March 2019 Newsletter

*From Pastor's Thoughts

*Council Report

*Finance Report

*Treasurers Report

*Redeemer Lutheran Ladies

Pastor’s Thoughts - Pastor’s Thoughts - March 2019

The season of Lent is here. We begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Sadly, it is not a well-attended service. Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel states of this special service, "We are led into the season with Ash Wednesday. We begin with a powerful Act of Confession, greatly expanded, a penitential Psalm, an exhortation to keep the Discipline of Lent, in the struggle against sin, public cataloging of our collective and individual wrongdoings, and the silence of self-examination and renewal. The whole season of Lent is one of repentance. Our Absolution does not come until Maundy Thursday supper. (But) we are not left without encouraging words. "The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ does not desire the death of sinners.". We ask God for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for true repentance.

Lent represents the time we use to prepare for the celebration of Easter, the resurrection of Christ. Since early Christianity, this preparation has included instruction, fasting repentance, prayers and special acts of devotions. This is the time to engage in spiritual renewal and focus our lives on Christ's self-sacrificing passion, death and resurrection, which has brought us acceptance, forgiveness and redemption by God.

I have followed the guide of Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel, a pastor in the ELCIC, for the following. I also encourage you to go to his handbook for full wisdom of his guidance and encouragement in following the Lenten season. http://www.liturgybytlw.com/Lent/Discipln.html

Here are four concepts to focus on during Lent: Repentance, prayer, Fasting and work of love.

1. Repentance is an important practice of a Christian person. In every service, we have reminded that right in the beginning when we in unison confess our sins and pray for God’s forgiveness. Repentance means turning 180 degrees away from sin to walk toward God. Repentance during Lent includes an examination of our lives and our actions in light of God's grace and love, which comes to us free and undeserved through Christ's death and resurrection.

2. Prayer is that activity in which we are drawn closer to God in contemplation and communication. Prayer is our half of a conversation with God. That means that prayer is not only speaking but listening as well. In Iceland, we often refer to prayer as the Breath of Faith. That means that without it, our faith withers away. Just like we need to breathe to live, we need prayer to keep our relationship and faith to God alive.

3. Fasting is a practice that has become rare within our church. It comes to us from Judaism and was recommended by Jesus both in example and teaching (Luke 4:2, Matt.6:16-18, Mark 2:20). It is a practice that is designed to strengthen the spiritual life by weakening one's attractions to pleasures of the senses. Thus fasting is always coupled with prayer and spiritual preparation. Fasting does not necessarily mean giving up all food for a day. More frequently it is the giving up or limiting of a particular food or food group (sweets, desserts, chocolate, butter, fat, eggs, etc.).Abstinence from some activity on certain days, at certain hours or throughout the season is another way to observe the Lenten fast. This is designed to give more time for prayer and spiritual work. It also provides us with great opportunity to not only clean our mind but also our body, a practice that could prove very useful to many of us!

4. Work of Love is another practice that we are encouraged to engage in during the Lenten season. The intention is to connect our faith in God's love for us with actions that show our love for others in the world. "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16). Love is why Christ came. Love is why Christ died. Love is why God raised him from the dead. Love is the whole purpose and mission of the Church and of every Christian member: to show God's love in the world.

Personally, I have decided to make a special commitment to God during this Lenten season. I will try my best to use all of these tools to renew my relationship with him, do some spring cleaning in my mind and body, and try my best to spend more time with my best friend, Jesus Christ. I hope you will join me on this journey. Once in a while, we all need to reflect on our relationship with God and ask ourselves if we are giving him enough time and space in our lives.

God's blessings on your Lenten journey.

Pastor Laurel.

Council Report

2019 Elected Executive:

Chair - Heddy Mueller

Vice-chair - Rick Norberg

Secretary - Kathy Maxon

Envelope secretary - Sharolyn Molnar

Treasurer - Dorothy Raynor

*Pancake Supper Shrove Tuesday, March 5th, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Sign up board in the Narthex.

*Ash Wednesday Service, March 6, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

*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:

March 6 - Dean Don

March 13 - Father Christ Evetts, St. Mary's

March 20 - Rev'd Glenn Ball, St. Andrews

March 27 - Rev'd Jonathan Hoskin, St. George's

April 3 - Rev'd Laurel Seyfert, Redeemer

April 10 - Bishop William

Financial Report: February 2019

Happy New Year everyone. We have begun on a new financial journey for 2019. Redeemer Lutheran did fairly well financially in 2018. It is the Council’s hope that we can repeat what we have accomplished and stay financially solvent.

The financial reports I received at our meeting on February 20th cover to the end of January. If you remember we approved a budget at our AGM that will end up with a deficit of $7079.18. There is no need to panic as God provides for us in many ways. The budget showed that Envelope Giving and PAR will be $78500.00 or $1510.00 per week. Our congregation came very close to hitting the target in 2018 and the Council believes we can do this again this year.

For the month of January, Envelope Giving and PAR came in at $6142.00. There were 4 Sunday services in January so we averaged $1535.50 per week. Well done!!

In November 2018, we had Mark Cramer come to tune our piano. He did a wonderful job of tuning the piano in its present condition. He has sent us a report on the internal condition of our piano and recommends some repair and replacements to improve the sound and condition of the piano. He reported that our piano is circa 1963.

Option I: Disassemble, clean, recondition, lubricate and reassemble the action damper-system, and keyboard., including brand new hammers, key bushings and rebuilding hammer assemblies with new hand-crafted leather and felt components. Estimated cost $2740.00

Option II: Includes the work in Option I, plus a full factory-style regulation of the action damper system and keyboard (roughly 25 adjustments per note x 88 notes) to restore a lively, responsive touch to the keyboard, as well as, thorough voicing to balance the tone and restore a deep resonant sound. Estimated cost $4180.00.

Option III: When considering repairing an older piano, it’s also wise to compare the cost of replacement with a brand new piano of similar quality. Estimated cost$8900.00

Council discussed how we should proceed with this project and has passed a motion to have the congregation consider fundraising to help pay for this project and choose which option should be pursued. Let a council member know which avenue you would prefer. We meet again as a council on March 20th.

It is the Council’s hope that you will accept this challenge and give financially without taking away from our budget commitment. A single gift of $100.00 from many members added to your envelope giving would see our project goal in short order.

We pray that God and the Holy Spirit will bless you all.

In Gods service

Property/Finance Committee

Rick Norberg, Wally Tetzlaff, Ed Podjan

Treasurer’s Report

Profit & Loss Budget vs. Actual

January 2019 Budget

Income

Par Contributions 1840.00 5471.00

Envelopes – Other 4302.00

Total Envelope 6142.00

Initial Offering 0.00

Interest 1.10

Loose Contributions 40.00 126.73

Other 0.00

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 30.00

Subscription Revenue 10.00

Total Specific Contributions 1182.80 1338.50

Sunday School 9.25 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 0.00 66.63

Insurance 0.00 0.00

Internet 80.62 70.87

Janitorial 173.25 200.00

Office 291.12 83.37

Organist(s) 562.19 400.00

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 352.06 320.38

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 6239.42 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 251.19 54.13

Suppers Expense 0.00 0.00

Telephone 62.12 62.50

Travel/Convention

Convention/Assessment Fee 0.00 0.00

Total Travel/Convention 0.00 0.00

Utilities 528.82 470.87

Water 0.00 0.00

Total Expense 8690.13 8475.49

Net Income -1314.98 1477.89

Respectfully Submitted,

Dorothy Raynor

A weekly offering of $1,510 is needed to meet the 2018 budget of $78, 500

SAMARITAN HOUSE WINTER SHELTER

Toiletries for Men and Women:

Shampoo (travel size)

Deodorant

Soap

Combs/Brushes

Toothbrushes (soft bristles)

Feminine hygiene products

Cold weather wear for Men and Women:

Mitts/Gloves

Women’s Underwear (Sizes M & L)

Men’s Underwear (Sizes L and 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, March 11th at the church at 1:30 p.m. Speaker is Roberta McKinnon's on their work with the Brandon Bear Clan

We will be taking the World Day of Prayer Service to Hillcrest Tuesday, March 12th at 2 p.m.

Ladies Breakfast: Saturday, March 16th, 9:30 a.m. at Chicken Chef

Bible Study: Tuesday, March 19th, 1:30 p.m. at the church.

Quilting: Thursday, March 7th, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bring a lunch, a pair of scissors, and a needle if you have them.

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

UPCOMING

*Sabina is playing at the Lorne Watson Hall Friday, March 1st, 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 2nd at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

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