Worship Service, Sunday, Oct. 2

We are having a special guest on Sunday, Oct. 2:
Karla Neumann-Smiley will be joining us and delivering the sermon. Karla is the Lutheran Campus Minister at the University of Idaho.

If you can attend please come out and make her feel welcome.

Prayer Request For Dale Iverson

We have a prayer request from Amy Peterson for her uncle, Dale Iverson:

 Prayers, please, for my Uncle Dale Iverson. He is in Sacred Heart hospital in Spokane with pancreatitis, which is most likely an after effect of the gall bladder surgery he recently had. He’s struggling, both physically and with feeling low.

 

Sunday Oct. 2 Readings

First Reading
Habakkuk 1:1-4 (NIV)

1 The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.

² How long, Lord, must I call for help,
    but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
    but you do not save?
³ Why do you make me look at injustice?
    Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    there is strife, and conflict abounds.
⁴ Therefore the law is paralyzed,
    and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
    so that justice is perverted.

Habakkuk 2:1-4(NIV)

2 I will stand at my watch
    and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
    and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

² Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation
    and make it plain on tablets
    so that a herald may run with it.³ For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
    it speaks of the end
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
    it will certainly come
    and will not delay.

⁴ “See, the enemy is puffed up;
    his desires are not upright—
    but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness

Second Reading

2 Timothy 1:1-14 (NIV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

² To Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

³ I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. ⁴ Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also
⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. ⁹ He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. ¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
¹³ What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Sunday Oct. 2 Gospel

Luke 17:5-10 (NIV)⁵ The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
⁶ He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
⁷ “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? ⁸ Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? ⁹ Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? ¹⁰ So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Congregational Meeting Minutes

All Congregational Meeting Minutes

Sept.11, 2016

11:15 AM

 

Council in Attendance:

John Marone, Patrick Adams, Linda Chilson, Jennifer Parkins, Alice Bevans, Dave Troy

John called meeting to order and opened with a prayer

John started out by pointing out the Call Process bulletin board. And explaining about how the call process works. Where we are at this point and how we moved forward.

Jennifer explained that Pastor Dean Stewart was supposed to be here this Sunday but had been called away to a family emergency. He and his wife will be gone from now until October 19. In the meantime we either have to continue to do services ourselves or bring in a Supply Pastor. In order to do communion we must have an ordained Lutheran pastor. Carla Newman Smiley from Lutheran Campus Ministries is willing to come and help out a few Sundays, she already does one Sunday a month in Troy and she is not ordained so cannot deliver communion. 

Verna asked who we have in case of emergencies. We would like you to call John for now at the church phone number. He will have the church cell phone with him to receive those calls. In the case of emergencies we have a few pastors in the area that can do hospital visits or funeral services if needed. 

Jennifer went on to recap our visit with Pastor Dean Stewart. Jennifer, Alice, Patrick, Linda, and Louise met with Pastor Dean Stewart on Thursday, Sept 8th. We were all impressed with his knowledge and his sense of humor. He is willing to come and do full-time while we are in the call process. He is anxious to do adult classes and other studies. While he is away he will look over their financial need and get back with us about what he would like in terms of salary. Patrick will go through our budget to decide what we will be able to pay him.

Karen asked what our plans are for the parsonage is. John explained that we are not sure at this point that Bishop Wells encouraged us to hang onto it until we know what a new pastor’s needs may be. In the meantime we need to do some work on it to get it ready for whatever we do decide to do. Patrick pointed out that whatever we do do with the parsonage the congregation needs to be in on that decision and that it will be voted on by everyone, it is not the council’s job to make that decision on our own. We just look at the options and then decide what we think are the best course of action and bring it back to the congregation.

Norma asked how much of an increase are we looking at for a new pastor’s salary? John explained that is not something we know at this point but that we are thinking rather than much of an increase we will need to look at someone with five years or less experience quite possibly even a new seminarian.  One of the steps in deciding what we can offer as salary is to do a financial review.  This is then put in a document that is sent to the synod, pastors searching for a new call also fill out a document and send it to the synod with what they need in terms of salary, housing and other factors. New seminarians will be available in October (which we are too late for), January and February. Bishop Wells advised us that this process will take us as long as we need it to.

Doug asked how soon will we pick a call committee and how do we pick the call committee.  John explained that we are not quite that point yet but are getting close. There may be some members of the congregation that are asked to be on the committee but also those that feel they would like to be on the committee may also put their name in and are encouraged to. There is a questionnaire that will be sent out in the next week that will help that call committee fill out the Ministry Site Profile that gets sent to the synod.  This profile is what the synod uses to match prospective pastors to us. Prospective pastors have a profile they fill out also and that is used by the synod to help match them up to ministry sites.

John then explained that we had two boards that we were going to ask people help us fill up.

We are asking what you would like to hang on to.  What are you willing to let go of?

In the process of trying to come up with answers it was decided we needed a third board for what we aspire to be.

The things we came up with that we want to hold onto are:

• Our relationships with each other
• Music
• Youth ministry-Sunday  School
• Pledging
• Wednesday morning bible studies
• Theology on tap
• Community service and events
• Children’s sermon
• Home visits
• Traditional liturgy/traditional and new
• Being faithful Christians
• Inspire group
• Welcoming and accepting of everyone
• Fun and loving

The things we are willing to let go of are:

• Our ideas of what youth ministry used to look like
• Holding onto traditional times for church and Sunday School
• Stringent and restrictive ideas
• Adiaphora-Greek for all the stuff that doesn’t matter and gets in the way of praising God
• Exclusionism

Things we aspire to be

• Invitational and inclusive
• Actively visit members and each other
• Good communication
  Email, blog, newsletter, phone tree, Facebook
• Prayer Chain-more ways to care for each other, add in the bulletin who needs prayers
• Financial stability-fund raising and community activities
• Being involved in all aspects of church needs to be all members
• We need to be better Evangelists
• Excited about God’s work and making church relevant to all!!

 

These boards will stay at the church for people to more comments on if they would like.

Meeting adjourned at 12:45

 

July Council Minutes

Genesee Lutheran Parish Council Minutes

July 7, 2016

 

Dave Troy, Patrick Adams, Linda Chilson, Alice Bevins, Jennifer Parkins, Dana Carter, John Marone, Pastor Dave Deckard

Meeting called to order at 7:00

Patrick gave the financial report

Pastor Dave announced that he would in likely be leaving; he has decided to accept a call at Sheppard of the Valley in Boise. They will probably be leaving in early September.  He is just waiting for the council and congregation to meet down there and accept it. He should know by Sunday, July 10^th before the end of services. Once he has the confirmation he and John will announce it at church that day.  They will be leaving immediately after services on the 10^th to go down and look for a place to live, and then continue on with their vacation.

He gave us ideas on how to fill the gaps and assured us the Synod will help us as move through the next steps to begin the call process in finding a new pastor for our church.

May Council Minutes

Genesee Lutheran Parish Council Minutes

May 10, 2016

 

Jennifer Parkins, Linda Chilson, Alice Bevans, John Marone, Dave Troy, Pastor David Deckard

Meeting called to order at 7:10

Jennifer gave devotional

 Approval of minutes from the April 12^th meeting moved by Jennifer and seconded by Alice, motion carried

 New business:

Lawn care-Need to spray for dandelions at both the Parsonage and Church

                Dave Troy has a tank and sprayer he would donate, Jennifer has an ATV to pull it, Pastor Dave

will talk to Doug about doing it and that we will pay him. If not Pastor, will check with Wilkes for getting it done.

We need to write a letter of thanks to Doug for the new mower.

The furnace at the Valley needs to be checked, it did not want to come on.

Summer worships are all planned and ready to go.

 Financial report:

Patrick was not able to attend but sent out a report on the finance report by email to all the council members; we operated in the black for the first quarter.

 Pastors Report:

Kayce is working on children activities and would like to have some money to help with costs.

Jennifer moved that we allocate a $200 discretionary budget for this

Dave Troy seconded.  Motion carried

Thrivent would like to bring in a representative to talk about what Thrivent is and how people can join.

 Synod Report:

Jennifer said they got a lot of information and would like to present it at a meeting to be set on a later date.

 By-laws:

Jennifer presented two copies of the constitution and reported that there were changes to the by-laws during the reconstruction that need to be changed to fit within the perimeters of the constitution.

Currently we have nothing on record with the Synod. We have by-laws for one parish with dual membership. She would like to set-up a subcommittee to go over the changes that need to be made and come back to the council with a report after they meet.

 

Adjourned at 8:25

 

St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

Wednesday, September 21, is the day set aside to remember St. Matthew, who was called "Levi" in the gospels of Mark and Luke.  He was a tax collector for the Roman government in Capernaum.  Tax collectors were distrusted because they were dishonest and worked as agents for a foreign ruler, the occupying Romans.  In the gospels, tax collectors are mentioned as sinful and despised outcasts, but it was these outcasts to whom Jesus showed his love.  Matthew's name means "gift of the Lord."  Since the second century, tradition has attributed the first gospel to him.  (Sundays and Seasons, p. 284.)

Sept 25 Gospel

Luke 16:19-31 (NIV)

The Rich Man and Lazarus

¹⁹ “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. ²⁰ At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores ²¹ and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
²² “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
²⁵ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
²⁷ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, ²⁸ for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
²⁹ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
³⁰ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
³¹ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."

September 25th Readings

First Reading:
Amos 6:1a, 4-7 (NIV)

Woe to the Complacent

6 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion,
    and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
you notable men of the foremost nation,
    to whom the people of Israel come!

⁴ You lie on beds adorned with ivory
    and lounge on your couches.
You dine on choice lambs
    and fattened calves.
⁵ You strum away on your harps like David
    and improvise on musical instruments.
⁶ You drink wine by the bowlful
    and use the finest lotions,
    but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
⁷ Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile;
    your feasting and lounging will end.

Second Reading:

1 Timothy 6:6-19 (NIV)

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Financial Update January 1 Through August 31, 2016

Here is a financial summary for the period January 1 through August 31, 2016.

Sunday, September 11th Offering: $1,157

Average monthly amounts January through August 31, 2016

   Expenses: $8,148

   Offering: $7,612

Total shortfall through end of August: $4,285

Liturgy as work

Some thoughts on liturgy—

The word liturgy, like most of our language, has its origin in Greek and Latin roots: lit from leos, meaning people or public servant, and urg, from ergon, meaning work.  When we worship and we sing the liturgy, we are literally doing the work of the people.  The form of this work in which we participate is ancient, based in the scriptures, and we join with saints past and present in doing the work of the people.  During this time of autumn, we will begin our worship with Confession, printed in the bulletin, reminding us of our call to discipleship, and we will use Setting Four of the liturgy, found in the hymnal beginning on page 147.  We sing the liturgy, we worship, and we leave to serve.  We are servants, doing the work of the church:  God’s work, our hands.

September 18th Readings

First reading
Amos 8:4-7New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Hear this, you who trample the needy
    and do away with the poor of the land,

⁵ saying,

“When will the New Moon be over
    that we may sell grain,
and the Sabbath be ended
    that we may market wheat?”—
skimping on the measure,
    boosting the price
    and cheating with dishonest scales,
⁶ buying the poor with silver
    and the needy for a pair of sandals,
    selling even the sweepings with the wheat.

⁷ The Lord has sworn by himself, the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget anything they have done.

Second Reading

1 Timothy 2:1-7New International Version (NIV)

Instructions on Worship

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. ⁷ And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

Gospel Reading for Sunday, September 18th, 2016

Luke 16:1-13

New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

6 “‘Nine hundred gallons[a] of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels[b] of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”