April Daily Bible readings

Posted on by Anna Sorenson
4/1 John 20:1-18
4/2 Luke 1:26-38
4/3 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
4/4 Mark 16:1-8
4/5 Psalm 133
4/6 Daniel 2:1-23
4/7 John 12:44-50
4/8 John 20:19-31
4/9 Psalm 135
4/10 Daniel 6:1-28
4/11 Isaiah 26:1-15
4/12 Psalm 4
4/13 1 John 2:26-28
4/14 Luke 22:24-30
4/15 Luke 24:36b-48
4/16 Psalm 150
4/17 2 John 1-6
4/18 Proverbs 9:1-6
4/19 Psalm 23
4/20 Acts 4:1-4
4/21 Mark 6:30-34
4/22 John 10:11-18
4/23 Psalm 95
4/24 Revelation 7:13-17
4/25 Mark 1:1-15
4/26 Psalm 22:25-31
4/27 Amos 8:11-13
4/28 Mark 4:30-32
4/29 John 15:1-8
4/30 Psalm 80

March Bible Readings

Posted on by Anna Sorenson
3/1 Psalm 19
3/2 Exodus 19:9b-15
3/3 Exodus 19:16-25
3/4 John 2:13-22
3/5 Psalm 84
3/6 Hebrews 9:23-28
3/7 Mark 11:15-19
3/8 Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
3/9 Ephesians 1:7-14
3/10 Numbers 20:22-29
3/11 John 3:14-21
3/12 Psalm 107:1-16
3/13 1 Corinthians 10:6-13
3/14 Isaiah 60:15-22
3/15 Psalm 51:1-12
3/16 Exodus 30:1-10
3/17 John 12:1-11
3/18 John 12:20-33
3/19 Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
3/20 Psalm 119:9-16
3/21 Haggai 2:1-9, 20-23
3/22 Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
3/23 Philippians 2:12-18
3/24 Jeremiah 33:10-16
3/25 Mark 4:14:1-15:47
3/26 Psalm 36:5-11
3/27 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
3/28 Isaiah 50:4-9a
3/29 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
3/30 John 18:1-19:42
3/31 Romans 6:3-11

Sabbatical: newsletter series (2)

Posted on by Maren Walz

Dear French Creek members and friends,

This summer French Creek Lutheran will be honoring Pastor Anna’s request for sabbatical. We should feel proud that we are following through on the work of the call committee 7 years ago. The planning process is an exciting (and apprehensive) time as we learn what this means for us. The sabbatical committee has made progress in a number of areas:

  1. We named Steve Hogden and John Christianson as co-chairs. Pastor Anna, Larry Hoppe and I are all grateful for their prayerful leadership.
  2. We secured Pastor Ben Morris, of La Crosse Campus Ministry, as our primary supply pastor. Pastors Kary Jonas, John Ashland, and David Hendrickson will be available for hospitals, funerals and pastoral care.
  3. We have dates set – May 21-August 12 (12 weeks, as offered in our employment contract with Pastor).

While the primary definition of sabbatical is to offer Pastor time do to the kind of unplugging and unwinding we are expected to do on the Sabbath, to be clear, this is not a vacation. Reading and learning will be done, among other things, for Pastor to refresh her own spiritual inspiration. She is currently developing her sabbatical plan to present to the committee and council. We will share more from her plan at the annual meeting, and in next month’s newsletter.
We continue to receive feedback – both concerns and words of encouragement. We appreciate your engagement with the process and ask that you continue to share your thoughts and pray for us.

Maren Walz, Council President
You can reach me at council@frenchcreeklutheran.org or 608-797-8780

For further reading check out:
‘Why don’t I get a vacation, too?’ How to talk about clergy sabbaticals

Annual Meeting of the Congregation, February 11

Posted on by Anna Sorenson

The annual business meeting of the French Creek Lutheran Church congregation takes place February 11, 2018, following worship.  Voting members are confirmed members who have received communion and contributed to the treasury in the past two years.  

Two items on the agenda include approved a ministry budget for 2018 and voting to accept proposed constitutional changes.  In order to adopt changes to the constitution, a motion to accept the changes must pass at the annual meeting two consecutive years.  Such a motion passed in 2017, and must pass in 2018 by 2/3 in order to be adopted.  Here are those documents for you to preview.

 

FCLC Proposed 2018 Budget

French Creek Constitution Proposed Changes 2017

February Bible Readings

Posted on by Anna Sorenson
2/1 Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
2/2 Luke 2:22-40
2/3 Isaiah 46:1-13
2/4 Mark 1:29-39
2/5 Psalm 102:12-28
2/6 2 Kings 8:1-6
2/7 Mark 3:7-12
2/8 Psalm 50:1-6
2/9 1 Timothy 1:12-20
2/10 Luke 19:41-44
2/11 Mark 9:2-9
2/12 Psalm 110:1-4
2/13 Job 19:23-27
2/14 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
2/15 Psalm 25:1-10
2/16 2 Timothy 4:1-5
2/17 Matthew 9:2-13
2/18 Mark 1:9-15
2/19 Psalm 77
2/20 1 Peter 3:8-18a
2/21 Proverbs 30:1-9
2/22 Psalm 22:23-31
2/23 Genesis 16:1-6
2/24 Mark 8:27-30
2/25 Mark 8:31-38
2/26 Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45
2/27 Hebrews 11:1-3, 13-19
2/28 Jeremiah 30:12-22

Sabbatical: newsletter series (1)

Posted on by Maren Walz

Dear French Creek members and friends,

In 2018, our congregation will honor Pastor Anna’s request for Sabbatical – a critical part of our compensation agreement with her. The council has appointed a sabbatical planning committee to help facilitate the listening/learning and planning of Pastor’s Sabbatical time. There are 5 people appointed to the committee:

  • Pastor Anna,
  • Council President: Maren Walz, 
  • Deacon: John Christianson, 
  • La Crosse Area Synod Compensation Guidelines Sub-Committee member: Steve Hogden, 
  • Parish Associate: Larry Hoppe. 

What is a sabbatical? A sabbatical is grounded in Genesis 2:2, in the Sabbath. Resting is part of God’s creation. Sabbath is actually commanded in Exodus 20:8-11. This intentional rest is an opportunity for pastors, who are “on call” 24 hours/day for years on end, to rest, learn, and grow in their own spiritual wellness. Though rest is the primary purpose of a sabbatical, it is not simply a vacation. Pastor will visit other congregations and have a reading plan. And our congregation will use the time to grow in our leadership and worship skills.

The planning committee will share more as we begin our work in the months to come, and we will look to the congregation for input, support and prayers. Please contact any of the committee members if you have questions throughout the process. 

We are grateful for Pastor Anna’s service to our community, and for this opportunity to support her work with us. 

Maren Walz, Council President
You can reach me at council@frenchcreeklutheran.org or 608-797-8780

 
For further reading check out:
FIVE REASONS YOUR PASTOR SHOULD TAKE A SABBATICAL
an article I shared with the council members in early January.

January Bible Readings

Posted on by Anna Sorenson
Use these readings to help you prepare for Sunday worship.
1/1 Numbers 6:22-27
1/2 Psalm 148
1/3 James 4:1-10
1/4 Psalm 110
1/5 Luke 6:27-31
1/6 Matthew 2:1-12
1/7 Mark 1:4-11
1/8 Psalm 69:1-5, 30-36
1/9 Acts 22:2-16
1/10 Isaiah 41:14-20
1/11 Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
1/12 Acts 13:16-25
1/13 1 Samuel 2:21-25
1/14 John 1:43-51
1/15 Psalm 86
1/16 Acts 5:1-11
1/17 Luke 18:15-17
1/18 Matthew 16:13-19
1/19 Psalm 62:5-12
1/20 Luke 10:13-16
1/21 Mark 1:14-20
1/22 Psalm 46
1/23 Genesis 45:25-46:7
1/24 Proverbs 8:1-21
1/25 Galatians 1:11-24
1/26 Psalm 111
1/27 Deuteronomy 13:1-5
1/28 Mark 1:21-28
1/29 Psalm 35:1-10
1/30 1 Corinthians 7:32-40
1/31 Jeremiah 29:1-14