First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

Service at 7:00 pm

Wednesday February 18th, 2015

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1

Souper Bowl of Caring is Coming Up!

On Sunday, February 1st, First English will again participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring. This event, which coincides with Super Bowl Sunday and started in South Carolina in 1990, collects donations to help fight hunger and poverty locally. The idea of the Souper Bowl of Caring is to not lose sight of all the needy people in the community with so much attention on the Super Bowl. Early on with the Souper Bowl of Caring, the suggested donation was a dollar to buy someone a bowl of soup but any size contribution is welcome.

Last year, a total of $701.66 was collected at the conclusion of the First English Sunday services. A Thrivent matching grant was awarded. The money was divided between FeedMore (www.feedmore.org), which is the umbrella organization for the Central Virginia Food Bank, Meals on Wheels and the Community Kitchen, and Liberation Family Services (www.lfsrichmond.com) which “…helps homeless veterans sustain, attain and maintain the skills and resources they need to lead them toward change and a beter life”.

First English has been very generous in years past; please remember this project on February 1st.

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

Soul Knitters has a new name!

Soul Stitchers will meet on February 8th

following the 10:30 service (noon-2 pm). All who are interested in needle-crafts (crocheting, knitting, sewing) are welcome to attend. Bring your most recent project to share or come and learn a new hobby. We’ll be meeting in the Wagner Room.

Our next project for the church will involve making items for sale with proceeds to be used for a social ministry project. Items for sale will include “green grocery or market bags,” scarves, shawls, lap blankets, and other small items appropriate for the Easter season. Look for a display in the Wagner Room at the end of March. Next December we’ll sponsor an “undecorate the tree” sale of ornaments and other items that will have designated donation amounts to sponsor some of our social ministry projects. If you have unused yarn or other materials you wish to donate, there are baskets in the hallway near the parlor and nursery.

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

Youth Group Lock-In!

Who? YOUth*, of course, and your friends! We encourage you to bring your buds. The more the merrier! (Grades 6-12*) Mark your calendars now!

What? Every year we host a Youth Group Lock-In here at church. There will be fun games, junk food (and healthy food… to humor our parents ), “church appropriate” films such as “God’s Not Dead” and “Heaven is for Real” etc., Krispy Kreme donuts at sunrise, and so much more! This is a great opportunity to bond with one another in (and outside) of our youth group!

When? Friday February 13th at 8 pm to Saturday February 14th at 8 am! Mark your calendars now!

Where? Here at First English Lutheran Church (we will meet in the Undercroft)

Why? Because it’s F.U.N. and we like to have FUN!

How? How will we make this happen? By the wonderful adults who will volunteer to chaperone! If you are one of those adults who would be interested in chaperoning, please contact Caroline Heltzel at Caroline.Heltzel@gmail.com or the Church Office. We thank you in advance!

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

The next meeting of the Women of the ELCA will be Friday, February 13th. Our guest for the evening will be Linwood Lunde, our Director of Music. Please join us for the evening, beginning with dinner at 6:00 pm.

Operation “Stuff a Stocking” for the “Merry Christmas from the Heart” program was a Success!

Thanks be to God, the FELC Social Ministry Committee, and The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) for providing this wonderful opportunity to serve those in need. We were able to provide stockings filled with items such as diaper wipes, hooded towels, and pacifiers to at least 35 low income families and expecting mothers. We are grateful for the generosity and wonderful response from the FELC community.

The pre-school Sunday School classroom is in need of new wall-to-wall carpeting. The walls are being painted and the carpeting is old and stained. If you would like to make a donation toward replacing the carpeting, mark your donation for Sunday School /pre-school carpeting.

Thank you,The Education Committee

The Finance Committee and the Church Council are formulating the church budget for 2015. As they struggle with this process, it is important to recognize some issues. First, few pledge cards have been submitted. This makes it very difficult to project income. Second, in the past two years, sixteen members have died. This number accounts for a loss of $30,000 in income per year. Lastly, we have operated at a deficit for the past number of years. It is important that we turn around this trend.

We ask that you prayerfully consider your offering to the church. Please indicate your pledge on a pledge card and put it in the offering plate or mail it to the church office. If you need a card, please pick one up at the church or call the office.

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

Since September, the Sunday School children and youth along with some of the adults at FELC have collected $168 in change for ELCA Global Barnyard. We will be giving the money to Global Barnyard to buy animals for developing countries.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of our congregation for the very generous Christmas gift which I received at the 10:30 pm service on Christmas Eve. It is a joy to serve at First English and I appreciate the love and support shown by all of you throughout the past year.

Pastor John Schweitzer

CARITAS (Congregations Around Richmond Involved To Assure Shelter):

First English will assist St. John’s United Church of Christ (at St. John’s) with the intake component of the CARITAS program from February 16th - April 14th, on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Volunteers are needed from 5:30 (5:15 if you can) until about 7:00.

The job is simple: provide warm hospitality and set out and serve drinks (coffee, hot chocolate, lemonade) and snacks (provided) to individuals in need of shelter.

CARITAS is a shelter program serving homeless in the Richmond area. Churches and other organizations in the greater Richmond area open their doors to provide shelter to homeless individuals. Since many of the overnight shelters are in the suburban areas, guests gather at

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

downtown churches (intake centers) and are bussed from there to the overnight location.

St. John’s United Church of Christ is across the circle from First English and is one of our fellow Stuart Circle Parish congregations.

Contact Sheryl Finucane 1-448-3754 (h), 833-5434 (c) or mailto:sdgfin@gmail.com for additional information.

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

It is time to update the church directory. Please notify the church office of any change in your contact information, i.e., address, phone numbers, etc. There has also been a request to add email addresses to the directory. Please notify the office of your email address. If you do not wish to have your email address listed in the directory, please indicate that. In that case, your email address will only be used by the church office.

The Stricker family has moved to San Antonio, Texas. Their new address is 18227 Crystal Ridge Drive, San Antonio, TX 78259. Kurt is enjoying his new job. Sydney and Michael are adjusting to their new schools. Suzanne is learning to navigate around the city and managing the location process. We wish them well. They miss their FELC family and will soon be looking for a new church home there. They would enjoy hearing from us.

As indicated at the annual congregational meeting, we have a budget shortfall in our budget for 2015. After much work by the Finance Committee, Treasurer and the Church Council, the amount of the shortfall was reduced to approximately $38,000.00. While we have operated with a deficit at the beginning of the year before, we do need to eliminate this. Therefore it is time to issue the following challenge:

• Eliminate one fast food stop or stop

at the coffee shop per week - $5.00 per week = $260.00/year. 100 members doing this X 52 weeks = $26,000.00.

• If you buy lunch at work five days

per week, take your lunch just one day per week. 50 people purchasing lunch at $7.00 X 52 weeks per year = $18,000.00.

• The Today Show proposed the

following for individuals: Each week put an amount of money that equals the week of the year in savings. The example is $1.00 in week one, $2.00 in week two, $3.00 in week three. If you do this, in one year you will save $1,400.00.

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

The suggestions above show some ways that we as individuals can help in this process. By working together, we can meet this challenge.

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

Wine Tasting Challenge

Friday, February 6th at 7pm in Wagner Hall.

Entry tickets are $10 and can be purchased from Joyce Smith. Bring a friend!

James River Park WalkSaturday, March 21st, 10 am

Meet in the JRP headquarters parking lot, Riverside Drive and Hillcrest Road.We will walk along the south side of the river towards the City and cross to Belle Isle, circle Belle Isle then return to the parking lot.The walk is approximately 3 1/2 - 4 miles and is rated "easy".Join us for lunch following the walk at O'tooles Restaurant & Pub (4800 Forest Hill Ave).

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

At the Annual Meeting of the congregation held on Sunday, January 11, 2015 after the 10:30 service, the following persons were elected to three-year terms on the Congregation Council:Mr. Kevin Murphy, Mrs. Joyce Smith, and Mr. Joseph Thisted, all elected to a second term, and Mr. Josh Eckhardt, elected to a first three-year term.

In addition, the proposed budget for 2015 in the amount of $ 348,645 was approved. Treasurer Kevin Murphy pointed out that while 2014 revenues were better than projected and expenses less (the total shortfall for the year was $ 12,022.43 over against a projected deficit of $ 33,260.64), the congregation faces many challenges in meeting its financial obligations for 2015. Substantial cuts have been made in the amount we forward to the Virginia Synod/ELCA ($ 15,000 over against $ 25,000 budgeted in 2014), and the donations made to various Social Ministry causes in Richmond directly out of offering revenue have been eliminated. In spite of these savings, a deficit of $ 37,875 for 2015 is projected.

President Betty Cochran reported on the planning meetings held in the fall of 2014, which went very well, and noted that a recommended plan, based on what was discussed at the meetings, has been presented to Council.

The general tone of the meeting was positive and we adjourned resolved to face the challenges of the future with the determination to make 2015 a great year at FELC.

Council Officers

At its monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 the Congregation Council elected the following officers for 2015: President, Mrs. Betty Cochran; Vice President, Mrs. Carol McCue, Secretary, Miss Caroline Heltzel, and Treasurer, Mr. Kevin Murphy.

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

REPORT OF THE PASTOR2014

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”Revelation 21:5

“Always Being Made New.” Recognize that phrase? It is part of the theme the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has adopted for its five-year fundraising effort, formally launched on February 1, 2014. Although we at First English have not yet decided what form our own participation in this campaign will take (as always, we’ll talk a lot about finances at this meeting, and I don’t want to overburden our agenda with a pitch for the national church while we struggle to produce a deficit-free budget here), nevertheless I like the theme. It reminds us of the words: “See, I am making all things new” which we read in the next to last chapter of the last book of the Bible.

I believe that during 2014 year we at First English have turned a corner and begun to set our sights on the future rather than the past. Not that we want to ignore our rich and venerable history. That would be hard to do, given our 1911 building and all of the mighty acts of God which have happened here since 1911. But as I said in my “New Year’s sermon” last Sunday, January 4, (quoting Søren Kierkegaard): “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” We paid tribute to our past with our hundredth anniversary observance in 2011. Now it’s time to decide what tasks God is calling us to do during the next hundred years. When I was a freshman in high school the senior class had as their theme: “our todays and yesterdays are the blocks on which we build.” We can’t change the yesterdays, and for the most part they’ve been very good, so far as our congregation is concerned. But the todays are ours to form: with God’s help we can make all things new!

At last year’s annual meeting on January 19, 2014, among the concerns addressed were: growing our membership, adult Sunday school, increasing our giving, and church attendance. I suspect the same issues were being discussed in hundreds if not thousands of churches in this country holding their yearly meeting on the same day as ours! But specific to our own situation, it must be said that we have not taken in nearly as many new members as was the case in the period 2001 – 2007, that only a small number of our adults are involved in a Christian education experience during the Sunday School hour, that our income continues to lag far beyond our expenses, and that our average Sunday attendance has dropped from an average in the 150s in 2004-2008 to around 100 in the past two years, (2013 and 2014). In addition, at the end of the meeting the Council was also directed, (in addition to addressing the four concerns just mentioned) to study the possibility of creating a staff position for faith development.

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

Under the very capable leadership of Council President Betty Cochran our Congregation Council has been grappling with these issues throughout the year. While no magic solutions have been found to date, much healthy and frank dialogue has taken place, culminating in a series of four meetings in the fall during which the future of First English was discussed and planned. The four topics were: 1: Overview of process, who we are now, urban church picture, changing face of Richmond, etc.; 2: Youth, young adults, families; 3: Ministry - internal and external, worship and music, social ministry, congregational life; 4: Planning - where do we go from here. A report on how we intend to build on what came out of these meetings can be found elsewhere in this booklet.

The possibility of creating a new staff position for faith formation was explored by an ad hoc committee set up for that purpose which developed a job description and proposal which was voted on at a special congregation status meeting held on Sunday, June 22, 2014. During the meeting the need to host a retreat which will include long range planning was expressed. The congregation elected to table the recommendation of the ad hoc committee regarding a director of youth and family ministries (the staff position for faith formation) until after the retreat (mentioned above) was held. (The retreat took the form of the four planning meetings held in the fall mentioned in the previous paragraph.)

So we are indeed seeing “things being made new!” Not always as expected, but I am sure that God is at work among us as we discuss the future of First English Lutheran Church, the form our ministry here will take in the years to come.

Another very positive development during 2014 was that we hired Mr. Linwood Lunde as our organist and music director. Since his arrival in October of 2013, he has injected new life and enthusiasm into our worship. His position was finally made official in May of 2014. Welcome aboard, Lin!

On Pentecost Sunday, June 8, we celebrated the Rite of Confirmation. Nine young people affirmed their baptism and became full adult members of First English. And what a group it is! Together with the five who were confirmed in 2013, they have contributed greatly to the life of our congregation, making all things new in their own way. Soon after their confirmation five of the class of 2014, along with two from the previous year, attended Kairos, a week-long event for high school age youth held at Roanoke College by our Virginia Synod of the ELCA.

And now to the statistics: in 2014 I performed one wedding, two baptisms, and seven funerals (two of non-members). In addition, one member who died was buried elsewhere (therefore, six members departed this life in 2014). We received three new adult members. Seven adult and one child member transferred their membership to other congregations. Bequests in the amounts of $ 10,000 from the estate of the late Shirley Nelson and of $ 50,000 from the estate of the late Jack and Shirley Harris were received, both to the Foundation.

In conclusion, I would like to challenge all of our members to come to church regularly, support First English with their time, talents and last but not least, treasures (i.e. offerings), and to invite others to church. It is amazing for me to hear again and again from the pastor of a rapidly-growing church that most of the new members came not due to his or her efforts but because of the evangelism (i.e. talking about their faith), enthusiasm, and invitations to come to church of its existing members.

Always being made new! May this be our motto in 2015 and beyond, as we seek to witness to the love of Jesus in word and deed and strive to live faithfully in our little corner of God’s world known as RVA.

In Christ,

John Schweitzer

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

Let’s Celebrate February with the Following Members of our Congregation

Happy Birthday

to all celebrating a birthday in February!

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

Happy Anniversaryto all couples celebrating an

anniversary in February!

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

Monday February 165:30 pm: CARITAS

Tuesday February 175:30 pm: CARITAS7:00 pm: Congregational Council Meeting

Wednesday February 18 – Ash Wednesday5:30 pm: Handbell Choir Rehearsal6:00 pm: Dinner6:30 pm: Choir Rehearsal7:00 pm: Ash Wednesday Service with Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes

Sunday February 22 – 1st Sunday of Lent8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion9:15 am: Sunday School9:30 am: Choir Rehearsal

10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion11:30 am: Hospitality – Jennifer & Fred Gentry12:00 pm: Worship & Music Committee Meeting

Monday February 235:30 pm: CARITAS

Tuesday February 245:30 pm: CARITAS

Wed. Feb. 25 – Wednesdays Together5:30 pm: Handbell Choir Rehearsal6:00 pm: Wednesdays Together Dinner & Program6:45 pm: Choir Rehearsal

Sunday Feb. 1 – 4th Sunday after EpiphanySouper Bowl of Caring

8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion9:15 am: Sunday School9:30 am: Choir Rehearsal

10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion11:30 am: Hospitality – Congregational Life

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

Wed. February 4 – Wednesdays Together5:30 pm: Handbell Choir Rehearsal6:00 pm: Wednesdays Together Dinner & Program6:45 pm: Choir Rehearsal

Friday February 67:00 pm: Wine Tasting Challenge

Sunday Feb. 8 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion9:15 am: Sunday School9:30 am: Choir Rehearsal

10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion11:30 am: Hospitality – 12:00 pm: Soul Stitchers12:00 pm: Congregational Life Committee Meeting

Wed. February 11 – Wednesdays Together5:30 pm: Handbell Choir Rehearsal6:00 pm: Wednesdays Together Dinner & Program6:45 pm: Choir Rehearsal

Friday February 136:00 pm: Women of the ELCA8:00 pm: Youth Group Lock-In

Sun. Feb. 15 – Transfiguration of Our Lord8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion9:15 am: Sunday School9:30 am: Choir Rehearsal

10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion11:30 am: Hospitality – Website Launch Party12:00 pm: Outreach Committee Meeting

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2015–