First Fruits – February

“Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry…” (Gen. 4: 4 - 5). Our church is named First Lutheran and our newsletter is named First Fruits. We even have the phrase, “Keep Jesus First” on our sign in front of the church. The passage above is the first instance of someone bringing their first fruits to God, so I thought it would be appropriate and timely to comment on since “first’s” are at the heart of our worship here at First Lutheran. The passage from Gen. 4 shows us two types of worshippers. One Cain, who brought what was convenient and possibly with not much forethought, and Abel, who brought the first and the best that he had. To bring the first and the best takes preparation and forethought; Abel had to know and keep track of which was the firstlings of his flock and then gave the best of those to God. At the bottom of both actions was the issue of heart. One loved God with His best and the other simply discharged a duty to be done.

God didn’t need the offerings. What God was after was their hearts. This is why God simply corrects Cain when he gets very angry for God not regarding his offering and says, “Why are you angry?...If you do well, you will be accepted.” God simply wanted Cain to bring the proper offering with a proper attitude, but God saw his heart. This is why God warned Cain after his initial correction that if Cain won’t do what is right, sin is going to enter in and lead your heart even further astray, “but you can master it Cain;” don’t fall for this temptation.

Most of us know the rest of the story, that Cain doesn’t master his heart and goes on to kill his brother, Abel. So the first murder in the Bible is in the context of worship; one who didn’t worship well or rightly, ended up killing his brother out of envy. Now this story may seem removed and remote from us, but it is very timely. When we don’t worship God with our first and best, it leads to many other problems in our lives that we don’t always equate with this lack of heart worship, but it is true, nonetheless.

Many of us like Cain, simply come to discharge a duty to God. We give whatever is leftover of our time, talent and treasure. God doesn’t necessary need those things we offer, but what He is after through the use of them is our hearts, us. God wants you. He desperately loves you and wants to save you and give you Himself, because He knows He is the only one that can save you from your wicked heart and sin nature.

To save us and make us those who love Him from the heart once again, God gave us His First and Best, Jesus Christ. God didn’t just give us His “leftover,” that which would be convenient or easy for Him. He gave us His One and Only Son, who came and lived for us and died for us so that He might put His Spirit inside of us and give us a new heart. God held nothing back, He gave us His all; He gave us His First Fruit, because He knew this was the only way to get us.

As we come to the Lenten season that starts on Feb. 13th with Ash Wednesday service at Noon, most of us need to repent of giving God only our “leftovers.” We are not giving Him our first and our best. We are giving our first and best to some other idol we have raised up in our lives. Lent is a time to tear down those idols and return to our God with our first and our best, so that we and our hearts might be with Him once again. For where your first and best is, “your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). Will you give Him your heart this Lenten season? Will you give Him yourself? That is the first fruit that He wants that is symbolized by the other first fruits we give. May God bless you mightily this Lenten season as you come back to the God who loves you and is desperate for you, so much so that He would kill His First and Best for you!

In His Agape, Pastor Taylor +

FIRST FRUITS WE GIVE OUR FIRST FRUITS BECAUSE HE GAVE US HIS ONLY SON

February 2013 Volume 16 No. 2

02/03 Psalm 71:1-6,15-17, Jermiah 1:4-10,1 Cor. 12:27-13:13, Luke 4:21-32 02/10 Psalm 85:8-13, Isaiah 6:1-13, I Corinthians 14:12b-20, Luke 5:1-11 02/17 Psalm 1, Jeremiah 17:5-8, I Corinthians 15:12, 16-20, Luke 6:17-26 02/24 Psalm 103:1-13, Genesis 43:3-8a, 15, I Cor. 15:35-38a, 42-50, Luke 6:26-38

First School’s Christmas program and

parties went very well. We are now getting

ready to start our new year. We will be

welcoming new infants to our nursery. We

will also be moving some children up a level

to make room for others.

Hope your Christmas was Merry and your

New Year is happy from all of us at First

School.

God Bless,

Diane

FUND BALANCES as of 01/28/13 Jesus Well $ 0

Building Fund $ 1522 Paint the Church Fund $ 6157 Youth Fund $ 387 Flower Fund $ 1,210 Scholarship Fund $ 939 Memorial Fund $14,346 Luke Johnson Fund $ 891 Radio Advertising Fund $ 27

Chair Fund $ 117 Scottie Englund Fund $ 1,995 Donation (for Gen Fund) $5,000 $32,591 * Figures are rounded

First School & First School & First School & First School & Daycare NewsDaycare NewsDaycare NewsDaycare News

OUR EXPENSES FOR DECEMBER Monthly Offering needed to meet Budget $9.986

January Offerings as of 1/28/13 $6,295 Thrivent Choice Deposits 10 Wednesday Night Offerings 0 Sunday School Offerings $ 32 Total Income for Budget Expenses $ 6,327*

Budget Needs thru January: $ 9.986 Income received thru 1/28: 6,327 Amount (under) budget ($ 3,659) Total Annual Income as of 1/28/13 $6,327

Total Annual Expenses as of 1/28/13 - $8,322 Annual Income – Actual Expenses = ($1,995)

A Congregational Meeting has been

scheduled for Sunday, February 17

th after the

service.

CALL COMMITTEE MEETING

FEBUARY 5TH

7 PM

Garden Villa : Gertrude Nordin and Frank Hallinger Meridian - Henrietta Bram, room 402

WE’RE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US

OR

Pastor Andy Taylor – Cell #979-320-7862 Email: pastortaylor01@yahoo.com Email: office@firstlutheranec.com

Jake Barosh, Justin Cerny, Jenny Hernandez, Sarah Langston, Michael Monreal,

01 Madie Mathews 18 Kyle House 21 Ty Schoenfield 23 Tammy Campbell 27 Nora Borak

11 Justin Cerny 15 Cori Bram 23 Ty Schoenfield 25 Tammy Campbell 26 Teresa Berglund

02 James & Sheila Herrington 14 Eugene & Judy Bezdek 14 Lionel & Shirley Chatel

COUNCIL MEETING Thursday,

February 7th 7 PM

Teddy Ash Dorothy Atchetee Charles & Vernell Bard Lorene Bard Lois Barosh Edward Berrio Donald Berglund Buck & Judy Bezdek Alice Byrd Martha Cantu Kristine Mock Carroll Mary Carter Justin Cerny Janice Cox Bill Englund Jake & Melissa Fain Ronnie Fehmel Glen Gann Elvis Garcia Eddie Graeter Eddie Hadash Anitra Haynes

Joe Novak Ray & Elsie Overstreet Leona Piekert Boyd & Virginia Powell Pierson & Wyatt Prasek Debbie Reeves Dorothy Riha Dave Schoelman Jonny Sibley Gaynell Smith Glen Socha Ed Spradlin Allen Stavinoha Haley Stewart Ann Strarup Esther Swanson Mary Lou Thane Jeff Thigpen Tony Tupa J.P. & Charlotte Watson

Nora Hollingsworth Robert Hollingsworth Cindy Howell Kyle House Debbie Hubenak Michael Hughes George Jalowy Kathleen Joines Bonnie Jones Lillian Konarik Gene Ladewig Justin Lormand Connie Martin Janice McCleskey Anna Marie McColgan Jack McDonald Joyce Mendez David Moore George & Alice Morris Odis & Lorraine Newton

2013 Christian Film Festival

in San Antonio

February 7 – 9 You can attend general Festival workshops, standard film screenings, and the Award Ceremonies; as well as a program guide to all the films. For more information, see their website: www.saicff.org/festival

Thank you! Many thanks to everyone who helped in any way with the memorial for Helen

“Scottie” Englund.

Church Council Workshop

with Mark Vander Tuig February 2, 2013

10:00-3:30

You may attend without a reservation!!!

You are invited to join one of the many church

council workshops that have been scheduled all

across the US. Helping leaders in the church

understand their role and purpose is essential to

a healthy, vital and faithful congregation. It is

the purpose of these workshops to gather as

many church council members and other leaders

in the church as possible, along with the pastors,

to center our ministries on the Great

Commission of Matthew 28...so be sure to bring

your Bibles!

Topics that we will consider:

The Purpose of the Congregation

The Great Commission and the role of the

Council

The Function of Vision and Mission

Unity in the Body of Christ and Leadership

Coming Together, Accepting our Differences

Growing Up into Maturity

We will start at 10 am with a brief devotional

and then move into the agenda for the day. Rev.

Mark Vander Tuig, the Service Coordinator of

LCMC will be leading this workshop. He has

served three congregations over the last 30

years, has both a Master's of Divinity and a

Master's degree in Counseling and Psychological

Services. Mark has made a study of leadership

over the years and desires to see every

congregation reflect the grace and mercy of God

and to focus on fulfilling the Great Commission

in our generation.

St. Paul Lutheran Church of

Bulverde

29797 U.S. Highway 281 North

Bulverde, TX 78163

The new Council Members are as

follows:

Billie Jean Bram, Evon Atchetee

The continuing Council Members

are:

Calvin Borak, Doug Mathews,

Jimmy Nielsen, Ted Schoenfield, and

Daniel Wilfert.

February 2013

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

2

Council Worship

Bulverde, TX

3 4 5 Prayer

Meeting 6 PM

Call Committee Meeting

7 PM

6

7 Council Meeting

7 PM San Antonio

8

Christian Film

9 Festival

10

11

WOW Meeting 7 PM

12

13

Ash Wednesday Noon Service

14 15

16

17

Congregational Meeting after

Services

Pastor’s Last Sunday

18 19 Prayer

Meeting 6 PM

20

21

22

23

24

Pancake Supper 5 PM – 8 PM

25

26

27 28 Mar 1 2

3RD Sheila & James Herrington 10th Elaine Wigginton 17th Charlotte Englund & JP Watson 24th Karen & David Kight

February Responsibilities

ASSISTING MINISTER: Carl Schoenberg SEXTON: David Kight USHERS: Ed Campbell, Lionel Chatel ALTAR GUILD: Gloria Campbell & Jaki Smith ACOLYTE READER

3rd Sawyer Schoenfield Ted Schoenfield 10th Stephanie Flota Sheila Herrington 17th Kalin Christenberry Cathy Schoenfield 24th Ty Schoenfield Diane Stewart

If you are not able to serve on your date, please let Pastor know.

FEBRUARY FLOWER

CALENDAR

NEWLY ELECTED PEOPLE Auditor – Diane Stewart Nominating Committee-Sheila Herrington, Helen Kight, Lynn Talafuse Cemetery Board-Nora Borak First School Board – Linda Atchetee, Jaki Smith, Claudia Wilfert Convention Delegates – Helen Kight

Join us on FACEBOOK or check us out at www.FIRSTLUTHERANEC.COM CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS: Billie Jean Bram, Calvin Borak, Doug Mathews, Jimmy Nielsen, Ted Schoenfield, Daniel Wilfert & Evon Atchetee.

First Lutheran ChurchFirst Lutheran ChurchFirst Lutheran ChurchFirst Lutheran Church

304 Oscar El Campo, TX 77437

979-543-5847

Email: office@firstlutheranec.com

ESTABLISHED FEB 1893

Worshipping Christ and Sharing Worshipping Christ and Sharing Worshipping Christ and Sharing Worshipping Christ and Sharing the Word for over a century.the Word for over a century.the Word for over a century.the Word for over a century.

Andy Taylor, Pastor Helen Marie Kight, Organist

Felicia Vickroy, Office Manager Diane Garcia, Acting Director of FS

BE SURE TO

check out our

new website at

www.firstlutheranec.com

Liz, Abigail and I would like to say a huge thank you to First Lutheran for all the love and support you have shown us this past year, and for all the years I have been a part of First. Thank you for your generosity and always proving for our needs. It is hard to leave such a caring family, so know that you will be often in our thoughts and prayers. We plan on attending the Pancake Supper if at all possible so you can see Abigail and Liz again, as they are much better to look at than me. Know that you are all welcome in Hallettsville any time. Feel free to call or e-mail when you get a chance.

When the Lord provides you with a new pastor, we will do our best to respect his new call and give him the proper space to serve the Lord here at First, so we may have a little less contact then to respect your new shepherd. Don’t take it as a sign that we don’t care, but pastors have to assist each other by allowing the new pastor to bond with his new flock without “old pastor so and so” interfering. Know that we will be praying and are praying for your new spiritual leader.

We love you all very much. Once again, thank you so much. May God bless you all mightily as He continues to draw you closer to Himself! Know that He loves you with a love that won’t change or quit – He is a good God that is worthy of our praise and trust – know that He will continue to provide.

In His Agape Love Pastor Andy, Liz and Abigail :o)