-haired lady, probably in her sixties, a friendly, cheerful sort of person. My mother tells me Alma died five, or maybe even ten years, ago. Alma was no relation to us, but I remember her well from a warm, sunny Sunday, back in ‘64 or maybe ‘65. At the time, I was a high school lad more interested in his jump shot and the cornfields than anything else. But on that sunny Sunday, on the church walkway following worship, Alma walked up to this kid and said, "I think you ought to be a pastor!"

I can still picture Alma Klopmeier speaking to me that day, probably because I was so shocked to hear those words. I had never entertained such a ridiculous idea before. But the seed was planted, the thought took root, and the Holy Spirit took over. Through Alma I began hearing the call of God.

Has God’s Spirit been calling you? Has someone ever said something similar to you? All of us are called in baptism to use our gifts in ministry as good neighbors, loving parents, faithful workers, and countless other ways. Some are called to use their gifts in the ministry of Word and Sacrament.

I have thought about the call of God in my life many times, and I am pleased the Central States Synod is providing an opportunity for others to explore this call. Invitation to Serve, meeting August 1-3 at Avila College, Kansas City, is for persons at least 15 years old with a sincere desire to explore the call of God. (Think you are too old? Read about Louisa Groce in the May issue of The Lutheran. At age 80 she is being ordained!) Is Invitation to Serve an opportunity for you? Is there some young person we should encourage to attend? Or some older person, second career perhaps, whom we should invite and encourage? For interested people, I have a brochure with more information.

- Pastor Jerry Mansholt

From the Deaconess

Confirmation is Dead was the title of a video about five years ago, produced by a Lutheran pastor by the name of Rich Melheim. Rich (I can call him that because I have met him and spent some time in Stillwater, MN, with him and a few hundred other people) is on the cutting edge of confirmation ministry. According to Rich and his FAITH, INC., confirmation ministry is about growing in faith and about relationships. Sound familiar?

This model of confirmation is based on the community instead of the classroom. Therefore, it takes the congregation to "do" confirmation, not just the pastor (and deaconess). In fact, the mission statement for Faith Inkubators is Turning parents into allies, allies into youth ministers, and congregations into inkubators of faith. If we remember that Luther wrote the Small Catechism for parents, not for pastors, it makes sense that confirmation ministry be a joint effort of the home and the church.

This may sound foreign to those of us who have been through a strongly pastor-based confirmation class and have been taught that only the pastor knows enough to teach our young people. The idea of confirmation being opened to parents and others in the church may feel very uncomfortable; but remember, God has gifted each of us. Besides, if we truly believe that God has given us different gifts as the body of Christ, doesn’t it make sense that those gifts can be used to build up the part of Christ’s body made up of our young people?

Why am I telling you all this? After Pastor, Ruth Koepsel, and I attended a workshop in May, we are convinced that our confirmation ministry can benefit from some re-engineering to better reflect our mission as a congregation—to be servants of God, guided by the Holy Spirit, to make Christ known. Stay tuned as we continue to gather information and strategize about Confirmation ministry.

- Deaconess Doreen Leptien

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We want to thank all for the many cards, calls, expressions of concern, and prayers during the illness and death of our daughter and sister, Rubyann. A special thanks to Pastor for his visits and assisting at her funeral. We truly have been surrounded by the Communion of Saints.

Pastor Robert & Pat Kloth, Dodie Kloth, Tim, Sandy, Jacob and Natalie Kloth, Ellen, Paul, T.J., Joseph and Sapphire Garcia

* * *

I returned home from Wesley Hospital May 13. After having major surgery, I feel reasonably well. I wish to thank the many for their prayers, cards, visits, and love. I wish the people fighting ethnic culture could realize how much prayers and love from Caucasians, Hispanics, Afro-Americans, from all denominations, get to the ears of God. Love all of you!

Sincerely, Johnie Pearl Nulan

* * *

Thank you to everyone who worked at the Cookout for Kosovo on May 1, especially Joanne Dumler, Shirley Metz, and Mary Ward-Pfeiffer for their organizing work. With matching funds from Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood, approximately $6,500 was raised for ELCA International Disaster Response - Kosovo Crisis.

Red Cross Blood Drive

A Blood Drive, sponsored by the American Red Cross, will be held at Reformation Church on Sunday, June 6, 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. We hope you will both go to church and give blood! Giving blood is safe and easy. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in general good health. All donors are asked to bring a photo I.D. Appointments must be made in advance to participate. If you haven’t already done so, make your donor appointment at church on Sunday, May 30, 8:30-12:30. When you give blood, you brighten the lives of families in the Central Plains Region. Share your good health this season and give the "Gift of Life."

Summer Worship Schedule

Beginning June 6, our summer hours for Worship Services will be 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Between the two services, from approximately 9:15 until 9:45, a continental breakfast fellowship will be held each Sunday. This will be a great time to visit with visitors, friends, and family. Please plan on joining us! This new schedule will be in effect June, July, and August.

Captive Free Coming Our Way

Our 8:30 worship service on June 20 will feature the musical ministry group, Captive Free. Captive Free, sponsored by Minneapolis-based Youth Encounter, will lead worship through music, puppetry, drama, and personal testimony. Michelle, Amy, Brian, Dan, and Andy will arrive Saturday evening and will need places to stay and a couple meals. If you would like to host one or more of these young people, please let Deaconess Doreen know.

Walk A Mile

To walk one mile inside the church building, start at the Parish Hall door and walk down the hall, past the water fountains, to the end of the hall. Turn and go toward the sanctuary. Walk back down the hall toward the narthex. Circle the narthex and end up where you started. Do this 11 times, then go into the Parish Hall. Circle twice and finish at the same door where you started. You have now walked one mile.

You can stop at the water fountain and get a drink, if you like, or at the bench to sit down for a few minutes, but don’t forget to stretch before and after. Good luck! Any questions? Call Shirley Anderson, Barb Everson, or Lou Stadler.

Usher Schedule for June

• 8:30 Paul Ryding, Terry Everson, Jeff Larma
• 11:00 Ron Ott, Jerry Whetstone, John Lee, Larry Barr, Waldo Gerards, Bryan Barr, Jim Frank

Women of Reformation

CIRCLE MEETINGS

• Priscilla - Tuesday, June 8, 9:30 a.m., In church library. Nursery available with 24-hr. notice
• Dorcas - Wednesday, June 16, 1:00 p.m. at the home of Dorothea Rindt, 1945 Charlotte St.
• Sarah - Monday, June 21, 7:00 p.m.
• Rachel Circle and Ruth Circle do not meet during the summer months.

Blanket Makers will meet June 7 & 21 at 9:00 a.m.

There is no Board Meeting in June or July.

Plan to attend the Mother-Daughter Tea, June 6, 4:00, for a delightful afternoon. Posters with details are displayed in the Parish Hall and narthex. Tickets are $2.50, available after Sunday services.

Women of Reformation donated $53.60 to the "Fellowship of the Least Coin." The next Church Women United listening forum will be June 4, 1:00 p.m., at Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, 1600 W. 27th St. N. Look for details on the Women’s bulletin board in Parish Hall.

Mark your calendar on July 15 for our Annual Trip to Lindsborg. Details will be in the July Re-Focus.

During June, the Women of Reformation will be collecting items to help the women of the YWCA Crisis Center. Check out what’s bloomin’ on the bulletin board in Parish Hall. "Pick a Petal" and add a little sunshine to someone’s life.

Thankofferings support youth leadership and spirituality. It’s a sure bet that future Nebraska Synod youth and Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) leaders will surface at the "junction" this summer. According to Nebraska Synod Assistant to the Bishop, Charles "Chip" Borgstadt, that’s the junction of spirituality and leadership, two roads that meet in service to others.

It’s been happening that way since 1995, and again this summer, 30-40 youth will be a part of Junction 99. For the first time, they’ll move beyond state lines to participate in this synod LYO leadership development program that is assisted through the ELCA by Women of the ELCA Thankofferings. From June 7-13, the youth will stay in the Texas-Mexico border facilities of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, McAllen, Texas. They’ll work a day with Barrio ministries there and the rest of the week with children in Reynosa, Mexico.

This program has always been aimed at creating in youth an understanding of hunger and justice issues. "Youth have worked on worship facilities for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, painted the parsonage of a Spanish-speaking congregation and the inside of a safe house for domestic violence abuse victims," Borgstadt said. Last year synod youth were joined by a recently immigrated group of Roman Catholic youth from Spanish-speaking countries. They shared meals and a Bible study, each working in their own languages, then renovated a small home in Lincoln that is now used as a youth meeting place and shelter.

"Each year this program has helped provide youth leaders for the synod and for LYO," Borgstadt said, adding, "but it does more than that. We again look forward to youth crossing cultural boundaries and weaving their hearts together."

June Fellowship Opportunities

• Ice Cream Social - Sunday, June 13, 7:00 p.m. in the Church Courtyard

Express your desire to bring homemade ice cream, cookies, or cake on the Fellowship poster in the narthex. Make plans now to treat your taste buds to the extraordinary. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the company!

• Golf Tournament - Sunday, June 27, 1:30 p.m. at Clapp Golf Course. All golfers are welcome! Please sign up on poster in narthex.

Best Time of Life

B.T.O.L. will meet Monday, June 14, in the Parish Hall, with the potluck luncheon at 12:00 noon. Charley Whitworth, a member of Friends of the Wichita Public Library, will present a slide program on "Theater History of Wichita." All mature adults (any who are 50-PLUS) are invited to attend. It’s easy--just bring your potluck dish and table service and come join the crowd.

Middle School Birthday Bash

It’s a giant birthday celebration for all Middle School youth on Friday, June 4, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. We’ll do all those birthday-type things, including a gift exchange. But this isn’t just any old gift exchange! Bring a white elephant. No, not a real elephant! Bring that item that is just sitting in your closet or under your bed that you would love to get rid of. Wrap it up and give it away. Invite a friend, but tell him/her to bring a white elephant also! Call Carol Weaver (682-7836) if you have any questions.

Confirmation Camp

Our going-into-8th graders will be attending Confirmation Camp at Camp Tomah Shinga, June 20-25. The theme for the week is Building on Jesus: Tools for Peacemaking. They, along with young people from nine other churches in Kansas, will learn skill to being peacemakers where they are as part of the body of Christ.

Drivers are needed to take the youth to Tomah Shinga on the 20th and to pick them up on the 25th. If you can help out, please contact Deaconess Doreen.

Stephen Ministry

The Stephen Ministry program at Reformation is about giving love and care to those persons who are in need. Stephen Ministers are lay persons who are trained and committed to providing distinctive Christian care, through one-to-one relationships, to people experiencing a difficult time in their life.

Every Stephen Minister receives approximately 50 hours of training prior to commissioning. We expect to begin a new class of Stephen Ministers this September. On August 15, following both services, there will be an orientation session to provide details and to answer questions about the Stephen Ministry program. Please watch Sunday bulletins and the Re-Focus for more information.

Church Council Date Change

The Church Council will meet Monday, June 21, because of Vacation Bible School the preceding week when Council would normally meet.

45TH Ordination Anniversary

On June 20, 1954, Robert Kloth, a graduate of Trinity Seminary, Blair, Nebraska, along with 7 of his classmates, was ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. On June 20, 1999, in the 10:00 a.m. worship, Reformation Lutheran Church will give thanks to God for the 45 years of pastoral ministry by Pastor Kloth. Pastor Kloth retired in 1994 after 23 years of service at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in south Wichita. Prior to that he had served congregations in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada. Currently, Pastor Kloth is serving as Interim Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Peabody.

Pastor Bob and Pat Kloth will have celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary a few days earlier, on June 15. A Luncheon Celebration will follow the 10:00 a.m. worship. Please contact the church office, 634-0586, if you will be able to attend.

Area Ministry Five News

Rev. Carolyn Campbell was installed as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, 925 North Waco, on Sunday, May 16.

Jeff Ungs, a graduate of Wartburg Seminary, will be ordained and installed as Pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Eureka, June 6.

Pastor Gerald Mansholt has been appointed Clergy Dean of the Area Ministry. The appointment becomes effective following the Synod Assembly.

The Habitat for Humanity House has finally been completed and dedicated. Yes, this is the house for which we were raising funds one year ago and on which many worked last fall. The family of Gary Lynch has worked hard, waited patiently, and now moved in!

Synod Assembly

With the theme, "Making Christ Known...Hope For A New Century," the 221 congregations of the Central States Synod will meet in Assembly

June 10-13 at the Doubletree Hotel, Overland Park, KS. Lay delegates from Reformation are Harvey and Jane Sanders and Richard and Judy McDiffett. Also attending will be Pastor Jerry and Anita Mansholt and Deaconess Doreen Leptien.

From the Seminary . . .

"Summertime and the living is easy" . . . lyrics from George Gershwin’s song "Summertime." Truth is, summertime isn’t easy for children or working parents. It is a circus of day care, babysitters, camps, or the worry of leaving children at home alone. Even stay-at-home parents feel pressure in the summer months, rushing kids from one activity to another.

The song "Summertime" ends with the words, ". . . there’s nothing can harm you with daddy and mammy standin’ by." Another truth is that half of the children don’t have both parents living together, and even when the families are intact, often both parents work outside the home. All too often, mom and dad aren’t standing by. The point is not what has driven our society to require such demanding lifestyles. The point is that frenzied lives too often result in fractured children.

A third truth is that we live in community, and it takes the entire community to raise children. In the past, families were more closely knitted, and children were accountable to more adults. Today, many children are no longer protected by the extended family. In the best scenario, the church, the family of God, becomes the extended family for children.

Consider the children with whom you are acquainted. Think about the lives they lead. Imagine sharing a day with one of those kids. What might that mean to both of you? For the child, you might become a trusted adult. For you, the child might be a window of hope for the future.

Granted, the prospect of spending a day with a child you don’t know well can be daunting. It might take a little strategy to keep a kid happy for most of the day. Most children like to cook--make cookies, a pie, or ice cream, and cooking and eating are both good times to visit. Do you have a favorite old movie? Share your ideas about the show, pop some popcorn, share a soft drink, and watch the movie. Show your young friend your hobby.

It’s not important that the day be filled with activities, nor do you need to feel responsible to transform the child in a few hours. You only need to offer a day of sharing and listening. Be guided by the wise words of Proverbs, "My child, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways."

Forming a strong, loving community for children is good stewardship. Remember a child you know, and pray about the child. Your prayers will help you know how to reach out to that young person. With prayers and a bit of creativity, you will make memories, and you may build a relationship to last a life time.

God’s peace and joy, Dawn Gorges

Community Outreach Update

The following article was in the United Methodist Urban Ministry’s monthly newsletter for May:

Reformation Lutheran Church has contributed foodstuffs to us for a long time, but in 1999 they have asked their congregation to ‘Give a Meal-A- Month’ for the hungry in our community. The church has provided bright yellow bags and various monthly menus to their members, and the idea has taken off! We now have a weekly pickup of food at Reformation Lutheran Church and a nice variety of meals.

Thanks to all our contributors for helping our church receive this recognition and (more importantly) for helping those in need! Maybe other congregations will read about the success and implement this in their church.

The Meal-A-Month collection for June will be baby items. Please select one or all of the following items:

• Baby Formula
• Baby Food / Cereal / Juices
• Diapers

Note: By doubling your Meal-A-Month Yellow Bag donations for June, you will be assisting tornado disaster victims.

Special Congregation Meeting

A Special Congregation Meeting has been called for Sunday, June 6, 11:00 a.m., in the church sanctuary. The one item of business is a recommendation from the Church Council to refinance the existing mortgage with a loan from Lutheran Brotherhood.

Vacation Bible School

Registration for Vacation Bible School, scheduled for June 14-18, 6:00-8:30 p.m., will continue through June 6. Invite a friend and be sure the friend is registered! All participants will be provided a special tee shirt. Forms for registration and volunteer sign-up are available in the narthex. Please return these to the Treasure Hunt Bible Adventure can. There is a $5.00 registration fee for children ages 3 years through 4th grade (completed). Special opportunities for 5th-7th graders and an adult VBS will also be offered.

There are some items still needed for VBS. Please check the "Giving Vine" on the bulletin board in the hallway to see what you may be able to contribute. These items are needed by Sunday, June 6

ChristCare Group

The ChristCare Group focusing on healthy bodies and weight control will continue to meet this summer on the first and third Mondays of each month, beginning on June 7. If you are interested in joining us, please call Cheryl Hoops at 685-7566 for details.

Time Out for God

The 33rd year of "Time Out for God" lakeside services at Cheney Lake State Park will begin Sunday, May 30. This ministry for campers and others in the area has grown over the years. These services run from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Time of service is 9:00 a.m. each Sunday. These services include a time for singing, special music, Scripture, and a timely meditation. Chaplain John Pool of Lutheran Institutional Ministry conduct this ministry.

Should you or your family be in the lakeside area on Sunday morning, you are invited to come as you are, bring a friend with you, and join us in a unique worship experience. Enter Cheney Lake State Park on the west side, at the main entrance off of 21st St. West. Services are held in and around the pavilion.