RE-FOCUS
A Publication of Reformation Lutheran Church
Volume 23 August 2003 Number 8

Virginia and I would like to thank the members of Reformation for all the kindnesses shown to me during my recent illness. A special thanks to “God’s Angels,” Barb and Jette, and to my small friends, Sarah and Eric from LOGOS.

God bless you all!

- Howard Leikvold

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Thanks to all for your prayers and cards. And to Barb Lee and Jette Mortensen for your visits. Also, thanks for your concern following my recent surgery. God bless you all.

- Harvey Sanders

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The Ott Family thanks all of you who supported us in the Relay for Life. A picture of our team is in the narthex. We walked a total of 120 miles.

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Telecare Calls

In late August, each local member family will receive a phone call from a Telecare caller. The purpose of the call will be to receive comments and questions about ministries at Reformation and to forward prayer requests you may have. This will be a caring call, and comments and questions will be given to the ministry staff. Please welcome your Telecare caller!

Stephen Ministry Training to be Offered in September

Have you considered becoming a Stephen Minister? Stephen Ministry is one-on-one Christian caregiving by trained Stephen Ministers who visit their care receiver weekly for about an hour for the purpose of giving loving support. This is a confidential ministry.

Training for a new Stephen Ministry class will be offered beginning in September and will be in cooperation with Gloria Dei. Please call one of the following Stephen Leaders if you would like to learn more about this ministry. Leaders are: Rich McDiffett, Lotus Gerards, Marj Bender, Jerry Whetstone, and Pastor Tom.

Meditation Event Planned

In September, Reformation will have a special event for meditation, reflection, and prayer. This event is meant to assist participants to deepen and strengthen their personal prayer life. We encourage each of you to reserve time to attend this event, which will be sponsored by R.L.C. Stephen Ministers and will be held September 21 & 22. More later.

Weeders Needed

The grounds at Reformation are kept tidy by many crews of reliable “mowers, trimmers, and edgers,” and we thank each of them!

The gardens are kept weeded by volunteers also. However . . . the harvest is great, but the “weeders” are few! Our gardens at the sign, around the building, and in the meditation garden could use a few more “pullers”! Please call Lotus, 683-8602, if you could help . . . or if you’re walking by and see a weed — pull it up!

Thank you!

Part-Time Job Opportunity

Resurrection Lutheran Church, Haysville, is in need of an office secretary, 20 hours per week. If you are interested, please contact Sonya or Pastor Tim Leaf at the church, 522-1091.

Women of Reformation

• WELCA Board Meeting will be Monday, August 4, at 1:00 p.m., at the church.
• Synod Meeting will be August 1-3 in Atchison, KS
• Blanket Makers will meet Mondays, August 4 & 18 at 9:00 a.m., at the church.
• Monthly Outreach Ministry: Please join us and the residents of Cornerstone Assisted Living, south of our church, on August 12, 3:15 to 4:00 p.m., for fellowship and refreshments.
• Please join us for Women’s Night Out. We will be meeting at Ground Round, 21st & Webb Rd., on Tuesday, August 26, at 6:30 p.m. A sign-up sheet will be posted on the nursery door, or call Marcie Fosdick, 733-0340, for reservations.
• Oaks Indian Center: Our WELCA Board would like us to help them by donating shampoo, bath soap, boys & girls socks, etc.; and cleaning supplies of laundry soap, Comet, Pine-sol, etc. There is a complete list on the WELCA bulletin board in Parish Hall. There will be a basket in the narthex to put them in until the end of August. Your help is needed and very appreciated.

Future Dates to Put on Your Calendar:

• September 16 - Trip to Lindsborg. We’ll have lunch, visit some shops, and then visit the residents of Bethany Home. We’ll car-pool from church at 10:00 a.m.  All women are invited.
• October 11 - WELCA Retreat at our church, 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. We hope all women of our church will attend and enjoy this time together. More news to come.

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Best Time of Life

BTOL will not meet in August. We’ll look forward to seeing all of you over 55 on Monday, September 8, for a covered dish lunch and program.

News from Our High School Youth

On Sunday, August 17, our youth and sponsors who attended the National Youth Gathering in Atlanta will be sharing their experiences during both worship services. You won’t want to miss it!

Mark your calendars for October 3-4, as plans are underway for the 7th Annual Reformation Garage Sale. Start saving items that could be donated and watch for information about “drop-off” dates and times. The youth would also welcome the help of anyone who can work the sale on Friday, Oct. 3.

Fall Activities for Children and Youth

Please mark your calendars and watch for more details concerning the following upcoming activities:

Acolyte Training - Wednesday, August 27, at 7:00 p.m. All 7th and 8th graders who have not been trained are expected to attend. Any younger children who are interested in serving are welcome to attend.

Confirmation Orientation - Wednesday, September 3 (time to be announced). All 7th and 8th grade youth in confirmation and their parents are invited to attend. Regular confirmation classes will begin Wednesday, September 10.

Third Grade Bibles - The workshop for third graders and parents will be held on Saturday, September 13, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Bibles will be presented during worship on Sunday, September 14.

Youth Choir and First Communion Class - Plans are underway; watch for updates.

LOGOS - At this time, we do not have the leadership to continue the LOGOS program this fall. We are hopeful that it can resume in the near future.

From Our Graduate Seminarian . . .

Dear Reformation Friends,

As I take a brief rest from my multi-moves from Chicago to Ann Arbor to Buffalo (and back to Ann Arbor again to officially begin my Internship in a couple of weeks), I am reminded of the determinative momentum of the Holy Spirit in the mission of God and God's people. There is a plan, a journey for us all – and the minute we think our task is completed, the Lord is already percolating the beginnings of our next endeavor.

I often remind people to be careful what they pray for. I extend this caution because we are often the agents by which God answers that very prayer! Here is a case in point. Soon after the death of my husband in 1996, I remember thinking how important it was for the church to be a beacon of hope in time of crisis. I prayed that God would make himself real to all who were hurting, especially those who, like myself, asked the fervent “why” questions amid personal tragedy. Today I am preaching, teaching and extending pastoral care to those seeking this very hope. It is an awesome responsibility and one that I do not take lightly. So as I move forward to fulfill this mission, it is my wish that the members of Reformation keep me uplifted in prayer, both personally and corporately, as I endeavor to bring the hope of the Gospel to those entrusted to me in the coming year.

As always, I thank you for the support and care you have faithfully extended to me throughout the whole of my candidacy process.

Sincerely,
Laura Ulicky-Weerts

Former Reformation Pastor To Retire

A letter has been received from Pastor Ron Stanley with the news that he plans to retire on August 31. Pastor Stanley served Reformation from 1970 to 1975 and has been serving Faith Lutheran Church in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, since that time. If you would like to send him a card, his address is:

305 First Ave. E, Box 245, Balsam Lake, WI 54810

Pastor Stanley’s letter is posted in the narthex.

Quinn Gorges To Serve As Missionary to Cameroon

Quinn Gorges, daughter of Pastor Dawn Gorges and former member of Reformation, has been called by the ELCA Division for Global Missions as a missionary to Cameroon (Africa). She will be teaching English as a second language in a seminary in Meiganga, Cameroon. The first language of Cameroon is French. Quinn graduated from the University of Kansas in May with degrees in anthropology and French. She is presently in missionary training in Chicago and will leave for Cameroon by the end of August. She will be there two years.

Pastor Dawn will commission daughter Quinn as a missionary at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Edmond, OK, during the worship service on August 3. Her campus pastor, Rev. Shawn Norris, will be preaching. Quinn was baptized and confirmed at Reformation and still considers it home. Please remember her in your prayers.

Annual Pit BBQ

Reformation’s Annual Pit BBQ has been scheduled for Sunday evening, October 5. Watch the bulletin for details about how you can be involved in the planning, fun, and fellowship. For those who are new to the congregation, we dig a pit on the church grounds and roast pork and turkey. It’s a great Reformation tradition – plan to come!

Coffee Fellowship Help Wanted

A coordinator is needed for our Sunday Coffee Fellowship, which will begin again on September 7. The primary responsibility involves calling members and creating a schedule that designates who will Prepare, Clean Up, or Pick Up Donuts. A list of names to call will be provided as well as information sheets / reminders that are mailed out each week. If you are interested in working on this ministry that provides a welcoming fellowship for members and visitors alike, please contact Ruth Koepsel in the church office.

Community Ministries

Local Community

Yellow Bag Food Ministry – Thank you for Feeding the Hungry in July with your gifts of food! In August we will, as we have in past years, help families with school-age children by providing back-to-school items listed in the “Menu of the Month” below. Each year it is a struggle for many families, especially those with several children, to buy the necessary items to begin the school year. Let’s help needy children start the school year right with needed supplies. As usual, food donations are very welcome, too.

Operation School Bell – Nice clothing is such an important thing for children, and sometimes a lack of acceptable clothing makes a child try to avoid going to school. The Assistance League of Wichita helps needy children by providing new clothing through Operation School Bell. Over 2000 children were provided clothing through this program last year. This year a Reformation Benevolence gift of $250 to Operation School Bell will help make several children feel good about their appearance and make them better students. This gift is greatly appreciated.

Planning Ahead

CROP Walk – Do you have CROP Walk on your calendar for Sunday, October 12? Look for more information next month so you can be a walker or supporter. Help fight hunger here in Wichita and around the world!

Michele Groves
Community Outreach Coordinator
634-0553

Church Athletics

Softball Team Has Winning Season

Reformation’s coed softball team ended their season on July 7 with a record of 9 wins and 5 losses. Team members want to thank everyone who attended and cheered them on. A special “Thank You” to Wil Johnson, one of their most faithful fans, as well as Sheryl and Shelby Johnson, who helped look after the children of some players.

This year’s team consisted of the following members and friends:

Tara & Brian Lichtlin and their nephew Frank; Troy Brown; Renee Sims; Kate and Nathan Johnson; Emily Johnson; Mark Hansen; Marcie & Butch Fosdick; Larry Ehrlich; Amanda Applegate; Carol Weaver; Lynette Wetta and her friends, Cheryl & Tom Stasiak and Sharon & Shawn Glore. Special thanks to David Day, our team coordinator.

Time To Think About Volleyball

Anyone interested in playing volleyball should look for the sign-up sheet posted in the narthex. The season begins on September 8, and there are options for men’s, women’s, or coed teams. If you have questions, contact David Day at 799-2125.

Kid’s Kingdom Preschool / Daycare

Located in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 925 N. Waco, Kid’s Kingdom Preschool / Daycare will have an Open House on Sunday, August 17,

2:00 to 5:00 p.m. You are invited to tour the facilities, meet the staff, and enjoy refreshments with your child(ren). A flyer with information about the school’s philosophy and education program is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex. For more information, please contact Dixie Learned, Director, at 263-2433. 

Last update August 03, 2008