Attendance: Pastor Jim Christian, Parish Administrator Adele Siegel, President Julia Maiolo, Vice-President Ann Vosskuehler, Treasurer Carole McCoy, Secretary Kristina Bryant-Case, Pat Hogan, Jim Ingling, Marian Neuharth, Brad Maiolo, Peggy Martineau

Absent: Erin Taylor, Amy Yalaz

Call to order: 7:02 PM

Devotions: Julia Maiolo

Secretary Report: Ingling moved to accept the December 2011 Secretary’s Report …..Motion carried

Treasurer’s Report: B.Maiolo moved to accept the July 2011 Treasurer’s Report …..Motion carried

All Items 1-7 –

Item 1- Merge inactive funds (Servicemen phone cards etc)

Item 2- Benevolence Endowment move to Baker Krizner/Interest be designated for Southern Ohio Synod

Item 3- $400 to Southern Ohio Synod for Erin Taylor seminary application

Item 4- We had a surplus of 1,092.58 carried over to 2012 (Would have had more, but paid staff stipends)

Item 5- Noisy Offering to continue and will continue to go towards Debt Reduction (eventually will go towards Music)

Item 6- Kroger Cards, last year we accrued 1,092.58 (Temple Talk/Newsletter Article)

Item 7- Committees stayed within budgets!

Ingling moved to accept all Items…carried

Final request of funds for construction of the steeple,

Letter from Linda Niles about finalizing the Steeple, would like to send a thank you to Sammuelsson from FLC J

Thank you to our lovely Madame Treasurer!

Corresponding Secretary’s Report: Nancy Rix & Amy Stiles for Poinsettias

Pastor’s Report: Bryant-Case moved to accept the Pastor’s report…Motion carried

Staff has been absolutely amazing during the Christmas season…Thank You!!!

Pastor has a resolution to use the FLC Website more!

Youth Director’s Report:  B. Maiolo moved to accept the YD’s Report…. Motion carried

Superbowl Subs ready to be picked up on Feb 5^th- order forms have been sent out!

Mission Trip to Benton Harbor, MI for Youth this summer the week of July 1st

Committee Reports

Service- Garage Sale, at the end of next week Pastor will call David Speas to find out what Eagle & Dove is doing and find out what will happen with their supplies. If we retain the equipment, it will be moved for the Garage Sale.

Motion to accept the offer from Zahlea/Vasel to have a Rummage/Garage Sale, pending confirmation from Pastor about Eagle & Dove future….carried  (Council would like to know where will funds go)

Outreach- is bringing back the Relay for Life team and would like to do a fundraiser, See Bulletin Board for more details

Bryant-Case moved to allow the Outreach Relay for Life team to sell Carnation Grams at $2.00 a piece..carried

Old Business:

Congregational Meeting…Ingling/Maiolo moved to accept the minutes from the Congregational Meeting…carried

New Business:

Fellowship Hour…Outreach to circulate a schedule

Accept a gift…Vivian Carter has offered to pay for Gillams to trim the deciduous bushes in March …Ingling moves to accept..carried,  Council accepts with thanks

Announcements: Please buy Superbowl Subs! Vosskuehler will write up a blurb about Kroger Cards

Open Session: Need tickets to Norman Rockwell thing on Thursday??? Inglings have tickets they can’t use!!!

Adjournment: 7:50 PM with The Lord’s Prayer

Respectfully Submitted, Kristina Bryant-Case

Next Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday February 14, 2011 at 7:00 PM in the Luther Room

Rally Day was September 11, and we’ve started we great energy. Our Sunday School classes are coming together with wonderful teachers and students. If you haven’t already, please join us – the opening is at 9:10, and the official Education Hour is 9:20-10:20, ending just in time for 10:30 worship. There are opportunities for children, teenagers, and adults.

We’ll be busy in October…

We’re starting October with a Mission Trip Celebration, especially for families and our official Mission Trip Sponsors. Thanks are due to the entire congregation for your love, prayers, and support. From the outside, mission trips may look like just another summer excursion, but from the inside they’re life changing events for the youth and adults who are blessed to serve.

We have two additional events on the Youth and Family calendar for October. The first is October 22 from noon to 3:00. It’s called the Citizen’s Tour, and it’s a Synod-wide World Hunger event featuring music, fun, snacks, and hunger awareness activities. All ages are welcome to attend – tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door, all proceeds to ELCA World Hunger. Luckily for us, it’s nearby at Abiding Christ in Fairborn, one of the churches that is now in our conference. I’d love to take a big group from First Lutheran – if you’re interested, please sign up in Wittenberg Hall.

Last, but never least, our annual Children’s Halloween Party (a.k.a. the Pumpkin Painting Party) will be the following Saturday, October 29, starting at 10:30 a.m. Wear a costume if you like, bring a pumpkin to paint, and plan to have a great time! We’ll have snacks, games, activities…. and, of course, lots of paint. Bring your neighbors, your friends, or your grandchildren – all are welcome!

…and beyond?

Another event on our radar right now is the high school Lutheran Youth Organization retreat at Camp Kern this January. The registration deadline is in November, and it’s especially important that we sign up on time, because space is limited. We also continue to work on our plans for summer 2012, and by the next newsletter I should be announcing something definite. And, as always, we’ll have quite a few regularly scheduled activities in the months to come.

There could be room for something more, and that’s where you come in. One thing I know for sure about First Lutheran is that there are always people out there with ideas, hopes, and dreams for our youth, our children, and our church. We want to be God’s church, and learn to do what God asks in Micah 6:8… “to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with [our] God.” Yet there’s only so much I can do, and only so much the Youth Committee can do, and by ourselves we have limits. God’s church does not, so my challenge to you is this: if you have an idea, a suggestion, or a passion to share, talk to God about it, talk to us about it, and join the team to find out what we can accomplish together.

I can’t wait to see what will happen in the months to come!

Yours in Christ,

Erin

Vacation Bible School: July 25-29

If you didn’t make it to ReNew, you missed a great VBS. Called “ReNew: The Green VBS,” it was all about the parable of the sower from Mark 4:1-9. Each day we explored the story and learned how God’s love helps us grow, thrive, and face challenges. We also learned about planting, recycling, and caring for God’s creation.

About fifty children and thirty volunteers were part of this exciting week. The average age of our kids was under six years old, which made for a very high energy VBS! It was lots of fun, but it wasn’t always easy, and our volunteers deserve special thanks for their dedication and hard work. Thanks, too, to everyone who prayed, participated, and donated supplies!

Family Night Kickoff: September 7

One of the best things about the fall is that we get to have Family Night again. If you’ve already been, you know how great our Wednesday time can be, and you probably already have September 7 on your calendar. If you don’t… you really, really should. Here are a few reasons why:

1. It starts with a great potluck. (Around 5:30, not usually on time.) It’s the easiest potluck ever – we like stuff from the freezer section, stuff from your favorite takeout place, or whatever side dish, entree, or dessert you feel like making.
2. The worship is casual and meaningful. (Around 6:00, or a few minutes after.) Also short, which is great for a mid-week refresher and ideal for families with children. I hear the music is pretty good, too. (That’s me trying to be funny. I do the music, so I’m a little biased!)
3. I’ve heard really great things about Pastor Christian’s Bible study, and I know the kids and I have a lot of fun downstairs. (That’s the 6:30-7:30 hour, if you’re following along.)
4. It’s a friendly, welcoming community. Come as you are, come when you can, bring what you like, and enjoy! Bring a friend – it’s the perfect place for guests, too.

Rally Day: September 11

What is Rally Day? It’s the day Sunday school starts each year. We start with our all-ages opening at 9:10, including birthdays and the Sunday school offering, then the official Education Hour is from 9:20-10:20. There’s something for everyone, from preschool to elementary to middle school to high school to adults.

Why come to Sunday school? You’re never too young, too old, or too knowledgeable to learn a little more about God, faith, and Christian community. Your presence helps others grow, too. It might seem a little early in the morning, but it’s definitely worth it… and we always have plenty of coffee to help you wake up!

Moving into the fall, we’re also exploring options for our summer youth activities in 2012, planning all the special things we like to do during the year, and thinking outside the box. There’s always room for another friend, another idea, or another smile! If you’d like to be sure to be a part of FLC youth ministry – it’s your ministry, too! – talk to me, and I will help you plug in.

Yours in Christ,

Erin

On Sunday, June 5, First Lutheran youth led worship at both services.  It was a powerful experience, and the youth did an amazing job!  We had fun, learned a lot, and praised God, too.

Our leadership group was small but mighty, and we especially enjoyed worshipping in the midst of smiling faces and many lime green shirts!

Finally, Judy Paden made us a beautiful new banner that followed our central message perfectly.  Thanks, Judy!

Next on the agenda is our youth mission trip in Charleston, WV, July 10-15.  We’re bringing a group of fifteen and looking forward to hard work, fun times, new relationships, and a chance to focus on God and God’s people.  We are still looking for Mission Trip Sponsors – if you’d like to get on the list before the trip, the last chance to give is July 3.  Either way, we appreciate your prayer, love, and support.

Finally, Vacation Bible School will be July 25-29, in the mornings, at St. John’s down the street.  The program is called “Renew,” and it’s all about planting, growing, caring for the earth, and caring for each other.  Children in pre-K through sixth grade can be participants, and everyone else can be volunteers.  We need your help, and we really hope you’ll join us!

Yours in Christ,

Erin

But first: FLC youth will lead worship on June 5.

It’s the Seventh Sunday of Easter, the day we celebrate the Ascension… and a very special day for First Lutheran Youth!  We hope the service will be prayerful, faithful, meaningful… and also fun.  We’ve taken our theme from Acts 1, planned music and prayers to match, and done a lot of thoughtful preparation.  Now, we just need everyone to join us in worship.  Due to setup needs, it is likely that both services will be in the sanctuary.  We appreciate your flexibility as we change things up, but don’t worry, it will still be a recognizable worship service!

After the youth service, and the final Sunday school, it’ll be time to get serious about our major summer events…

Our youth mission trip will be July 10-15 in Charleston, WV.

We’re bringing twelve youth and three adults to serve and learn this summer.  For FLC youth, this is very much the highlight of the year, a time for hard work, great fellowship, and spiritual and personal growth.  For three of our seniors, it’s their fifth and final service trip.

Now that the trip is nearly here, we need your help.  If you’re able, and willing, you’re invited to become an official Mission Trip Sponsor.  You don’t need to do anything, or buy anything, just give a little towards the cost of our travel and service.  Charleston isn’t far, and the service isn’t expensive, but gas prices have gone up, and we need a little more to make it to our goal.  We truly appreciate your kind and generous support.  We’re doing the church’s work, and it means a lot to us to know we have the church’s backing!

If you’d like to help us make our final payment, please contribute by June 5.  If you’d just like to ensure you’re on the sponsor list before the trip, your last chance to give is July 3.

VBS will be in July.

Probably, but not definitely, the week of July 24.  (That would mean an official start date of Monday, July 25.)  We’re working with St. John’s and holding the event and their building this year.  By late July, the construction should be mostly over, and we’ll have plenty of time to prepare.  The program is called “ReNew,” and it’s about the Parable of the Sower (from Matthew 13:1-23, and also Mark and Luke)… planting, growing, learning, and also caring for the resources God has given us.  It’s a little different, but it still has the best parts of Vacation Bible School – the people, the Bible, and great fellowship together!  Stay tuned for information on how to sign up, how to volunteer, and how you can help us prepare.

It’s (still) going to be an amazing summer!

Yours in Christ,

Erin

We’re looking forward to the Youth Service.

The youth of First Lutheran will lead worship for the entire congregation on Sunday, June 5. So far, we’ve spent two Sunday school classes (and counting) exploring the readings and considering themes, verses, and connections between them. The youth and I have already learned a lot, and we hope you will, too. What will we do for the youth service? There’s only one way to find out… come!

We’re looking forward to VBS.

We’re planning to have Vacation Bible School with St. John’s, held at their church. We don’t have a date and an official theme (though I know what we’ll probably do and it’s really, really cool!) just yet, but we’re excited to work together again. We may be tempted to prefer the years that VBS is here at First. However, I’m pleased that is is St. John’s turn to host, and I hope you are, too. It’s a great chance to step outside out comfort zone and serve our neighbors and friends in a different setting. It’s important to share both the burdens and joys of hosting, and I know it’ll be a fantastic VBS!

We’re looking forward to the mission trip.

Our youth mission trip will be July 10-15 in Charleston, WV. We’re bringing twelve youth and three adults to serve and learn on FLC’s fifth consecutive mission trip. Eleven out of twelve youth are mission trip veterans. Some of us has served each of those previous summers, and several are returning to this specific site for the second time. We know all about the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, awkward shower situation, challenging work, and summer heat. We know what to expect, yet we are more excited that ever.

Why is that? There will be fun, and new friends, and maybe we’ll get to go somewhere cool… but I think the thing that draws us back is the service – the chance to do meaningful work, and form meaningful relationships, and meet God’s people where they live.

Sometimes people ask me why we don’t serve here – isn’t there just as much work to do in Springfield? Going out of town and working with an established organization has logistical advantages, but the value of a far-away experience is more than avoiding planning headaches or seeing exotic places. (West Virginia is not exotic!) When we leave town, we step outside of the normal patterns of our lives. We can see God’s world with new eyes, and maybe – just maybe – those eyes will be a little more open when we return home. Plus, because we are away, we lose the distractions of friends, family, jobs, sports, and other commitments. We can focus on God, each other, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

So we pile into cars and travel to a place where we sleep on the floor, eat boring food, visit the least exciting areas of the city, and barely get to take out our cell phones… and it’s amazingly awesome, because it’s about the people, and about our Lord Jesus Christ, who became a servant on our behalf. So we serve, too, and that’s why we’re excited.

It’s going to be an amazing summer!

Yours in Christ,
Erin

First Day (Friday, March 4)

4:05 p.m. - At church getting ready. (Eagle and Dove are also using the space.)

6:00 p.m. - People start arriving… half an hour early.

7:10 p.m. - Actual start of Famine, including video from last year. (Which works fine until the computer refuses to finish the DVD.) Next is opening worship, and a pretty inspiring video. (How will you put love into action?)

8:30 p.m. - Kickoff to Tribe – participants form their own teams for a cup-stacking challenge. Then we have an “earthquake” and split up all the groups. I expected protests, but got none. What a great group!

Our last participant arrive, bringing our total number to 14! Five in Cité Soleil, five in Carrefour, and four in Pétionville (named after neighborhoods in Haiti). Not sure why the numbers worked that way, since those were not the assignments.

9:45 p.m. - We get serious about drinking juice. There is a lot of apple juice.

10:25 p.m. - Evening worship leads to pray stations in the sanctuary – quiet, solemn, and uncertain, but at times unexpectedly prayerful. Note to self: Explain better next time.

10:40 - Game time! Much interest in Ghosts in the Graveyard, but we are playing Sardines, which you can’t play in the daylight. Fun had by all. Highlights include a really impossible hiding place, and really confusing hiding place, and the final round, when everyone gave up.

Really loving having Michael and Kristina hang out with us. They are really good at this!

12:05 a.m. - Finally settled down to watch a bedtime movie.

2:10 a.m. – Movie’s over, time to turn off the sound system and go to sleep! (What’s with that buzzing sound, anyway?)

Second Day (Saturday, March 5)

7:03 a.m. - I may be the only one up, but it’s time to get moving and set up the scavenger hunt – cans all over the building. My mother is my hero – she brought me coffee!

8:00 a.m. - Kristina and Michael have to leave, but Pat joins us. Thanks, Pat! Maybe he can figure out that smell in the kitchen.

8:10 a.m. - Attempts to get group moving are not a success. Time for the secret weapon: Veggie Tales music, played through the sound system. Next step: songs from last summer’s VBS. Nothing like really perky kids songs when you haven’t had breakfast… and aren’t going to, either!

(Editor’s Note: At this point I took a break for about two weeks. That means the times are even less reliable, if that’s possible.)

8:35 a.m. - Some people are actually awake. Activities include drinking juice, getting dressed, packing up our beds, and getting the last people up.

9:00 a.m. - Really, really short morning devotions. We are officially, but not surprisingly, behind schedule.

9:05 a.m. - First video that is actually about Haiti. Not exactly lively, but it talks about how World Vision responded after the disaster. Good stuff to learn here, if we can stay awake.

9:20 a.m. – Tribe, Part 2: Survivor Scramble. It’s a giant, church-wide scavenger hunt for the canned goods, water, and “blanket” cards I hid around the building earlier. Groups must stay together or lose time. Lots of searching, lots of fun, nearly ends in conflict. What exactly are the rules about sharing stuff with other groups? It’s technically allowed, but your opponents may object. Loudly. Broke the resulting tie with rock-paper-scissors.

10:40 a.m. - Close to being back on schedule. We assemble health kits and school kids for LWR. Pretty cool, since health kits just like these went to Haiti after the earthquake. I left it to the group to organize the assembly, and they worked very effectively and did a good job. We ran out of supplies just as we ran out of steam.

11:20 a.m. - Time for a much-deserved break. Juice, hanging out… and running around the building playing games.

11:40 a.m. - Short video/presentation on the actual statistics of hunger, poverty, and inequality in the world. Not quite as boring as it sounds.

11:48 a.m. - Tribe, Part 3: Contaminated. (A.k.a., “the water game.”) The general idea is to have a visual demonstration of what happens when you have to use one limited source for all your water needs: it gets really messy. Thanks to Pat, Ann, and others for their help with the judging and cleanup… we’re really good and really messy!

12:20 p.m. - The biggest block of free time we’re likely to get. Much silliness, much Ghosts in the Graveyard (as far as I can tell, it’s hide and seek with a lot of yelling), some Fam Cam, and some juice. Pretty soon it will just be apple juice.

1:00 p.m. - More people start to arrive! We’re looking forward to playing a game with some of our younger friends.

1:10 p.m. - The next part of Tribe is called “Lago! Lago!”, which is about a wolf chasing chickens and also the dangers to children. Lots of “running” while technically walking, which is actually pretty fun – it lets us play indoors, and evens the playing field, since even the fast ones can only walk so quickly. It’s a perfect game for younger players, and we could really use the boost of energy at this point. (I enjoyed being the wolf, but it totally wore me out!)

The only problem? It’s pretty much impossible to tell who won.

1:45 p.m. – Actually on schedule. When did that happen? Our second service project is making pillows with Lisa and Thelma. It takes perseverance and patience, which aren’t the easiest when you haven’t eaten and only barely slept. However, our group makes a big effort and does the work.

3:00 p.m. - Thanks to my assistant chef, Dane, we get to try a small taste of CSB, meant to simulate one of the foods used to help malnourished children. It’s decent, if you can ignore the salty aftertaste. (I can’t. Blech.)

3:35 p.m. - Final video, also about Haiti. A chance to discuss the need for continued help after a crisis.

3:55 p.m. - Tribe, Part 5: Phonic Frenzy. It’s a game about education – what is it likely trying to figure things out when you can’t read them? We did a similar game last year, although there have been tweaks. Some of the phrases are really tough to get!

4:22 p.m. - Tribe, Part 6: Market Mayhem. We’re playing a variant of an old camp game about communication, directions, and working on a team. It is not easy, but the tribes all do a remarkable job replicating the “product” they are trying to make. (This activity is impossible to just describe! Talk to the group, or look at the pictures!)

5:10 p.m. - Break while I figure out the results. Sometimes I think it would be easier if no one got points, and everyone won!

5:20 p.m. - Official conclusion to Tribe. Cité Soleil won by a large margin, followed by Carrefour and Pétionville. Everyone had a pretty good score.

We get to learn what happened to all of the kids who inspired the children in our tribes. Some had happy endings, some did not.

General period of cleanup, hanging out, some talking, some wrap up, more cleanup, and a lot of apple juice. At this point it is all apple juice.

6:00 p.m. - Closing worship in the chapel, lead by Pastor Christian. He brought donuts. Again. Not very nice! Still, we officially break our fast with Holy Communion, which is a special experience.

6:30 p.m. - We count down the seconds. 10…9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2…. 1! Officially 30 hours! The potluck is not quite ready for us. Aaah!

6:31 p.m. Break-the-Fast Potluck! Yay! Good food, good people, good time.

After the Famine, I wrote a log to tell you a little bit about it. It’s something you really need to see and experience for yourself – the ups and downs, the enthusiasm and the hunger, the excitement and the serious parts, and most of all the joy of being in a room full of young people who care about God and God’s people. However, I hope this log will give you a small taste. (Please note that the times are extremely approximate.)

An excerpt from the log appeared in the April Recorder. The complete log is here!

In other news, the youth and I are looking forward to our two Easter weekend events: the Children’s Easter Party on Saturday, April 23 (at 10:00 a.m.) and the Easter Breakfast on Sunday, April 24. The first is lots of fun for kids of all ages, and the second is our yummy traditional meal. As always, you are invited to help with either or both – we need treats for egg stuffing, volunteers for egg hiding, bakers and cooks for casseroles and muffins, and hands for serving, too. Finally, we need people to hang out on Saturday and eat on Sunday, and I know you can do that!

It’s also time to get serious about the preparation for our 2011 mission trip. Just like last year, you’re invited to consider becoming a Mission Trip Sponsor. In return for your kind support, we’ll thank you with lots of extra communication, and at least one special opportunity to learn about the trip. We appreciate everything you do for us, whether it is praying, attending fundraisers, financial support, or maybe even being a leader. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Yours in Christ,
Erin

This morning as I was driving down to the church, I ran into the proverbial “ROAD CLOSED” sign. The way down Wittenberg that I have taken so often was closed for work on something underground. I simply couldn’t get here from there.

That’s been happening a LOT around downtown over the past few months. The new hospital is nearing completion and the roads are being rerouted and the roads and public works are being upgraded to handle the changes. Lots of work and, quite frankly, lots of challenge and confusion as even the simplest and most habitual drive routes are altered, some temporarily and some permanently. We all just hope and trust that at the “end of the process,” it will all have been for the best and we’ll be proud of the new looks downtown.

Isn’t there something of this in our spiritual lives as well? We get used to living a certain way, believing a certain way, worshiping a certain way, being a certain way and suddenly the ROAD CLOSED sign pops up in front of us. There is an illness or affliction, a change in our job status, a relational crisis, something happens in the news that confounds us…suddenly the tried and true is challenged or no longer an option and we need to find a new way around.

Lent is a time when we examine ourselves and the routes we normally travel. We look at who we are, what we have done, our life experience and we place them up against the gospel and seek to find ways to grow in our faith. That’s something we should be doing all the time, but habits are hard to overcome and, quite frankly, it’s hard to get around to some things. That’s one reason that the Christian tradition has called the faithful to be intentional about self-examination and spiritual growth and has set aside a season just for that.

I am told that it’s good for the brain to alter routines. Intentionally drive a different route somewhere instead of the usual route. It’s good for us to be stretched just a bit. It keeps us mentally and physically nimble. We don’t always appreciate that at the time, but nevertheless, it’s a fact of life and, like so many things with health, we are the better off for submitting to the discipline.

I hope that we will use lent as it is intended. I hope that we will again renew our commitment to reflection, worship, prayer, scripture study and all the spiritual disciplines, which, though easily neglected, are essential to our wholeness and holiness. I hope to see you in church this Lenten season that we might more fully celebrate the abiding joy and hope of the Easter dawn. God bless you and I’ll see you in church!

                                                                        In Christ,

                                                                        Pastor Jim Christian

The 2011 LYO retreat was January 21-23, at Camp Kern (which is between Springfield and Cincinnati). It was a crazy weekend in southern Ohio – thanks to snow and ice we very nearly had to cancel – but fortunately the roads cleared up just in time for us to make it to camp. It was extremely cold, but the truly amazing retreat really made up for it. For most of us it was exactly what we needed – a chance to relax, renew, and reflect on our very busy lives.

We came back just in time for the final phase of the Super Bowl Sub Sale. Our subs are always tasty, and we always enjoy making them, and this year was no exception. We even had a noticeable increase in sales. Thanks so much for your support… and if you still have subs in your freezer, be sure to enjoy them!

February 13 meant our favorite February event: Valentine’s Caroling. We had a great group of children, teenagers, and adults to sing, and smile, and share a little bit of God’s love with our members who can’t always make it to church on Sundays. It is truly a joy to go caroling at this unusual time of year, and it’s always a very special experience.

Also in February, we finalized our mission trip list, including twelve youth and three adults. We have openings for two adult drivers – let me know if you are interested! It may not be too late to add youth, too, although we can do no longer make guarantees. We’re serving in Charleston, WV this summer, and at this point we’re fully committed with YouthWorks.

The really big thing that happened in February was preparation for our second annual 30 Hour Famine, to be held March 4-5 here at First Lutheran Church. For participants, the Famine includes thirty hours without eating and an overnight at the church. We play and serve, learn and worship, and have a generally wild and crazy time. We don’t do it just to have fun, though (the fasting isn’t particularly fun!), we do it to raise awareness and funds to feed the hungry (donate online!). Money specifically for the Famine goes to World Vision, a Christian relief organization that feeds and cares for people all over the world. First Lutheran also supports our own local food pantry, Rainbow Table, and the broader ELCA World Hunger project.

We are always looking for sponsors, helpers, and friends who’d like to hang out with us for all or part of the Famine. (To join as a participant, you must be at least twelve, and you should sign up in advance.) March 6 will be Famine Sunday, and we’ll have lots of stories to share!

Finally, mark your calendar right away: Lent is right around the corner, and we’ll lead into the season with the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on March 8. Bring a friend, bring a neighbor, and don’t forget to bring your appetite. We’ll have yummy pancakes and great company – you don’t want to miss it! The Pancake Supper also helps us raise money to serve in Charleston this summer.

See you at church!

Yours in Christ,

Erin