Dear Reformation Friends,
Many thanks to all of you for the wonderful “send off” from
Reformation. The farewell coffee was so special. I was truly touched by
the many expressions of appreciation for my work at Reformation and the
good wishes as I begin my retirement. Thank you for all the lovely cards,
e-mail, phone calls, and the very special gifts, which I will treasure.
The beautiful framed “Morning Prayer” of Martin Luther and the cross
engraved with the Lord’s Prayer will remind me daily of my Lutheran
friends and my years at Reformation. I treasure the memories and am
grateful for the opportunities I had to get to know many of you
individually. Hopefully, our paths will continue to cross!
Though I am now happily retired and anticipating new beginnings and
challenges, leaving was not easy. You are a special congregation, and my
work in the office was personally rewarding in many ways. I always felt
good about working for you and with you. Thank you all so very much for
your kindness to me through the years, and for your thoughtfulness at the
time of my departure. May God bless you abundantly through the years ahead
in your faithful witness to God’s love.
With love & gratitude,
Becky
Thank you! The Stephen Ministers of Reformation thank you
for sending us to Norman, Oklahoma on September 6 to the Stephen Ministry
Festival. Twelve of us attended and enjoyed hearing Dr. Kenneth Haugk,
founder of Stephen Ministry, who presented inspirational and helpful
topics to be used in our one-on-one care giving ministry. It was a
delightful day!
Telecare Ministry
Telecare ministry is nearly complete as of this writing. To date, 252
calls have been attempted with 212 calls completed. 35 prayer requests
were forwarded and comments and suggestions given to the Ministry Staff.
Thank you for participating and a big thank you to our callers.
The Parish Record
July - September
BAPTISM
- Braden Michael Stuewe, September 21
TRANSFERS
- Chris & Juanita Freed, Jacob & Sydney, to Christ Lutheran,
Wichita
- Peter & Lisa Kretsch, Zackary & Lauren, to Woodlawn United
Methodist
New Members
On Sunday, Aug.17, the following were welcomed into the membership of
Reformation Church:
- Michon Weingartner, 265-5741, 824 Perry, Wichita, 67203
Middle and High School Youth Activities
2003-2004
October
- 3rd & 4th Garage Sale (*H/M)
- 11th Lost & Found Concert in Topeka (H/M) contact Chris Deines
(683-3935) $5.00 ticket chg.
- Halloween Party at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Date to be
determined - Middle School to help)
November
- Rake and Run – High school (Date to be determined)
December
- 7th Progressive Dinner – High School
- 11th 5:45 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. - Christmas Caroling on the Trolley
(H/M)
January 2004
- 10th Community breakfast at St. Paul’s - High School
- 25th Annual Meeting – High School to serve meal
- 30th - Feb. 1st Youth Quake, Wichita - Middle School
February
- 14th Valentines Sweetheart Dinner – Middle School
- Laser Tag/Bowling – High School (Date to be determined)
March
- 5th Lock-In - High School
April
- 11th Easter Sunday – Middle School – Breakfast High School –
Gift Bags
May
- 16th Senior Breakfast – (grades 9-11)
* (H/M) means both High school and Middle school groups together.
First Communion Class
First Communion Class will be offered on Saturday, October 25,
from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We provide the class, not only for those
children who want to begin receiving Holy Communion, but also to help
parents and children, with the input of Pastor Tom, discern readiness for
the Sacrament. In accordance with the policy on Holy Communion adopted by
this congregation in the summer of 2001, the class is open to children of
all ages and their parents, as well as to any older youth or adult who
does not currently receive Communion. Please call the church office by
October 20 to let us know how many from your family will be attending.
First Holy Communion will be received on Sunday, October 26.
Praise the Lord! Over 330 youth heard the Word and shared the love of
Christ this summer at Camp Tomah Shinga! Because of your prayerful and
financial support, Tomah Shinga continues to share the Good News of Christ
with others.
And to celebrate we are going to make some noise - the joyful noise of
quarters of support. We will be supporting our Lutheran Outdoor Ministries
this October through the Camp Tomah Shinga’s 5th annual Quarter
Challenge. Look for the “Tomah Shinga Jar” inside the sanctuary
doors and please help make the jar “jingle”! Thank you for your
support.
Community Ministries
Local community
CROP Walk - Sunday October 12 at 2:00 p.m. at Sedgwick
County Park. Help fight hunger and bring hope to people here in
Wichita and around the world. CROP is a program of Church World Service
and local leadership is provided by Inter-Faith Ministries. Our
congregation CROP leaders are Deanne Fortney, 636-2578 and Randy &
Sharon Fornshell, 733-2870. Ken Fortney will be serving as the treasurer
for the 2003 Wichita CROP Walk. Our thanks to all of these volunteers.
Please pick up a sign-up sheet at the display in the narthex or look
for a CROP walker to help support. Invite a friend and enjoy a walk in the
park. You may walk 1½, 3 or 6 miles. 75% of the funds raised through CROP
Walk are used to provide relief services in refugee camps and destitute
areas in more than 80 countries. The remaining 25% are distributed to
local non-profit agencies that fight hunger. Sedgwick County Park is
located at 6501 W 21st N (on your left after you pass the Sedgwick County
Zoo).
Faith in Action - Rich Hanley, Program Director for Faith in
Action, spoke to BTOL at the September meeting. Faith in Action matches
volunteers to elderly or disabled persons needing some kind of assistance
to remain in their home. Large cards describing the kinds of Faith in
Action assistance and how to volunteer or request volunteer assistance
have been placed on the information stand in the narthex. Services
provided by volunteers include furnishing a ride to a doctor or grocery
store, picking up a prescription, light house cleaning, being a friendly
visitor, etc.
Paint the Town - The annual September Paint the Town event
did not happen this year due to a lack of funds to support this Mennonite
Housing program. Volunteers are still needed by Mennonite Housing to do
needed repairs for elderly or disabled individuals unable to do those
tasks themselves or unable to afford to hire someone to do them. If you
would like to help organize a small group to be available to provide this
help to someone through Mennonite Housing, please contact Michele Groves,
634-0553.
Michele Groves
Community Outreach Coordinator
634-0553
Our “Spruce Up The Gardens” for fall is scheduled for
Saturday, October 18, at 1:00 p.m. With enough willing helpers, it should
only take about 2 hours. Please bring equipment to help weed, trim small
shrubs, spread mulch and sweep sidewalks when finished. Be sure and wear
garden gloves and if you have a wheel barrow, bring it too!
Due to budget constraints, we need contributions toward the purchase of
mulch. We will need 80-100 bags to do it thoroughly. Please speak with
Waldo or Lotus, 683-8602, to make your contribution. See you on October
18! Refreshments will be served.
Directory Update
An updated membership directory will be published this fall. If you
have changed your address, phone number, or e-mail address, please provide
the church office with this information.
Reformation’s Annual Holiday Progressive Dinner will be
held on Sunday, Dec. 7.
Watch for information coming soon about opportunities to help
with this year’s festivities.
Women of Reformation
CIRCLE MEETINGS
- Dorcas, Wed., October 15,
1:00 p.m. at the
home of Shari Ryding, 160 Cardinal Lane, Lesson Leader: Nora Steg
Sarah, Mon., October 20, 7:00 p.m. at the home of Virginia
Leikvold, 8417 Willowbrook, Lesson Leader: Clarice Peters
WELCA Board Meeting will be Monday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m.
at the church.
Blanket Makers will meet Mondays, Oct. 6 & 20, at
9:00 a.m. at the church.
Monthly Outreach Ministry: Please join us at Cornerstone
Assisted Living, south of our church, on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 3:15 to
4:00 p.m. for Christian fellowship with their residents.
Church Women United will meet Friday, Oct. 3, at 1:00
p.m., at Inter-Faith Ministries, 829 N. Market.
Fall Cluster Meeting: Oct. 18, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Our
Savior Lutheran Church, 503 Louis Dr., Mulvane. Guest speaker will be
Phyllis Burdge, an ELCA deaconess. There will be a $1.00 registration fee
and lunch will be provided for $4.00. Please RSVP by Oct. 15, to Lily Hurd,
777-1687.
Join us for Women’s Night Out. We will be meeting at
Savute’s Italian Ristorante, 3303 N. Broadway, on Tuesday, October
28, at 6:30p.m.
The Prayer Path, a meditative and prayerful walk held
September 21 & 22, was well received and over 100 participants “walked
the walk”. Many thanks to those who attended, those who set up
Meditation places and to our Stephens Ministers, the sponsors of the walk.
Best Times of Life
Reformation’s fellowship group for those 55 years and over,
will meet Monday, October 13, at noon in the Parish Hall.
The program will be presented by Mel Kahn, a professor of Political
Science at Wichita State University. He will be speaking about the little
known facts about Presidents. Come and join us for lunch, good fellowship,
and “Little Known Facts”. Bring a covered dish to share, your table
service, and call Pauline (942-2885) or Betty (682-2030), saying you will
be there, so the hosts will know how many tables to prepare.
