First Lutheran Church

Exterior Signs for First Lutheran

dschoeld — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:46:45 +0000

Have you ever thought coming in and out of First Lutheran was a bit confusing? Well, our Hospitality Ministry Team is working on signage for the church. The first phase of the project is to get people in the correct door for the correct event – all exterior signage. This Sunday our Hospitality Team will have images of the proposed signage available for congregational comment. Come and share your thoughts…

Journey to Discipleship, Confirmation, High School Youth Group, Children’s Choir and Drama, and Tone Chimes are cancelled for April 10th.

awerpy — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:09:26 +0000

Due to the weather, all of the children’s and youth activities at First Lutheran church are cancelled for April 10th. Those include Journey to Discipleship, Confirmation, High School Youth Group, Children’s Choir, Children’s and Youth Drama, and Tone Chimes.

Please contact Anne Werpy at anne@firstlutheranbrookings.org if you have questions.

Easter Morning Services at 7:00, 8:30, and 10:30 am – March 31

dschoeld — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:37:04 +0000

Join us as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. We will celebrate traditional worship at both 7:00 and 8:30, and a contemporary service at 10:30. All services are communion services. Also, from 8:00 to 10:30 our youth will be serving an Easter breakfast as a fundraiser for their mission trip to Puerto Rico in late May, early June.

Good Friday Worship at 7:00 pm – March 29

dschoeld — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:34:29 +0000

Maundy Thursday Worship at 7:00 pm

dschoeld — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:33:59 +0000

Belize – Day 5

Ray Gentry — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:59:41 +0000

We had updates today again from Pastor Nyla and Mary Kees. They have been busy working and exploring. Here’s what Pastor Nyla had to say:

Day 5 of our Belize trip and it has been such a joy to hear from everyone in the group reflection time, that those who were really not sure about coming on the trip, that they are having an awesome experience. God is good all the time! Today is the last day for most of the group to work on their projects. Tomorrow we head to the island.

And here’s Mary’s update:

Day 5, great day.. many sewing projects were completed…all but 25 ft of trench is dug…fans are being hung…We had a class for any adult women who wanted to learn. We didn’t know how many would come. 16 came! I drove around with Nyla &Vicar Michael & Pastor Eric to the Mennonite community to buy the fencing supplies. it was like being in N. Minnesota…accents…Then we traveled to San Ignasias to see market and got a soccer jersey for Amanda. Quiet evening with devotions and great company. Love to all!

Some of the group will be heading back soon while a few stay for another week. We’ll keep updating you to the status of their journeys!

More From Belize!

Ray Gentry — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:16:55 +0000

We received updates from both Pastor Nyla and Mary Kees today so I figured it would be a great time to get another post up and add some pictures. They are enjoying the opportunities to serve the community and take in the beautiful geography of the area. Here’s what Mary Kees had to say:

The local girls show off the headbands they made with Mary Kees and Jean Gentry.

Day 4 in Belize…I am taking a few moments before our a.m. class to share an update. Yesterday was awe inspiring. Our girls were overjoyed to return for a second day of sewing. I have a special friend (11yr old) who I work with one on one. We completed our backpack bag and made a braided headband (see picture of Jean). After lunch we went to Xunantunich Mayan site. Awesome vistas…we were able to climb to the top. It was 1 mile from the Guatamalan border. Our guide had worked at the site and also is a mayan shaman. We joined the local Nazarene church for their midweek lenten service . The guys had also dug a 50 ft trench in rough limestone at the parsonage for the foundation for a new fence. We are joined by a group from Georgia who are teaching a VBS type program and adding a roof to a new building. We have meet awesome people…are experiencing awesome programs…today we continue to teach. The SDSU students will do some in class experiences. Sue Filler will teach science at the high school and the guys continue at the parsonage and we will also fix/add new lights and fans in a chapel. Tomorrow we plan to visit a Butterfly house and finish our projects. Loving every minute! Thinking of everyone [in Brookings]!

And from Nyla:

Good morning. Yesterday was a fabulous day. Sewing, trench digging, teaching in the classroom and climbing up the Mayan ruin of Xunantunich (the stone last). She is certainly very high…and many of the group found it very fun to take pictures of me (Nyla) trying to climb down on the narrow steps with nothing but a 40 meter drop on one side and a wall on the other. But view was worth it. We also were able to attend worship at Pastor Eirc’s church last night. Today we continue sewing, teaching, and trenching digging. We are discovering a desire throughout the group to determine how to make this location an annual site for ministry…there is so much to be done and tomorrow is the last day for most of the group to be engaged in their service projects. Five of us will continue next week. Our prayer focus today is “God when I am happy, frustrated, bored, excited, sad, or whatever emotion I am experiencing…fill me with love for you and those in my midst.” May that be your prayer today too.

We hope to get some pictures from their hike but may have to wait until people return to see the view that Mary and Nyla (and the rest of the group, we assume) mentioned. Please keep the group in your prayers during their continued mission.

Belize – Arrival and First Morning

Ray Gentry — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:02:37 +0000

We received the following update from Mary Kees this morning:

We arrived safe, tired and eager to see the school. We arrived at 6:30pm, in the dark. E.W. drove the passenger van with a trailer that held our 30+ bags. Vicar Mike drove our second vehicle. Pastor Eric, his wife & 2 daughters were with us. I am grateful for even the most basic grated road in SD. Dinner was ready for us. Nyla led devotions and we went to dorms to organize…relax…sleep. We could see our breathe this morning with a temp of 40 degrees. By 8:30am we watched the HS students do their morning assembly while we were doing our devotions. Right now the ladies are having our first group of students cutting fabric after a time of learning about the machines. The men & Pastor Nyla went to the church to start working on the windows. We will have a full day of working today. We are thinking of all of you at home and are grateful for everyone who helped us get here, even in the smallest ways. Our prayer today: God center us, shape us, fill us, use us!

Be on the lookout for further updates from the group and continue to keep them and their ministry in your prayers.

Off to Belize!

Ray Gentry — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 11:06:52 +0000

In the wee hours of the morning (3:30am) members of First Lutheran left this morning to leave for the mission trip to Belize. Please keep them in your prayers during their travel and service to the community they’ll be serving in Belize.

Ray made the group gather for a group picture before they left.

Ash Wednesday Schedule

Ray Gentry — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 04:58:07 +0000

There will be two services for Ash Wednesday at First Lutheran Church. Please join us for worship as we celebrate the beginning of Lent on Wednesday, February 13th.

12:00pm (noon) – Ash Wednesday Service with Holy Communion in the Parlor
7:00pm – Ash Wednesday Service with Holy Communion in the Sanctuary

There will be no youth education programming and we encourage families to share this opportunity to worship together.

Music groups please check with your leaders for your rehearsal schedule.

There will be a meeting for the High School Mission Trip to Puerto Rico following the 7:00pm service. If you have any questions, please contact the church!