RE-FOCUS
A Publication of Reformation Lutheran Church
Volume 23 November 2003 Number 11

Friends at Reformation,

Thank you all so much for your prayers while I was in the hospital. And a special thank you to Pastor Tom & Jetta for their visits.

-Deborah Winquist

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Thank you, dear members of Reformation for all the love, support, and countless prayers during my recent hospital stay. It appears that the cancer is gone and we should look forward to a normal life without any further treatment. A special Thank You to Pastor Tom and Barb Lee for all the visits and phone calls! It’s folks like you that make the difference in times like this.

With God’s Love,

Tom, LaRona & Abby Lloyd

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Hats off to Reformation’s “garden clean-up crew”! The gardens were cleaned up and 120 bags of mulch were applied to ready the gardens for cold weather. Thanks to the following tireless workers: Sandy & Russell Muse, Susan & Keith Martin, Ed Wilks, Wil Johnson, Kurt Soschinske, Waldo & Lotus Gerards, and Jette Mortensen.

Thank you also to the generous donors of funds with which to purchase the mulch. We couldn’t have done it without your help! Throughout the growing season, our gardens around the corner sign, around the building, and at the Meditation garden have been regularly weeded by these volunteers: Donna Moyer, Carol Ott, Wil Johnson, Shirley & Jack Metz, and Lotus Gerards.

Your work is appreciated! It looks great!

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WELCA would like to express a “Heartfelt Thank You” to all our speakers who helped us have a wonderful Faith Journey for our fall retreat. Thank you Pastor Joan Swander, Pastor Sally Fahrenthold, Marlene Hallstrom, Dallas Cronk, and Michon Weingartner. You each made our day very special.

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The Annual High School Garage Sale was very successful. We took in $1810.66 during the sale and anticipate an additional $450.00 from Thrivent matching funds. Thank you to all who brought and donated items for the sale. And especially thank you to all the parents, students, and church members who volunteered their time and talents to make this a great success.

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New Members

On Sunday, October 26, the following were welcomed into the membership of Reformation Church:

• Brian & Elizabeth Anderson, Toni 315-0322, 2338 North Stoneybrook, Wichita 67226 
• Kyle Buhr & Charee Atkinson 733-6653, 830 S. Sunset Cir, Andover 67002

• Paul & Glennyce Reimers 682-7435, 2320 N. Roosevelt, Wichita 67220
• Susan Saidian 634-1472, Adam, 7610 E. Foster, Wichita 67206

Welcome!

Holiday Progressive Dinner

For many, many years, Reformation’s Progressive Dinner has been a highlight of the holiday season. This annual adult social will be held this year on Sunday, Dec. 7, so mark your calendars now and plan to enjoy fellowship, delicious food, and festive musical entertainment with your Reformation family. The first two courses are served in members’ homes on four different routes, with appetizers at 5:00 p.m. and salads at 6:00 p.m. Everyone then gathers at the church for the main course, dessert, and entertainment.

Reservations will be taken in the narthex on November 16, 23, and 30, at a cost of $12.50 per person.

There are many opportunities to help with this special event such as offering your home and/or helping prepare and serve appetizers or salads, taking reservations, or decorating tables. If you would like to be involved, please contact Ruth Koepsel in the church office.

Happenings at Bethany College

• Encounters: The Rev. Paul Hill from the Center for Youth Ministries at Wartburg Seminary will be presenting “Topics on Youth” on Nov. 5 & 6. 
• Opportunities for Prospective Students: Scholarship Day will be Nov. 15. Swede Friday will be Nov. 21.
• “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” is the theme for Jultide at Bethany. The concert will be Sunday, Dec. 7, at 4:00 p.m. in Presser Hall Auditorium. Come and hear the glorious words and music of the Advent and Christmas season. Admission is free to all.
• Alternative Gifts Market: Bethany offers its second annual event on Saturday, Dec. 6, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Lindquist Hall of Wallerstedt Library.

Health Ministry Minute...

CALLING RN’s & LPN’s

The Health Ministries Team is seeking help for our Parish Nurse Ministry. If you have any interest, please contact Jette Mortensen, 634-2067, or Barb Lee, 684-5434. They will be happy to talk with you and answer any questions.

FLU SHOTS - We regret that flu shots cannot be given at the church this year. Get a flu shot, especially if you:

• are over 65
• have a chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease, or asthma
• have an immune disorder
• are a health care worker

Flu shots are being given at Dillon’s, the County Health Department, and The Wichita Clinic. Contact your doctor for more information. Shots are free for Medicare-B recipients.

The State Parish Nurse Conference was held in Wichita on October 15 & 16 at the Spiritual Life Center. Barbara Lee and Nancy Watkins wish to express their thanks for tuition scholarships to attend. Jette Mortensen served on the planning committee for this inspiring and informative conference. An excellent staff of speakers and faculty addressed the theme “Scars That Heal”.

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Thanksgiving Eve Worship and Pie Social

Plan to enjoy dessert and fellowship following the 7:00 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve Worship on Wednesday, Nov. 26. This is a wonderful time to bring visiting family and friends. This year we are asking each family who attends to bring a pie or cookies to share. We will, in turn, share our pies with residents at the Interfaith Inn. Help will be needed before and after this fellowship, especially in delivering the pies. If you are interested, contact the church office.

Women of Reformation

CIRCLE MEETINGS

• Sarah Monday, November 17 7:00 p.m. at the home of Deanne Fortney1441 N. Rock Rd. #2103, Lesson Leader: Shirley Anderson
• Dorcas Wed., November 19 1:00 p.m. at the church. Lesson Leader: Barb Lee
• WELCA Board Meeting will be Monday, Nov. 3, 1:00 p.m. at the church.
• Blanket Makers will meet Mondays, Nov. 3 & 17, at 9:00 a.m. at the church.
• Monthly Outreach Ministry: Come visit with the residents of Cornerstone Assisted Living, south of our church on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 3:15 - 4:00 p.m. They enjoy our time with them.
• Church Women United will meet for World Community Day on Friday, Nov. 7 at 1:00 p.m. They will meet at St. Paul’s AME Methodist Church at 1756 Piatt.

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Community Ministries

LOCAL COMMUNITY

CROP Walk - Reformation walkers raised almost $1000 for the Wichita CROP Walk! Our participants included Pastor Tom, Erin, and Betsy Hallstrom, Deanne Fortney, Pastor Sally Fahrenthold, Randy and Sharon Fornshell, and Gary and Linda Hoepner. Wichita CROP Walk raised over $15,000 to fight hunger here and around the world. CROP Walk reminds us that each day hundreds of millions of the world's poor walk several miles just to obtain safe water. Many thanks to our walkers and all the sponsors for supporting this event! Special thanks to our coordinators Deanne Fortney and Randy and Sharon Fornshell and to Ken Fortney for his work as Treasurer for Wichita CROP Walk. Donations support Church World Service's foreign relief efforts as well as local hunger-fighting programs of Inter-Faith Ministries, Brotherhood Presbyterian's Food Pantry and United Methodist Urban Ministry.

Operation Holiday needs coats, scarves and mittens! - Coats may be for children or adults and these items may be new or slightly used. Look for the Operation Holiday collection box in the narthex until November 23. Operation Holiday provides winter outdoor clothing and food for families. Let's help Operation Holiday help needy families this Christmas!

Angel Tree - Watch for the Reformation Angel Tree after Thanksgiving. Each year we receive gift requests from children (and sometimes from other members of their families, too) in one or two programs serving children. Reformation members purchase gifts for the children, preferably including at least one of a child's wish list items. Information will be provided about size, if the request is for clothing, information about wrapping, tagging the gift, and the date gifts need to be brought to church.

Volunteers are also needed to help prepare the angels, be available for questions between worship services, organize the gifts for delivery to the organization we re helping, and deliver the gifts. Please contact our Angel Tree Coordinator, Marla Schmale, 686-2064, if you would like to help.

Michele Groves

Community Outreach Coordinator

634-0553

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Best Times of Life

Reformation’s fellowship group for those 55 years and over, will meet Monday, Nov. 10, at noon in the Parish Hall. The program will be presented by Vicki Hoelting of Lifeline. Come and join us for lunch, good fellowship, and learn about Lifeline. 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.

Oaks Indian Center Sunday

On Sunday, November 9, Reformation will once again welcome Pastor Don Marshall, James Morrison, Ex. Director, Pastor Sol Mockicin and several youth, from the Oaks Indian Center, Oaks, OK, who will join us in worship that morning. Jim Morrison will also lead the Adult Forum at 9:45 in the parish hall. Plan to join us that morning as we strengthen the bond of faith and fellowship with our brothers and sisters from Oaks.

Area 5 Ministry Fair

The churches of Area 5 will gather for their annual assembly on Sunday, November 16, at Gloria Dei from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. As part of the assembly, congregations are invited to display and share ways in which they “do mission”. Reformation plans to share our Lenten Devotionals, Shared Ministry, and the Prayer Path. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to the church office by Friday morning, November 7.

First Communion Class

We would like to acknowledge and congratulate those students that participated in the first Communion Class on Saturday, October 25 and received their First Communion on Sunday, October 26. Congratulations to: Katie Hobart, Sarah Jensen, Jake Norman, Hunter Borg, Dean Keith, Emily Weaver, Amy Yeskie, and Andrew Waswick.

Music for Organ & Instruments

The Wichita Chapter of American Guild of Organists will present a program of music for organ and instruments on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 4:00 p.m. at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1948 North Webb Road. Reformation organist Marlene Hallstrom will be participating. The program is free of charge and open to the public.

Training for Altar Guild and Worship Assistants

A reminder to all members of the Altar Guild as well as all Assisting Ministers and Communion Assistants of the upcoming training sessions (noted below), which will address the changes in communion procedure.

• Saturday, November 15, 9:30 a.m. - Altar Guild
• Saturday, November 22, 9:30 a.m. - Assistants

If you have not responded to your invitation, please contact Ruth Koepsel in the church office.

Youth & Children’s Choirs

Youth, Children, and Youth Handbells will participate in worship on Sunday, November 16, at 11:00 a.m. There will be no rehearsals on Wednesday. November 26, due to the Thanksgiving Eve service at 7:00 p.m.

..experience the vision of a community that respects difference and finds “common ground” within the wisdom of the faith community.

You and your household are cordially invited to:

The 11th Annual

Inter-Faith Ministries’

FESTIVAL of the FAMILY

Sunday, November 9, 2003

3:00 p.m.

Plymouth Congregational Church

Admission: Non-perishable food item

This year’s theme...

“You are what you practice -

Practice Forgiveness”

Join others in celebrating humankind’s family togetherness. Listen to the perspective of forgiveness from many faith traditions in the first hour of the festival. Then join your “family” for a time of fellowship afterwards where there will be booths with food and literature from the various faith traditions represented.

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Middle and High School Youth Activities

Middle School Bake Sale

The Middle School Youth group will be having a bake sale on Sunday, November 2, following both services. We are raising funds for Youth Quake, January 30 through February 1. Please help support the middle school youth.

Rake and Run

The annual High School Youth “Rake and Run” will be held this month. The exact date depends on the leaves and when they decide to turn and fall off the trees. Please check the weekly bulletins for date and times

Calendars

The 2004 calendars are here! The Middle School Youth will be selling them after both services each Sunday this month for $6.00. Please consider buying one for home, family, friends, Christmas gifts, or for one of our church members in a care facility. If you would like to purchase one during the week, please see Michon in the office.

Dillon’s Dollars - ZZZ

We are continuing to sell the Dillon’s Dollars as a fund raising project to help the High School Youth attend the National Youth Gathering. Held every three years, it will be held in San Antonio, Texas in 2006. Tina Alstrom and several youth will have dollars available Sundays after both services. Please stop by the Youth Activities table and support our youth.

Mark Your Calendars

The annual Christmas Program is scheduled for the 11:00 a.m. service on Sunday, December 14. If you would be interested in costume design or helping with the setup, etc. please contact Tanya Flores, 744-6747; Carole Lofing, 687-4680; or Michon Weingartner, 634-0586. We will begin preparations the first part of November.

Lunch at City Bites

During the month of November, when you eat at City Bites, tell the person running the register that you are a member of Reformation Lutheran Church. They will then mark the receipts and at the end of the month, City Bites will donate 10% of those receipts to the Middle School Youth Group. Remember to have lunch at City Bites in November and support the Middle School Youth.

Holiday Meat Sales

The Middle School Youth are sponsoring a holiday meat sale this year to raise money for various activities they wish to participate in throughout the year. One of these activities is “Youth Quake”. They are trying to raise as much of the registration fees as possible for the students and sponsors planning to attend.

We are working with Excel Corp. to sell Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys. We hope to have hams available for Christmas. The youth will be taking orders from Oct. 26 through Nov. 16. You may also call Sheryl Johnson, 733-9830, or Michon Weingartner, 634-0586, to place an order. Orders will be available for pickup at the church on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. or on Sunday, Nov. 23, before and after the 11:00 a.m. service. This is a great opportunity to support our youth by purchasing your holiday meats.

Last update August 03, 2008