April 2019 Newsletter

*From Pastor's Thoughts

*Council Report

*Finance Report

*Treasurers Report

*Redeemer Lutheran Ladies

Pastor's Thoughts - April 2019

"How beautiful will be the day when all the baptized understand that their work, their job, is a priestly work, that just as I celebrated Mass at the altar, so each carpenter celebrates Mass at the workbench and each metalworker, each professional, each doctor with the scalpel, the market woman at her stand, are performing a priestly office! How many cab drivers, I know, listen to this message there in their cabs; you are a priest at the wheel, my friend, if you work with honesty, consecrating that taxi of yours to God, bearing a message of peace and love to the passengers who ride in your cab"

Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero - Assassinated March 23rd, 1980 while serving Mass.

When I was a bank teller, I found it interesting to hear the customer's stories in relation to their banking business, especially with cash withdrawals: Happy stories (gifts for all occasions), celebratory stories (ie., birthday, anniversary), or even heartbreaking stories. As an empath (a person who is especially sensitive to other people's emotions), I would take on their emotions. That can be very exhausting. Then God revealed to me two things:

1) There is a ministry of caring through that job.

2) Lift their stories into the hands of my Lord.

What a difference it made. I could listen to their stories with a light heart because I knew God was present and caring.

How is your Lenten journey going? This is a good opportunity to reflect on the journey so far. At this halfway point, what has changed in your spiritual life, in your everyday life for your work? We are travelling with Jesus to Jerusalem and the Cross.

*Who has encountered in this 40-day journey that you have reached out and helped?

*Who has been the beneficiary of your expressions of love with a smile, laughter, a hug, or practical care such as walking someone across the street, carrying groceries or giving a ride to the grocery/doctor/pharmacy, phoning/Skyping a shut-in?

*Where has the Spirit encouraged you to pray? For Whom? For what situation?

*How has the Spirit revealed itself to you? And guided you in your faith journey?

*What about forgiveness? Confession and forgiveness? Forgiving others and being forgiven?

I pray this reflection reveals for you all that has happened in your life with the Spirit of the Lord present in your Lenten walk. And may all that is revealed you to enhance your Easter celebration as you come to the Eucharist with the joy, love and mercy of the risen Lord filling your heart.

"Soli Deo Gloria" - "To God be the Glory"

In Christ, Pastor Laurel

2019 Elected Executive:

Chair - Heddy Mueller

Vice-Chair - Rick Norberg

Secretary - Kathy Maxon

Envelope Secretary - Sharolyn Molnar

Financial Committee - Rick Norberg, Wally Tetzlaff, Ed Podjan

Mission Committee - Kathy Maxon, Arlene Pottinger, Sharolyn Molnar

Parish Committee - Shelley Kretchman, Jerry Erickson, Don Wrobleski

---

*Noon Lenten Services at St. Matthew‘s Cathedral

Bring your own bag lunch. Tea and coffee provided

Theme: “Behold the man” referencing Pilot’s words from the 19th Chapter of John

Guest preachers are:

April 10th - Bishop William

---

Finance Report: March 2019

Council met on March 20th. The reports we received from Dorothy showed that Envelope giving is staying on track with $6495.00 coming in for the month of February. This puts at a surplus of $655.00 over the budgeted amount. We should try to maintain this surplus heading into the summer months.

On the Income side of the budget, we are at a surplus of $1008.64.

On the Expense side of the budget, we are currently at a small surplus of $93.20.

Our Net Income for the year to the end of February sits at a surplus of $915.44. This number will change quickly as the year progresses as we have some larger budgeted expenses coming during the summer months i.e. Insurance.

Just a reminder, Council is counting on the congregation to embrace the Piano Refurbishing Project with your financial support. Music and the piano are a very important part of our worship services. Our piano is an older model, circa 1963, and has not received much maintenance other than regular tuning.

You can give to this project through your weekly envelope giving as an additional gift. There are 88 keys on a piano. Our goal is to collect $4200 or roughly $50 per key. How many keys can YOU sponsor?

Redeemer Finance Committee Rick Norberg, Wally Tetzlaff and Ed Podjan

---

Treasurer's Report

Profit & Loss Budget vs. Actual

February 2019 Budget

Income

Par Contributions 1840.00 5471.00

Envelopes – Other 4655.00

Total Envelope 6495.00

Initial Offering 20.00

Interest 0.99

Loose Contributions 521.00 126.73

Other

Bequests & Memoriums 0.00

Other 0.00

Total Other 0.00

Rental 0.00

Specific Contributions

Argyle Lutheran Parish – Mileage 92.80 205.13

Argyle Lutheran Parish – Pastor 300.00 383.37

Canadian Lutheran 0.00

Church Supplies Received 0.00

CLWR 0.00

Coptic 750.00 750.00

Debt reduction contributions 0.00

Faith Life Fellowship Grant 0.00

Faith Life Matching Grant 0.00

Samaritan House Winter Shelter 94.60

Subscription Revenue 20.00

Total Specific Contributions 1257.40 1338.50

Sunday School 10.00 4.13

Suppers

Fall Supper 0.00 0.00

Pancake Supper 0.00 1000.00

Sunday Brunch 0.00 200.00

Total Suppers 0.00 1050.00

Total Income 7375.15 8126.51

Expenses

Accounting 221.00 221.00

Advertising 9.43 0.00

Bank Charges & Interest 11.50 10.87

Benevolence 166.67 250.00

Choir/Library 0.00 6.25

Church Supplies 222.58 66.63

Insurance 0.00 0.00

Internet 80.63 70.87

Janitorial 212.95 200.00

Office 226.40 83.37

Organist(s) 637.34 400.00

Pastor

Book Allowance 41.66 41.63

C.E.P Expense 50.00 50.00

C.P.P Expense 223.26 185.62

Dental/Health/Benefits 358.37 320.38

E-Transfers 3.00 3.00

E.I Expense 124.44 100.00

Housing Allowance 1000.00 1000.00

Pension 403.34 403.37

Wages 4041.66 4041.63

Total Pastor 6246.66 6145.63

Property Tax 0.00 0.00

Repairs & Maintenance 250.00

Special Projects 0.00

Repairs & Maintenance 0.00

Total Repairs & Maintenance 0.00

Specific Contributions Expenses

Travel Re: Argyle Parish 92.80 183.37

CLWR 0.00

Winter Shelter Project Expense 0.00

Total Specific Contributions Expenses 92.80 183.37

Subscriptions 0.00 54.13

Suppers Expense 0.00 0.00

Telephone 63.81 62.50

Travel/Convention

Convention/Assessment Fee 0.00 0.00

Total Travel/Convention 525.00 0.00

Utilities 523.21 470.87

Water 38.87 0.00

Total Expense 9280.24 8475.49

Net Income -975.85 1477.89

Respectfully Submitted,

Dorothy Raynor

A weekly offering of $1510 is needed to meet the 2019 budget of $78,500

---

Samaritan House Winter Shelter

Toiletries for Men & Women:

Shampoo (Travel Size)

Deodorant

Soap

Combs/Brushes

Toothbrushes(Soft bristles)

Feminine hygiene products

Cold Weather Wear for Men & Women:

Mitts/Gloves

Women's Underwear (Sizes M & L)

Men's Underwear ( Sizes L & XL)

Socks (Good Quality)

Coats

Toques

Scarves

Food:

Granola Bars

Bottled Water

Kraft Dinner (Individual Serving)

Soups/Meals (with Pop-off Tops)

---

Redeemer Lutheran Ladies

Monthly Meeting: Monday, April 8th, 1:30 p.m. at the Church

Ladies Breakfast: Saturday, April 20th, 9:30 a.m Chicken Chef

Bible Study: Tuesday, April 16th, 1:30 p.m. at the Church

Quilting: we are finished for another year.

Westman Ladies Spring Gathering: Saturday, May 4th at Redeemer

---

Members wishing to donate items to the Church are asked to speak to a Council Member prior to bringing the item(s)

---

Debt-reduction, fundraising ideas can be put in the suggestion box in the Narthex

*Our Mailing Address:

Redeemer Lutheran Church

114 Ashgrove Blvd

Brandon, MB R7B 1E1

Canada