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Good News from New Road St Good News From New Road St. Matthew Lutheran Church, God’s Family in Service July 2015 St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church TH COMING SUNDAY, JULY 12 (please note the date changed from last month’s newsletter) the second annual “Homecoming” Gospel worship and community picnic. On that day, all former members and friends of St. Matthew Lutheran are invited to join us for a special worship service beginning at 9:30 a.m. During the service, we will bless our youth and sponsors as they prepare to leave for the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit the next day. The worship service will be an old “gospel” sing-a-long which will be followed by an Open-Forum with presentations on the Bathroom Remodeling, and the Germany 2017 Tour. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions concerning the ongoing ministry of St. Matthew Lutheran. Following the Open Forum, we will enjoy an “indoor” hot dog picnic. Help will be needed in providing, preparing, and serving the food that day. A sign-up sheet for the picnic has been posted on the podium in the Entrance Way. Please share this with your family and friends and invite them to be a part of this special celebration. Christ’s Family in Service . ❤ Diaper Detroit! The Senior High Youth who will be attending the ELCA Youth Gathering in July are accepting contributions to purchase diapers to be given to needy families in the Detroit area. This is one of the “inkind” offerings that is being collected at the gathering – as well as donations of hair for teenage and youth cancer victims, and donations of blood. If you would like to contribute to this special “inkind” offering, monetary gifts may be placed a white pew envelope and marked “Diaper Detroit”. If you would rather give a gift card, cards from Walmart or Target are acceptable. Please do not purchase diapers, as we are flying to Detroit and will not have the ability to take them with us. Once we get to Detroit on Monday, we will do some shopping at Walmart and/or Target to purchase diapers. ❤ Mission Waco’s Collection of School Supplies for Low-income Families is underway! Donations of new school supplies will be collected through Thursday, July 30th. Distribution will begin Saturday, August 1st. You can help fill the shelves of the School Supplies Store by donating any of the following items: (a list of needed items has been placed on the collection box in the Entrance Way) ❖ pink erasers ❖ yellow highlighters ❖ glue sticks ❖ spiral notebooks (70 page or 100 page) ❖ glue bottles (4 oz. or 8 oz.) ❖ 3-ring 1.5-2.0 inch notebook ❖ #2 pencils ❖ 3-prong pocket folders ❖ 12" ruler ❖ wide ruled writing paper ❖ scissors (safety or regular) ❖ wide ruled composition notebooks ❖ crayons (boxes of 16 or 24) ❖ zipper bags for notebook binders ❖ map color pencils (box of 8 or 12) ❖ dry erase markers ❖ blue, black, and red ink pens ❖ boxes of facial tissues.... Contributions of school supplies may be placed in the box in the entrance way marked “Mission Waco.” OR you can help by making a monetary contribution so that Mission Waco-World can purchase these needed items. Monetary contributions may be placed a white pew envelope and marked “School Supplies.” (Please make checks payable to “St. Matthew Lutheran”) ❤ Summer is in full swing and Caritas is in need of food donations. With school being out and children at home, the need for food becomes greater. Donations of non-perishable food items (no glass items please) are needed. Page 2 July 2015 New Vision on New Road Please place donations in the Caritas box in the Entrance Way. (Since our last newsletter, 143 pounds of food were donated.) ❤ Central Texas is reeling after storm systems caused devastating flooding in May and June. The full region affected stretches from west Texas through Oklahoma and western Louisiana. San Marcos and Wimberley are active scenes for Emergency Management, where over 350 homes were destroyed and at least 1,000 more flooded. You can help aid families affected by the floods as they clean-up and rebuild. Donations may be made by using one of the white pew envelopes and writing on it “Texas Floods.” ❤ Our next God’s Work. Our Hands. Servant Day will be Sunday, September 6th following the 9:30 a.m. worship. Mark your calendar and plan to attend! ❤ SHOES FOR THE HOMELESS – $40 for new pair. The annual Mission Waco “Walk for the Homeless” will be held on September 20 beginning at 8:00 a.m. with hundreds of community and church folks making the casual 1.5 mile trek through the streets of Waco with educational stops along the way. Before the walk, Waco’s homeless folks will receive new shoes that they pre-select and have fitted. Donations are welcomed to help purchase shoes. Please make checks payable to “St. Matthew Lutheran.” Place in one of the white pew envelopes and write “shoes” on it. Highlights—June 8, 2015 ❖ Pastor will be away for the ELCA Youth Gathering July 13th - 20th. Phil Van Auken is Present: Stephanie Abright, Karen preaching and presiding on the 19th. Aho, Hope Cotner, Rosemary ❖ God’s Work our Hands Sunday will be held on Fielder, Lyle Gripp, Bill Jones, September 6th. Pastor Paul Krupicka, Bill Moeller, Alaine Copeland, ❖ Nominating Committee - We need at least two and Meridith Sellers. non-council members on the committee. The Not present: Paul Larson committee needs to begin work soon. ❖ Budget requests for 2016 will be due in August Devotions - Pastor Paul led devotions about the to the finance committee. feeding of the five thousand and shared information about Caritas of Waco. Committee Reports: ❖ Restroom Remodeling - The Property The minutes of previous meeting were approved. Committee is working to get some more specific pricing estimates for items within the project. We will Bill Moeller provided the Treasurer's Report. Income also get one more bid before deciding on a contractor. for the month of May was $22,625.05 and expenses ❖ Property Committee - They have decided to were $25,730.02. Pastor Paul shared that John Taylor pull up the nursery floor as there is still an odor will be auditing our books again this year. present. They will be having someone look at the sprinkler issues in the next few weeks. Pastor's Report: ❖ Germany 2017 - New packets with correct ❖ Council approved Jennifer Wallace's transfer of information have arrived. Meridith and Pastor will be membership to Grace Lutheran Church in Evanston, talking to the agent to ask the questions that have been IL. raised. ❖ Space is ready for the Latino Ministry whenever Rafael or Pastor Jesus are ready to begin. Insurance Update - Pastor and John Linda met with our ❖ The church office will be closed on Monday, insurance agent to review our policy. July 20th. ❖ “Homecoming - Gospel Hymnfest” worship Bill Moeller is looking at options for an LED outdoor will take place on July 12th. An Open Forum and sign for the church. picnic luncheon will follow worship. Church council will meet following lunch. The meeting was adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer. Respectfully Submitted, Karen Aho, Secretary Page 3 July 2015 New Vision on New Road from throughout the United States and several As reported at the June Council meeting for foreign countries. Every evening will be spent at the financial report for May, total income for a mass gathering at Ford Field in Detroit with inspirational speakers, musicians, and videos. the year was $105,405.81 and total expenses A Litany of blessing and sending will be included were $117,818.62. For the year, we show a in our worship service on Sunday, July 12th. All net loss of $12,412.81. During the month of those attending the gathering are asked to be May, our total income was $22,625.05 and present at worship that morning. For more expenses were $25,730.02. Expenses information about the gathering, or to view exceeded Income by $3,104.97. activities happening during the gathering go to Bill Moeller, Treasurer www.ELCA.org/gathering ☞ Five of our young people will be attending Confirmation Camp Sunday July 26th through Friday, July 31st at Camp Briarwood in Argyle. During their week at camp, the youth will be involved in Bible Study, worship, group building, W-ELCA fellowship, and many other activities. We will leave St. Matthew Lutheran Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Please mark your calendar for our next general and return on Friday around 7:00 p.m. meeting. It will be held on Saturday, August 15 at ☞ Future NT-NL Youth Events: the NT-NL Junior 9:30 a.m. This will be a breakfast brunch, so please High/Middle School Gathering will be held check with your Circle president as to what item you November 13-15 at Calvary Lutheran Church in should bring. Pastor Krupicka will give a talk on the Richland Hills and The Holiday Inn Express. The meaning of items in the chancel. Also, do not forget event includes small group activities, church that we have two more combined Circle Bible studies fellowship time, songs, games, worship, dance, and this summer – July 7 (Tuesday) and August 10 more! Cost for the gathering will be $135 if registered (Monday). These will be held in the fellowship hall at by October 5th. The 2016 NT-NL High School 10:00 a.m. Service Weekend will be January 15-17 at the Holiday Inn Express DFW Airport. Activities for the gathering will include service, worship, Bible Study, and a great deal of fun.
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