RE-FOCUS
A Publication of Reformation Lutheran Church
Volume 24 May 2004 Number 5

Thank you to Russell & Sandra Muse for their generous donation of numerous books to the library and to Art Latham for a copy of his family genealogy book. The library’s book collection continues to grow in number and variety. Visit the library where you may borrow books for enjoyable hours of entertaining and inspiring reading.

“Spruce up the Gardens”

Thank you to Wil Johnson, Marsha Meili, Twila Hill, Donna & Jan Moyer, Susan & Keith Martin, Jack Metz, Shari & Paul Ryding and Waldo & Lotus Gerards who cleaned up the church gardens on April 3. Good Job!

Good News: The Drama

More than 60 different people participated in the original chancel drama series Good News! Jerusalem Tonight, which was enacted on Wednesday evenings throughout the Lenten season and on Easter morning.

The task was formidable. Each production involved lights, costumes, props, and 15 to 20 actors per show. Since a new “edition” was staged each week, everyone involved as cast or crew had an opportunity to relearn the meaning of concepts like patience, flexibility, and Christian love.

The dramas were well-attended throughout the season. For this we give thanks to God. Not because it makes the actors happy to have an audience (although it does), but because these dramas were written and performed in an effort to tell again the Good News! of Jesus. We don’t have Mel Gibson’s budget, but we do have his passion.

We also, especially, give thanks to God for all those 60 people who took up the cross to tell the age-old story of the Passion in a new way as actors, extras, and tech crew. It was not easy for any of them to schedule time to participate - yet they made sacrifices of time and talent to share the Good News! in this way.

As an expression of our gratitude to the cast and crew, a Cast Party is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, at the home of Dallas and Tom Cronk (525 St. Andrews). Everyone who helped in any way to stage these shows is invited. Spouses, children, and parents, too. The time is 5 to 8 p.m. Come-and-go or come-and-stay.

Our prayer is that all who participated in the adventure of faith - whether as participants or observers - will have realized a heightened awareness of God’s overwhelming love, a deepened faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, and a stronger commitment to him as Lord.

Wil Johnson
Dallas Cronk

New Members

On Sunday, March 28, the following were welcomed into the membership of Reformation Church:

• Judy Desmarteau, 689-8986, 339 S. Belmont, Wichita, 67218
• Jerry Joyce, 620-752-3274, 945 NW Tawakoni Rd., Benton, 67017
• Mwiga Kapya, 687-5032, 1209 Paige #203, Wichita, 67207
• Jim & Nita Koss, 631-3985, 2801 N. Rock Rd. #1305, Wichita, 67226
• Corbin Navis, 648-4473, 3650 N. Woodlawn Apt 727, Wichita, 67220
• Joel & Amy Schaefer, 684-2733, 3821 E. Sleepy Hollow, Wichita, 67208
• Angeline Spader, 744-9114, Mason, Myles, 4917 N. Farmstead Ct., Bel Aire, 67220
• Chris & Shawna Wendt, 744-9902, Addison, 6838 Perryton, Wichita, 67226

Women of Reformation

WELCA Board will meet Monday, May 3, 1:00 p.m. at the church.

Sarah Monday, May 17, 7:00 p.m. at the home of Loretta Seitz, 8306 E. Gilbert, Lesson Leader: Virginia Arnold

Dorcas Wed., May 19, 1:00 p.m. at the church, Hostess: Mark Dickerson, 2123 Bluff Ct. Lesson Leader: Sandy Muse

Blanket Makers will meet Monday, May 3, 17, 31 at 9:00 a.m. at the church.

Monthly Outreach Ministry: Come join us at Cornerstone Assisted Living, south of our church at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 11. We will have refreshments, play a game and visit with their residents. All women are invited to join in.

Mother-Daughter-Friend Salad Supper will be Tuesday, May 4, at 6:30 p.m. Bring your favorite salad to share. The drinks and dessert will be provided. A special program is planned also. There will be a sign-up sheet in the narthex to give us an estimate of how many to prepare for. All women of the church are invited to attend an evening of fellowship and fun together.

Church Women United: “May Friendship Day” will be May 7, at 1:00 p.m. at College Hill United Methodist Church, 2930 E. 1st Street.

Best Times of Life, Reformation’s fellowship group for those 55 years and over, will meet Monday, May 10, at noon in the Parish Hall. The Lewis Street Singers will provide the entertainment for the day.

They are directed by Virginia Leikvold and some of our members sing with the group. Bring a covered dish to share, your table service and call Pauline, 942-4885, or Betty, 682-2030, saying you will be there, so the hosts know how many tables to prepare. If you’re not there, we will miss you and you will miss good fellowship and entertainment.

Heartland SHARE

We began selling Heartland SHARE food packages on Sunday, April 25 and will continue through Monday, May 10. The cost of a basic SHARE food package is $17.50 and two hours of volunteer service. Additional meat only SHARE’s and specials may also be purchased. For more information please see the Heartland SHARE brochure at the Youth Activities table or contact one of the Heartland SHARE Administrative Committee members: Michon Weingartner, Tina Alstrom, Michele Goves, Jette Mortensen, Tom Pletcher and Wil Johnson.

The youth will volunteer one Saturday a month to disperse the food packages. We will also have cookies and coffee available each distribution Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Distribution will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 10:00 a.m.

Opportunity is Knocking Again!

Our “Adopt a Garden” program is up and running again and two areas are already taken! Would you, your family, or a group of friends like to take responsibility for keeping a specific area well groomed? The gardens will be sprayed regularly and this helps with the weeding. Please call Lotus Gerards, 683-8602, if you are willing to help.

Community Ministries

Local Community

Yellow Bag Food Ministries – Something New! Beginning in May, we will designate one food item each month for our Yellow Bag Food Ministry, instead of a suggested menu of a few foods. There are several basic food items that are always needed by the United Methodist Urban Ministry Food Ministry. We will kick off our change with peanut butter. Any nonperishable food items are always welcome, but imagine how many meals could be provided if each Reformation member, or even each Reformation family, gave a jar of peanut butter this month! Bring your peanut butter donations any Sunday during May.

Habitat for Humanity – Coming Very Soon! This summer local Lutheran churches will build a “Lutheran Build” home in Wichita. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian housing ministry working in partnership with low-income families to improve living conditions. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans recently awarded a grant of $20,000 toward the completion of this house. We will have an opportunity this summer to work with members of other local Lutheran congregations, providing our willing hands (whether or not we have any skill or prior experience in building) to complete this new home. We will also have an opportunity to provide financial assistance for the project. Watch for more news and sign-ups.

Global Community

Vision for Mission – This is the time of year we celebrate the ELCA Vision for Mission Annual Churchwide Offering. This offering is a way to answer affirmatively our support for all we do together as members of the ELCA. Vision for Mission supports development of new congregations, expansion of our global partnerships, supports our seminaries, colleges, and universities to equip young people for vocations in which they live out their faith. Take a look at the May issue of The Lutheran magazine for articles devoted to mission support as well as messages from the editor, David Miller, and Bishop Hanson describing the importance of our mission.

Fair Trade Coffee – Something New! Sunday morning coffee drinkers will soon have an opportunity to taste fair trade coffee in the narthex, and a few weeks later, an opportunity to purchase fair trade coffee for enjoyment at home. Purchase of fair-trade coffee is a way to help neighbors in need through Lutheran World Relief. Fairly traded coffee shares more of the bounty of the coffee crop with those who grow it. Improved incomes and trustworthy partners enable small-scale farmers to build a better future for their families and communities. And, we have an opportunity to do justice.

Michele Groves
Community Outreach Coordinator
634-0553

Being Good Stewards

Almost every room in the church (large and small, upstairs and downstairs) is in use at some time during an average week of the year. During certain times of the year, the use is almost constant - and this is wonderful! However, all of us who use the church, whether individually or as a member of a group, need to be reminded of our responsibilities as good stewards. Please keep the following reminders in mind, and help others to do the same.

1. When you come into the church, be aware of who else is there. Take a minute and “check-in” with other individuals/groups and share your plans. Agree on who will be the last to leave and who will secure the building. Please do not assume that someone else will take care of it.

2. If you are the last to leave, please check that all doors are locked and all the lights are turned off. Don’t forget to set the alarm.

3. Finally, if you have had a reason in the past to have a master key, or a key of any kind, but no longer need it, you are asked to return it to the church office. Please give it to a member of the staff; do not leave it on a desk or in a mailbox.

Your help is sincerely appreciated in the care and security of the church home that we all share.

Confirmation

Confirmation will be Sunday, May 2, during the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Eight confirmands will affirm their baptism and their faith in Jesus Christ in this important rite.

• Michelle Arnold
• Austin English
• Jordan Hoyer
• Caroline Johnson
• Alex Maycher
• Rachel Phares
• Bryce Pfeiffer
• Scott Yeskie

At 9:45 a.m. in the Parish Hall, the confirmands will present a program. All members of the congregation are invited and encouraged to be present.

Vacation Bible School

It’s that time again! Vacation Bible School is right around the corner. We have set the dates of VBS for July 11-15, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The theme for this year is Davey and Goliath’s Camp Creation. There will be a $5.00 per person charge to help with the cost of VBS. We are just starting to get things together, but we are looking for volunteers to help with games, crafts, lessons, snacks, skits and group leaders. As the time gets closer we will have a list of items we need to make this Vacation Bible School a success. Katie Johnson will be the director again this summer. If you would like to help us out, please contact Michon Weingartner at 634-0586.

Confirmation Camp...

July 18-23

Summer is just around the corner and several of the confirmation students have not turned in their registration forms. Please see Michon if you need a form. Completed forms must be submitted to Michon by May 10.

Recognition Sunday

Recognition Sunday will be May 16 at 9:45 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Breakfast snacks will be served. This is a time set aside to recognize all our graduates and our Sunday School Teachers and students.

We will have memory books out on May 9th and 16th for anyone wishing to write a note to our graduating seniors. These will be given to the graduates following the 11:00 a.m. service on May 16.

Graduates

As we enter the season for graduations, please inform the church office of these important occasions in the lives of your family members. For high school graduates, please include the high school, date, and fall plans if known. For college graduates, please include name of university, date and degree being awarded.

Talent Show

Now is the time to fill out a registration form to participate in Reformation’s spring talent show, “Make A Joyful Noise,” which will be held on Sunday evening, June 6. Children, youth, and adults are encouraged to share their musical and/or dramatic gifts. You may sing or play an instrument solo, sing or play with a group, do a dramatic reading ...everyone is welcome and encouraged to join in the fun and fellowship. Look for the yellow forms near the front doors into the narthex.

Attention Youth

High School Youth are needed to help with our first Heartland SHARE distribution on Saturday, May 22. Please stop by the Youth Activities Table and sign up. Middle School Youth will be assisting with the distribution on June 26.

Last update August 03, 2008