January 2006 Cornerstone

PASTOR WAYNE SEZ: JANUARY

A Word of Thanks

From Cindy and myself to all who gave so generously to us in cards, gifts and love this Christmas, may our Lord bless you in 2006.

Annual Meeting

January 29th, 2006, will be our annual meeting and on the agenda will be a report from the Feasibility committee, a recommendation about service times, along with the reports from the various ministries.  Your attendance is important.

Feasibility Reports Available

You can find the feasibility report from Kairos in the Great Room and we ask that you take only one per family. We want you to look it over thoroughly, and if there are questions we will try to answer them. If you have comments or recommendations please also let us know about them. Please note there will be a focus group on January 22nd, at 2:30 p.m. to hear from you and answer questions that we are able.

January 8th, Baptism of Our Lord

On this Sunday we will celebrate the baptisms of  Jesus, the sinless lamb of God, and all those who were baptized in 2005 children of God chosen and dear to him: Collin Smet, January 16; Terri Dies, May 22; Cameron Poshard, May 22; Jaycee Poshard, May 22; Audrey Reed, June 5; Jordan Honeycutt, July 17; Kara Honeycutt, October 30; and Jeremy Honeycutt, October 30.  In baptism we recognize this is not just water but water made effective through God’s word to bring us new life.

January 15th, Commemoration of

Martin Luther King, Jr., Renewer of Society

Pray for Racial reconciliation on this day.  Pray for our churches that understanding might prevail and that we might build bridges that cross the barriers of race.

Welcome, New Members

We will Welcome Dan & Carol Martino into our membership on January 29th during our affirmation of Baptism service.

SERVING IN WORSHIP

Assisting Minister

Nancy Claude

Ushers 

James Claude

Dale Bollman

Wally Hochsprung

Dave Moder

Sid Peterson

Counters

Vicki Bittner and Nancy Claude

ANNUAL CONGREGATION MEETING

Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 10:00 a.m.

2006 CALENDARS

The Chancel Flower Calendar for 2006 is now available for sign-up.  This is an opportunity to remember an event, a relative, or friend or special occasion by ordering flowers to be displayed in the chancel on Sunday mornings.  The cost is $25 for the two bouquets each Sunday, and you may take the flowers home after the second worship service to be enjoyed or they will be delivered to our members hospitalized or shut-in.

The Missionary Support Calendar for 2006 is also available for sign-up.  We support Lindsay Mack in Honduras.  In the manner similar to the flower chart, you may specify a celebration, dedication or memorial.  The cost is $15 for Missionary Support.

Just a reminder that two or more persons may go together on a given Sunday for either of these opportunities to share in the expense or to share a particular date that you would like to commemorate.  All sign-up sheets are available on the table at the back of the church.

Secret Pals

SECRET PALS

We remember our shut-ins through the year with our secret pal program.  All that is required is to send cards or notes through the year and to pray for your secret pal.  At Christmas our identities are revealed with a visit and a small gift.  It is now time to sign up again for a 2006 secret pal.  There is a sign-up sheet in the Great Room.

LIBRARY TREASURES

Thank you to all who purchased and donated books to the Library this past year.  We also appreciate the books from the book sale.

This is a reminder to check around your home for any books you may have forgotten about that belong back on our shelves.  We still have cards looking for books.

books for our adult readers:

ONE TUESDAY MORNING by Karen Kingsbury

The last thing Jake Ryan knew was the World Trade Center collapsing on top of him and his fellow firefighters.  The man in bed remembers nothing and who is the woman sitting by his bed?

RIVERS OF GOLD by Tracie Peterson

Separated from her travel companions and presumed dead, Miranda Colton finds herself under the care of a botanist from England.  Although they become friends, a menacing force from the past threatens to destroy everything she holds dear.

COME SPRING by Tim LaHave

Dylan Cooper has begun a new life in Boston.  He hopes to receive recognition for his photography, which begins to seem impossible.  Dylan meets Grace who believes in him, but then his creative gift might be what tears them apart.

FOR OUR YOUNGER CHILDREN:

AWESOME ANIMALS by Gina Ingoglia

A giant anteater eats about 30,000 insects every day.  A chameleon’s tongue is longer than its body and a vampire bat sleeps hanging upside down.  Read about these and lots more creatures in this book.

WHALES AND DOLPHINS IN ACTION by Tanner Ottley Gay

Find out how big blue whales are, where narwhals live, and what whales and dolphins eat for lunch in this pop-up book.

LET’S SHARE by P.K. Hallinan

This book teaches that sharing can be fun and easy to do.

A special "Thank You" to Will Staelens who made us a new shelf unit for our Library.  This will give us some much needed space.

- The Bookworms

WOMEN OF THE ELCA

So, are you one of those that makes a New Year’s Resolution?  I generally don’t, but I do resolve to  read more this year!  The publication Lutheran Woman Today has a theme for the January/February 2006 issue.  It is "New Year, New You?"  Resolutions are good for the soul and the body.  A quote from the publication:  “Whatever stage of life you’re in, and whether you’re physically fit or living with chronic illness, you can find ways to be a wise steward of your health and well-being.  Our health and wholeness are important keys to responding to God’s call for us and acting boldly on that call.”  My take on this paragraph is to resolve to make some kind of change—any change that will promote your physical health, spiritual health, or emotional health.  Our own well-being benefits the faith community.  As a Board, we are committed and resolved to promote the health initiative of the Women of the ELCA:  Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls.  Throughout 2006 we hope to aid you in your resolve to be a wise steward of your own health and well-being by offering activities, thoughts, readings, support, and information.  We feel it is God’s call for us to assist all women of Grace and Peace Lutheran Church in their ministry.

If you currently do not subscribe to Lutheran Woman Today, you might want to consider subscribing.  The annual subscription is only $12.00 and it is available from Augsburg Fortress, P.O. Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN  55440.  Each issue offers articles of interest to women and a Bible study written by Sue Gamelin, which is understandable and offers insight and application to your life today!

We have already begun planning for the year.  Now in January we are arranging for a creative outlet for women and girls of Grace and Peace. Fired Up is a paint your own pottery and art studio in Peoria Heights.  We are in the process of arranging dates at the studio for us to get together in fun and friendship in the usually dull month of January. Whether you consider yourself creative or not, please come.  If you don’t care to drive in the winter, we will arrange transportation.  The staff at Fired Up will assist you in creating your own pottery masterpiece!  Watch the Sunday bulletins for details.  This will be one of those events where we take time to care for ourselves and our need for relationships with other women.

Our women’s ministry at Grace and Peace is a joint effort.  Some scripture to consider:

Each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

- 1 Corinthians 7:7

There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

- 1 Corinthians 12:5

If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

- 1 Peter 4:11

Happy New Year!

Your Executive Board:

Roxanne Hochsprung, Coordinator; Nancy Howerter, Secretary; Linda Ericsson, Treasurer; Ann Joyce, Helen Hamilton, and Ruth Grenzow, circle Representatives

MISCELLANEOUS

SHARE Food

January 1-8- Share Sign-up

December 21- Share Pick-up

January Key Person

Julie Smith

2006 will soon be here!!  All reports to be included in the Annual Report are due in the office by January 8, 2006.

February Cornerstone Deadline

January 22, 2006

Pick up your Annual Giving Statements

Coffee Hour Hosts

Volunteers needed for January coffee hours.

Miriam Circle

January 10, 2007  7:00 p.m.

Meeting at church–Chris Mitchell, hostess

Please check to see if you are missing a coat–we have several coats that are unclaimed in the Narthex. On Christmas Eve, a man’s long wool coat was mistaken for theirs–a London Fog men’s wool coat is here and someone has the wrong one, please check your closet!

GRACE AND PEACE CONGREGATION COUNCIL

December 20, 2005

PRESENT:  Paul Mueller, Linda Ericsson, Sandy Peterson, Carol Luecht, Pastor Shelksohn, Kelly Smet, Dick Joyce, Mike Murphy, Janelle Houge, Julie Smith and Roberta Dietrich.  Guests: Wes Hendriker, Nathan Ruby, David Dietrich, Don Howerter

President Paul Mueller called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

Pastor Shelksohn led prayers and shared a devotion.

Sharing the Vision–Wes Hendriker, Consulting Associate with Kairos and Associates presented his report of findings with recommendations from the interviews and focus groups that were conducted with our congregation.  Nathan Ruby from the Feasibility Committee submitted a list of recommendations as a result of the findings from Kairos.  The feasibility reports will be available for the congregation and also a focus group will be held one week before the Annual Meeting to explain and answer questions.

Areas of Ministry and Business

christian education–Written report reviewed.  January 8th Sunday School classes will resume. 

community action–The Human Service Dinner was a great success.  218 people were served, 28 workers, total cost $367.62. 

endowment–No report

evangelism –Written report reviewed.  350 door hangers were distributed for the Christmas season.

finance –Written report reviewed.  Dave reminded everyone that all pledges needed to be brought up-to-date.  The 2006 budget was presented.  Mike Murphy asked to amend the advertising line for the yellow pages.  A motion was made to accept the 2006 budget as amended.  The motion carried.

long range planning–No report

nurture–The Augsburg Book Sale was a success.  All new books are donated to the library with a profit of $107.  Fourteen members helped to carol to the shutins.  This committee is in need of members.

property –The furnace problems have been resolved with all labor donated.

stewardship–Written report was reviewed.  Mary Whitledge has resigned from Council and Stewardship Committee.

worship and music–The organist’s evaluation and salary adjustment were made.  A motion was made to accept the recommendation from the Worship and Music committee to begin in June 2006 -- 8:00 a.m. Worship service, Fellowship period, 9:30 Sunday School, 10:45 a.m. Worship Service.  An amendment was made to begin this in September.  The motion was seconded and carried as amended.

youth  - Written report was reviewed.  Both the Junior and Senior High groups will be participating in the Pittsburg Project as their Mission Trip for 2006, the first week in August.  Gwen’s review will take place in January. 

OLD BUSINESS

Nominating Committee is still working on the slate for the Annual Meeting.

minutes–The minutes from the November 15 council meetings were approved as amended.

Delete the first line under Nurture.

women of grace and peace –Written report was reviewed.

pastor’s report–Pastor reviewed his report.  Pastor requested that Dan and Carol Martino be received into membership; a motion was made and passed. 

executive council–Met and set agenda. 

Next Council Meeting is January 17, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.  Executive Meeting is January 9, 2006 at 5:30 p.m.  A motion was made to adjourn.  The Council closed with the Lord’s Prayer.  Devotions and Snacks for next meeting are Julie Smith and Kelly Smet.

Respectfully submitted,

Theresa Montgomery,

Recording Secretary

Page content last updated: January 10, 2006

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