Important dates

Oct. 20, 7:00 p.m. will be the ARC meeting between Hugoton and Elkhart. The meeting will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, Elkhart.

Oct. 24 - Voters meeting will follow Sunday morning services and a potluck dinner.

Kids - Sunday School at 10:00 each Sunday morning.

+++ Spotlight October 2010 +++

From the Pastor's Desk:

This month I have been asked to share this space with one of our members at Faith, Hugoton, Steve Lucas. His contribution came out of a meeting at Faith, but the words are good ones for all of us to hear:

“The financial state of Faith is always changing. We have good months and not so good months. The not so good months usually occur during vacation and recreation times. Many eventually make up missed offerings but some have this slip their mind. The Biblical testimony on giving and money is clear, yet we are not called to guilt or sad resignation or even grim-faced duty. Instead, we are called to joy. Giving must be a joyful response to God's grace.

“Paul asked for money like this: I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:8-9). In other words, the difference between moralists (those who think that God accepts them because of their goodness) and Christians (who know they are sinners saved purely by grace) is that a Christian wants to give as generously as he or she has received. The first and last truth that must guide us in all we do, including the stewardship of our possessions, is God's grace for us in Jesus Christ. As we follow him, we trust that he will provide for us as individuals and as a church, and we know that his Kingdom will continue to flourish in our midst.

“We have the wonderful opportunity to manage His church with our conscious and prayerful commitment to serve and financially support Christ's mission in this life.”

Steve is right. All too often we think that we are giving for the church, almost in the same way in which we pay for a hamburger at McDonalds. In fact, the first reason God has commanded to give is for ourselves. We need to give, to be reminded that our money, our bodies, and our time are not our own. They all belong to God, and as we give them into his hands of grace, trusting him to care for us, his grace works through what we have given to provide salvation for us and for others. What greater honor is there than to be co-laborers with God? As we draw closer to the end of the year, let us look at our finances with this fact in mind—God has given us everything we have, and we are trusted by him to manage everything we have wisely, realizing that his gifts are not for us alone. He intends for us to share everything we have, generously, with his church and with those who are in need.

If we flip through our checkbooks, does the record of how we have used God's money tell us that we are people of faith? Hear God's call to repentance and joyful, earnest obedience, sent this time through our brother Steve, in Jesus' name.

October Birthdays

10/18 Miranda Brewer

10/20 Ruby Bultman

10/21 Andrea Reza

10/30 Tom Brewer

10/31 Tracie Bowker

10/ Lindy Yannis

October Anniversaries

10/21 Larry & Karen Yoder

10/15 Tom & Sue Frederick

October Baptisms

10/09 Mica Nave

Schedule of Events

Faith

Divine Service – Sunday 9 am.

Faith Sunday School – Sunday 10:15 am.

Faith Midweek Confirmation 1 Class – Wed., 4:15

Faith Confirmation 2a – Wed., 5:30

Faith Confirmation 2b – Sat., 10/16 & 30, 9:30 am

Faith Midweek Acts Class – Wed., 6:45

October Volunteers at Faith:

Elder – Paul. Usher – Ray. Altar – Josh.

Christ

elkhartlutheranchurch.blogspot.com

Sunday School – Sunday 10 am

Divine Service – Sunday 11 am.

Christ Confirmation Class – 4:00 pm Sundays.

LCMS

Each congregation has received a Constitutional Amendment Ballot in connection with the resolutions passed by the 2010 Synodical Convention. Congregations must use the official ballot to cast their affirmative or negative vote and return it to the Secretary of the Synod. A two-thirds majority vote by all congregations will result in ratification of the amendments. The voters of each congregation will have an opportunity to discuss the amendments and their implications at their next meeting.

Faith, Hugoton

Voters Meeting – Sunday, Nov. 14. Service times will be switched for our annual meeting (Christ meeting at 9 am, Faith at 11 am). Potluck!

Mission Giving Possibilities. At our next meeting, we will be dealing with the issue of our mission funds for the coming year. Last year the voters decided to direct the funds to an area in which they would be applied more specifically. The pastor is recommending that we direct our mission giving for the year to the Kurt Marquart Fund for Theological Education in Haiti. The advantage to this giving is that gifts become a part of the perpetual fund which remains untouched, but the interest is applied to assist those studying for the ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti. It is hard to estimate how much benefit will be received on the basis of a one-time gift from this fund, because in fact the fund itself will outlive all of us, and continue working for the kingdom of God for many years.

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Christ, Elkhart

Christ Voters are due to have a meeting in the month of October based on Article II – Meetings in the congregation's Bylaws. This is not our annual meeting, which is held in January, but still provides an opportunity for fellowship, for dealing with the Constitutional Amendment Ballot we received from the Synod, and for the always enjoyable potluck!

Christ Lutheran Church Clothing Bank is closed for the month of October. During the month of September, there were four total visits, and at least one family of children was provided for. The problem that we are facing is that we receive far more donations than we are able to give away, especially when it comes to women's clothing. The pastor is considering limiting our focus to children's clothing and winter coats, in order to meet those needs that are most urgent when they arise.

Student Adoption: The Voters at Christ voted at their last meeting to support a student directly rather than going through the Financial Aid Office of the Seminary. The pastor has the names of a number of students. If there are students at either seminary who are known to you personally and who you would like to see our congregation support, please submit the name to the pastor before the next voters' meeting

Christ.

Mission Giving: The check sent from Christ to the Kurt Marquart Fund for Theological Education was received and directed to the perpetual fund, from which interest is applied to the costs of training pastors for Haiti. A letter of thanks is on the bulletin board in the narthex.

Service Times Switched – Sunday, Nov. 14. Service times will be switched for Faith's annual meeting (Christ meeting at 9 am, Faith at 11 am). Mark the calendars, remind your family and friends, and set the alarm clock to make it to church on time!

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Upcoming Events

• Kansas District Pastors Conference in Junction City, October 17 – 19.

• Circuit Winkel Tuesday, November 9 – Grace, Ulysses .

• Circuit Winkel Tuesday, December 14 – Holy Cross, Dodge City.