It is 2016 already. A New Year means new beginnings, a fresh start, and for some of us, New

Year’s Resolutions. I don’t know about you, but I have never been good at making or keeping

resolutions. If you made resolutions for 2015, how well did you do at keeping them? Many

times, our resolutions focus on ways we can better ourselves. “I’m going to exercise more and

lose weight.” “I’m going to save more and spend less.” “I’m going to spend more time with

family.” And while all of these are admirable resolutions, the hard

part for many of us is keeping them.

What if in 2016 instead of focusing on not just our physical bodies,

we also focused on spiritual wellness? For several years the ELCA

has endorsed the “Wholeness Wheel.” It illustrates that wellness is

multi-dimensional — made up of spiritual, vocational, intellectual,

emotional, physical, social, and financial dimensions of well-being.

Spiritual well-being is intertwined with and influences our well-

being in all other dimensions.

In Baptism — A New Creation in Christ At the center of the

wheel, we are a new creation through the waters of baptism. Christ

lives in us and through us, and calls us out to love and serve one another. What does it mean to

be a new creation? We have received the gift of grace through Christ, who came that we might

have abundant life. Abundant life is living as a new creation, being grounded and centered in

Christ and loving our neighbor as ourselves. It is when we are living well in Christ that we are

best equipped to pass on our faith.

Spiritual Well-Being Living a centered life focused on God affects each aspect of our well-

being. Turn to God for strength as you seek to live well in Christ. Nurture your relationship

with God through prayer, devotions, worship, nature, art, and music. Explore who you are and

know whose you are.

Social/Interpersonal Well-Being We are created by God to be social beings, living in

community and instructed to help and love each other. We maintain social well-being through

interaction, play and forgiveness. Take time to nurture your relationships with family, friends,

congregation and co-workers.

Emotional Well-Being Being emotionally well means feeling the full range of human

emotions and expressing them appropriately. Self-awareness is the first step. Recognizing and

honoring your own feelings and those of others — stress, contentment, anger, love, sadness,

joy, resentment — will help you live life abundantly.

Physical Well-Being While we are not all born perfectly healthy or able to live life without

injury or illness, we can live well by tending and nurturing our body as a gift from God. Feed it

healthy foods, keep it hydrated, build physical endurance through regular exercise, and respect

your body’s need for rest.

Financial Well-Being Being financially well involves making decisions based on our values,

as reflected in the way we save, spend, and share. Tending to one’s financial well-being in this

way requires us to be resilient, generous, and focused on sustainability.

Vocational Well-Being We all have a calling — a vocation — to follow Christ’s example by

living a life of meaning, purpose and service to our neighbor. Our vocations make up our life’s

work and passions — they are the everyday roles through which God calls us to help make this

world a better place. Those who are well vocationally are faithful stewards of their talents and

abilities, and find opportunities to build and use them.

Intellectual Well-Being Using our minds keeps us alert and active. Stay curious, ask

questions, and seek answers. Explore new responsibilities, experience new things and keep an

open mind. And remember, knowing when and how to let your mind rest is as important as

keeping active.

In 2016, as you focus on each of these areas of your life, may you find peace, joy, and wholeness.

Pastor Erica

Faith Matters J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6

INSIDE

In the Life of Faith 2

In the Life of Faith continued 3

Finances 4

Liturgical Roles/Membership 5

Stewardship Corner 6

Youth and Family 7

How Do I Pray? 8

Celebrating Your Birthday 9

Calendar 10

WORSHIP TIMES

SUNDAYS— 9:00 A.M

WEDNESDAYS — 6:15 P.M.

CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP

CHURCH OFFICE

255 Roosevelt Street PO Box 369

Valders, Wisconsin 54245

Phone 920-775-4141

Fax 920-775-9413

Website

www.faithlutheranchurchvalders.org

STAFF DIRECTORY

Erica Cunningham, Senior Pastor

Direct Office Line — 920-775-9411

Cell: 920-374-3860 Email...pastorerica@tds.net

Nicole Welke, Associate Pastor

Direct Office Line — 920-775-9412

Cell: 715-966-5168 Email...pastornicole@tds.net

Christine Olson, Adm. Assistant

Faith Matters Editor

Email…...faith21@tds.net

Nicolle Behnke, Youth & Family

Ministry Coordinator

Email...FLCyouthandfamily

@tds.net

David Kriewald, Custodian

Derek Luckow, Bell and Mixed

Choir Director

Kim Bremer, Dennis Luckow,

Carol Ulness, Becky Schultz

Contemporary Worship

Coordinators

Peggy Madson & Sue Riesterer,

Organists

2 2

Have you made a New Year's resolution to become more involved at Faith?

The Board of Evangelism is looking for an individual gifted in technology to assist with updating

and maintaining the church website. After many years of faithful service Nancy Christianson

desires to step away from this position. There is a time commitment of approximately 5-6 hours

per week using your computer and working from home. Experience downloading and working with

photographs and Microsoft Word program would be helpful but not necessary. Tutorials, training

and technology support are available and Nancy has committed to stay involved so that there is a

smooth transition. Feel free to approach Nancy or a member of Evangelism with any additional

questions.

Stewardship for January is BABY CARE KITS

(2) long or short sleeved gowns or sleepers (NO FEET) (2) receiving blankets, medium weight cotton or flannel or crocheted/knitted with lightweight yarn up to 53" square

(4) cloth diapers

(1) jacket, sweater or sweatshirt with a hood

(2) pair of socks

(1) hand towel, DARK colors only

(2) bath-size bars of gentle soap (4-5 oz.) in original wrapping

(2) diaper pins

Check Good Will, St Vincent DePaul’s or rummage sales. Items should have no stains. Please place items in the stewardship cabinet near the church office and marked BABY CARE KITS.

Senior Christians will meet Tuesday, January 19 at 9:00 a.m.

at the Wildflower Café.

Saturday, January 9 at 6:00 pm in the gathering space at church. Come and have a good time, maybe learn a new game or play an old one. Bring along a game or two and we’ll be bringing some, too. Please call Bryce and Penny Larson at 693-8734 if you are coming. Everyone is welcome.

3 3

In the Life of Faith

Thanksgiving Service

New Member Class

Kids Night Out was held December 11. We made cards for our homebound members and for Safyre Terry, who is an 8 year old girl from New York who was burned over 75-90% of her body. Thanks kids for doing a super job!

Advent

101

4

Finances

Donations

† World Hunger: In memory of Orin and Wally Ulness by Dorothy Ulness. Thirteen additional donations were

given this month.

† Capital Appeal Fund: In memory of Glenn Thomsen by Romelle Rusch. Twenty eight additional donations

were given this month.

Capital Appeal

10/31/2015 Denmark State Bank Loan Balance - $411,132.28

Monthly required payment $ 3,350.00

Additional payment for November 0

Total November payment Principle paid $2,055.02 Interest paid $1,294.98

11/30/2015 Denmark State Bank Loan Balance - $409,077.26

Envelope Offerings $ 28,041.00

Holiday Offerings $ 575.00

Loose Offerings $ 175.13

Other Income $ 269.11

General Fund Income $ 29,060.24 $ 26,907.36 $ 218,491.51 $ 215,258.86

Dedicated Income $ 212.00 $ 5,093.08

Total Income $ 29,272.24 $ 223,584.59

Operating Expenses - November

Administrative/Office $ 1,495.84

Benevolence $ 2,906.01

Bd. Of Church Property $ 4,042.49

Bd. Of Education $ 474.88

Bd. Of Evangelism $ 141.19

Bd . Of Lay Ministry $ 170.59

Bd. Of Parish Organizations $ 252.30

Bd. Of Stewardship $ 52.24

Bd . Of Youth Ministry $ 454.38

Personnel Salaries/Benefits $ 15,733.64

General Fund Expense $ 25,723.56 $ 26,907.36 $ 232,282.87 $ 215,258.87

Dedicated Expense $ 215.00 $ 4,795.89

Total Expenses $ 25,938.56 $ 237,078.76

Income - November Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget

Year to Date General Fund Net Income : $ (13,791.36)

Balances as of November 30, 2015

Assets: General Fund Checkbook: $45,690.26

5

Liturgical Roles

Membership

Baptized ................................................................ 872 Confirmed .............................................................. 685 Families ................................................................. 180

Altar Guild Servers

Communion: January .................................................. Committee #1 February ................................................ Committee #2

Marlene Evenson, Chair (Committee #1) Bev Torrison, Chair (Committee #2)

Acolyte Schedule

1/3 Kolten Johnson 1/10 Caroline Berge 1/17 Chase Wilker 1/24 Desirae Behnke 1/31 Angelina Junk

Head Usher Schedule- Sunday

January ............................. Matt Krogh and Paul Franz February ................ Lee A. Evenson and Larry Madson

Pastoral Acts

Baptism ...................................... Edyn Marie Peterson .......... Jayce Nicholas Wesley Pence, Nakula Jax Tan Funeral ............................................... Glenn Thomsen

5

Liturgical Roles ~ Worship Responsibilities

Worship Attendance

Sunday Wednesday Total 11/22 132 Thanksgiving—119 251 11/29 154 76 230 12/6 168 72 240 12/13 255 146 401

Lectors

1/3 Ava Ulness 1/6 Julie Endries 1/10 Lisa Mulhaney 1/13 Cheryl Duchow 1/17 Stacy Wilker 1/20 Gary Exner 1/24 Hannah Evenson 1/27 Cheryl Duchow 1/31 Connie Hoyer

Greeters

1/3 Don and Delores Johnson 1/6 Brian and Michelle Bilke 1/10 Ben and Chloe Cigler 1/13 Judy and Megan Valleskey 1/17 Dennis and Marlene Evenson 1/20 Don and Nancy Christianson 1/24 Earl and Barb Griffin 1/27 Tim and Julie Endries 1/31 Bryce and Penny Larson

Ushers

1/3 Don & Deb Schreiner, Lee W. Evenson 1/10 Lisa Mulhaney and Judy Harris 1/17 Austin & Stetson McCulley, Ethan Ulness 1/24 Dean Behnke, Scott Zucchi Rolyn Jorgenson 1/31 Steve and Ginny Schwoerer Tyler Madson

Communion Servers

1/3 Carolyn Hallberg and Bobbi Jo Robley 1/6 Julie Endries and Nancy Christianson 1/10 Lisa Mulhaney and Judy Harris 1/13 Delton and Cheryl Duchow 1/17 Kaye Jandrey and Len Reinertson 1/20 Steve and Laura Halverson 1/24 Earl Griffin and Larry Madson 1/27 Delton and Cheryl Duchow 1/31 Connie Hoyer and Jan Mulhaney

The meaning of Epiphany

Epiphany, which comes from the Greek word

epiphaneia, means “an appearance” or “a revealing.”

Centuries ago, the church set aside January 6, the

12th day after Christmas, to mark the revealing of

Jesus as Christ to the wise men, who were Gentiles.

Jesus’ first followers were Jewish, so the revelation of the

divine Christ to the non-Jewish magi reminds us that Jesus

came to earth to save the whole world.

Symbols of Epiphany include light, a star, a crown (or three

crowns) and a globe or stylized portrayal of the world. The

color of Epiphany is green to symbolize life, growth, hope

and eternity.

On the church calendar, the Epiphany season lasts until Ash

Wednesday, which is determined by the date of Easter.

6

Stewardship Corner ~ Men’s Bible Study

Christmas is a great season for me as I am sure it is for you as well. Christmas is one of the only

holidays our family celebrated when I was young and I still remember decorating the

tree, our one room grade school Christmas programs and singing Christmas carols. I am blessed I

guess 60 years later to be able to decorate our tree(s) and sing those familiar carols.

I always note that during this time of high stress and much to do that most people are

very kind and gracious even though they are busy and in a hurry. I am thankful that our Lord is

able to bring a bit of serenity to deal with the chaos. Christmas is a time to really celebrate our

gratitude and generosity.

On behalf of the Faith Lutheran Church Stewardship Board and the Capital Appeal Com-

mittee we want to thank all of you for your generosity in giving to our ministries here at Faith and

your generosity in supporting our 2nd Capital Appeal. Your contributions of time, talent and treas-

ure make doing the work our Lord is asking us to do possible and also meaningful and fun.

My Dad’s brother, my uncle Lyman was like a second father to me and offered me much encour-

agement and also much advice even if I was not always willing to listen or quite able to under-

stand. He was talking to me once about stewardship and he said “hold out your hand Bryce” and

he put a quarter in my hand and he told me to “squeeze it tight”. He told me that “you will never

ever loose that quarter Bryce but if you don’t open your hand up you will never get another one in

there either”. I want to thank my uncle for the lesson in stewardship and all of you for being will-

ing to open up your hands.

God Bless each and every one of you and a Merry Christmas and a

Happy New Year.

Bryce Larson

Do you want to start at the beginning? The Men’s Morning Bible Study

group will start our 2016 Bible Study year on January 6, 2016. We will

start at the beginning with Genesis. Our first session will be at 7 AM at

the Silver Dollar Diner in Valders for breakfast. We have breakfast and

devotions the first Wednesdays of the month. We meet at 6:45 AM in the

gathering space the other Wednesdays. We are taking two weeks off for

Christmas and New Year’s and we also do not meet during the summer. If

you have questions talk with Val Zibung, Bob Argall, Bob Klessig, Ron

Jones or Bryce Larson.

Youth and Family

7

Saturday, January 9th

from 10:00 am-1:00pm. If there is snow by then, please bring your snowsuits and we can go sledding down the hill, build some snowmen and forts and maybe have a good old fashion snowball fight! If there is no snow, well then we’ll stay in and play some games or watch a movie. Please bring $5 per family to help with costs for lunch. If anyone is interested in helping out, I’d appreciate it! Please let me know if your kids are going to attend so I can plan on how much food and help I need. If anyone is able to help me out with the kids, please let me know that as well. — Nicolle Behnke

The Board of Youth and Family Ministry would like to invite you to join us for a skiing/

tubing trip to Sunburst Winter Sports Park in Kewaskum on Saturday, January 23. We

plan to leave the church parking lot at 9:00 a.m. A bus may be available if we have enough peo-

ple to fill it. The cost for lift tickets is $30 with an additional $8 fee for rental of skis or a snow-

board. Ski or snowboarding lessons are also available for an additional $10. For tubing, a 2 hour

session is $15 per person and a 3 hour session is $19 per person. Please sign up by Sunday,

January 17 on the bulletin board outside Nicolle Behnke’s office if you would like to join us.

8

Mildred Sorenson

Shady Lane—Room 423

1235 S. 24th Street

Manitowoc WI 542240

Gloria Smith

Felician Village—Room 14

1600 S. 18th Street

Manitowoc WI 54220

Donald Otto

The Cedars

3904 Martin Lane

Two Rivers WI 54241

Mary Thompson

Maritime Gardens

1945 Dewey Street

Manitowoc WI 54220

Gary Bratz

Health Care Center —

Room 524

2012 S. Alverno Road

Manitowoc WI 54220

Doris Erickson

Oak Creek Assisted Living

Center

1237 Teckla Place

Kiel WI 53042

Remember in prayer, with a card or a visit the

following who are unable to come to church, but are always

in our thoughts.

Have you ever struggled praying or knowing even how to pray? This is not uncommon; believe it or not you are in good company. Maybe you always pray the same thing or in the same way and do not know any other way to enter into that conversation with God. If this is the case, you are also in good company. On the other hand, maybe prayer is one of your favorite things, and if so you are not alone either. If any of these are you, we have a great event coming up that is perfect for you on Saturday, January 30 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. The Board of Lay Ministry is host-ing an Experiential Prayer Event where you can come and experience different ways to pray. There will be prayer stations throughout the church to try out new ways to pray and to enter into conversation with oth-ers and God. Some examples of the prayer stations are Band-Aid Prayers, Calendar Prayers, Praying in Color and even Giant Jenga Prayers. The prayer stations will engage our senses and involve more of ourselves in the prayer process. Here is an example of what you might experience at one of the stations:

Christmas Card Prayer – Celebrate the meaning of Christmas all year long by saving

Christmas cards. At least once a week take out one or more cards. Read the cards and

notes. Pray for the person who sent the card, then respond with a letter, card, e-mail

message, or phone call telling the sender that he or she is in your prayers.

Mark your calendars for January 30, 2016 and come learn something new about prayer.

Scrip Update: In the month of November, 46 families purchased 353 gift cards with total purchases of $12,305.00 giving Faith a rebate of $506.79. Thank you for your purchases. A percentage of the proceeds go toward the Youth Programs. We had been extremely busy during December and we will have those amounts printed next month. Thank you all for remembering Scrip during the holidays. During the month of November our drawing winners for a $10 gift card were Nancy and Don Christianson. Scrip will be available again starting January 6. Don't forget, some Christmas parties will be celebrated in January and we can accommodate you with fine dining cards available from various restaurants. Super Bowl Sunday is coming up and you'll need items from the local grocery stores. If you are interested in attending the Scrip Committee meetings, our next one is Tuesday January 5 at 5 PM. in the library. Come and see how the Scrip accounts work and become involved in this worthwhile project. Thanks again for all your purchases, it shows us you really care about our program.