Where is Jesus in the Sea of Change?

A sea of change is exactly where we are as Luther Memorial in these months! The tide has shifted us to a new staff configuration as we shift in how we will cover youth minis-

tries, as well as the various ministries of ALL ages at LMC. With joy, we will join in ministry together with Pastor Alma Gast, who will serve as our Associate Pastor in a half-time position. She will be a part of many of our worship and ministries of all ages, especially

our middle school youth and confirmation ministries. We are grate-ful to God, the call committee and council, our congregation, and Pastor Alma as we have discerned together what God is leading us to. Pastor Alma is married to Pastor David Buco, the pastor of First Lutheran in Avoca. She comes to us from serving in hospice care and ministry in this last year. Whereas so much of call com-

mittee has to be in confidence until the “meet and greet” day which was June 10

th, we invite you all to ask questions as we live into this new staff configura-

tion and how we will cover responsibilities. We seek to help us all stay aboard through open communication as we ride this new sea change together!!

Messenger July 2018

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As the tide carries Mary into retirement, God has provided for us in having a very talented, hard-working person to come aboard staff. We welcome Hilary Seelhoff as our new parish administrator! Hilary comes to us with over seventeen years of working at the hospital in the medical records department as well as many other various responsibilities. She is married to Andy Seelhoff and has three children, Reed, Rylee, and Rorie. Hilary and Mary will overlap for two weeks from June 18-June 30, and then Hilary will be ready to ride the tides of change in ministry with us as we settle in with our new staff. Thank you Hilary for coming on board! We look forward to serving with you!

And the tide has shifted for Mary Blacker, our parish adminis-trator for over fifteen years. We thank God for the tide that brought Mary onto this ship of serving on staff for all these years! We’ve looked to her for the gift of history, “how-to’s,” keeping this ship running well in its many business details, and providing such loved hospitality here in the office! She has given such a gift of service and ministry as she has brought Jesus’ presence to so many of us. We thank God for Mary and all the gifts she has given in helping us keep afloat on this sea of ministry! We ask God’s blessings upon her as Mary shifts into the tide of retirement, and the absolute joy of more time with her family! We will miss you Mary! Thank you for your years of faithful service! We thank God for you!

With such a shift of sea changes, we turn to Christ who calms the sea! We turn to Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! We turn to Christ in one another as we thank God for the gifts given and the gifts to be received. We turn to Christ in one another as we trust, speak in love and honesty, and remain curious in what God is up to in and through us. We turn in trust to God and each other as we shift TOGETHER celebrating that Jesus is with us in the boat bringing us peace!

God bless us together Sisters and Brothers as we ride the sea of changes of ministry togeth-er!

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Sarah

Remember in Prayer...

Irving Stubbendick, Charlie Boyes

Millie Harms Joe Hawkins

Robert Hallstrom, Sr. Victoria Martacho Kehlenbeck

Mae Lang Donita Rosenthal

Lois Block

Phyllis Buesing Helen Hawkins Lucille Niebuhr Don Rosenthal Sharon Hudson

Don Carey LeeAnn Zeiger

Steve & Mary Lade Olav Schavland

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S.O.W.E.R.s of God’s seeds as We Serve, Outreach, Worship, Educate, and Relate

(LMC’s vision statement)

This summer we are inviting all of us into the “Faith-filled 45 Challenge.” We are continuing to live out fun, relevant ways in which we can still have a “Faith-filled 45” time even if we are out camping , traveling, on the ball field, or out at the lake. Continue to do the provided list of the legal-sized “Faith-filled 45” insert which was in your June newsletter OR come find another at church. Follow the directions on the back and join us in a

“Faith-filled 45 Summer !” Put your completed S.O.W.E.R. faith tasks into the bucket in the fellowship hall with your

name and phone number on the back. Prizes, which include Subway, Jo-Bob’s, Dairy Chef

gift cards, and devotional books will be drawn for on Sunday August 19th after worship!!

Sow seeds of faith in this “Faith-filled 45 Summer!”

The family of Glen Hansen want to thank everyone that helped in the kitchen for Glen’s funeral luncheon. To all who brought salads, cookies, bars and cakes. Thank you, your kind-

ness is greatly appreci-ated.

God Bless!

Lois Hansen Dennis & Tammy Hansen & Family Duane & Allyson & Family Yvonne Hansen

The family of Lloyd and Marilyn Seelhoff invite you to an open house for their 50th anniversary on July

8th from 2-4:30 pm.

Irene Kuenning’s Family invites you to an open house to celebrate her 100th Birthday August 5, 2018

from 10 a.m.—1 p.m.

WOMEN OF THE ELCA Dates to Remember

July 28: Carol Joy Holling annual quilt auction. Donations can be

delivered between June 1-July 17.

A huge thank you to everyone who worked or donated food for the

recent funerals.

It is time to start working on World Relief Kits. Details for the kits are on the Kiosk. A kit or any part of a kit can be donated. They will be put

together the last of October.

We will be tying blankets for God’s Work Our Hands Day in Septem-

ber.

BECKMAN PROJECT

$33.00 was added to the Beckman Fund in June.

Anniversaries

Steve and Susan Wellman

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Thank you to my Church Family for all the congratulatory messages and beautiful flowers I received on my Retirement. Thank you Pastor Sarah for the corsage! It’s been great working for the Congregation as your Parish Administrator for 17+ years. I will miss the daily contact that I have had with so many of you.

Mary Blacker

Germanfest Parade

Saturday July 14, 2018 12:00 noon start time, arrive at 11:30 a.m.

Otoe County Fair Parade Saturday July 28, 2018

5:00 p.m. start time, arrive at 4:30 p.m.

LMC Evangelism committee will be meeting ½ hour before parade time at Locust St. just south of Main Street (5th St.) for both parades. We will need 7-11 people to help give out our water or pull a wagon. Please wear your yellow “God’s Work Our Hands” t-shirt if you have one. All ages are welcome. Please let Terri Janssen (402-269-2988) know which parade you can participate in and if you have a wagon and/or cooler that we can use.

In the event that there are fewer parade entries that day, Luther Memorial Church walkers may move onto Main St. by the time you arrive. Thank you.

BEER AND HYMNS

Stay tuned for future date!

We will continue in the celebration of who we are as German Lutherans by doing as Martin and Katie Luther would do—enjoy

their own handcrafted beer and sing hymns of praise to their

God!

Join us as we take over the Beer Stein with Hymnals and song! Tim Collin is excited to have us and friends from North Branch

Lutheran will join us!

Luther Memorial Ministry Assistant Position

We are looking for an organized, team-spirited person who will be able to coordinate various areas of our ministry life. Experience with social media, Google docs, and Excel will be important as this position requires re-cruiting volunteers, coordinating registrations and fund-raisers, attend-ing special youth overnights and retreats, participating in staff meetings, and other tasks. The position will include 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM office hours every Thursday with other hours to fluctuate as needed. An annual salary has been approved for this po-sition.

To apply, send a resume postmarked by July 16 to Karen Wolken, 62289 US Hwy 136, Te-cumseh, NE 68450. Applicant will begin on August 1.

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Youth & Family Happenings

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL July 9-12th, 2018

6 to 8pm at Luther Memorial Church Ages 4-11 may register, older kids are welcome to

volunteer! ( $5/student—max $10/family) Call the Church Office or Register Online at:

http://syracusevbs.weebly.com/

MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER FUN:

When: July 12 (8pm-10pm)

What: Middle School Lock-In

Who: All 6th-8th Grade Students

RSVP to Nick: No later than July 10th

Other fun to also take place through the summer.

ELCA YOUTH GATHERING The 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering was in

Houston, Texas from June 27 to July 1st.

Our group of 17 youth and 5 adults will be sharing about their experience at worship on July 29th.

Come hear and see some of the wonderful things they experienced and learned.

Thank you for all the support this last year.

Summer Camp We have a number of youth at camp this month. Please pray for

them and send them letters of encouragement. You can contact the church office to see who is at camp and find out how to send them

mail.

Confirmation Camp will be during the week of July 15-20.

LUTHER MEMORIAL CHURCH July 2018

9:00 am Service

W o r s h i p Assistants

ACOLYTES July 1: Lyndsay E & Jared P July 8: Nathanial C & Connor M July 15: Jacob S & Connor M July 22: Hailey K July 29: Caleb C & Jase V USHERS July 1: Tony and Tina Engelbrecht July 8: Jim and Pam Pfeiffer July 15: Fred and Chris Bredehoeft July 22: Arlin and Arlis Steinhoff July 29: Lee and Sharon Wellensiek READERS July 1: Cindy Post July 8: Sue Wellman July 15: Chris Bredehoeft July 22: Lisa Lintner July 29: Rick Kreifels COMMUNION ASSISTANTS July 1: Roger Kuenning, Grace K, Arlis Steinhoff July 8: Susan Wellman, Jenniffer Panko-Rahe, Jerry Neeman July 15: Tammie Mead, Taylor M, Allison Mead July 22: Rick Kreifels, Roger Kuenning, JoDee Paulsen July 29: JoDee Paulsen, Roger Hoffman, Freda Hoffman POWER POINT July 3: Jacob P July 8: Maddie H July 15 Casey L July 22: Nathanial C July 29: AUDIO VISUAL July 1: Andy Brace & Steve Wellman July 8: Andy Brace & Cody L July 15: Arlin Rohlfs & Colton N July 22: Jim Pfeiffer & Nick Cordray July 29: Andy Brace & Steve Wellman VISITATION: July Frank and Joyce Schulze If you are unable to serve, it is your responsibility to get your own substitute!!!