RE-FOCUS
A Publication of Reformation Lutheran Church
Volume 21 July 2001 Number 7
From the Pastor
There is so much to write about this month. With my election as
Bishop of the Central States Synod, major transitions are beginning for both me and
Reformation Church. At the same time we continue to rejoice in the huge success of the Refocus,
Recommit, Reach Out appeal and in the addition of new music staff. The Task Force on
First Communion has completed its work, and the Church Council has adopted a new First
Communion policy. And, finally, I regret to say that in July Reformation Church may once
again be the target of radical anti-abortion demonstrations.
Transitions
August 19 will be my last Sunday at Reformation Church. Even as I write that sentence,
there are very mixed emotions within me. I rejoice in my having been elected Bishop and am
looking forward to serving the Church in this ministry. Yet, Anita and I have both grown
to love Reformation Church and the Wichita community. We already have shed tears at the
thought of moving. Though we shall be leaving, we are giving thanks to God for the life we
have shared together in these nearly six years, and trust God will be with us all in the
years to come.
These are very demanding days for me as I work both to bring a healthy closure with
staff, leadership, and all the Reformation community and to begin a major transition to
the office of Bishop. Already I am deeply grateful for the prayers and support,
encouragement and understanding of so many people, here and throughout the Central States
Synod.
New Staff
While I am leaving, others are arriving! I am delighted that two new people will be
joining the Reformation staff before I leave. Clark Rice will begin duties July 1
as organist. A graduate of Friends University with a degree in Church Music, Clark brings
outstanding gifts to our music staff.
On August 15, Dr. Eugenia Oi-Yan Yau will begin duties as Director of Music.
While her home and family is China, Eugenia moves to this area from Michigan to join the
faculty of Southwestern College in Winfield. Dr. Yau will direct the Parish Choir and Bell
Choir and oversee the music program. She also brings outstanding gifts and an exuberance
in her work. These two new staff persons, together with Nina Kindt, Children’s Music
Director, will provide exceptional leadership to the Reformation music ministry.
Interim Pastor
The Church Council, in consultation with Bishop Maahs, is in the process of arranging
an interim pastor for Reformation. We are confident the interim pastor will be in place
well before I leave, working with current staff for fall planning and preaching a couple
of Sundays in my absence.
Reformation is blessed with many gifts in leadership and service. I know that members
will step forward to serve in the many essential ministries of the Church during these
days of transition.
I know there is anxiety during times of transition, and people understandably are eager
to get a Call process started. While some initial steps may be taken soon with the
Bishop’s office, it is important for the congregation to take some time to let go of
the old before moving into the new. The Interim Pastor will help greatly in that process.
I know also that many, with the success of the Refocus, Recommit, Reach Out
appeal, were looking forward to calling a second pastor. Two pastors are still in
Reformation’s future. But now a Senior Pastor first will need to be called; and then,
with his or her guidance, a second pastor can be called. God will guide and provide, and
Reformation’s mission will be strengthened.
First Communion
I have written in previous articles about the work of our Task Force on First
Communion. Chaired by Laurel Davis, the Task Force included Ken Hobart, Holly Coleman,
Denise Peer, Brenda Laflin, Doug Vandersee and me. Their recommendation was received and
adopted by the Church Council in
June. The new policy reads:
Baptized children are invited to begin to commune on a regular basis at a time
determined through mutual conversation that includes the pastor, child, and parents.
Educational opportunities will be offered for parents and children on a regular basis.
These classes are intended to help parents and children to discern the appropriate time to
begin to commune and to deepen their understanding of Holy Communion. (This policy is in
accord with The Use of the Means of Grace (principle 37), adopted by the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1997).
To help in this transition, a First Communion class for 5th graders and their parents
is being planned for early fall. Shortly thereafter another class for children of younger
ages and their parents will be offered to deepen their understanding of the sacrament and
to discern if now is the time to begin receiving Holy Communion.
This new policy grows out of our theology which understands Holy Communion to be a gift
from God for the nourishment of our faith and life. The benefit of this sacrament does not
depend upon our right understanding of the meal. Who of us truly understands the mystery
of the Risen Christ present in bread and wine? Nor does it depend upon anything that we
bring. We benefit from the Holy Communion when we trust in what God has promised, namely,
that we receive forgiveness of sins, life and salvation in the eating and drinking of this
meal.
So, parents, when your child begins to reach out in faith and expresses desire for this
holy meal, it is time for thought and prayer and discernment. And to help parents and
children in that discernment, classes will be offered.
I intend to address this new policy on a Sunday sermon in July. I also know that
members of the Task Force, as well as Deaconess Doreen, would welcome conversations.
Possible Demonstrations
You may already know that during the week of July 15-22 radical anti-abortion forces
are planning a 10th anniversary of the "Summer of Mercy" that rocked Wichita in
1991. I regret that I must inform the congregation that once again Reformation Lutheran
may be the target of some anti-abortion demonstrations.
Abortion is an issue around which people have strong and varied
convictions, not only in society but in the Church as well. The Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America adopted a Social Statement on Abortion at the Churchwide Assembly in
1991. Copies of that statement will be available at church beginning July 1. I encourage
everyone to read and discuss the statement.
The ELCA Social Statement on Abortion speaks of our unity in Christ, our diversity of
thought and differences of opinion, and our strong affirmation of life. As Christians we
recognize that human life, through all its phases, is a mysterious and awesome gift of
God. We acknowledge that human life has intrinsic value, worth and dignity. We do
recognize, however, there also can be sound reasons for ending a pregnancy through
abortion. Abortion is always a tragic option of last resort. People who face such
difficult decisions need the church’s compassion and care, guidance and counsel. We
stand with people who face such difficult decisions.
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will give all of us the character of Jesus Christ,
that our behavior in difficult circumstances may be a witness to the life he gives.
And through all these days of transition, with all the demands of ministry in our daily
lives, let us look to God, who in Jesus Christ, is our hope, our peace, and our joy.
- Bishop-Elect/Pastor Jerry Mansholt
From the Deaconess
It’s that time of the year again—time for Vacation Bible School! But I want
you to know that VBS is not for our children.
I hope the above sentence was startling to you. Sometimes we get so complacent,
thinking of Reformation as our church, but in reality it is God’s Church. God wants
us to reach out and share his Word and his love with those who do not know him.
VBS provides a wonderful opportunity for children who do not know about Jesus to come
and hear the Good News. This Good News is that God loves them so much that he sent his
Son, Jesus the Christ, into the world so that whoever believes in him will not die, but
have eternal life. So often we take those words for granted, but many children have never
heard them. Many children have never been inside a church or heard about Jesus. You and
your children can help to spread God’s love to those who may be spiritually dying
because they do not know Jesus as their Savior.
Please spend time during the next couple weeks praying with your children about an
unchurched friend that they can invite to come with them to VBS. Then help your child to
invite their friend. Suggest that you will pick them up and bring them. Please also be
sure to take a registration form to the parent or guardian to complete. What a wonderful
gift you can give to a child this summer!
If you do not have children at home, maybe you still know of a child who does not know
Jesus. Please invite this child to be part of our VBS this summer.
This year let’s make Vacation Bible School an opportunity for our children to be
"Servants of God, Guided by the Holy Spirit, to make Christ known."
For details about this summer’s VBS adventure, see the article included inside
this Re-Focus.
- Deaconess Doreen Scheuerman
Identifying Your Gifts
God gives each of us gifts to use to glorify God and to build up the Body of Christ.
Have you been wondering how you can best serve God or how God wants to use you?
The Area 5 Education Team invites you to a workshop on Sunday, July 8, from 3:00 to
5:00, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (1101 N. River Blvd.) to help you discern your gifts.
Our own Dallas Cronk will be the presenter. If you have any questions, please contact
Deaconess Doreen.
Usher Schedule for July
- 8:30 - Alan Aagaard, Erik Larson, Randy Fornshell
- 10:00 - Don Anderson, Randy Koepsel, Mike Buxton, Craig Stallwitz, Scott Fraizer
VBS Adventure! July 22 - 26
Our Swiss Family Reformation Vacation Bible School kicks off on Sunday, July 22, at
5:30 p.m. We will continue Monday through Thursday evenings, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
VBS is for children ages 3 through 5th grade (as of this fall). Cost is $5.00 per
child. Registration forms are available in the narthex, or you can call Kimberly
Lindemann, 691-1440, or Art & Pauline Latham, 942-4885.
This year the children, stranded on an island, will learn that:
- God watches over us and protects us each day.
- God provides for us.
- God wants us to be witnesses to the Good News!
- God gives us the gift of salvation.
This exciting VBS adventure has been created by David Dibble, Victoria Morgan, and
many, many other members of Reformation.
LOGOS News
Wonderful planning is being done this summer on our LOGOS midweek ministry. We have an
exciting Parent Get-Together and Staff Training planned for September 7 and 8. Mark your
calendars! On Friday night, all parents will be invited to a meal, an informational time,
and best of all, time with our special presenter, Marilyn Comer. Marilyn’s area of
expertise is involving children in worship. She will share her thoughts about why worship
and involvement in worship is vital for our children.
On Saturday, Marilyn will do a workshop for the LOGOS staff on ways children can
participate in worship. This will be beneficial to all, not just those working with
Worship Skills. Then the children are invited to work with Marilyn for an hour to prepare
to help lead worship on Sunday morning, Sept. 9.
Besides the Co-coordinators, Mary Brittain and Angela Davis, three others have answered
God’s call to serve in this ministry with our children. Carole Lofing is one of the
Family Time Co-coordinators, Denise Peer will serve as Play Time Coordinator, and Susayn
Bachman is a Kitchen Co-coordinator. Is God calling you to serve in LOGOS?
Linda and I would like to send out a great big thanks to all of you in the congregation
that sent cards, called, or stopped by the hospital during my recent surgery. Our thanks
to Pastor Jerry, Barb Lee, and Jette Mortensen, who made several visits before and after
the surgery and were there for my spiritual support. I would especially like to thank
Jette for her stay with Linda during the surgery and continued support to get me on the
right track after surgery. Jette made me my first fat-free dessert for my new diet. Parish
nurses are a big part of Reformation's ministry, and we are very thankful for them. I am
back on the road to recovery. Thank you all very much for your prayers and support.
God bless you all!
- Gary and Linda Hoepner
* * *
I want to thank my Reformation family for the cards, telephone calls, and visits by
Pastor Jerry and Barbara Lee during my short stay in Wesley Hospital.
- Bill Herrold
Dear Sunday School Friends,
Thank you for the felt story board and story pieces. The stories you gave me are Noah
& the Ark, Jonah & the Whale, and Baby Jesus. It was so kind of you to designate
part of your Sunday School offering as a gift to me. It will be in my office for children
to enjoy.
My love to each of you, Dawn Gorges
Faith in the Home
Summer is a time of vacations and camping trips for most families. This often leads to
a more sporadic church attendance. This summer help your children know that God and
learning God’s Word is not just for the school year. Make the summer an opportunity
for your whole family to learn Bible verses together.
Choose one verse a week to focus on. Below are various activities you can use to learn
and review the verse at various times during the week.
- Each week choose a verse that starts with the letters of the alphabet. If you continue
through the whole alphabet you will come up with 26 weeks of verses—taking you way
into the fall!
- Have someone in the family circle say the first word of the verse. Continue around the
circle or table with each person saying the next word until the verse has been completed.
Each time the verse is rehearsed, start with a different family member until each person
has learned the verse.
- Write each word of the verse on a separate card. Spread the cards on the table in
correct order. Then remove three or four of the cards. See who can say the whole verse,
filling in the "mystery" words from memory.
- After learning verses for a few weeks, try this dinnertime activity to review the verses
learned! Print key words from the verses already learned on individual pieces of paper.
Put the words into a cup. Pass the cup around the dinner table so each person can take a
word. Younger children may need help reading the word, but they, too, can participate.
Have each person recite the verse that the word pertains to.
My Influence
My life shall touch a dozen lives
Before this day is done;
Leave countless marks for good or ill,
Ere sets the evening sun.
So this the wish I always wish,
The prayer I ever pray:
"Lord, may my life help other lives
It touches by the way."
Women of Reformation
CIRCLE MEETINGS
- Priscilla - No Meeting
- Ruth - No Meeting
- Dorcas -Wednesday, July 18 1:00 p.m. at the home of Shari Ryding, 160 Cardinal Lane
- Rachel - No Meeting
- Sarah - No Meeting
No Board Meeting in July.
Didn’t we have fun at the Mother-Daughter Tea in June! Thank you, Laurenbrook
Ellingson & Co. If you aren’t going to use your quilt block, you may donate it to
the Blanket Makers, and you may see it in a quilt someday.
Blanket Makers will meet July 2, 16 & 30 in Parish Hall at 9:00 a.m. Plan to join
us for Women’s Night Out on Tuesday, July 31, 6:30 p.m. We will meet at Amarillo
Grill, 3151 N. Rock Rd. Sign up on the nursery door or call Kimberly Lindemann, 691-1440
Lindsborg Trip
For several years, the Women of Reformation have gone to Lindsborg, KS, in July to
spend some time with the residents of Bethany Home and do some shopping in the unique
shops there. If you are new to Reformation or haven’t been able to attend, mark your
calendar for July 12 to join in on the fun.
We’ll meet at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot at the church. Some drivers will be
needed, and cookie donations would be appreciated for the residents. We’ll have lunch
at the Swedish Crown in Lindsborg and return to Wichita by 4:30 p.m.
The sign-up sheet is on the Women of Reformation’s bulletin board in Parish Hall.
If you have questions, please contact Board President, Kathy Drake, or Pam Adams.
Best Times of Life, Reformation’s fellowship group for those 55 and over, will
meet on Monday, July 9, at noon for our monthly potluck luncheon and program. Come and
join us in the Parish Hall for wonderful food, friendly fellowship, and an entertaining
and informative program. This month our speaker will be Hatman Jack (Jack Kellogg). He
will share with us some of his experiences in his business as well as showing us some of
his creations! Bring a covered dish to share, your own table service, and call Pauline,
942-4885, or Betty, 682-2030, with your reservation. Come join us!
A Letter from Austin . . .
We have a new bishop, but we’ve lost our pastor. These changes come with mixed
feelings. Last year during my internship, the Northern Texas Northern Louisiana Synod
elected a bishop. Kenneth Moerbe, pastor of St. Matthew, the congregation I was serving,
was a candidate for bishop. Six years earlier, the man who was then pastor at St. Matthew
was a synod candidate for bishop. Both pastors appeared on the final ballot. You can
imagine the ripples of uneasiness that went through the congregation both times. Last
year’s NTNL candidacy process was quite sophisticated. Candidates were announced up
to four months before the assembly, and each candidate had a web page. Four months of
wondering whether or not there would be a pastor provoked much anxiety at St. Matthew.
Additionally, the congregation was in the midst of the call process for an associate
pastor. At a dinner toward the end of Lent a savvy longtime member spoke up, "Why
would St. Matthew want a pastor who couldn’t be bishop!" Ah, with that statement
some of the tension eased. Certainly, no one wanted to hold Pr. Moerbe back from the
office of bishop, but many worried what would happen to them (personally) and to St.
Matthew (corporately) if he became bishop. No doubt, in the past few weeks members of
Reformation have felt some of the same anxiety as the people at St. Matthew. It seems like
there might be a lesson in faith in this story. In fact, as I write this I recall the
words of Paul to the Ephesians, as he tried to keep them focused on the mission of the
young Christian church, "I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may
grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded
in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is
the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses
knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the
power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or
imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and
ever (Ephesians 3:16-21). Meeting challenges in the church is a matter of our faith in
God, and our faith in ourselves to hear and heed God’s call to us. The people of
Ephesus, who Paul was addressing, had no pastor. They were a self-led community church.
Sometimes we become so dependent on our called leaders that we do not allow ourselves to
be filled with the fullness of God’s power, which will lead us to places we dare not
imagine. We have a new bishop. Yes, there are changes ahead at Reformation. I’ve been
around the congregation for more than 20 years, and it is a congregation that faces
challenges boldly, and comes out of them with a much stronger mission to the Church of
Christ. I cannot begin to speculate how Reformation will evolve in the next year, but I am
confident it will result in greater strength and dedication to the Kingdom of God because
of the great faith of the members of the congregation. Thanks be to God.
- Dawn Gorges
Growing in Our Faith
In English the word love is problematic. We love our dog, we love pizza, we love a
parent, a child, a spouse. God loves us and we love God. Are all of those loves equal? A
lesson in Greek can help us.
There are four words for love in the Greek language. The picture to the left shows
these loves.
- Eros is a love that benefits yourself. It is a response to emotions and an attraction to
another person.
- Philia love refers to friendship or companionship. Remember your history? Philadelphia,
the City of Brotherly Love!
- Agape love acts in response to a need in another and benefits the other. It is a love
that serves. It is an act of the will.
- Storge (Store-gay) love is reflected in family life—the love of a father for a
daughter or mother for son.
All four loves are part of our daily lives, but a goal of being a Christian is to love
all with the Agape love that God perfectly gave to us in Jesus Christ.
- From Crossways International
Name Tags
An order for member name tags will be placed later this month. If you have lost yours
or would like a new or additional one, please see the sign-up sheet at the Welcome Center.
Print your name as you would like it to appear on your name tag and leave the payment in
the envelope provided.
Pin-on tags are $3.00, and clip-on tags are $4.50.
Photographs . . . and More Photographs
Many photographs have been taken and have accumulated here at the church over the past
few years. They cover a wide variety of subjects and occasions. These pictures will be on
display on tables in the narthex or Parish Hall during July. All members of the
congregation are invited to look through these photos and take any that they would like to
have. Please look and enjoy!!
You will have the opportunity to be a blood donor at Reformation Church this month. On
Saturday, July 21, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the American Red Cross Donor Coach will be
in the Reformation parking lot. Please sign up in the narthex to choose your appointment
time. Be sure to eat regular meals and drink extra fluids before your donation and bring a
photo ID with you. Blood donors are caring, kind, giving, thoughtful, considerate,
wonderful!!
For more information, contact Donna Moyer, 733-2108.
Meal-A-Month
Have you ever known what it feels like to be really, really hungry or see your family
hungry and not be able to provide food for them?
About three years ago Reformation started the "Meal-A-Month/Yellow Bag"
Program in an effort to help Urban Ministry’s food bank feed the hungry in Wichita.
Every month we provide a Yellow Bag with a suggested list of items to put in it. Once the
bags are filled and returned to the sanctuary, they are picked up and distributed to the
hungry. The Urban Ministry and, more importantly, the hungry are dependent on these
donations.
Unfortunately, there has been a significant drop in our collections. There are a lot of
Yellow Bags left hanging in the narthex. You may fill the bag to the brim with all or some
of the items requested. Dried milk is always needed. All donations are appreciated. The
monthly menu is always listed in the church bulletin and in Parish Hall. Please place your
filled bag in the bin in the sanctuary prior to month’s end. Thank you!
