First News is a monthly publication of:
First Lutheran Church
1200 Pinecrest Court, Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 622-3022 [email protected]
www.first4others.org
Pastor Mark Haas…………………....(530) 344-9410
Church Office……………………….…...…622-3022
Editor……………………….……..….Jean Haldeman
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage Paid
Placerville, CA 95667
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Change Service Requested
First News
F i r s t Lu the r an Chu rch LCMS Ju ly 2013
Mon th ly News le t te r
VOL . 105 NO. 7
F i rs t Luther an Chur ch LCMS
1200 Pinecr es t Cou r t
P l ace rv i l l e , CA 95667
Phone 530 622- 3022
ema i l : f i r s t l u t h e r a n@s b c g l ob a l . n e t
We’re on the web!
first4others.org
A Rabbit-Tale By
Pastor Mark Haas
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Dear friends in Christ!
For most of my adult life prior to serving here in Placerville, late July-early August was the typi-
cal time frame for vacation. During the years I was a principal/teacher that particular window of
time would be the slowest summer several days on the calendar. Conducting inventories and or-
dering of curriculum for the next school year would be the best done by that time for monies
from tuitions from the previous term would stop and orders for the new term would be payable
30 days after shipping to allow for the new tuitions that were anticipated. Later on our children’s
school calendar’s dictated my pastoral calendar so we could get away when the kids were free.
And still later, Dee’s work schedule as a preschool director/teacher would take precedence
whether or not the kids were still in school or not! If the children were wanting to go with mom
or dad was less demanding than mom and dad just needed to get away…on vacation from work
and/or family or both!
Up until 1987, predominately our vacations were camping. At first Dee and I would spend a lot
of time in either Yosemite or Calaveras Big Trees or both. Before tent camping, we would sleep
in our Dodge Van. Then, we’d have as large a tent as possible to handle the kids as well as our-
selves, and eventually, we “camped” in very rustic cabins members of our church in Hayward
owned in Avery, from which we could hike into Calaveras Big Trees though forestry fire trails.
Two of those vacations stand out in particular….
The first was before we adopted Melanie. For 18 months we had a foster child: Melissa. She was
three when we were placed with her. Vacation time arrived and it was time to camp at CBT. So,
off we went to stay in the North Grove in our tent. After dinner one evening we could hear a lot
of commotion across the meadow. Campers were shouting and then you would hear garbage cans
clanking. There was a bear in the meadow! We quickly put away what we could and whisked
Missy into the tent with us. Slowly but surely our anxieties rose as the sounds came closer to our
campsite. In the moonlight flooding our camp we could see the shadow of a bear that came by
the tent brushing into one corner. We could hear his breathing and growling as he scooted away
from us and on to the next site. I guess we had cleaned up well as he didn’t disturb our site as he
lumbered along. We talked about that incident for a long time, and the kids heard grand embel-
lishments from Dee who was able to make the bear come alive with each retelling and admoni-
tion to beware of the bears!
The second incident involved Melanie before we adopted Gregory. She was three. Dee and I had
hiked all of the trails in CBT except one: the Lava Bluffs Trail. So we decided that again, one
morning while camped in the North Grove, we would drive to the trailhead and hike to see the
Lava Bluffs. It was not so much a tough hike and it was up and down and along hillsides of loose
terrain consisting of red soil and cedar bark and needles. And, did I mention that Melanie was in
a child carrier, a backpack, on my back! One of her favorite things was to pull my hair and get a
reaction, as we were carrying her over the landscape. Needless to say, the hike took longer than
expected and was not a pleasant one, especially as we ran out of drinking water.
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Once we finally returned to the car, Dee proclaimed, “Once is enough for the Lava Bluffs Trail!”
Melanie repeated the comment, not just once, but continuously, and every time we visit CBT yet,
she repeats it, and even when we’re not close to CBT, but a circumstance arises that we only
want to experience once, the family reply from everyone, those who were there or only heard
about it, is simply, “Once is enough for the Lava Bluffs Trail!” As you may gather, we had some
interesting times, and these are just the beginning of a book Dee was always going to write as our
legacy!
I’m certain that each of you have many vacation stories you could tell, happy or sad, that you
could relive with gusto as you recount all of the details. Our memories of exciting times keep us
longing for the next episode, next new experience, and next vacation to arrive. When I’m feeling
especially “blue” I’ll go to the website of the family from whom I share rents each fall the past
eight years, that shows photographs of the beach house in Irish Beach, Mendocino County, and
daydream for a while what is has been like to stay and relax and vacation there! I can imagine the
waves of the ocean and breezes and walking the private beach and neighborhoods dreaming
about living there in retirement! I can wish!
Jesus repeatedly took his disciples on short vacations to get them away from the crowds to relax
and replenish, to pray, prepare and teach them what they would need to know when he left their
visible sight. Jesus would leave the disciples at times to go a distance away to pray and be in
contact with his Father. I’m certain God wants us to enjoy his creation and what better way than
to get away to a different location to walk in nature or just view another one of his environments
that He created for us to enjoy and take into our memories. It’s not so much the length of the va-
cation, though the longer the better for regeneration, but the quality of the time away that really
affects us allows us to revitalize our bodies and minds.
Another thing of which I’m certain: God is with me and you wherever we go to vacation! He is
never away from us and continues encouraging us to do what is right, honorable and true when
we are away. And then He is with us before we leave and after we return so we’re never out of
His loving care! The saying which says, “Don’t forget Jesus on your vacation,” is a good one to
remember so that you are reminded to have your devotions and possibly attend worship in a dif-
ferent locale on your vacation. However, Jesus is always with us. He’s there even if we don’t re-
member…remembering that He is present is just the frosting on the delicious cake of faith that
He has provided to us.
So vacation hearty and enjoy yourself if you get way…and if possible, plan ahead to be ready to
continue the devotional life you already have going at home! Have a great time vacationing, and,
if you’re like me and celebrate your time away later in the year, remember the fall months are
beautiful and not nearly as warm or hot as summers in Placerville! And if you’re vacationing this
month into next month, don’t be jealous when I go away in late September for two weeks, be-
cause we’ll both need the vacation time!
Yours in Christ’s service,
Pastor Mark Haas, Soli Deo Gloria
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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun 3p Stephen Ministers
2 3 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun 9a String Band Practice 6p BHG practice
4 5 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun 6:15p Templo El Mesias
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7 7:45a BHG Practice 8a Adult Bible Study 9aContemporary Worship 9:15a Adult Bible Study 10:30aTraditional Worship w/Holy Communion 2:15p Templo 6:30p A.A FSR
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8:15a Fit ‘n Fun 9a VBS 3p Stephen Ministers 6p Property Board
9 9a VBS
10 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun 9a VBS 9a String Band Practice 6p BHG practice
11 9a VBS 7p AlAnon
12 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun 9a VBS 9:30a Quilters 6:15p Templo El Mesias
13
14 7:45a BHG Practice 8a Adult Bible Study 9aContemporary Worship w/Holy Communion 9:15a Adult Bible Study 10:30aTraditional Worship 2:15p Templo
15 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun
16 17 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun 9a String Band Practice
18 3:30p Upper Room 6p BHG Practice 7p AlAnon
19 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun 6:15p Templo El Mesias
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21 7:45a BHG Practice 8a Adult Bible Study 9aContemporary Worship 9:15a Adult Bible Study 10:30aTraditional Worship w/Holy Communion 2:15p Templo 6:30p A.A FSR
22 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun 3p Stephen Ministers
23 6:30p Elders
24 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun 9a String Band Practice
25 6p BHG Practice 7p AlAnon
26 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun 9:30a Quilters 6:15p Templo El Mesias
27
28 8a BHG Practice 8a Adult Bible Study 9aContemporary Worship w/Holy Communion 9:15a Adult Bible Study 10:30aTraditional Worship 2:15p Templo 6:30p A.A FSR
29 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun
30 31 8:15a Fit ‘n Fun 9a String Band Practice
2013
July 7 July 14 July 21 July 28
9:00
Sound 10:30
Lionel Rogers
Stephen Cass
Lionel Rogers
Stephen Cass
Lionel Rogers
Bill Swift
Lionel Rogers
Stephen Cass
9:00
Elders 10:30
Larry Adloff
Larry Adloff
John Brady
Larry Adloff
Larry Adloff
Bob Rios
9:00
Acolytes 10:30
9:00
Ushers
10:30
Larry & Vicki Hermone
Bill Swift, Loretta Bryld
Carol Martin,
Gail Mulkey
Greg and Gayla Mott
Larry & Vicki Hermone
Bill Swift, Loretta Bryld
Carol Martin,
Gail Mulkey
Greg and Gayla Mott
Larry & Vicki Hermone
Bill Swift, Loretta Bryld
Carol Martin,
Gail Mulkey
Greg and Gayla Mott
Larry & Vicki Hermone
Bill Swift, Loretta Bryld
Carol Martin,
Gail Mulkey
Greg and Gayla Mott
9:00
Altar Guild 10:30
Jean Haldeman
Vicki Hermone
Donna Kemppainen
Jenny Yanick
Liturgist Rich Yanick Pastor Mark Rich Yanick Pastor Mark
Counters R. & M. Durand K. & F. Jones C. Schultz,
L. Hertzberg P. & D. Corson
9:00
Video 10:30
Cindy Terpe
Jean Haldeman
Cindy Terpe
Jean Haldeman
Cindy Terpe
Kathy Cass
Cindy Terpe
Jean Haldeman
Servants for ChristServants for ChristServants for ChristServants for Christ July 2013July 2013July 2013July 2013
Just a Reminder for Altar Guild: Remove the candles into the wooden holder and fill each candle with the liquid wax. Light each candle to make sure they are all burning at
the same height. Please do not cut wicks to adjust flame, simply push down or pull up gently. Return the candles to the holders and
make sure they are secure and straight.
Fill two(2) communion trays, four (4) on the Sundays when communion is held in both services. Fill all center cups in each tray with the white grape juice. This amount is subject to change when we grow in membership!!
Keep the filled trays in the refrigerator.
Straighten and fill in the cards as needed and make sure all the pencils are sharp in each pew.
Fill the coffee and water pots. The directions are on the closet door.
All these functions can be done on Friday or Saturday.
On Sunday set out communion prior to service and clean up and put it away after the service.
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A THIRD PERSON BIOGRAPHY OF KATY WOZNIAK…
Katy couldn’t be more excited about moving to California and seeing how
God is going to use her to do His ministry at First Lutheran. She was born
and raised in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, so Placerville should be a
big change. Katy loves working with families and helping to equip parents to
be teachers of the faith. Katy considers herself to be a little bit of a nerd, en-
joys most of pop culture, and is extremely good at “Name That Tune.” When
she wants to relax, Katy will often read or do some sort of crafting; she really
enjoys knitting and jewelry making. Again, she is super excited to start at First Lutheran,
because she can’t say it enough!
Blessings,
Katy
SO LONG, FAREWELL, AUF WIEDERSEHEN, GOOD-BYE!
Two of our member households are moving to new homes in the Mid-West! They will be
dearly missed and at the same time we rejoice with them as they venture into the next
phases of their lives….
CINDY ISDAHL first came to Placerville at the end of 1995 and joined First
Lutheran in June of 1996. With her late husband, Lloyd, they became active
in the campers group, hosted wine parties, and were active with Stephen
Ministry. For a while Cindy led the Fellowship Board. She has been very ac-
tive with the Altar Guild, most recently its chairperson, and has served as crucifer for our
traditional worship. The last seven or eight years she has generously hosted the Fourth of
July BBQ for the congregation. Together with dogs: Tawny and Louie, she will be moving
to her hometown of Creston, Iowa. Her brother is coming down from Oregon with a large
trailer to “pack what fits.” Cindy has purchased a house near her twin sister’s home. She
anticipates leaving Placerville on July 8 or 9. Her many friends will truly miss her!
MIKE, MELISSA, NATALYA AND OLIVIA OPSAHL became famil-
iar with our campus through the CDC (preschool) when Natalya and
Olivia, as two year olds, in 2004. The girls were baptized during the
closing ceremony of VBS in the summer of 2006. Melissa joined the
CDC Board as an active parent. Mike and Melissa became communi-
cant members of First through one of our adult membership classes in 2007. Mike has s
served as a member of the Property Board and Melissa is concluding a two year term as
Secretary of the Board of Trustees and Voters Assembly. Over the years the family has
not only been active with the CDC, but also VBS and Sunday school leadership. The girls
have been the backbone of the Angels Choir with their singing and creative dance, and
characters in our children’s Christmas pageants. Around August 6, the family will leave
their Pollock Pines home behind to move to Reserve, Montana, 10 or 15 miles from the
North Dakota border and about 30 miles south of the Canadian border. Mike has been
working there for several months and commuting home here on off-weeks. Their many
friends and family will miss them dearly…we’ll look forward to future vacations here to
visit us!
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CONTINUING/COMING IN JULY 2013…
We conduct our worship services at 9 AM (Contemporary) and 10:30 AM
(Traditional). Adult Bible Classes on Sunday are offered at 8 AM and 9:15
AM. Sunday School for nursery/preschool age children through age 12 is on
“vacation” until September 8!
REVITALIZATION
We continue to receive donations to the “Revitalization Fund” established to raise
monies to offset the expenses of calling a DCE/Family Life Minister-Intern, to us this
summer 2013. You may recall that our stewardship program 2011 involved these
items…Financial Growth by Three Means: (1) Commitment to tithing, (2) Increased
contribution in 2013, and (3) Specific pledge to the Revitalization fund.
DCE INTERN
We have been placed with an Intern from Concordia Chicago (River Forest): Katy
Wozniak. Katy is from the Chicago area. She will be Inducted into office on July 7!
Katy will be assisting with Vacation Bible School the week of July 8-12 and become
more deeply involved as she gets settled.
COOKS FOR THE HOMELESS
Ida Brady has a friend, Dee Hook, who helps prepare lunches for distribution to the
homeless camps around town, as identified by Mike Parr with Mercy Rescue Way
Mission. If you would like to assist in the meal preparation, contact Ida or contact Dee
directly at 916-941-9541 or via email … [email protected].
MUSICIANS/SINGERS
“By His Grace,” our contemporary service worship leaders are seeking out
more instrumentalists and singers to accent their ministry. In the meantime,
Bill and Jenny on guitar and Denise on keyboard as instrumentalists are the
core along with Clydene, Jenny and Bill as vocalists! Do you know someone,
maybe you, who could join along? Let Bill Rosenberry or pastor know.
MISCELLANEOUS
“Little Back Packs” for Schnell School, 21, were filled again in mid-May…
the donations of nutritional snacks and drinks were very much appreci-
ated! This ministry is complete until the fall school months! Your generos-
ity was outstanding! Thank you very much!
PASTORAL ACTIONS
Deaths: Florence Sampson 6/12/2013; Memorial Service 6/15/2013
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STEPHEN MINISTRY
Training and continuing education remain the focus for our nine Stephen
Ministers and three Stephen Leaders throughout the summer and into the
fall months. Do you know of someone whom you believe would benefit by
having a Stephen Minister? Check out one of our “yellow” information flyers
available in the church entrance (Narthex) or church office and see just how
broad and yet narrow the scope of care-giving is and can be for you or some-
one you may want to refer to us! Questions: contact Judy Bryld or Pas-
tor.
BLOOD SOURCE SUNDAY
If you are able to donate blood, and did not sign up prior to July 7, please
consider being a “walk-in” sometime between 8:30 and noon. As of today,
there were 16 sign-ups and we need 25 to guarantee the mobile unit to come
to us once-a-year! If we fall short and we are no longer a donation site, you
can still arrange for donations at the Cedar Ravine donation office!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
July 7 at 9 and 10:30 AM: Induction of Katy Wozniak as DCE Intern here at
First Lutheran!
July 14 at 4 PM: Installation of Rev. Ryan Hochgrebe as pastor of Mt. Olive
in Folsom (Ryan was previously a vicar for LOTH).
July 21 at 9 and 10:30 AM: Gideon’s Bible Society talk
September 8: Sunday School Resumes and “Food for the Poor” guest
speaker
September 29: Guest Pastor: Rev. John Herrmann
October 6: Guest Pastor: Rev. Darrell Deuel
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LUTHERANS FOR LIFE (LFL) By Lois Brauer
“Equipping Lutherans to be Gospel-motivated voices for Life!”
The Walk/Run for Life was a huge success on May 18th. What a joy and blessing to see lots of members of Zion there. Some joined in the walk and others were there to encourage and support our team. Our Chapter won the team challenge and members’ personal pledge goals were met as well. The amount we raised will assist both the Sacramento Life Center and Alternatives Pregnancy Center with 10% of their goal. How awesome is that! In addition, that day we learned the last abortion clinic in our area has been closed. Praise God! He hears and answers the prayers of His children. Thanks to all of you awesome people who have been so sup-portive. I want to mention a great (and free) quarterly publication by Lutherans for Life. Its title is “Life Date.” In this publication, there are some very good and informative articles. The articles share information on many different life related topics—from facing an un-planned pregnancy, the effects that abortion can have on men and women, adoption, bioethics (stem cell research & In Vitro Fertilization), coping with various diseases/disabilities, facing end of life issues, grieving, and more. These articles have provided me with new perspectives or simply with information I didn’t have earlier to help make choices as I face difficult life decisions.
Recently our Chapter learned that some people are making donations to the National LFL but do not know that if they provide our Chapter number (#313) in the correspon-dence with their check, we will get 20% of their gift to help us continue our ministry here in the Greater Sacramento Area. Or they assume National will automatically pro-vide that amount to us. If you contribute to the National LFL and want to support our local Chapter through that gift, please provide our Chapter number 313 on your check or correspondence. Thanks!
We will be having a meeting in July and would love for you to join us. It will be at 11:00 a.m. on July 13, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Georgetown. After the meet-ing, we have been invited to spend the afternoon relaxing at Diane Buchholz’ home in Garden Valley.
Scholarships for College
It is time for those planning to attend college in the fall to turn in
their applications. The applications may be obtained in the
church office. All applications are due by August 1.
JulyJulyJulyJuly
BirthdaysBirthdaysBirthdaysBirthdays JulyJulyJulyJuly
AnniversariesAnniversariesAnniversariesAnniversaries
7/16/1971 Bob and Vicki Rios 7/26/1975 Dale and Vicky Hogrefe 7/26/1975 Rich and Jenny Yanick 7/27/1996 Martin and Elizabeth Humbird 7/30/1950 Harold and Alice Williams
3 Martin Humbird
4 Patty Adloff
9 Jerry Burk
12 John Mooney
13 Kathy Templeton
16 Roberta Hendry
19 Marian Ekness
23 Dale Hogrefe
24 Carol Schultz
Patrick Monahan
26 Bob Henkell
29 Josh Wienholz
30 Ellen Page
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By Carol Schultz
Blood Drive is this Sunday, July 7th. Along with Katy’s installation, it
will be a busy day! But please keep in mind that we do need good par-
ticipation in order to continue having the blood mobile on site for our
convenience in the future. This is a wonderful op-
portunity for nearly all of us to give a life-saving do-
nation to the needs of our greater community. Please
be among those who see a need and fulfill it—you’ll
be glad you did!
LOTH & FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH
PRESENT
WOMEN’S RETREAT-2013
SATURDAY, OCT. 5th 9:00AM-3PM @LOTH
CONFIDENT GRACE
Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Come and enjoy a day of fellowship, Bible Study, prayer, meditation time and singing with your friends. Snacks and lunch, too!
Our speaker is Susanna Foth Aughtmon a pastor’s wife, mother and author from Palo Alto. She loves connecting with people of all ages and from all walks of life. She brings the message of God’s love for us and His ability to close the gap between the person we are and the person He created us to be, using scripture, humor and real life examples. Her talks revolve
around the themes of her books: God’s grace, God’s truth, and His ability to restore us as we give ourselves completely to Him.
Susanna’s books will also be available for purchase:
All I need is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans, My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself, and I Blame Eve.
She loves signing her books!
PLAN TO ATTEND........SAVE THE DATE!!
BRING A FRIEND!!
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Your Stephen Ministers have been busy during May and
June participating in in-service activities to support them
your ministry. The two topics covered were “Ministering to
People Before, During and After Hospitalization” and min-
istering to “People Experiencing Losses Relating to Ag-
ing”. Speakers from Marshall Hospital and the county
Senior Center were of great value to the group. Just a few
of the services available through our county include legal
assistance, help in understanding and working with Medi-
care and Medical, assistance and support in providing care
for a loved one, a variety of activities for seniors, various food programs and sup-
port groups for a wide variety of needs. For more information please feel free to
contact Pastor Mark, Judy Bryld or one of your Stephen Ministers (Vicki and
Larry Hermone, Tom and Peggy Hayhurst, Bill Rosenberry, Barbara Calvo,
Kathy Pennington, Jean Liddell or Lori Jarvis.) Also, please be aware that seven
of your Stephen Ministers are available for assignment and eager to be of service.
Informational brochures on the Stephen Minister at First Lutheran are available in
the Narthex or in the office.
All God’s Blessings Be With You!
Your Stephen Ministers
Stephen Ministry
Vacation Bible School
July 8-12th
9:00am to noon
Bring your neighbors, grandchildren, nieces,
nephews, friends……the more the merrier!
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
This year our VBS will be sending
Bible booklets to India. We will
take a picture of each child and
volunteer worker during VBS.
These photos will be pasted into
the Bible booklets. The children
will draw a picture or write a
message in the booklet to person-
alize them.
The booklet that is written in
Hindi will be sent to the distribu-
tion center so they can be distrib-
uted to the children in India.
We have purchased 40 booklets to
be sent.