Empowered by the holy spirit, we worship, reach out, share the gospel and serve

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EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE WORSHIP,

REACH OUT, SHARE THE GOSPEL AND SERVE

MAY 2018

First Evangelical Lutheran Church

287 West Main Street, Xenia, Ohio 45385

372-7421

Pastor Alicia Nierman
E-Mail Address: [e-mail]

Web Site: http://www.firstlutheranxenia.org

Worship with us on Sunday morning at 9:30am

Sunday School for Children during 9:30am worship

Adult Sunday School, 11:00am

Church Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9:00am-2:00pm

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty

and gave you something to drink?  And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and

gave you clothing?  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it

to me.’ Matthew 25:37-40


Alex Haley, the author of “Roots,” told the story of how his father had his life changed by a simple act of kindness: He was the youngest of eight children, living as a sharecropping family. Everyone in the family was needed to help with the crops. After several years of school, the family pressed each child into service on the farm. Fortunately his mother intervened on behalf of Alex’s father, and he was allowed to stay in school. When he was ready for college he chose the Lane Institute. He worked as many as four jobs in addition to full-time studies. It was all physically and emotionally exhausting.

Haley’s father worked for a summer as a porter on a train. There he met a passenger early one morning, who couldn’t sleep and wanted to talk. This man was impressed by a black porter working to earn money for college and tipped him the then unimaginable sum of five dollars.

By the end of the summer Mr. Haley had to decide whether to convert his summer earnings into a mule and begin to sharecrop, or complete his last year at school.  He took the risk of completing college. 

Alex Haley told what happened next: "When Dad arrived on campus, the president called him into his office and showed him a letter he had just received. The letter was from the elderly man whom my father had met on the train, and it contained a check for $518.00, enough to cover Dad’s tuition and living expenses for one full year." The kindness of an unknown friend made all the difference in the life of Alex Haley’s father, Alex Haley himself, and every succeeding generation of their family.

Haley’s father, and indeed the whole family, never forgot this act of kindness all from a virtual stranger.  ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., ChristianGlobe Illustrations, by Richard J. Fairchild
Jesus, in the Matthew text above, calls for all of us to be kind to one another. The acts of kindness he describes are very basic and humble, yet they are the absolute necessities of life. So we certainly don’t have to make a large expensive gesture. There are countless ways to be kind to one another. The little acts of kindness sometimes make as much of an impact on a person’s life as the large ones.
And the more we practice kindness, the better we get at it. Our kindness may be passed on to someone else and then someone else. The next thing we know, people are being kind to one another all over the place! We may never get to see the impact our kindness has made; but I venture to say it’s a bigger impact than we could ever imagine.
Michael P. Green says, “It takes a long time to fill a glass with drops of water. Even when the glass seems full, it can still take one, two, three, four, or five or more additional drops. Yet if we keep at it, there is at last that one drop that makes the glass overflow. The same applies to deeds of kindness. In a series of kindnesses there is at last one that makes the heart run over.”
So let’s pray today that God will open our hearts and send the Holy Spirit to us to inspire us simply to be kind.

Yours in the love of Christ,

Pastor Alicia

FISH SUNDAY May 6^th

Since 1994 the first Sunday of each month has been designated as FISH Sunday here at First Lutheran. Please bring an item or two to church on Sunday, May 6^th.

Monetary donations are also accepted you can use one of the pew envelopes and mark "For Food Pantry.” Thank you!

In addition to our first Sunday of the month food donation we are collecting food for the Xenia Hunger Backpack Cuisine Program. This group is attempting to provide food to Xenia children who receive discounted and free lunch during the week but have little or nothing to eat on the weekend. For May we’ve been asked to bring in 10paks of 5-8oz plastic or boxes of fruit juice)

This is an ongoing addition to our FISH Sunday requests for food for the Food Pantry. Please place your donations into the box in the narthex marked for the Backpack Cuisine Program.
Requested items include:

Pop top can microwave 7.5oz single servings squeezable jam/jelly 20oz

Non-refrigerated puddings 3.5oz pop top cans of fruit 8-9 oz

pop top cans of tuna 3oz cans of vegetables 8.5 oz

Dinty Moore beef stew 7.5oz pop top cans of chicken 4.5 oz

individual oatmeal box of 8-10 single servings 10 pack fruit juices 5-8 oz

gold fish and animal cracker snack paks cereal bars & granola bars box 8-10 single serve

Cheesy Mac 2-3 oz single servings peanut butter 18 oz containers

Mark your calendar - we will be meeting at Noon on Tuesday, May 22^nd. All seniors in the congregation, 55 and older, are invited to attend these gatherings for friendship, fellowship and food. Carl Elliott & Roberta Rathweg will be hosting this month. On the menu: hot dogs, hamburgers w/various toppings, baked beans & chips. You are invited to bring a picnic type side item veggies, salad or dessert.
FIRST AND FRIENDS BOOK CLUB will be gathering on Tuesday, May 29^th, 6pm-7:30pm

The selection for May is: “One Second After” by William Forstchen. Questions can be directed to Adele Lerch or Pastor Alicia. Don’t forget to bring a friend! We do want the name of our club to really represent who we are - First Lutheran along with our friends! Be ready for a fun and lively discussion! YOU are welcome to come and join us.

Our Sympathy is extended to Gene Fasbinder and Jone Haney and their families. Ione passed away on Friday, March 30^th. A memorial service will be celebrated in her honor on May 25^th at 11:00am.
 Please continue to remember these congregation members in your prayers Meredith Skeens, Linda Blanton, Nancy Fleckenstein, Jean Akers, Betty Peppo, Barb Taylor, and Kathy Teague
Please continue to remember our homebound members in your prayers: Nick Bowman, Dottie Ripp, Marge Lovett and John Paul Saraga




Thursday’s from noon to 1:00pm

Bring a brown bag lunch and join facilitators Adele Lerch for an informal Bible study based on the Upper Room devotional booklet. Copies will be provided for all participants. No special Bible knowledge needed. This study is about what scripture means to YOU. Questions? Contact the church office at 372-7421.

The Children’s Class at 9:25am continues with the “One Room Sunday School” series.


Adult Sunday School follows worship, at 11am. The course Is titled, “St. Benedict and the Modern World," which explores the contemporary situation of Western Christianity, including insights from Rod Dreher's book, “The Benedict Option.” Everyone is welcome to participate. (No Sunday School, Mother's Day)

Thank You… to Julie Hoelle and Doris Nagel !!

These ladies have volunteered to ‘take over’ from Greg Atwood as our Family Violence Prevention Center donation collectors.

We appreciate their willingness to step forward and volunteer.

FYI... During the past 15 years the congregation has donated 25,705 items to the FVPC ! Thanks!




Tuesday, May 15^th, 6:30pm
Ladies, bring your mom, your daughter, your sister, your cousin, your aunt, your best friend - or come on your own, you’ll find friends here. ALL ladies are welcome to come for food, fellowship with friends & entertainment.
Dennis Nagel has volunteered to be in charge of the dinner - with his many helpers on hand for assistance.

We will be having dinner and then enjoy entertainment provided by the Kettering Children’s Choir Elite Group,

comprised of very talented high school students. (FYI…Julie & Neil Hoelle’s daughter, Jennifer, is the director

and this group will be performing in Ireland later this year.)

Tickets: $10.00 for adults, $4.00 for children 6-12, 5 and under free. (Please make checks payable to First Lutheran

with Mother-Daughter Banquet on the memo line and give to Doris Nagel)

On the Menu: chicken breast, cheesey potatoes, green beans, cole slaw, dessert, coffee and juice.


The last choir rehearsal of the season will be Wednesday, May 23^rd

Summer will be here before we know it, and, of course, that means the choir will be taking some time off. But it's also an opportunity! So if there is something you'd like to sing this summer--or something you'd like to play--stop by and see me over the next couple of weeks and we'll work out the details. Jim Will

Outreach Opportunities through the Congregation...
Volunteer to help on Thursday evenings at The Caring Place. Talk with Barb Swinehart or Deb Baldwin about ways in which YOU can help serve others.

We continue to collect items for the FVPC here in Xenia. The following items are needed and appreciated: soap, shampoo, conditioner, tooth brushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, lotion, combs & brushes, razors (like Bic), envelopes, lined writing tablets, pens & pencils, paperback books, coloring books & children’s books. A donation basket is in the narthex.

Continue saving your old prescription glasses, they will be taken to Africa by Betty Peppo’s son, Dr. Roger Pacholka and his mission team
Continue collecting Campbell Product UPCs for Oesterlen Home in Springfield. (Please be sure and save only the square UPC symbol on the label.)



SCRIPTURES FOR

SUNDAYS IN MAY
May 6^th (6^th Sunday in Easter) May 13^th (7^th Sunday in Easter)

Acts 12:42-47 Acts 7:55-60

Psalm 23 Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

1 Peter 2:19-25 1 Peter 2:2-10

John 10:1-10 John 14:1-14
May 20^th (Pentecost Sunday) May 27^th (Holy Trinity Sunday)

Acts 17:22-31 Acts 1:6-14

Psalm 66:8-20 Psalm 68:1-10,32-35

1 Peter 3:13-22 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

John 14:15-21 John 17:1-11


ELECTION DAY TUESDAY, MAY 8^th

Elections are always important. The opportunity to vote is a precious gift many are denied. Even though these elections are not as highly publicized as the Fall elections, they are every bit as important for the issues involving our community. Use and enjoy the gift of citizenship. VOTE!

Opportunities in the Community….

Pray for America - UNITY National Day of Prayer on Friday, May 3^rd, 7:00pm - a community event hosted by Xenia Nazarene Church, 1204 W. Second St.

The Xenia Hospitality Chorus presents "Ain't Love Grand" on Saturday, May 12^th, 7:30pm at First Church of Christ, 441 Ledbetter Rd. Featuring the Con Men as in "Conservatory of Music". Get tickets at https://xhc-aint-love-grand.eventbrite.com

Xenia Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, Friday, May 25^th, 7:30-9:00am, at the Xenia Community Center, 1265 W. Second St. Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased by calling John Sherer, 372-2204 or email: [e-mail] The Keynote Speaker is Kevin L. Sharrett, MD, Greene County Coroner. A free will offering will be donated to the Bridges of Hope.

Summer Camp Volunteers are needed at our Synod LOMO (Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, Ohio) camps. Some volunteer roles include...assist campers with special needs, Camp Chaplain, Camp Grandparent, discover leader, grounds and facilities, health care provider, kitchen, lifeguard, multimedia, program enrichment and van driver.

You can register online at lomocamps.org/ volunteer. For questions contact [e-mail] or call 800-431-5666.