JUNE 2019

What’sInside??PASTORBRUNK’SLETTERAREJOICINGCHURCH

v Baptismv Congratulations

AFUNCHURCHv GameNights

ALEARNINGCHURCHv SundaySchoolv Women’sBibleStudyv VBSv RightNowMedia

ASERVINGCHURCHv HealthKitsv CommunityPantryv AudioandVisual

JULY3rdMISSIONMOMENTFROMTHEEDITORAPRAYINGCHURCH

v PrayerChainANACTIVECHURCH

v JuneVolunteerSchedulev VolunteerNeededList

CELEBRATINGCHURCHv Birthdays,Anniversary&

Baptisms

JUNEHIGHLIGHTSSundays:Worship9a.m.SundaySchool10:30a.m.Women’sBibleStudy2ndMondays-10a.m.GameNightsFridaysJune14thand21stat6:30p.m.CommunityPantryThirdSaturday,June15th,8a.m.-noon

><><><><><><><><><>VisitUsontheWeb,

https://elizabeth-lutheran.org/andFacebook

https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethLutheran/

ElizabethLutheranChurch165CR307(POBox675)Caldwell,TX77836Office:979-567-4286

office@elizabeth-lutheran.orgPastorTerryBageCell:979-224-5258tgbage@hotmail.com

PastorRichardE.Brunk,Jr.Cell:832-483-0702brunkfin@aol.com

><><><><><><><><><><><><><><President–BuddyWarren

979-820-3345VicePresident/Evangelism-

MikeCook979-324-3933

Secretary–SharonNovosad979-272-8375

Treasurer–DebbieSkrabanek979-324-2671

Membership–DiannaCurington979-535-4467

Stewardship-LisaBlum979-272-3040

Property–JeffCurington979-571-7271

Education–ConnieSuehs979-200-9632

Worship–VinceNeal979-567-7921

FinancialSecretary–JohnHoffman979-567-1182

News Of Elizabeth Lutheran

JuneNewsletter Page 2

PastorBrunk’sLetter

Thisshouldnotbecomingasasurprisetoanyone.IamretiringonSunday,September1,2019.

Ourtimetogetherbeganinlate2013,whenIinterviewedwiththeCongregationCounciltobegininJanuary2014asyourInterimPastor.MygoalwastohelpELCfindapastorwhowouldrecognizewhatagreatcongregationweare.InDecember2014,Ileftbelievingthatyouhadfoundyournewpastor.Whenthatdidn’tworkout,andyouwereassignedanewinterim,IputmynameinforthecalltoElizabethLutheran.IwashonoredtoreturnasyourpastorMay1,2015.IamoftenaskedwhyIwantedtoreturn.Hereareafewofmymanyreasons:

v ELCisagreatcongregation.v Caldwellisagreatplacetolive.v WehaveawesomeyoungpeopleatELC.

v ELCisincrediblyinvolvedinourcommunity.

v Wehavegreatfellowship,funandfood.

v Weareacaringandvibrantchurchfamily.

v Weareafaith-filledcongregation.v Wemakeadifferencetoalotofpeople.

IhadseveralgoalswhenIcamehere:

First:GetELCmoreinvolvedinourlargerchurch.Ipushedforustoattendconferencesandassemblies.SoonIrealizedthatthelargerchurchwasnolongertheoneIknewbeforeIwenttoActiveDutywiththeArmy.Manyofyourealizedthesamethings.Afterseveralyearsofstudy,research,discussionsandprayerswevotedunanimouslytochangeouraffiliation.Itwasagruelingprocess,butwellworthit.Wearejoyfullyinvolvedinanassociationofchurchesnow,LCMC.

Second:BuildaBiblicalfaithfoundationforourrapidlychangingworld.Today,everyheadlineseemsmoreabsurdthantheonebeforeandmostorganizations,evenmanychurches,seemtopromotedivisionandanger.WearecalledtobefaithfulwitnessestotheGospel,notaneasytaskin2019.

Third:Celebrateourhistoryandourfuture.IamdeeplygratefulforthewonderfulpeopleofELC.WhileIcelebratebeinghereforoverfiveyears,IamhumbledbecauseELChasbeenhereforover133years.ELChasagreathistoryandfuture.

JuneNewsletter Page 3 Fourth:ContinuetomakeadifferenceinCaldwellandBurlesonCounty.There

arehundredsofwaysthatwemakeadifferencejustthroughorganizations,programs,projects,classesandactivitiesthatwesponsororsupporteachyear.Addtothatthehundredsofwaysthatourmembersmakeadifferenceindividuallythroughtheirwork,schools,volunteeringandcommunitysupport.

Fifth:Continuetoimproveandgrow.Wehaveagreatfacilityandlocation.However,weather,timeandfoundationissueshavecausedalotofdamagetoourbuildings.Ourleadersareaddressingtheseissues,buttheywillneedlotsofhelp.Ourbeautifulbuildinghasserveduswellfor33years.Ipraywewillcontinuetofocusonhowphysicalimprovementssupportourprimaryspiritualmission.

Sixth:Buildstabilitywithoutbecomingstagnant.Stabilitysuggestsasolidfoundationonwhichtobuild.Buildingstabilityisnotveryexciting.Thanksforallwehaveaccomplishedtogetherinareassuchas:officemanagement,accounting,outreach,socialmedia,electronicandaudiovisualupgrades,anewconstitutionandmuchmore.Forme,ELChasbeenanawesomecongregation.Wehaveasolidmembershipandfinancialbase,bothessentialforfuturegrowthandchallenges.

PastorTerryBagecamelastMarchandwasordainedforministryhereatELClastfall.Iamgratefulforhishelpduringmyongoinghealthissues.PastorBagewillassumeallpastoraldutiesSeptember1,2019.InconsultationwithLCMCTexasDistrict,CouncilandIagreedtobeginthetransition90daysinadvance.

Withoutthelove,prayersandsupportofallofyouintheELCfamilyIbelievemyhealthissueswouldhavebeenfarworse.KathyandIwillretirehereinCaldwell.WhileIamretiringfromparishministry,Iampursuingalongdeferreddreamofpost-graduateeducationintheology.Wealsohavefivegrandkidsages1½to14thatwewanttowatchgrowup.Thanksforbeingawonderfulchurchfamily,PastorBrunk

JuneNewsletter Page 4

HearYee,HearYee

JustaHeadsUp,TheseTimesTheyAreAChanging:AsweseePastorBrunkmoveforwardinhisupandcomingretirementandour

transitiontotag-inPastorBageasourfulltimepastor,continues.

Youwillstartseeingsomeofthetransitionalchangesaboutthechurch.Pleaseprayforoursmoothtransitionandenjoytheexcitementthatsurroundsus.Thankyou,TheElizabethLutheranChurchCouncil

ARejoicingChurch

BAPTISM:v WerejoicewithStephenandDanaSkrabanekaswebaptizetheirdaughter,PeytonSkrabanekonSunday,June2nd,2019.

v Werejoiceaswebaptizeanewmemberandherson,AbagailMarieGraveandBeauxKentonMcBrideonSunday,June2nd,2019.

CONGRATULATIONS:Whatafantasticchurchfamilywehave!

v CongratulationstoTerriSuehsasshewasnamedEducatoroftheYearbytheCaldwellEducationandLeadershipFoundation.OurveryownErinSupaknominatedTerriSuehs.

v CongratulationstoHaileyVesswhohadanhonorablementionintheTribuneforherawesomesoftballskills!Shemadeafieldingpercentageof.960andthrewout10runnersattemptingtostealabase.Haileyalsoendedtheyearwitha.376attheplatewith32hits,25RBI’sand37runsscored.Ofthe32hitsfourweredoubles,fiveweretriplesandfourwerehomeruns.Shealsomanagedtosteal18bases.

v CongratulationstoMarkCochranforachievingtheLamarMedalfromtheWarrenLodgeNo.56A.F.andA.M.andCaldwellChapterNO.976O.E.S.TheLamarMedalhonorstheeducatorsfortheirdedicationtotheyouthintheeducationfieldoftheirchoice.

v CongratulationstoRayandSueBrinkmanwhowerenamedOutstandingSeniorCitizenspresentedbytheBurlesonCountyForeverYoungCommitteeandtheTexasA&MAgriLifeExtensionService.BothRayandSuewerenominatedbyBurleson4-HStitch&Designclub.

JuneNewsletter Page 5

AFunChurch

GAMENIGHT:When:Friday,June14thand21stat6:30p.m.inthefellowshiphallWhat:ComeforFun,FellowshipandFood(potluck)!!

ALearningChurch

SUNDAYSCHOOLFORALL@10:30a.m.:v AdultForum:FellowshipHallv AdultBibleClassonthebookofGenesis:ConferenceRoomv Children’sclassesforPre-KthroughYouth:SundaySchoolWing

WOMEN’SBIBLESTUDY:Every2ndMondayofthemonthat10a.m.Comeandenjoygreatfellowship.ThismonthwillbeonJune10th.VACATIONBIBLESCHOOL:June9ththrough12thfrom6p.m.till8:30p.m.VacationBibleSchool!IfyouwouldliketovolunteerorassistwiththeeventpleaseseeConnieSuehs(979)200-9632,TammyStevenson(979)268-1486orChristyFaust(979)567-4375.Ifyouwouldliketobringcookies,thereisasign-upsheetintheFellowshipHall.RIGHTNOWMEDIA:Inaworldwhereeveryoneisattemptingtodefinemanhood,whynotlooktoGodwhodesignedmen.God'sdefinitionofrealmanhoodisfoundintheultimateman-JesusChrist.GatherwithothermenforanewstudyentitledAttributesForMen.TensessionsonnineattributesthatwillempoweryoutobecomethemanGodwantsyoutobe.YOUCANFINDTHISSERIESONRIGHTNOWMEDIA,FORFREE!Allofourchurchmembers,familyandfriendshavefree,noobligationaccesstoRightNowMedia.YoucanfindthisandthousandsmoreBiblestudies,videosforkidsandadultsofallagesandotherfaithresourcesattheRightNowMediasite.Formoreinformation;Justsendamessagetooffice@elizabeth-lutheran.organdwewillsendyouthefreesigninlink:nostringsandnofees.Thisisourgifttoyou!

JuneNewsletter Page 6

July3rdCelebration

23rdANNUALJULY3rdCELBREATION2019:

Planningour23rdAnnualJuly3rdCelebrationiswellunderway.RaffleTicketsare

availablefromKathyBrunkandshewillbesetupintheMulti-PurposeRoomeachSundayafterchurch.Wehaveaveryimpressivelistofraffleprizesthatmaketheticketsaneasysell.Thankstoeveryonewhohavedonateditemsandprizestohelpmaketheraffleasuccess.

It’salsotimetostartthinkingaboutsilentauctionitems.PleaseseeMakalaGerlandifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutthesilentauction.TheraffleandsilentauctionarebothverygoodwaystosupporttheJuly3rdCelebration.

Thecoordinatorshavebeguntofillouttheirworkerlists.Ittakeslotsofman-hourstoputonabenefitofthissize.Pleasekeepthisinmindifyouareaskedtowork.Thechurchneedsyourhelp,sopleasemakeyourselfavailableandwillingtowork.

It’shardtobelievethatwe’reonlyamonthawayfromJuly3rd.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsabouthowyoucanparticipateinthisyear’sevent,pleaseseeeitherPastorBrunk,PastorBage,oneofthecoordinators,ormyself.WewillmeetonJune24that6:30pmforthefinalpreparationandwillbesettinguponMonday,July1standTuesday,July2ndat6:00pm.Pleasemakeplanstohelpwithsetup.It’sreallyveryrewarding.Thankyou,VinceNeal

JuneNewsletter Page 7

MissionMomentMission Moment

Churches Planting Churches

by Pastor Bryce Formwalt, Director of Mission Growth

The vision God is calling us to as an association of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ here in Texas is worth repeating: to see disciple-making and church planting movements in and through our congregations. From this vision we define our mission simply as “Multiplying Disciples and Churches.” To support our congregations in accomplishing this mission, the Texas District is committed to working in three strategic areas: church planting, church revitalization, and leadership development.

As an association of congregations, it is vital for local congregations to be actively engaged in church planting if we are going to experience a church planting movement. The vision for church planting is not a top-down strategy where the District does church planting for us. Rather we believe that the best church planting comes from local churches raising up and sending out leaders to live on mission and establish new churches.

In San Antonio, Chuck and Azeneth Knudson are living on mission as they plant HeBrews 10:24. But where did the Knudsons come from? The truth is God called Chuck and Azeneth out of the congregation where they were nurtured and developed to be leaders and missionaries: St. Paul, New Braunfels. Through the years the congregation helped Chuck and Azeneth to grow in their faith and gave them leadership opportunities. Chuck helped to lead worship, taught Sunday School, led men’s ministry and even preached before enrolling in a ministry preparation program. God called them out of the pew and into the mission field.

While the Knudsons serve as one example, we envision their story being just one of many yet to come! We want to encourage you and your church to be intentional about raising up future leaders and sending out missionaries to plant churches and personally invest in reaching new disciples of Jesus. We hope that one day it will be normative for congregations to disciple and identify future church leaders and missionaries as an integral part of their day-to-day ministry. This is, after all, what we read about in the New Testament.

So how about you and your church? How are you investing in planting churches? How are you proactively seeking to disciple and raise up future church leaders? If you are interested in learning more about what you and your congregation can do, feel free to reach out. I am here to help you develop local strategies that you can apply in your congregation so that someday in the future we can experience God’s dream for us of churches planting churches. Pastor Bryce Formwalt is the Director of Mission Growth for the LCMC Texas District. Residing in Georgetown, Pastor Bryce is available to coach congregations on mission. Feel free to contact him with any questions or comments: 512-942-7776 orbryce@lcmctexas.org. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lcmctexas

© 2019 Bryce J. Formwalt, All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission. June 2019.

JuneNewsletter Page 8

AServingChurch

2019HEALTHKITS:Thisyearourkitswenttothecommunitypantryrecipients.Wewereblessedtobeabletohandoutmorethan230personalcarekits.Thankyoutoallofthosewhogaveitemsforthekitsandmonetarydonations.COMMUNITYPANTRYThismonthwefedaround208families.Pantryisopen8a.m.tonoon,everythirdSaturday(June15th-thismonth).WeneedVolunteers!CallMikeCook979-324-2933tolearnhowwecanhelpfeedourneighbors.AUDIOANDVISUAL:WeareinneedofvolunteerstohelpruntheslidesonSundayMornings.IfyouareinterestedpleaseseePastorBage,BradDossorcontactthechurchoffice.Itisassimpleasone-click!

FromtheEditor

There are printed Newsletters and extra calendars available in the Narthex. Want to put your event in the Elizabeth Lutheran Church Newsletter? Contact the

Church Office before the Newsletter dead line (June 19th for the July Newsletter) and we can put your event in the calendar. The Calendar is posted by the Church

office, on our Church Website and on our Facebook page

InanemergencyorcrisispleasecallPastorBage:(979)224-5258PastorBrunk:(832)483-0702(Cutthisoutandplaceitonyourrefrigerator)

JuneNewsletter Page 9

APrayingChurch

Haveaprayerrequest?WriteitinthenewPrayerRequestNotebook,ContacttheELCofficeand/orcallourPrayerChainChairperson:AliceWiederhold979-567-3121IncaseofanemergencyorcrisisALWAYScallPastorBrunkat(832)483-0702orPastorBageat(979)224-5258.

Prayfor,visitandsendcardsto:J.D.SuehsRonGallerBurlesonSt.JosephManor,1022StateHighway21E,Caldwell,TX77836FlorenceFranksonatTheLexingtonCenter,679I-45South#103,Huntsville,TX77340.Sendmailto:126MainSt.Huntsville,TX77340-2643

AnActivechurch

HELPERSNEEDED:Sign-upsheetsarelocatedintheFellowshipHall.Wehavemanydifferentopportunitiestoserveincluding,fellowshipmeals,flowers

andreaders.SCHEDULES:9AMService June2nd June9th June16th June23rd June30THUSHERES HenryCurington(Captain),KeithMaresh,PaulSchulle,BradDoss,

MarkStreetmanALTARGUILD MakalaGerlandandMireyaMulliganACOLYTES Brayden

TitzmanJake

HibbelerRylee

CuringtonLuke

NovosadHudsonNovosad

READERS LarryBlum AUDIO/VISUAL

BradDoss BradDoss BradDoss BradDoss BradDoss

FELLOWSHIP DebbieSkrabanek

MulliganFamily

FLOWERS GeorgiaPtacek MelvinandFrancesZgabay

HenryandDiannaCurington

JoAnnDegelia

JuneNewsletter Page 10

Has God gifted you with the talent to read, bake or grow flowers? If so, then have we got a deal for you. Actually, you don't have to bake or grow flowers.

These items can be purchased. We are here to help you put your talents to work in God's house. Below are ways you can contribute.

Readers for the following services: June 9, 16, 23, 30, July 7, 14, 21 and 28 You don't have to make up the readings. These are pre-selected and will be sent to you via email or US postal service. I suspect you can even come to the church and pick it up. Flowers for our Altar: June 23, July 7, 14 and 21 This can be a potted plant or arrangement. These can be something you grew yourself or purchased--florist, nursery, Walmart, other discount store. Here's a thought... Instead of sending special occasion flowers to your wife/husband at the office or bringing them home to sit on a table, how about bringing them to the church, we would love celebrating with you. We will even let you take them home after the service so you can continue to enjoy them. If you have any questions about Altar Flowers, please see any of our Altar Guild members. They are full of ideas. Fellowship: June 9, 23, 30, July 7, 14, 21 and 28 We do not expect a buffet. We are good with something to drink while we fellowship with visitors and our church family. The church provides the coffee, punch and cups. We are in need of people to prepare and have ready after the service. If you feel called to help, please sign up. If you have any questions or need help locating items the church provides, please feel free to contact Lisa Blum or any other lady you see in the kitchen. We will be happy to walk you through the process. NOTE: We do not discriminate, we accept help from the men too. Now that you feel the Spirit moving you, please come by the Fellowship Hall and

sign up.

JuneNewsletter Page 11

Celebrations

JuneBirthday JuneAnniversary JuneBaptismChristyFaust 1MarciaPost 4ShelbyBednar 7LynnPost 9MargaretHibbeler 11SylviaHein 13JoniCook 14TammyStevenson 16LaurieFrieda 16RobertHobbs 18MelanieWoods 19VivianBage 19TommySpeck 21FrankFriedaIII 21AliceWiederhold 25MelvinZgabay 26

DuaneandBettyGold 4StephenandDanaSkrabanek6KeithandCindyMaresh 7HenryandDiannaCurington 14DuaneandTerriSuehs 20MarkandMarthaStreetman 21

AbagailGraves 2BeauxMcBride 2PeytonSkrabanek 2ShelbyBednar 3TarahCochran 8TravisCochran 8BrynleighParkin 10MathewAmaya 13ColtWilson 14HudsonNovosad 20JulianneGerland 20KelseyHoffman 23

JuneNewsletter Page 12

JuneEventCalendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8-9amservice-10:30amSundaySchool

9 10 11 12 13 14 15-9amservice-10:30amSundaySchool-VBSat6p.m.

-Women’sBibleStudyat10a.m.-VBSat6p.m.

-VBSat6p.m.

GameNightat6:30p.m.

CommunityPantryat8a.m.

16 17 18 19 20 21 22-9amservice(Father’sDay)-10:30amSundaySchool

GameNightat6:30p.m.

23 24 25 26 27 28 29-9amservice-10:30amSundaySchool

30 -9amservice-10:30amSundaySchool

**NoCouncilMeetingthisMonth**