February Newsletter.pub - Eternal Love Evangelical Lutheran Church

ETERNAL
LOVE
LUTHERAN
MINISTRIES
CHURCH AND PRESCHOOL — APPLETON, WISCONSIN
Monthly News and Notes
FEBRUARY 2015
2015 — VOLUME
27, I
27, ISSUE
2
OUR
MISSION IS TO GLORIFY GOD
OD, GROW IN GOD
OD’S WORD
ORD, AND GO WITH THE WORD INTO THE WORLD
Christian Leadership Seminar
Saturday, February 28, 10:00am-3:00pm
This coming February 28, Eternal Love is
hosting a 3rd annual Lutheran Heritage Seminar.
This year we have invited Dr. Paul Kelm of Milwaukee,
WI, for a special presentation on CHRISTIAN
LEADERSHIP.
Rev. Paul Kelm has served the WELS through
his long ministry career: as a church planter in New
England, a campus pastor at UW Madison, the synod’s
administrator for evangelism and adult discipleship,
and as a church consultant. He has been a dean
of students, campus pastor, and professor of history
and theology at Wisconsin Lutheran College, and discipleship
pastor at St. Mark in De Pere, Wisconsin.
He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis in 2002.
Paul is a prolific writer, having published two
books and many conference essays. He was a contributing
editor of the Northwestern Lutheran for a decade
and a speaker on the syndicated radio program
“Message from the Master” for nearly two decades.
He and his wife, Lynne, have three married
children and five grandchildren. Paul is now semiretired,
serving part-time at Our Savior Lutheran in
Grafton, Wisconsin, and as an instructor in WLC’s
Adult and Graduate Degree program. He has been
described by some as a visionary, by others as a troublemaker.
The date is Saturday, February 28, 2015,
from 10:00am to 3:00pm in the fellowship hall.
The cost is just $5/participant (includes lunch) and is
payable upon arrival (in cash please). Attendance is
limited to the first 100 participants, and we have invited
members of all area churches to attend. So you are
encouraged to register in advance to save your place
in this seminar.
When Dr. Kelm recently presented this topic
at a church in Milwaukee, members described it as
“one of most important studies they have ever experienced.”
The schedule for the day will be like this:
10:00am—12noon
Bible study on leadership principles learned from
Nehemiah
Leadership styles
Situational leadership
12noon-1:00pm catered lunch
1:00-3:00pm
Leading a congregation through change
Bible study on Leadership principles learned from
Jesus
Register by calling the church office at 749-
9744 or by emailing our office manager
kathy.arnold@eternal-love.org.
Lent Begins
Ash Wednesday, February 18
Wednesday at 6:45pm
See details on this year’s series on page 3
Monthly News and Notes is the monthly newsletter of Eternal Love Lutheran Church, 1011 E. Midway Rd., Appleton, WI 54915.
Click on www.eternal-love.org PAGE 1

Our mission is to GLORIFY GOD
News about our Worship Ministries
Worship Notes
Pastor Balza
On Sunday, February 15, Rev. David Scherbarth
will be our guest preacher and worship leader. Pastor
Scherbarth is a retired WELS pastor, the father of our
member, Russ Scherbarth, and our current Bible Class
teacher.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18. Once
again this year our midweek Wednesday Lent devotions
will begin at 6:30pm and last about 45 minutes. The Lenten
theme and preaching schedule is included on a separate
page of this newsletter.
We also wish to remind everyone that the special
chairs with side arms are designated for use by those who
need help getting out of a chair. Please keep them available
for those who need that assistance.
Choir rehearsal times will change in March. The
rehearsals will follow the midweek services and will begin
at about 7:50pm.
Banner Changing
Pastor Balza
We are grateful to several generous donors who have
enabled us to purchase two additional sets of banners for
the chapel walls. We now have six sets of banners, and
hope to purchase at least two more sets in the near future.
We are close to achieving our goal of having banners for all
seasons of the year.
Now we are seeking a volunteer team (perhaps a
husband/wife couple) who could come and change out the
banners according to the scheduled use. This task would
require about an hour or so of time once every couple of
months. The task requires that you be able to be on a ladder
(only up a step or two) to change the banners.
This would be a great task for someone looking for a
relatively easy way to serve the Lord and beautify our
worship. If you are willing and able to take care of this
task, please contact Pastor Balza.
Choir Jamboree
Pastor Balza
Our choir will participate in the 3rd Annual Choir
Jamboree on Saturday, February 7, 2015, at 2:00pm in the
sanctuary of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Greenville. Six
choirs from around the Fox Valley will participate this
year, including our own choir. Each choir will sing an
anthem or two on their own, and then all the choirs will
unite in a grand hymn of praise. Of course, you are invited
to come and enjoy this concert of praise and thanks to God.
Monday Night Services
Pastor Balza
Monday evening services have been discontinued until
after Easter (April). During Lent we have Wednesday
evening services instead of Monday evening worship.
The WELS Hymnal Project
Pastor Balza
T he planning for a new hymnal for WELS
congregations has begun. With a projected publication date
of 2024, the massive project to develop this new tool for
worship was begun with the calling of Rev. Michael
Schultz as the project director. An executive committee
has been appointed to plan and coordinate the various
aspects of hymnal development.
You can follow the progress of the project on the
hymnal web site, http://www.welshymnal.com. Other
features of the web site include a blog which will have
regular contributions from executive committee members.
Your feedback is welcomed. You may also subscribe to a
regular email distribution and an RSS feed that will keep
you up to date on the project.
The Worship Team
Director—Jim Hildeman
Choir Director— Dave Sawall
Altar Care—Barb Miller
Usher Coordinator—Dan Wallander
Greeter Coordinator—Tammy Felauer
Tech Coordinator—Cliff Witthuhn
Praise Ensemble — Joel Schmidt/Linda Clarey
Cross Rhythms—Jim Hildeman
Banners—Vacant
Daylight Savings Begins
Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March
8, at 2:00am. Remember to set your clocks
ahead one hour before you go to bed on
Saturday night, March 7.
Click on www.eternal-love.org PAGE 2

LENT BEGINS
February 18, 2015
Midweek Lent Devotions
Wednesdays at 6:30pm
or many years now, Lutherans have observed Lent with a series
F of special Midweek worship services in which they meditate on
the passion history of Jesus. Eternal Love has done this since its beginning
25 years ago.
As usual, this year a series of six special services will be held
on Wednesday evenings during Lent so that all of us may focus on the beautiful story of our Savior’s amazing
grace and perfect love. Ash Wednesday, the first of the 40 days of Lent, is February 18, 2015. That
evening we will hold our first Midweek Lent devotion beginning at 6:30pm. The Sunday School children
will sing an anthem that evening.
The theme of our meditations this year will be “I TELL YOU THE TRUTH” Everything that Jesus
said is important and memorable, but when He prefaced something with the phrase, “I tell you the truth…”
that usually meant, “Now sit up and take special notice of this.” Each meditation this year will focus on one
of the “I tell you the truth” sayings of Jesus that dealt with His cross and passion. The sermon texts have been
selected from the Gospel record of our Lord’s suffering and death. Our own pastor will lead the first service,
and then a pastor from one of the other Appleton WELS churches will come to lead each of the other services.
Date Theme Preacher
February 18
Ash Wednesday
February 25
Midweek 2
March 4
Midweek 3
March 11
Midweek 4
March 18
Midweek 5
March 25
Midweek 6
Mark 14:1-9
Fruits of Faith Will Be Remembered
Matthew 21:18-22
Faith Can Move Mountains
John 18:31-36
Anyone Who Sins Is A Slave To Sin
John 12:23-27
If One Dies, It Produces Life For Many
Mark 14:27-31
You Will Disown Me
Mark 14:12-21
One of You Will Betray Me
Pastor Fred Toppe
Mt. Olive
Rev. Tom Mielke
St. Matthew Lutheran
Rev. Dennis Belter
Riverview Lutheran
Pastor Balza
Rev. Paul Schuler
St. Matthew Lutheran
Rev. Adam Bode
Riverview Lutheran
Click on www.eternal-love.org PAGE 3

Our mission is to GROW IN GOD’S WORD
News about our Christian Education and Youth Ministries
Women’s Bible Study
Christine Heckmann
The Wisdom of Proverbs will be the next study for
our women’s Wednesday Bible Class. We will be starting
up in the new year on January 14. All women are invited
to spend an hour with friends reading God’s Word. An
order will be place for the study guides. The cost is
approximately $8.50. Please call or email Christine
Heckmann (920-574-3920 or cbheckmann@gmail.com).
Watch the Love Notes for locations.
Youth Sunday Bible Study
Pastor Balza
Our Sunday Youth Bible Class has been split into two
classes (side by side in the fellowship hall).
STICKY FAITH
The juniors and seniors are currently in a study
called STICKY FAITH which will conclude on February
8. STICKY FAITH is a series of ten lessons geared at
helping prepare our teens for the challenges they will face
when they leave our homes (and church) and go off to
college. Our leader is Brian Rasmussen.
NOAH
Freshmen and sophomores will begin a new
course based on the movie NOAH by Ray Comfort (the
same movie viewed by the adult Bible Class in 2014).
The 30-minute movie will be shown, and we will
study the Scriptures referred to in the film. We will also
discuss the bold witnessing of Ray Comfort and glean
insights into our own witness. The class will cover 2
Sundays—February 1 & 8. T he teachers will be Pete and
Lisa Neuberger.
GOD IS NOT DEAD
On Sunday, February 15, all the teens will once
again unite for a study of the course GOD IS NOT DEAD
based on the movie by the same title. The movie will be
shown in its entirety on Friday, February 6 (see article that
follows), and scenes from the movie will be reshown in
the classes. The leaders for this study are Cliff & Kara
Witthuhn.
All classes begin at 9:25am in the fellowship hall.
Please encourage your teens to faithfully attend for their
spiritual growth.
Sunday Bible Study
Pastor Balza
The Adult Bible Class began a study of the book
of REVELATION on January 18 under the leadership of
Rev. David Scherbarth. We will continue that study during
February.
As you may know, Pastor Scherbarth wrote a
commentary and Bible study of the book of Revelation as
a retirement project. It’s great to have such a skilled and
expert teacher to explore this intriguing book.
Here is the proposed schedule for February —
• February 1 = Revelation
• February 8 = Open Forum
• February 15 = Revelation
• February 22 = Revelation
• March 1 = Revelation
Classes begin on Sundays at 9:25am in the chapel. Of
course, all are invited to come and enjoy.
Youth Group Update
Youth Leadership Team
MOVIE NIGHT
You are invited to the movie night on Friday,
February 6 (7:00-12:00pm). We will watch the movie
God Is Not Dead, which will be the topic of discussion for
the Sunday Bible classes in February. We’ll also play
some games and eat.
CAMP PHILLIP RETREAT
Every Spring Camp Phillip offers a great TEEN
RETREAT. This year it is the weekend of March 13-15.
Information is being distributed to everyone. e plan to
attend the Teen Retreat at Camp Phillip. We may also
serve a midweek Lent supper.
MISSION TRIP
A mission trip is being planned to Radcliff,
Kentucky (just south of Louisville). We are partnering
with Faith Lutheran Church of Radcliff to help them with
a mission project (still being determined). Details are
being finalized as this is being written, and all information
should be available a month from now.
We are looking to rent a van and travel as a group,
staying with members of Faith when we are in Kentucky.
In our release time, we hope to experience some things
like a thoroughbred horse farm, a baseball bat factory, and
perhaps the Creation Museum.
(Continued on page 5)
Click on www.eternal-love.org PAGE 4

Our mission is to GROW IN GOD’S WORD
News about our Christian Education and Youth Ministries
FVL News
Faculty/Staff News:
Mr. Adam Frey joined the faculty as an English and
Religion teacher and as a coach.
Mrs. Anne Wilson went from part to full time in
Math and Science instruction.
Mr. Alan Nolte accepted a Call to provide K-12
curriculum leadership in our federation.
Mr. Mark Krause, a member at Mount Olive, is
service us in a part-time capacity in Woods and
Graphic Arts.
Pastor Bradly Ragner (Messiah, Shiocton) is
teaching a section of Latin 1.
Mrs. Martha Baldwin (FVL alum) joined our
ministry team as Director of Operations.
Mr. Tony Kubek announced that he will be leaving
his post as Development Coordinator to pursue other
interests. We thank the Lord for his service!
Director of Enrollment: FVL extended a Call to Mr.
Ryan Hill to serve as our Director of Enrollment. Mr.
Hill currently serves as principal at Abiding Word
Lutheran School in Houston. Please keep him and his
family—and both Calling bodies—in your prayers as
he deliberates.
Student Body:
Students continue to take on many service activities—
projects that help with tuition assistance, a tooth brush
drive, serving our 220-plus guests on Veterans Day,
serving in their local congregations/communities, etc.
FVL’s composite ACT score from last year was
24.0—in the top five in our area.
33 juniors and 6 seniors were inducted into the
National Honor Society in early December.
Enrollment at the end of the first semester was 555,
down 2 from the start of school. Two international
students transferred out of FVL at the end of the
semester (which was their plan from the beginning),
and one international student transferred in.
We have 94 freshman registered and scheduled for
next year with another 10-15 who still need to
complete some of the paperwork for registration.
FVL entered the Wisconsin State Parental Choice
Program, and 20 students are receiving this benefit.
An advance preview of the new FVL Schools K-12
Mathematics Curriculum will be presented to the FVL
Schools Principal’s Conference on May 1. The
morning session of the joint FVL Schools In-service in
June will be dedicated to sharing the new curriculum
with the teachers of the Federation.
Senior Danielle Voss is receiving the Red Smith
Student-Athlete Award at the Red Smith Banquet. Mr.
David Kolander is receiving the Fans of the Foxes
award for his 20 years as teacher and coach at FVL.
Finances:
The Growing in Grace gifts totaled $88,703 for the
month. The annual goal is $300,000, so just over
$160,000 is needed in the next 6 months to reach the
target. The next principal payment is due on March 1
($180,000).
The annual FVL Dinner Auction was very successful,
with the event raising almost $150,000. it was
designated for operations, tuition assistance, the
Technology Endowment Fund and Growing in Grace.
Thanks to all who either were involved in organizing
this event or who attended it in support of FVL’s
ministry.
Almost $355,000 in financial aid was applied to 104
students. Gifts for tuition assistance are greatly
needed.
The Legacy Effort to increase the Foundation’s assets
to 5 million dollars by 2018 has 306 donors who have
gifted $380,112.75 to this effort in the past year. Gifts
towards this effort are also greatly appreciated, and
will allow the Foundation to award more financial aid
to students so they may attend FVL. Please consider a
gift to this effort. We want all students who want to be
at our school to be able to come and sit a Jesus’ feet.
The Alumni Alive group has donated $12,000 to
upgrade the video recording equipment in the
auditorium. This will allow us to record chapel
services using multiple cameras, edit while shooting
and then upload the FVL Vimeo channel immediately
after shooting. Many alumni and friends look forward
to this daily taste of God’s Word. A chapel posted last
week had 55 views in one evening, with many more
shares to other “friends” of viewers. This video
capability will have many other applications
throughout the school year, further enhancing student
involvement and spreading of the Gospel to all
nations.
Upcoming Events:
Discover FVL! - March 17 from 1:00-4:00pm; for all
7th grade students interested in attending FVL)
Family Open House—March 17 from 4:30-6:30pm;
for unsure 8th graders, public school students, home
school students, etc.)
Click on www.eternal-love.org PAGE 5

Mrs. Sarah McElroy, Director/Teacher
Eternal Love Lutheran Preschool is blessed by the Lord. We currently have 8 children who have been
learning the Word of God and experiencing Christian love in our preschool.
Enrollment for 2015-2016 opens February 1st!
We will be offering 2 3-year-old sessions: Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday from 8:30am-
12:00pm. Enrollment packets, which include the Parent Policy Handbook, are available by contacting
Sarah McElroy or by calling the church office (920-749-9744). There is a $50 non-refundable enrollment
fee payable with the application. This fee will assure a place for your child in Eternal Love Lutheran
Preschool.
If you or someone you know is looking for 3-year-old preschool for 2015-2016, please attend our
Sneak-A-Peek event either January 31st or February 7th from 9:00-11:00am. A Bible Story will be
shared at 10:00am. It will be an open house with a few activities to allow children to become acquainted
with the classroom. It’s also a great time to ask questions or turn in enrollment forms. For more information,
email preschooldirector@eternal-love.org.
Why choose Eternal Love Lutheran Preschool
for your child?
A quality learning experience
Daily lessons from the Word of God
Instruction from a caring, Christian
teacher
A beautiful classroom environment
Parenting and seminar information is distributed
periodically.
Please continue to keep this important
ministry to the children of our community
and church in your prayers. Tell others!
Want to know more?
Contact Sarah at sarah.mcelroy@eternal-love.org
“Like” us on Facebook
Follow us on Pinterest
Click on www.eternal-love.org PAGE 6

Our mission is to
GO WITH THE WORD TO THE WORLD
News about our Outreach & Mission Ministries
WELS Food Pantry
Cindy Wundrow
The Food Pantry would like to remind our
congregations again as to how the Food Pantry uses your
donations of food. If you donate groceries in February, the
donated groceries are brought to the Food Pantry on Food
Pantry Sunday, which is usually the 3rd Sunday of the
month. That same Sunday the groceries that were packed
the previous month (January) would be given to the
recipients by your church’s coordinator. The February
donated groceries are packed for distribution the Monday
and Wednesday after Food Pantry Sunday but not given to
the recipients until the following month (March). February
donations become March distributions—February
donations are not February distributions. It takes that extra
month, so please take that into consideration when
donating for a specific holiday. Thank you!
VBS 2015
Julie Krause
Please mark your calendars NOW for VBS 2015!
We hope you can join us July 20-24 from 9:00-11:45am
for our Summer Bible Adventure! Watch for more
information to come about registration, outreach, and
volunteer opportunities. Any questions, ask Pastor Balza or
Julie Krause.
The Hope Center
The Hope Center Steering Committee
Beginning in March 2015, The Hope Center is
expanding efforts to provide help and hope to those in need
with a new ministry plan. Volunteers from the Fox Valley
area WELS churches will provide support for families to
make positive, life-affirming choices by providing:
Confidential and compassionate
support for physical, emotional,
and spiritual needs related to
pregnancy and parenting.
No cost childcare during
medical, counseling, or short-term respite needs in a
safe, Christian environment.
Transportation for appointments through a volunteer
driver program.
Practical assistance for physical needs (diapers, baby
supplies, vouchers, etc.).
How can you help? The Hope Center appreciates
prayers to our Gracious God on our behalf. Additionally,
we are in need of volunteers to serve in all areas. We also
appreciate your financial gifts and donations of goods.
Here is a list of current needs:
Volunteers for office/phone center
Volunteers for childcare needs
Volunteer drivers to medical/counseling appointments
Volunteer mentors for parents/families
Financial donations
Grocery store, gas, Wal-Mart or Target gift cards
Disposable diapers, baby supplies
New or gently used clothes for infants/young children
Office supplies, paper toweling, tissues, etc.
If you have questions or would like more
information, please contact Karen Micheel, Director of The
Hope Center, at 739-0039. The Hope Center is located at
730 W. Glendale, Appleton. Watch for an updated website
at www.hope-center.org. “Compelled by the love of Jesus,
we provide help and hope to those in need—for now, and
for eternity.”
Voters Meeting/Open Forum
Pastor Balza
Our annual winter open forum and Voters Meeting
(the one usually held the third week of January) will be
held somewhat later than usual — on Sunday, February
8, 2015. The Church Council has decided to schedule the
usual meeting later in the new year for several reasons, but
the most important reason is to accommodate the schedule
of our substitute Bible Class teacher.
The regular annual meeting will include reports of the
various ministries of our church, membership changes, and
elections to six Church Council positions. The terms of our
Vice President, Recording Secretary, Shepherding
Director, Worship Director, Properties Director, and
Stewardship Director have expired. Filling these positions
with willing and capable men is essential to our
congregation and the Lord’s work. In addition, we also
need to elect our Preschool Board chairman.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at noon, and a
pizza lunch will be available (at cost) for anyone who is
(Continued on page 8)
Click on www.eternal-love.org PAGE 7

Our mission is to
GO WITH THE WORD TO THE WORLD
News about our Outreach & Mission Ministries
(Continued from page 7)
hungry before or during the meeting. The location (chapel
or fellowship hall) will be announced that morning.
The Open Forum for congregational discussion and
participation prior to this meeting is scheduled for
Sunday, February 8, in place of the morning Bible Class
(9:25am). Materials and reports will be distributed that
morning. This work of the Lord is important. Every
voting member is encouraged to make attendance at the
Open Forum and the Voters Meeting a priority.
Pathways to Christ Retreat
Pathyways to Christ Committee
Ladies, please join us for the 15th Pathways to
Christ Retreat on March 13-15 at LaSure’s Banquet Hall
in Oshkosh. The 2015 theme is “What Burdens Your
Heart Today?” During our three presentations on
Saturday, we will be viewing Biblical women, using
Psalm 46:10 as a reference. On Friday night we will be
having an interactive Bible Study entitled “Calm During
Chaos.” Lancer’s Singers from Manitowoc Lutheran High
School will be our Saturday evening entertainment. Pastor
Ehlert will share with us a Bible Study on the crucifixion
as well as lead us in worship on Sunday. Additional
information along with registration forms can be
downloaded from our website: http://
pathways.martinlutheroshkosh.com. If you don’t have
internet access, your church office can provide you with a
brochure.
2015 Service Seminar
Kathy Arnold
The 2015 seminar will be held, God willing, on
Saturday, March 28, 2015, from 8:00am until 3:00pm, at
FVL. Everyone in the congregation is invited to
participate in up to three workshops.
Register by March 15 to ensure your place in the
workshops of your choice. But last minute registrations
will be accepted for any workshops that are not already
full.
A booklet with a registration form and complete
seminar information will soon be available on the
information tables. Eternal Love will pay the fee for your
workshops, but you will need to pay the expense for your
lunch. Information about purchasing a lunch ticket is
included in the seminar booklet.
The topics for this year’s seminars cover a wide
range of topics from evangelism to stewardship to
worship.
Recovery Through Christ
Mt. Olive Lutheran Church
Recovery Through Christ is a Christian 12-step
program designed to provide a safe, Christ-centered
atmosphere in which participants feel comfortable sharing
their struggles as they continue a God-enabled path to
sobriety and hope. The purpose is to equip participants to
live free.
This program is open to all men and women
struggling with addictive behaviors of any kind. The
group meets on Fridays, from 7:30-8:30pm (new time!) at
Mount Olive Lutheran Church. They meet in the lowerlevel
Fireside Room (enter at the north atrium entrance of
the building).
For more information, contact Dave at 920-233-
0437 or Phyllis at 920-739-2439.
Click on www.eternal-love.org PAGE 8

Pursuing Our Mission Together
News about our Fellowship and Administrative Ministries
Women’s Ministry
Candy Moore
Please mark your calendars for March 9 at 6:30pm
for our next meeting. Women’s Ministry will be active
during the month of February hosting the Ash Wednesday
Supper before the first Lenten Service. Please watch Love
Notes for the announcement of a sign-up sheet for help
with food or service at that meal. Also, we will be doing a
Valentine’s Day mailing to our away students. We will
need volunteers to take envelopes and send a card with a
small gift to one student each. The students loved the last
mailing, and the gifts cards were a real HIT! Please
consider helping in this way to keep our students connected
to Eternal Love.
Book Club
Sue Balza
Please join us for Book Club on Tuesday, February
3, at 6:30pm in the fellowship hall. We will be discussing
the book The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway:
“In this beautiful and unforgettable novel, Steven
Galloway has taken an extraordinary, imaginative leap to
create a story that speaks powerfully to the dignity and
generosity of the human spirit under extraordinary duress.
This brilliant novel with universal resonance tells the story
of three people trying to survive in a city rife with the
extreme fear of desperate times, and of the sorrowing
cellist who plays undaunted in their midst.”
The Lord’s Handymen
Pastor Balza
The Lord’s Handymen is a service group formed to
help members who need assistance with chores around the
house, because they lack either the skills or the physical
abilities to do the chore. Those chores might include …
Computer, internet and tech set up, problem solving
Fixing electrical or plumbing problems
Putting something together/set up of a new purchase
Carpentry, window repair
Fixing a broken chair
Carrying something to the basement
Moving furniture
Much more
If you need help with something, fill out a request
form (copies are available online or in our information
area) and place the form in the “Lord’s Handymen” mail
slot at church. You will be contacted by one of the
“handymen/women.”
Endowment Fund
Pastor Balza
Eternal Love has recently received gifts of
$15,000 designated for an FVL Tuition Assistance
Endowment Fund. This gift will be invested by our
Finance Committee, and each year the interest generated
by this investment will be used for annual tuition grants for
FVL students from Eternal Love, especially for families
who need financial assistance.
The purpose of this generous endowment is to
provide encouragement and financial assistance to teens
who would like to attend FVL but may have difficulty due
to costs.
Of course, additional gifts to this endowment fund
are always welcome. If you are interested in making such a
gift, you are encouraged to seek the counsel of our Finance
Committee which consists of Harold Berry, Darwin Tiede,
and Bill Neubauer.
This committee has been charged with making the
most of our congregation’s financial assets through
stewardship of investment. If you are considering
remembering Eternal Love in your estate plans, please
speak with a member of this committee. These men can
help with arrangements.
Making A Special Gift
Pastor Balza
We are currently using a unified budget system,
which means that all of the programs, causes, and
ministries of the congregation are considered in the
budgeting process so that a balanced program of ministries
is carried out. Once a year, when the budget is adopted, all
of the ministries and programs are put on the table and the
Budget Committee (currently the Church Council) weighs
them all when proposing funding for the coming year. This
enables our congregation to keep priorities straight and to
prevent “pet” programs or ministries from crowding less
popular ministries into the background.
We know that from time to time our members want
to make an offering to a special cause. As our financial
(Continued on page 10)
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Pursuing Our Mission Together
News about our Fellowship and Administrative Ministries
(Continued from page 9)
officers handle your gifts, they channel them to the
ministries and purposes which you designate. However,
there may be times when it is necessary for them to
encourage us to reconsider placing offerings to ministries
that are already included in our congregation’s budgeted
program. That’s because our financial officers are
instructed by policies and procedures that have been
adopted in our congregation.
Policy 22 is one of those policies. This is what it
says:
All members shall be notified that it is our policy that
requests to apply an offering from a member to a specific
budget category will not be honored in order to preserve the
unified budget practice and maintain balance in our
ministries. Any such offering from our members specified for
a certain budget category will be applied to the general
operating budget and will not be credited to a specific
account. Exceptions to the above policy may be considered
under certain circumstances (such as a gift designated for
loan repayment which can be applied to principle above and
beyond our normal repayment schedule). The Church
Council will rule on all such exceptions.
If you wish to make an offering to a ministry that
is already part of our church budget (such as the WELS or
WLIM), you are encouraged to make that offering directly
to the recipient. Our financial officers would be glad to
supply you with all the information you would need to do
that.
Knitting Program
Christ Kuchinski, Oshkosh Correctional Institution
The Oshkosh Correctional Institution has a knitting
program which is a community service project that
produces knitted items for the area needy. Items produced
include hats, mittens, scarves, baby blankets, slippers and
lap blankets. Various public and private non-profit
organizations are utilized to ensure that items are available
for those most in need. This is an important part of
Oshkosh Correctional Institution’s special needs unit and is
consistent with meeting the needs of providing meaningful
work and an opportunity for inmates to give back to the
community.
At this time, we are in need of yarn to continue this
program. If you have yarn you wish to donate to our
program, please call Chris Kuchinski at 920-231-4010
extension 2781. We can give you more information for
delivery of the yarn or possible pick up. Thank you for any
donations!!
Lent Supper Arrangements
Pastor Balza
As you can see from the listing to the right, the
position of Fellowship Director on the Church Council is
currently vacant. Until the Lord provides us with the right
person for that position, we are making arrangements to
cover some of the duties normally handled by him.
Right now, an important duty is making arrangements
for Midweek Lent suppers, which we have traditionally
held each Wednesday during Lent.
The Church Council men will provide all the food for
the first (Ash Wednesday) supper on March 5. However,
we are seeking someone willing to coordinate meals for
other Wednesdays.
Perhaps this year we will not be able to have a meal
on every Wednesday, but we would truly like to offer more
than one supper.
We have some ideas for meeting this need in a slightly
different manner that we think will work. If you are willing
to coordinate one of the suppers for any of the remaining
five Wednesdays, please contact Pastor Balza. Your loving
service would be greatly appreciated.
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