RE-FOCUS
A Publication of Reformation Lutheran Church
Volume 21 June 2001 Number 6
From the Pastor
A new bishop will be elected when the Central States Synod gathers
in assembly June 7-10 in Kansas City. Bishop Charles Maahs, who has served as our bishop
since the merger in 1987, has indicated he will not be a candidate.
I ask all of you to join in prayer with our brothers and sisters in the 220
congregations throughout Missouri and Kansas. We pray the Holy Spirit to fill the minds
and hearts of people, to guide the voting members of the assembly in the election process.
I also ask you to include me in your prayers, as well as Reformation Church, because my
name is being mentioned as one of the candidates for bishop.
Any pastor rostered in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may be nominated. I
expect there will be many nominations on the first ballot, the nominating ballot. Where
things will go after that, none of us knows. We don’t know what God has in mind, how
the Spirit of God will move delegates, what thinking might take place in the mind of the
assembly. But we do know this is an important matter for the whole synod to talk and pray
about. So I invite your prayers and thoughts.
I have given much thought and prayer to this matter. Anita and I together have talked
about this possibility. We have prayed about it. We know it would mean a major change in
our lives. Some partners in ministry have talked with me about serving as Bishop. With
prayer and these conversations, I have decided that, if elected, I would be willing to
serve our Lord and our Lord’s Church as Bishop. I would also be delighted to continue
to serve as pastor of Reformation Church.
I have debated whether to write about this election or not. I do not presume in the
least to know what will happen. At the same time I do want to be as forthright as possible
with the good people of Reformation Church.
This is a time of discernment for the Church that will culminate in an election very
soon. Someone will be elected Bishop. Whatever happens, I will continue with joy to serve
in Christ’s Church.
Come, Holy Spirit! Fill your faithful people with wisdom and counsel, with insight
and love!
- Pastor Jerry Mansholt
From the Deaconess
And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done,
and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the
seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done
in creation. - Genesis 2:2-3
Sabbath Time. This term keeps popping up in my life. Up until recently I focused on my
own need of, but lack of, Sabbath Time. But more and more I hear the following cries, We
don’t have any family time. We are always running from one event to the next. A
lack of Sabbath Time has become a disease that is eating away at the core of our families.
Our society promotes the idea that being busy is good. Then why are more and more people
feeling tired and rushed, desiring time away from the daily busyness?
Here’s a thought that we have lost track of. Time is a gift from God to be
unwrapped, cherished, discovered, or savored. How we spend this time that God has
given us even reflects our attitude toward God. Living in a state of rushed
dissatisfaction and anxiety is not life giving. Therefore, I do not believe it is what God
intends for us. There is a reason that God gave us a Sabbath day—to have a day to
worship and praise God, but also to have a day to be renewed and refreshed. What I have
been reading and hearing points toward the importance of taking time during the week for
Sabbath Time. This may or may not be on Sunday.
This may not even be a whole day, but parts of each day. The point is that time for
rest and worship are important for spiritual, emotional, and even physical health. Time is
a gift to be enjoyed, not a clock to be beat. God calls us as Christians to be controlled
by love of God, not the ways of the world.
For ideas on how to help your family more fully appreciate the gift of time, see the Faith
in the Home column.
- Deaconess Doreen Scheuerman
Benefit Pops Concert in McPherson
You are invited to attend Spirit Ringers’ Pops Concert 2001 on
Saturday, June 2, 7:00 p.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church, McPherson. This
concert is being given as a community benefit concert for the people of Hoisington. Spirit
Ringers held a concert at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hoisington on April 1, so the
tornado’s effect on that community has touched Spirit Ringers.
Lutheran Brotherhood Branch 8063 will match funds given up to $2,000 from their Special
Matching Disaster Funds. Your attendance and/or donations will be deeply appreciated.
Trinity Lutheran Church is asking for the help of Lutheran Brotherhood policy holders
who would be available to help with this worthy benefit. Their Area Facilitator, Linda
Peterson, would appreciate the help of any and all LB members. Please call her at (620)
241-3597 or Trinity’s church office at (620) 241-0424.
Summer Nursery Volunteers Needed
Due to the summer worship schedule, we are going to use only one
paid nursery attendant on Sunday mornings. We are needing one adult or teen volunteer to
assist the attendant at the 8:30 service and one volunteer to assist at the 10:00 service.
Please sign up on the schedule posted on the nursery door. We are needing volunteers
for June, July, and August. Call Jane Camenzind, 685-6154, if you have any questions.
Twelve to Assembly
Sharing Faith in a New Century is the theme of the June
7-10, 2001 Central States Synod Assembly, meeting at the Marriott Hotel, Kansas
City, MO. Guest speakers for the assembly include Rev. Richard Beuesehoff, ELCA Director
for Leadership--Division for Ministry; Dr. Audrey West, Asst. Professor of New Testament
at Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago; and Rev. Robert Bacher, ELCA Executive
Assistant to the Bishop. Bishop Charles Maahs will preach at the Opening Worship on
Friday. "Second Mile for Mission" offerings are designated for our Companion
Synods--The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States (ELCROS) and Papua New
Guinea, and for Campus Ministry in the Central States Synod, and Outreach Congregations in
the Central States Synod.
Twelve people from Reformation will be attending: Pastor Jerry and Anita Mansholt;
Waldo (delegate) and Lotus Gerards; Marsha Sears (delegate); David Dibble (delegate);
Victoria Morgan (delegate); Deaconess Doreen and Paul Scheuerman; Larry Frank (Parish
Ministry Associate, serving Peace Lutheran in Newton); Julie Buxton (Area Ministry 5 Youth
Delegate); and Pastor Sally Fahrenthold.
Red Cross Blood Drive
A Red Cross Blood Drive will be held at Reformation on Saturday, July
21. A mobile unit will be in our parking lot from 8:00 a.m. until
1:00 p.m. Watch for more details and sign-up schedules.
Women of Reformation
CIRCLE MEETINGS
- Priscilla - No Meeting
- Ruth - No Meeting
- Sarah - Monday, June 18 - 7:00 p.m., at the home of Dolores Hoyle, 3900 N. Woodlawn St.,
#10 Lansdown
- Dorcas - Wednesday, June 20 - 1:00 p.m., at the home of Lotus Gerards, 1921 Farmstead
St.
WELCA Board Meeting will be June 4, 1:00 p.m., at the church.
Blanket Makers will meet in Parish Hall on June 4 & 18 at 9:00 a.m. to make the lap
robes and blankets for the needy.
Please join us for a special Women’s Night Out on Tuesday, June 5, 6:30 p.m.
Seminarian student, Laura Ulicky-Weerts, will be our guest of honor. We will meet at
YiaYia’s, 21st & Rock Rd. Sign up on the nursery door or call Kimberly Lindemann,
691-1440.
Make plans now to go to the WELCA Synod Convention in Salina, KS, August 11 & 12.
Registration fee is $50 without meals; add $47 for meals. Check the bulletin board for
details. Kathy Drake will attend as Reformation’s delegate. A scholarship is
available for anyone else wishing to go.
Mark July 12 on your calendar for the Annual Trip to Lindsborg. Plan to have a good
time shopping, eating, and visiting the residents at Bethany Home.
Looking ahead . . .
- The Fall Cluster Meeting will be October 3 at Good Shepherd, Wichita.
- Triennial Convention in July 2002, will be held in Philadelphia, PA.
Father’s Day - Sunday, June 17
Mother-Daughter Event
Women of Reformation: Mark your calendars for the annual
Mother-Daughter Event to be held Sunday, June 10, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., in the
Parish Hall. This year’s theme is "A Women’s Heritage Tea,"
celebrating the women in your family history. It will feature a cooking demonstration,
special teas, treats and sweets, plus a hands-on activity and display from Kathy Gallant
of Hen Feather’s Quilt Shop. Bring a favorite treasure handed down in your
family to share with the others. It can be a photo frame, tea cup, quilt, story, recipe,
accessory, or the like. Tickets are $2.50 and will be on sale Sunday mornings through June
10.
Best Times of Life, Reformation’s fellowship group for those 55 and over, will
meet on Monday, June 11, at noon in the Parish Hall for our potluck luncheon
and program. Come and join us for delicious food, warm, friendly fellowship, and an
interesting program. Our speaker will be Dave Burk, an architect with Old Town, who will
tell us about the development and renovation there as well as future plans for the area.
Bring a covered dish to share, your own table service, and call Pauline (942-4885) or
Betty (682-2030) with your reservation. Hope to see you there!
Exceptional Attendance in Sunday School Recognized
The following students, who missed two or less classes during this
year in Sunday School, are recognized for their exceptional attendance.
- 1st Grade - Amy Yeskie
- 2nd Grade - Alyssa Folkerts
- 3rd Grade - Heather Borg and Matt Hobart
- 4th Grade - Alex Applegate, Derek Folkerts, and Megan Vandersee
- High School - Nicole Wegner
The following had excellent attendance, missing only three sessions this school year:
- 4 year olds - Colton Tucker, Kaitlin Tucker
- Kindergarten - Ryan Camenzind, Emily Weaver, and Sara Muse, teacher
- 1st Grade - Hunter Borg
- 2nd Grade - Mason Vandersee
- 4th Grade - Allison Wegner
Faith in the Home
Time is a precious gift from God. Below are some suggestions for how
you can help your family use this gift in ways that give you and your family life, instead
of draining you of energy and joy.
Claim a Sabbath time for you family. Carve out a time that is suitable for your family
and put it on your calendar. Do family activities where you focus on having fun together
in ways that are renewing.
Do a family time audit. On a calendar page for a month, write down all the things your
family does together. Color code each one, placing them in such categories as school,
church, recreation. Then figure out the number of hours that each category consumes in an
average month. Make a pie chart showing the percentages. Then examine the chart. How does
it compare to what you hoped or expected to see? What changes would bring the chart closer
to your ideal? How might you plan differently for the coming month?
Establish a time for family worship at home, either daily or weekly. Plan a simple
ritual, such as reading a psalm and praying for family, personal, and world concerns.
Invite each person to name glads and sads or highs and lows. Mark this time on your
calendar so you are less likely to ignore or forget it.
Begin each day praying with your family Luther’s morning prayer with the small
change in wording. Dear heavenly Father, we thank you that through Jesus Christ your
dear Son you have kept us this night. We pray that you would keep us this day from
sin and every evil. Into your hands we commend ourselves, our bodies, our souls and our
time. Let your holy angels be with us, that the evil foe may have no power over us. Amen.
Usher Schedule for June
- 8:30 - Terry Everson - Paul Ryding, Jeff Larma
- 11:00 - Bryan Barr, John Lee, Larry Barr, Ron Ott, Pam Clinger, Jerry Whetstone,
Waldo Gerards
Growing in Our Faith
We often ask ourselves, "How does being a Christian fit into
all those other things that make demands on our time?"
- This illustration shows some of those areas that put demands on us: our family, money,
recreation, work, church, government, education, and food.
- Notice what is in the center of the circle. This is an illustration of Jesus the Servant
King, superimposed upon the Bible. Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, created
- the universe and directs the course of history. As Christians, we see all of life as a
sacred affair, lived around the presence of Jesus.
- Christ is the center of all we do and are, not just a small piece on Sunday morning.
- From Crossways International
LOGOS News
Thank you to the children for their participation during the worship
on April 29, LOGOS Sunday. Thanks also to all LOGOS staff, parents and youth for a
successful year. We especially give thanks to God for Shari Ryding and the two years she
served as coordinator for LOGOS. Shari served with dedication and love, which was clearly
evident during our Wednesday evening LOGOS program.
We welcome and give thanks for Mary Brittain and Angela Davis who have answered
God’s call to be the LOGOS coordinators for the next two years. They have already
been working on our 2001-2002 program, planning and calling people to serve with them.
They and other coordinators will be going to LOGOS Training School in Norman, Oklahoma,
from June 25 through June 27.
LOGOS is a ministry of the congregation that brings children and adults together to
experience God’s love through Play Time, Worship Skills, Family Time, and Bible Time.
Please prayerfully consider if God is calling you to serve in this ministry.
From the Seminary in Austin, TX . . .
Graduation and Beyond
Graduation for the Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest and the Episcopal
Theological Seminary of the Southwest was Tuesday, May 15. The graduation ceremony was
held during a Eucharist service at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Austin. The featured
preacher was the Rev. Dr. Raymond Pickett. Ray is a New Testament scholar, who studied at
Cambridge. He is a professor in the joint seminaries here, and he served in Manhattan, KS,
about six years ago.
The Episcopal program lasts for three years, and then the graduates are ordained as
deacons in a church. Within a year, most become priests. The Lutheran program lasts four
years, and graduates are ordained in the ministry of Word and sacrament as soon as they
have a call. Most of the Episcopalians have been called to congregations, but none of the
Lutherans have calls yet, because the call processes work differently. The Lutheran
graduates have been assigned to the Nebraska Synod, the Oklahoma-Arkansas Synod, and to
the three Texas/Louisiana Synods.
In John 13, Jesus told his disciples, "Where I am going, you cannot
come." He went on to say, "You should love one another." These are poignant
words to me these days. The journey through seminary is often a lonely one. Most of the
old support groups fall away, and students are compelled to put their faith in God, alone.
And in a limited way, I understand Jesus’ words. Of course, Jesus was on his way to
the cross; I was only on my way to Austin, but when I left Wichita four years ago, you
could not come with me.
Yet, you never left me. You, my friends, fulfilled the second part of his message,
"You should love one another." Yes, I was in Austin, alone, but spiritually, you
were always with me, loving me with your support, cards, gifts, and prayers. The journey
was possible because you loved me through my journey, and not a day has passed when you
have not been in my prayers, corporately and individually.
Thank you, and God bless you.
- Dawn Gorges
Holden Village: An Autumn Odyssey
If you’re an active older adult or younger one with
time to savor the relaxed Holden Village lifestyle in the beauty of autumn, you may want
to consider a visit there this fall. Located in the heart of Washington State’s
majestic North Cascade Mountains, Holden Village has provided rest, relaxation, &
refreshment to thousands of visitors over nearly four decades.
During the first three weeks of September, Holden Village, an ecumenical Christian
retreat center in the Lutheran tradition, serves older adults by providing a stimulating
program featuring an array of teaching sessions, art classes, concerts, and worship. This
year, Autumn Odyssey, providing trouble-free transportation to and from the Village
from the Seattle-Tacoma Airport, offers two options: September 7-15 (total cost is
$600 per person) and September 7-23 (total cost is $1040 per person and includes
Elderhostel). A deposit of $55 is due upon registration, with the balance due on the registration
deadline, August 10.
For additional information, see the brochure with registration form on the bulletin
board in Parish Hall or contact: Kitty Williams at (253) 841-4047 or e-mail:.
Summer Services at Cheney Lake
The 35th year of Time Out for God lakeside services at Cheney
Lake State Park began on Sunday, May 27. 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. Rev. John Pool conducts 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.
Is God Calling You To Stephen Ministry?
Maybe It’s Time to Answer the Phone
We have many wonderful ministries at Reformation. One of the most impactful is Stephen
Ministry, a program that provides one-to-one care for people who are going through some
tough life circumstances.
Stephen Ministers have been active at Reformation for more than 5 years and have helped
dozens of people during times of personal crisis.
There is opportunity for the ministry to reach out and touch more lives with God’s
grace and love. But – and this is a big "but"– the opportunity can
be realized only if those Reformation members who have been gifted and called by God to
serve as Stephen Ministers hear the call and respond.
Not everyone can or should be a Stephen Minister. This ministry is best suited for
Christians who:
- - Are motivated to grow in faith an discipleship
- - Care deeply for people and their needs
- - Can relate to others without judging them
- - Know how to keep confidences
- - Are willing and able to participate in training, service, and follow-up group
supervision
No one can be commissioned as a Stephen Minister without completing an extensive
training course. Although the training requires a considerable commitment of time, it
equips new Care Givers to minister with confidence.
A new training class will be offered this fall and winter for all who hear God’s
call to Stephen Ministry. The class is scheduled to begin on October 1 and will
continue to meet from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. each Monday night through January (holidays
excepted).
To learn more about Stephen Ministry, speak to Pastor Mansholt or to one of the Stephen
Leaders: Lotus Gerards, Jerry Whetstone, Dallas Cronk, or Rich McDiffett.
Meal-A-Month for June
- Paper Goods:
- Paper Towels, Napkins
- Facial / Toilet Tissue
- Sunscreen or Dried Milk
Please bring your donations to the church by Sunday, June 24.
APPEAL FESTIVAL SUNDAY - JUNE 3
One Worship Service Only, at 10:00 a.m.
A Chance for You to Complete Your Intention Card for the RRR Appeal
Unique Worship Service & Special Music
After the Worship Service . . . LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN ! -
- Sandwiches and Beverages
- Moon Walk for the Kiddoes
- Magician and Balloon Critters
- Live Music from Our Youth
It’s R-R-R Appeal Party Time
Refocus • Recommit • Reach Out
. . . a three-year mission growth initiative
Last update
August 03, 2008 |
