GOOD NEWS

Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church • www.kmlchurch.org

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

FEBRUARY 2015

From the Pastor

First Organ Concertis Feb. 22 featuring

Dr. Christopher MarksPg. 2

Lent Begins Ash Wednesday,Feb. 18

Pg. 3

Going Green Quarterly RafflePg. 4

Sponsor our Youth on the Youth Mission Trip

Pg. 6

Dear Friends,

In light of the tragic event in Paris and acts of violence in every corner of the world, including our own country and city, I can think of no better Lenten theme than “Grace and Peace.” The “Grace and Peace” devotionals are short readings and reflections from Ephesians and will be the basis of our Wednesday 12:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. Midweek Lenten services. Copies of the “Grace and Peace” devotionals are available at the Welcome Center for $2, or $5 for the big-print editions. As always, the Wednesday evening services will be preceded by dinner in the Fellowship Hall.

Ash Wednesday occurs earlier this year on Feb. 18, with Easter falling on April 5. On the first weekend in Lent (Feb. 21-22) the Rev. David deFreese, former Bishop of the Nebraska Synod and a son of Kountze, will preach that weekend and be present with us Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., for the first of four dedicatory organ concerts

and receptions. Christopher Marks, the Associate Professor of Organ at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Glenn Korff School of Music, will be our first guest organist.

On other concert weekends, the following pastors will be our guest for worship and be present later that afternoon for the concert and reception:

• Pastor Harold Stromer, June 14 • Pastor Lawrence Wick, Aug. 16 • Pastor Carlos Schneider, Oct. 18

These four afternoon concerts and receptions are excellent occasions to invite neighbors, friends and family members to Kountze. Please download a color poster from the link included in our weekly eblasts to help promote the concert series, or take a concert series poster from the Welcome Center in the Fellowship Hall.

The annual congregational meeting to approve our budget occurs Feb. 15 at 10:10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. As

of this writing, it appears as though the deficit, or what I would prefer to call our faith challenge budget, will be only half of what was approved last year due to the careful management of expenses and your generosity!

In 2014 weekly worship attendance for the year was up almost five percent with Christmas Eve attendance (1,200) the highest since 1999. After adopting a budget, we hope to have an update on the ongoing negotiations with KETV and Hearst, which may be concluded by the time of the congregational meeting.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Grace and peace! Grace and peace to you and a world sorely in need of both!

In Christ,Pastor Jeff

Annual CongregationalMeeting to approve the 2015

Church BudgetSunday, Feb. 15 at 10:10 a.m.

Fellowship Hall

UNL’s Marks performs Feb. 22 for Organ Concert SeriesGood News2

Christopher Marks, Associate Professor of Organ at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Glenn Korff School of Music, will kick off the Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church 2015 Organ Concert Series with a concert on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the concert in Fellowship Hall. Our guest preacher that weekend at all three services will be the Rev. David deFreese,

a son of the congregation and former Bishop of the Nebraska Synod, ELCA. DeFreese will also attend the concert and reception. The year-long series of four concerts, featuring noted organists from across the country, celebrates the completion of the refurbishment of our Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Opus 1090. Built by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company of Boston, Massachusetts, in 1949 and originally dedicated on Oct. 15, 1950, to commemorate the sacrifice made by Kountze’s members in the Armed Forces, the organ was fully refurbished in 2014 by Schoenstein and Co. of Benicia, California. “I enjoyed the organ,” Marks said after visiting Kountze for the first time on Jan. 15. “This is a classic organ by one of the great organ-building companies of the 20th century, Aeolian-Skinner, restored with care and craftsmanship by Schoenstein & Co. Pipe Organs. There is a wonderful spectrum of color, from very quiet to very robust, yet never overpowering the room. As with many organs of the period, it is designed to handle a wide variety of organ music, which it does very well.” Marks’ program will include pieces by both French and American organ composers. “The American pieces, in particular, will work very nicely on the organ because Aeolian-Skinner was a quintessential American organ builder,” Marks said. His program will include Gabriel Pierné’s “Entrée dans le style classique;” Guy Ropartz’s “Prélude funèbre;” Charles Marie Widor’s “Scherzo (from Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 13, No. 4);” Joseph Jongen’s “Two Pieces, Op. 53;” Marcel Dupré’s “Suite Bretonne, Op. 21;” and Pierné’s “Trois

Pièces, Op. 29.” Following a short intermission, Marks will conclude with Kurt Knecht’s “Romance and Tarantella;” Seth Bingham’s “Passacaglia in E Minor, Op. 40;” and Leo Sowerby’s “Fast and Sinister (from Symphony for Organ).” “A lot of the American music was very heavily influenced by French organ music, so it’s fun to see the influence from France to America in the early part of the 20th century,” Marks said. The Kountze concert will be one of two Aeolian-Skinner organs he is playing on this year. “I’m also playing a big Aeolian-Skinner organ this summer in St. Louis at an American Guild of Organists’ regional convention,” Marks said. “So it’s sort of two big Aeolian-Skinners in the space of a few months.” He also played on one last Fall at the Community of Christ Auditorium in Independence, Missouri. He said that organ, like Kountze’s, also has not been changed significantly. “Most of these organs are very much a representation of a particular time and place, so it’s good to see them restored to what they were intended to be, rather than changed and updated,” Marks said. For more information on Marks, visit http://go.unl.edu/marks. Visit http://www.kmlchurch.org for additional information on the Organ Concert Series.

Christopher Marks

Kountze MemorialLutheran Church

2015 Organ Concert SeriesEach concert begins at 3 p.m. A reception

will follow each concert in Fellowship Hall.

n Sunday, Feb. 22: Christopher MarksAssociate Professor of Organ at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Glenn Korff School of Music.

n Sunday, June 14: Mark BabcockThe M. Joan Farver Endowed Chair of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Central College and organist at Westminster Presbyterian in Des Moines, Iowa.

n Sunday, Aug. 16: Mark JonesOrganist at Kountze and Director of Instrumental Music for Fort Calhoun Community Schools.

n Sunday, Oct. 18: Nigel PottsOrganist of Christ & Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in New York City.

3www.kmlchurch.org

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18Family Lenten Dinners

Wednesdays, Feb. 18 (Ash Wednesday) and 25March 4, 11, 18 and 25

April 2 (Maundy Thursday)5:45-6:45 p.m.

All KMLC members, children, friends and families invitedCost: Free-will Offering

All Confirmands will help serve and should plan to arrive at 5:30 p.m.

All KMLC children, youth, friends and families are invited to join us for dinner Wednesdays during Lent. We’ll begin with a family friendly dinner and fellow-ship followed by worship at 7 p.m. Confirmands are asked to arrive at 5:30 p.m. in preparation of serving dinner. The menu each week will consist of soups, a salad, bread, desserts and a kid-friendly option and will be provided by The Social Ministry, Congregational Activities, Youth Ministries and Outreach Committees, as well as the Women of the ELCA (W-ELCA) and the Young Mothers. Please bring your family and celebrate Lent together at Kountze Memorial this year!

Our Lenten Devotional

Available in Fellowship HallPocket Sized: $2Large Print: $5

Please make checks payable to Kountze Memorial

Published by Augsburg Fortress, this full-color devotional takes you through Lent with daily readings from Ephesians. Each reading is accompanied by a photo, quote, reflection and prayer.

“The origin and establishment of private Confession lies in the fact that Christ Him-self placed His Absolution into the hands of His Christian people with the command that they should absolve one another of their sins (Ephesians 4:32). So any heart that feels its sinfulness and desires consola-tion has here a sure refuge when he hears God’s Word and makes the discovery that God through a human being looses and absolves him from his sins. . . . So we teach what a splendid, precious and comfort-ing thing Confession is.” --Martin Luther, Exhortation to Confession, 1529

“Our churches teach that private Absolution should be retained, although listing all sins is not necessary for Confession.” --Article XI, Augsburg Confession, 1530

Once again during Lent, members and friends will have the opportunity to speak privately with a Pastor immediately after

the Wednesday Eucharist (12:15 p.m.) and the Wednesday Vespers (7 p.m.). While this is always available with Pastors by appoint-ment, we are especially intentional about the practice during Lent. This is an ancient practice of the Church and embraced by the Lutheran Reformers as a way to model biblical repentance and reconciliation, and to hear again the gracious promise of grace through Christ. Immediately after the 12:15 p.m. liturgy, a Pastor will be available in the OSJ room. Immediately after the 7 p.m. liturgy, Pastors will be available in the east-side chapel off the narthex and in the OSJ room. Participants may sit across from the Pastor or kneel, according to their preference and comfort. The ELW hymnal will be available, which has a form for both prayers for heal-ing and reconciliation. In consideration for those who are speaking with Pastor, those not participating are asked to leave the nave in silence after the liturgy.

Private prayers for healing, confession/absolution

Heritage Series continues

The Wednesday evening Heritage Series continues with Pr. Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Feb. 4 and 11. (We will then break for Lent.)We will continue reading Timothy Wengert’s “A Formula for Parish Prac-tice: Using the Formula of Concord in Congregations.” All are welcome!

Creighton’s Kripke Symposium Feb. 19-20

Associate Pastor Hall and Kountze Mem-ber Dulcinea Bosenberg are presenting at Creighton University’s Kripke Sympo-sium titled “Religion and Identity” Feb. 19-20 in the Harper Center Rm. 3029. Free and open to the public. Visit our website for more information.

An Ecumenical Conversation Feb. 7 at Creighton UniversityOn Saturday, Feb. 7, Creighton Univer-sity will host an ecumenical conversa-tion on the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism. Pr. Hall, as part of his duties in the Theology Depart-ment, is helping to coordinate this event, which will feature Protestant theologians reflecting on the importance

Good News4

Going GreenIntroducing the Quarterly Going Green Raffle!The mission of the Going Green Committee is not only to help the church save energy and decrease its carbon footprint, but also to encourage sustainable practices by our members, partners and community. Beginning in 2015, we will have quarterly drawings for sustainable prizes. The prizes will vary, but all can be incorporated into your home or office. Drawings for the winning raffle ticket will be held on the last Sundays of February, May, August and November; you need not be present to win. All church members, pantry guests and clinic patients are eligible to participate. Look for the raffle collection box at the welcome center in Fellowship Hall.

FIRST QUARTER RAFFLE: Energy Efficient LightingLight Emitting Diode (LED) and Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) both use less than one-fourth of the energy consumed by incandescent lamps. If you haven’t starting using LED or CFL replacement bulbs at your home or office – now is your chance! This quarter’s raffle is a variety pack of LED and CFL bulbs valued at $40, including: • 10-pack 13W CFL-2700K (60W equivalent)

• 3-pack 13W CFL-2700K (60W equivalent) • 2-pack 10W LED-2700K (60W equivalent) • 1 5W LED-3000K (40W equivalent) Local Events “Pump” Film Screening Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. Film Streams, 1340 Mike Fahey Narrated by Jason Bateman, this documentary explores America’s dependence on oil and its effect on the economy. Reserve tickets by e-mailing rsvppump@gmail.com. Sediment & Erosion Control Seminar Feb. 5 from 7:30 a.m.-noon; Marriott Regency This free Building for the Future seminar is on sediment and erosion control. Participants will earn 3.5 CEUs for attendance. Visit secomaha.com to register. 2015 Healthy Farms Conference Feb. 6-7; Metro Community College’s Institute for Culinary Arts, Swanson Conference Center Sponsored by the Nebraska Sustainable

Agriculture Society, this year’s event will feature several guest speakers including Dr. Paul Thompson of Michigan State, Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States and the film team from Growing Cities. Visit nebsusag.org for more information. Central City Solar Farm – A New Step for Nebraska Energy Innovation Feb. 12 from 7-9 p.m.; UNO Community Engagement Center Join Nebraskans for Solar for a presentation by guest speaker Michael Shonka, Renewable Energy Expert and Owner of Solar Heat & Electric. The workshop is free and open to the public. Creation Week 2015 Save the Dates! April 19 – Property Blessing April 22 – Creation Week Speaker April 26 – Midtown Clean & Green Volunteer Day If you’re interested in getting more involved in the Going Green Program, please contact Pastor Hall. Green Links www.greenomahacoalition.org

of the renewed ecumenical vision of the Roman Catholic Church. Featured speakers are The Rev. Dr. William Rusch (ELCA, Yale University), Dr. Steven Harmon (American Baptist, Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity) and The Rev. Dr. John Cros-sin (Ecumenical Officer for the U.S.

Conference of Catholic Bishops). A panel discussion with the speakers and local Christian leaders will follow their lectures. The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Harper Center Ballroom, is free of charge and includes lunch. All are invited.

www.kmlchurch.org 5

YOUTH And FAMILY @KMLCYOUTH

FACEBOOK.COM/KMLCYOUTH

@KMLCYOUTH

Connect with us!

Children’s MinistriesSunday SchoolOur Sunday School schedule this month is as follows: Feb. 1: Healing in the Synagogue (Mark 1:21-28). Feb. 8: Healing at Simon’s House (Mark 1:29-39). Feb. 15: Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-12). Feb. 22: God’s Covenant to Noah (Genesis 9:8-17). March 1: The Faith of Abraham (Romans 4:13-25).

Children’s ChoirsDon’t forget to check out Children’s Choirs on Sunday mornings. Both the Cherub Choir (K-2nd) and Good News Singers (3rd-6th grade) meet upstairs in the Sunday School classrooms from 11-11:45 a.m.

Girls Bible Study will meet on Sunday, Feb. 8 from 7-8:30 p.m. We have decided to leave the topic undecided so we can cater each Bible study to what is on our minds that day. Please contact Katie Larson at ka-tie@kmlchurch.org or (402) 341-7761 for the location.

Girls Bible StudyFeb. 8

Confirmation Schedulefor February

Our confirmation schedule this month is as follows: Feb. 4: Sharing Your Faith Feb. 11: Last Day of Confirma-tion. Reminder: Confirmands are asked to help serve Lenten Din-ners. Confirmation Sunday will be Sunday, April 12 at the 9 a.m. service. Confirmands should meet in the Youth Center at 8:30 a.m. Pictures will be taken immediately following the ser-vice. There will be a reception during the Adult Forum at 10:10 a.m.

KMLC Scholarshipsavailable

The KMLC Scholarship Program makes scholarship funds available to any eli-gible college-bound student member. Active members of Kountze planning or continuing to attend ANY college, university or seminary may submit an application. Additional eligibility requirements are noted on the applica-tion. Applications can be picked up in the Youth Center or downloaded at www.kmlchurch.org. APPLICA-TIONS ARE DUE MARCH 1. Please note: Scholarships are not automatically renewable, and recipients must re-apply each year. Funds are sent directly to respective institutions. Submit your applications, along with supporting documentation, by mail to KMLC, Attn Scholarship Com-mittee, 2650 Farnam St., Omaha NE 68131; in person to the church office; by fax at (402) 341-4841; or e-mail to ian@kmlchurch.org. If you have any questions, contact Ian Hartfield in the church office at (402) 341-7761.

KMLC Youth Progressive Dinner returns

Calling all KMLC Middle and High School Youth (grades 6-12)—Join us for the KMLC Progressive Dinner on Sunday, March 1 from 4-8 p.m.! A traditional favorite is back by popular demand. We will meet at Kountze Memorial at 4 p.m. and travel to our host homes for a four-course meal—appetizers, salad, main course and dessert—one course at each of the four homes! This is a great way, in an intimate setting, to meet other youth and families from our congregation. Don’t miss out! Sign up in the Youth Center or e-mail ian@kmlchurch.org by Sunday, Feb. 22. Please consider being a host or driver for this fun event. Contact Ian for more information.

Those children and youth wishing to receive their First Communion will have the opportunity on Maundy Thurs-day, April 2. A first communion class for participants and their parents will be held at noon on Sunday, March 15. A good guide for determining when your children are ready to receive Communion is when they begin to ask about receiving it during the liturgy. A lunch is provided free of charge. Please register with the church office at (402) 341-7761.

First Communionclasses

Good News6

LYSO returnsJune 15-19

Save the date for the 5th Annual Lu-theran Youth Serve Omaha (LYSO), June 15-19 from 8:30 a.m.-Noon daily. Plans are underway for this year’s event, and it is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever. Simone Weber will be leading our daily music again, and more congregations have expressed an interest in joining us! Kountze Me-morial will again host this new twist on traditional VBS programs. The event focuses on service and fellowship for grades K-12 and incor-porates service, music, food, prayer, worship, crafts and fun each day! More than 175 local Lutheran children and youth from nearly a dozen congrega-tions participated in 2014, completing more than 1,200 hours of community service projects at nearly 20 service sites. Bring your family and help us worship, grow and serve in downtown Omaha!

OSJ Commissioning, Banquet March 22All current OSJ members, alums, par-ents and sponsors will gather for a very special celebration on Sunday, March 22. Acolytes will take part in a special commissioning during worship at 11 a.m. and then gather in Fellowship Hall for a free luncheon at 12:30 p.m., where we’ll recognize all graduating and current members for their years of

service, announce and install OSJ offi-cers for 2015-2016 and award the 2015 Outstanding Acolyte Award. Attire is semi-formal. A group photo will also be taken. Make your reservations with the church office at (402) 341-7761 or ian@kmlchurch.org by Sunday, March 8.

Third Sunday Youth Group

Our 3rd Sunday Youth Group will meet on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. The location will be announced soon. Other dates this spring are March 15, April 12 and May 17. For more information, contact Katie Larson at katie@kmlchurch.org or call (402) 341-7761.

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Yesterday’s Youth

Flower chart available for 2015You can help us beautify the altar at Kountze by donating altar flowers or the eternal candle each week. Donating altar flowers is a simple and meaningful way to honor a loved one who has passed away, celebrate a special anniversary or milestone, or can be given in thanksgiving for friends or family. Their names will appear in the

church bulletin on the weekend you select. The Altar Flower and Eternal Candle sign-up is located on the wall in the Bride’s (or Hospitality) Room located just to the west of the Sanctuary. Altar Flowers are provided by Janousek Florist and cost $20 a bouquet. The Eternal Candle is $7.50. Dates are now available for 2015!

Sign up today to beautify our altar with flowers or honor a loved one with the Eternal Candle.

Church CouncilThe Church Council met on Jan. 20, 2015. The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed and accepted. Staff reports were reviewed and accepted. The Council reviewed the 2015 Budget in detail. The 2015 Budget was unanimously approved with receipts totaling $922,300 and expenses totaling $981,248. Additional adjustments could be made prior to the February Council meeting and Congregational Meeting on Feb. 15. It was noted that the proposed $58,948 deficit was far less than last year’s approved $97,239 deficit, and the 2015 Budget includes six months of salary for a potential full-time associate pastor or other staff member as needs are determined. Thus, we are reducing the deficit and doing more ministry with this budget. The Council approved a motion at the recommendation of the Finance Committee to move our insurance coverage to the Barney Group/Brotherhood Mutual, which has offered us more coverage at a reduced rate than our previous insurance provider. The Council discussed the results of a survey that Pastor Alvestad distributed to Council Members,

February Adult Forum Schedule

1

8

15

22

What is: Lutheran Private Confession?

A Conversation with Prof. William Rusch

Congregational Meeting on the 2015 Budget

Welcome for the Rev. David deFreese

Join us each Sunday at 10:10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall for the Adult Forum.

Dr. William Ruschto guest preach Feb. 8

The Rev. William Rusch, Ph.D., will be our guest preacher on Sunday, Feb. 8. Dr. Rusch is the former executive director of the ELCA Office for Ecumenical Affairs and former Director of the Commission on Faith and Order of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. He is now an adjunct professor of Lutheran studies at Yale Divin-ity School. He is a graduate of our seminary in Philadelphia and Oxford University and the author of numerous articles and books, including “Ecu-menical Reception: It’s Challenge and Opportunity” and “The Pontificate of Benedict XVI: Its Premises and Prom-ises.”

Rusch

Please join us on Feb. 3 at noon for lunch and an interesting program featuring Susan Medina from Lutheran Family Services. She will tell us all about the Christmas collection for families in need that Kountze partici-pated in. Make your reservations in the church office at (402) 341-7761.

Endowment Board Members and other church leaders.The results showed generally favorable views of our worship and missional clarity. The Council discussed some of the issues raised by the comments provided. The Council discussed the hymn boards in the sanctuary. The hymn boards have not been in use regularly for approximately eight years (prior to the sanctuary renovation) due to difficulty of reaching the board above the organ and liability issues. The Council will have the Property Committee study options for whether hymn numbers can be safely put up each week in the current location or if other alternatives need to be considered. Due to the smaller worshipping community on Saturday evening, hymns may occasionally be different than on Sunday morning. Pastor Alvestad updated the Council on the negotiations with KETV. The meeting adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer.

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Good News8

Urban MinistriesPastoral ActsBaptismsHazel May Bartley Dec. 13, 2014James Andrew Nord Dec. 21, 2014Hailee Kjeldgaard Dec. 27, 2014Oliver Mayson Cyr Dec. 28, 2014Brinley Addison Groves Jan. 10, 2015

FuneralsClarence (LeRoy) Bartling Nov. 28, 2014Howard James Ziegler Dec. 15, 2014Muriel Frances Springer Jan. 13, 2015Anna Marie McDonald Jan. 16, 2015

WeddingsRachel Ruwe/ Benjamin Brich Jan. 3, 2015Theresa Nash/ Nicholas Molinelli Jan. 17, 2015

Stewardship SpotlightStewards of God’s Grace Why is stewardship important? God calls us to be stewards when God claims us as God’s children as we receive God’s grace through baptism. What does it mean to be a steward of God’s grace? We are simply to live out our callings as God’s children by sharing God’s grace with the world. In baptism, we are asked to: • “Live among God’s faithful people; • Hear the good news of God in Christ through word and deed; • Serve all people following the example of Jesus; and • Strive for justice and peace in all the earth.” Galatians 3:26 – “...for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.” Consider how “belonging to God” shapes the way

you live your life. What do you do differently because you belong to God? Perhaps you donate to the food pantry, teach Sunday school sharing the story of God’s love, participate in a Bible study or W-ELCA circle, prepare food for funerals or serve as an usher. All of these and many more opportunities abound for you to serve out your calling as a child of God. You are encouraged to spend some time in February—this month of “love”—to reflect on the love God has shown for you in sacrificing Jesus so that through faith in Him you have eternal life. We cannot measure the depth of the love God has for us. When we accept the gift God gives us—the gift of God’s grace, we cannot fully fathom God’s love. We are thankful for what God has done for us. Perhaps each of us should give a love gift to God this Valentine’s Day—

an additional hour of volunteer service; a special donation for the food pantry, free clinic or other church ministry; a donation for the organ refurbishment; or a gift to the general fund or any other of the great many ways in which we as God’s people share God’s grace with the world. Thanks be to God! Coming in March: Stewards of the Story.

Black smoke poured out of the burning apartment building, staining the clear blue Monday sky. Nine residents of the former Metz Mansion lost everything that morning and were now homeless. Judy, one of the residents, made a phone call to Vicki Meyer, a Methodist psychologist who works from Kountze. Judy was in need of someone to talk to. Next, Judy called Kountze again and left a tearful voice message on my phone. Judy is also a patient at the Healing Gift Free Clinic and wanted to know if her medications—lost in the fire—could be refilled. I called Judy back and arranged an appointment for that week’s clinic. When Judy arrived Thursday, Sandi, the intake nurse, noticed how distraught she was and asked Pastor Hall what we could do for her. While Pastor was consoling

Judy, I gathered up some groceries from the pantry, got her a clothing voucher from St. Vincent de Paul and a gift card for Baker’s. Judy left the clinic that evening knowing that Kountze was a place that cared about her and a place she could get help. As Pastor Zellmer once told me, “Kountze is blessed to be Christ to the poor.” We were truly blessed that day. Helping the poor and homeless of our community is a collaborative effort at Kountze, as this story shows. Judy was helped by a psychologist, a nurse, a doctor, a pastor, a pantry director and the good people of Kountze and others who provide for these Urban Outreach ministries. We—all of us—are blessed to be Christ to the poor. Thank you all for being part of this ministry!

--Gordon Boe

Visit the Kountze website:

www.kmlchurch.org

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Faith in ActionEach month, we will highlight a faith formation ministry happening in the church. Send us your stories of Faith In Action, and we’ll share them with the congregation. Contact Ian Hartfield at (402) 341-7761 or e-mail ian@kmlchurch.org with your stories.

SENIOR MATTIE O’KANE SPEAKING AT CONFIRMATION

During January, our Confirmation stu-dents learned about the sacrament of Baptism. Senior Mattie O’Kane spoke to the group about her baptism in 8th grade. She shared why it was important to her and what the experience was like as a young person. Everyone enjoyed hearing from Mattie!

MEN’S LUNCH

A large group was on hand for the January Men’s Lunch to hear Dr. Steve Hinrichs speak. Dr. Hinrichs, Kountze member and Professor and Chair in the Department of Pathology and Micro-biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and the Director of the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), and Director of the University of Nebraska Center for Biosecurity, spoke to the group about his work with Ebola and other viruses. We thank Dr. Hinrichs for a most in-triguing presentation!

n Lutheran Women of Omaha will meet at Kountze on Feb.10 at noon. The program will be Stacy Lerner’s experiences in Vietnam. The project will be the Kountze Food Pantry. Please make your reservations with Carole Woodworth at (402) 339-2056 by Feb. 7.

n The Kountze Women served 15 funeral lunches in 2014.

n Monetary gifts given by the Women in 2014 included: the Lutheran Campus Ministry at Midland University, Lutheran Family Services, Camp Carol Joy Holling, school and personal care kits for Lutheran World Relief, Youth Emergency Services, Omaha Street School and the Kountze Organ Fund.

n The next Board meeting will be Feb. 12 at 9:30 a.m.

n If any Kountze woman is interested in joining the Kountze Women of the ELCA, please contact Carole Woodworth at (402) 339-2056 for further information.

Women’s News

Book Club meets Feb. 8The Book Club will meet on Sunday, Feb. 8, when we discuss “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown. Out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s

eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man’s personal quest.

Thank you for making it possible for me to share in your worship at 9 o’clock Sunday mornings. I find great comfort and inspiration in the pastoral messages, the traditional liturgy and the music. As a visually and physically challenged 85+ year old, I am unable to attend the northwest Omaha Lutheran church to which I belong. Thanks again, and I commend you for your community outreach programs.Sincerely yours,Nadyne Millar

Thank you!

Good News10

Happy Birthday!Feb. 1

Nien Bol, Rachel Bruch, Barbara Carpenter, Carol Hansen, Virginia Jensen, Christina Kilker, Jean Laughlin

Feb. 2Kathleen Bailey, Carolyn Ireland

Feb. 3Pamela Brown, Drue Councill, Tammy McLeod, Virginia Pretz, Mary Reichert, Kristina Thacker, Lou Ann Weber

Feb. 4Xiaohui Gash, Ralph Morse, April Litwin, Hunter Seay, Elise Siffring

Feb. 5Patsy Allen, Francine Camenzind, Janet Campbell, Gloria Houston, Karen Jacobson, Kevin Larkowski, Gene Luchsinger

Feb. 6Susan Coles, Bethany Gibson, Maggie Hiatt, Robert Powell, Nicholas Robinson

Feb. 7Cindy Coufal, Rhonda Pounds

Feb. 8Rachel Schramm

Feb. 9Victoria Ellwein, Gloria Erickson, Shawna Forsberg, Bruce Nissen, Deborah Strobel

Feb. 10Carly Cameron, Karen Gilliam, Jennifer Seay, Kelly Lyles

Feb. 11Teresa Heil, Mark Miller, Daphne Reed, Jerry Van Bibber

Feb. 12Candace Alvestad, Amber Lawrence

Feb. 13Theresa Gruber, Jennifer Jones, Kristina Placzek

Feb. 14Janis Fochek, Kara Griger, Michele Kapfer, Steven Olson, Eric Southard, Amy Stevens, Debbie Virchow

Feb. 15Laura Anderson, Paul Bruch, Lisa Chmura, Josephine Colton, Jonathan Wendt

Feb. 16Tonia Kinish, Chad Picha

Feb. 17Jessica Kaasch, JoAnn Kayton, Riley Pleas

Feb. 18Marvin Andersen, Walter Furjanic, Justin Jenik, Robert M. Johnson, Rachel Storer

Feb. 19 John Lynch, Susan Puls

Feb. 20Lesley Akers, Catherine Hagge, Michaela Humphrey

Feb. 21Kristin Boe, Holly Carter, Karla James, Galyn Langer, Phylleshia Larsen, David Muller

Feb. 22Danielle Barrett, Ahern Brown, Kathy Englert, Jacob Madison, Mary Ann Owen, Megan Thom

Feb. 23Stephen Sheftz, Elizabeth Winborn

Feb. 24Mark Adams, John Bogue, Rick Dart, Ben Dey, Kathryn Harvey, James Hopkins

Feb. 25Nancy Anderson, Andrew Nord, Paul Revord, Jennifer Toebben

Feb. 26Hannah Earnhardt, Amy Fredrickson, Suzanne Kotula, Nancy Martens, Patricia Scarpino

Feb. 27Hayley Clatterbuck, Jacque Johnson, Paul Lindahl

Feb. 28Erica Weigel, Kyle Frye

Feb. 29Rashelle Garrett

If you ordered a directory, please visit the welcome center in Fellowship Hall to pay for and/or pick up your directory. Additional copies can also be purchased. Did you know? Hundreds of KMLC members gathered for a congregational photo on the front steps of the church on Easter Sunday 2014. Pick up your directory to see if you can spot yourself or your family. Would you like copies of your photo? If you or your family would like a digital copy of your directory photo, please e-mail ian@kmlchurch.org or call the church office at (402) 341-7761 to request a photo. Photos can be e-mailed or put on a disk (for a small donation) to be picked up.

Directories available

Men’s Luncheon Feb. 19The KMLC Men’s Luncheon will be held on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 11:30 a.m. All men of KMLC are invited. The cost of the lunch is $10. Our speaker will be announced. Watch the Bulletin for more information. Please R.S.V.P. to the church office or to Ian Hartfield by Wednesday, Feb. 18. Call (402) 341-7761 or e-mail ian@kmlchurch.org.

Volunteers will again be provid-ing blood pressure checks to parishio-

ners on the 1st Saturday and 3rd Sunday of every month. Blood pressure checks will be provided free of charge in the Bride’s

(Hospitality) Room just to the west of the Sanctuary on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 4:30-5 p.m. and in Fellowship Lounge on Sunday, Feb. 15 from 10-11 a.m.

Blood pressure checks offered on Feb. 7, 15

Global Mission

www.kmlchurch.org 11

Alternative GiftsThe 10th Anniversary of Alternative Gifts at Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church was a success with our biggest year yet—$19,289 raised. This year our total included a gift from a very generous anonymous donor of $10,000. The people of Kountze are amazingly generous, and we thank you for your support. Think of all the lives that have been changed or saved as people shared the true gift of the Christmas season: God’s love. “It’s humbling and a blessing to be part of all of this,” said Jonna Holland, who coordinates the Alternative Gifts program for Global Missions. Since 2004, Kountze members have purchased 4,578 Alternative Gifts totaling $110,338. Here is a breakdown of this year’s purchased gifts: Kountze Pantry $2,680 Kountze Healing Gift Free Clinic $2,195 ELCA $5,284 USA for UNHCR $6,275 Benson Area Refugee Task Force $1,100 Table Grace $850 Bead for Life $350 Mosaic International $555 TOTAL $19,289

Refugee Resettlement

By Nancy Meyer

A lot of the congregation knows a refugee from Burma, La Day, because she came to an Adult Forum with me a couple of years ago. La Day’s daughter, Ta Oo, and her family arrived in Omaha from the refugee camp on Dec. 4. La Day is moving in with her daughter and family. I wanted to share this story with you because it’s so wonderful to have family together again after six years of being separated. One thing that is desperately needed is help buying the groceries and the Dollar Store supplies for every family that comes in. There are 230-250 families and apartment set ups that happen in Omaha through Lutheran Family Services every year. The caseworkers are overloaded with all that they have to do to get an apartment ready. If you would be interested in helping with those two things, it would only be a commitment of one afternoon or evening. The contact person at LFS is: Christine Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator-Community Services, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc., 1941 S 42nd St Ste 402, Omaha NE 68105. Phone: (402) 346-6100. E-mail: cdougherty@lfsneb.org.

Would you like todeliver altar flowers?

After the 11 a.m. service on Sundays, donated altar flowers are taken to hospitalized members, nursing homes or care centers. We need two people each week to make deliveries. The time commitment is only three Sundays a YEAR. Per Pastor Alvestad in the January Good News, “Our lives would be so much richer if we invested 10 percent of our time in worshiping, growing and serving in Christ’s name.” Please consider using the hours and minutes God has given you to help this ministry continue. Contact Carol Storer at (402) 561-0562 or the church office at (402) 341-7761.

St. Olaf Handbell Ensemble to perform in Omaha in March

The St. Olaf Handbell Ensemble Concert will be held on Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas Lutheran Community Life Center, 17007 Q St. Under the direction of Jill Mahr, the St. Olaf College Handbell Ensemble (Northfield, Minnesota) is one of the country’s premiere handbell ensembles. The concert is free. However, a free-will donation will be taken during the performance. A donation of $15 per person is suggested. Come and hear this incredible ensemble as they tour the Midwest. Everyone is welcome!

As temperatures soon plummet, Lutheran Family Services’ Refugee Services have an urgent need for new or gently used blankets for incoming refugees, many of whom are unaccustomed to or unprepared for our Nebraska climate. The Social Ministry Committee will be receiving donations through the end of February in the box behind the welcome center in the Fellowship Hall.

Blanket collection

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDOmaha NE 68131

Permit 238

Kountze MemorialLutheran ChurchGood News • February 20152650 Farnam St.Omaha, NE 68131-3616

Phone: (402) 341-7761Fax: (402) 341-4841E-mail: info@kmlchurch.orgWeb: www.kmlchurch.org Jeffery Alvestad, Senior PastorH. Ashley Hall, Associate Pastor Inba Inbarasu, Visitation Pastor

Worship Schedule:Saturday at 5 p.m.

Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m. Wednesday Communion at 12:15 p.m.

The 9 a.m. Sunday service is televised live on Cox Cable Ch. 126 in Omaha.

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Eucharistic Ministers are needed to serve Holy Com-munion to those in our congregation who are home-bound. Each Eucharistic Min-ister typically visits one or two people and Communion is sent out on the first Sunday of each month, though can be given anytime during the month as your schedule allows. Often, these con-nections grow into meaningful friend-ships and help connect our homebound to their church even when they can’t attend. If you are interested in participat-ing in this very special ministry, please contact Ian Hartfield, Director of Con-gregational Life, in the church office at (402) 341-7761 or ian@kmlchurch.org. He would love to speak with you about joining this wonderful ministry!

Would you like to serve communion to our

homebound members?

Reading Luther Challenge

Martin Luther (1533) by Lucas Cranach the Elder.

In preparation for the 500th Anniver-sary of the Reformation (2017) the LWF-sponsored Ecumenical Institute of Strasbourg is hosting a “Reading Luther Challenge” series. Each month, a significant text from the vast writings of Martin Lu-ther will be selected. Members are invited to participate; the texts will also be discussed at an Adult Forum (and perhaps the Heritage Series). This international project was spon-sored, in part, by a generous grant from the KMLC Endowment Fund. The first text to be discussed is Luther’s 95 Theses (1517)—the text that sparked the whole Reformation! Here is a link to text: http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/web/ninetyfive.html. The Theses may seem rather tame (and at times, dense!) but

Luther touched on issues there on the nature of repen-tance, use of canon law, and criti-cisms of papal author-ity that were inflammatory in their day. Pastor Hall will walk us through the text. As we do, know that we’ll be joining Lutherans throughout Nebraska, the USA, and the LWF in returning to the sources of our Lutheran tradition. Please join us!

Congregational Life CornerBy Ian Hartfield, Director of Congregational Life

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them

bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Never underestimate the role parents and family play in the shaping and forming of faith in a child and, by extension, each of us. Lately, I’ve become more aware of this fact as my daughters grow up, and grow up in the church. Just the other day, Alexa, 6, was asking me about Baptism and why we need to be washed in God’s water. Ella, 2, can’t fall asleep without her Bible and without blessing my forehead with the sign of the cross while saying, “You are a blessed child of God.” Amazing! I can’t thank my mom enough for always bringing my brother and I to church nearly every week growing up and teaching us about worship, the sacraments and the church. It changed my life. While we can all agree that the church remains an important and essential part in faith formation, to think that it can provide a strong foundation for a life-long faith in an hour or two on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings, is shortsighted. It starts at home. It grows in the family. And it is reinforced and made real in the church. While our busy schedules make it tough, we each need to be aware of these critical moments so they are not missed. In a 2012 interview, Kenda Creasy Dean, professor of youth ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary and an ordained Methodist pastor, astutely points out that if children don’t see their parents playing the game (the game of faith formation), chances are slim to none they’ll remain active participants themselves. In all too many cases, she says, once these young people become young adults, they’ll walk away from the church of their youth—and very

possibly from Christianity as well. Indeed, faith is caught, not taught. Lutheran David W. Anderson, an expert in the discipline of faith formation, writes that “Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through personal, trusted relationships, often in our homes” and “The church is a living partnership between the ministry of the congregation and the ministry of the home.” Indeed, if we want Christian children and youth, we need faithful Christian adults and parents. I would add, if we want faithful young adults, they need to experience what it means to be the church, together. They need to be connected and aware of the church’s mission and ministry in their homes, neighborhoods and around the world. Never was this more evident than when I recently spent a weekend with some of our middle school youth at the Nebraska Synod Middle School Gathering. What a wonderful gathering of the church, full of inspiring worship, deep growth and meaningful service. Our theme was “I am the Vine.” Indeed, Jesus is our vine, and we are the branches. Our children and youth are the leaves that grow from those branches. If we are to continue growing, our leaves, our children, must be nurtured in faith—at home AND at church. As a parent or grandparent, you might

ask, “How can I make this happen?” The answer is easy: Young people need to be welcomed regularly into worship. Children need to be included in the life of the church. Caring conversations, devotions, prayer, service, and rituals and traditions need to be modeled and shared at home AND in the church. You can also talk to a pastor, church staff member or congregational leader to find out about the many, many opportunities for families to grow in faith at Kountze. In closing, all children and youth must be seen not only as the FUTURE church, but more importantly, the PRESENT church. In this New Year, can you find an extra hour each week to be the vine for a young person, either in your family or in our congregation? Can you spend an afternoon sharing a faith story with them? Can you invite them to join you for worship? Maybe you can encourage families to usher together. Or you can start an online Bible study. Or take time to end each day with a blessing. Jesus remains the vine through the ages. Years ago, someone was the branch for us. Together, and with God’s help, we can be the branches for others today. We can grow faith. And we can bear much fruit. What a blessing that would be for our church, for God’s church!

Plan to Serve Sunday Feb. 15Join us for Plan to Serve Sunday on Feb. 15. Can you commit an hour and a half each week to serve our church and community in 2015? Plan to Serve cards will be available during worship on Feb. 14-15. In conjunction with our Congregational Meeting being held the same day, we are inviting members and households of Kountze to discern how they might use their gifts for mission and ministry in 2015. Maybe it is teaching Sunday school. Maybe you would enjoy leading an online Bible study. Or maybe you would like to minister to our homebound by sharing communion once

a month. Each of us, no matter our age or skill, has gifts to share with others. Please consider how you, your children and your family might serve those in our church and community by filling out a card during worship and returning them in the offering plate or to the church office. We also want to respond to your spiritual needs and will be asking you to note them on your card, too. Please join us in 2015 to “Share Christ Generously” with others by sharing a portion of your time for mission and ministry at Kountze Memorial.