FLC Weekend Announcements

Worship Times:

Saturday: 5pm

Sunday: 8:15am & 10:15am

Wednesday: 6:15pm

All Worship Services are Live Streamed on Facebook Live.

https://www.facebook.com/

FLCBlair/

Office Hours

Monday-Thursday: 8:30am-4:30pm

Fridays: 8:30am-3:00pm

Phone Number

402-426-4073

Pastor Glen's focus for his message for

this upcoming weekend:

Who is in charge here? Sometimes it seems like life is just random, and our need to impose order on life is overwhelming. That’s exactly when we get it wrong. Because the order of faith is exactly the opposite of the order in which we think things should be. What we think is important (us!) is not. What we think matters turns out to be mostly so much hot air and empty promises. We say we will live out faith in our lives, but in the end we simply don’t go where we are called to go. Because we don’t see the ways of God who calls us to reverse the order, to empty ourselves out, to embody the promise of salvation in fear and trembling rather than arrogance and pride. The curse of our faithlessness is a life without meaning.

Special Event for Seniors

You are invited to a Special Event sponsored by the FLC Care Ministry. Senior Solutions is a program of the Memorial Community Hospital and Health System that serves our community by helping seniors cope with the changes of life often associated with aging. Their programs aid seniors dealing with a variety of problems and provide support to those who love and care for them. If you are facing difficulties in your life or if you are caring for someone who is, join us on Thursday, October 19^th at 10:00 am. You will find the time very informative and helpful! Refreshments will be provided.

Pastor Glen Celebrates Thirty Year in the Ministry

Pastor Glen Thomas, First Lutheran Church’s Transitional Minister, is being honored by the Nebraska Synod for his thirty-year anniversary of ordination. He will be recognized by the Synod on Monday evening, October 23rd during the Partners in Ministry Banquet to be held as part of the Fall Leadership Gathering at Younes Holiday Inn Conference Center in Kearney. 

We at First Lutheran will also be honoring Pastor Glen for this outstanding achievement. On Sunday, October 29th between the 8:15am service and the 10:15am service, the Church Council will be hosting a reception for Pastor Glen and his wife in the Fellowship Hall. We would like to invite all members of First Lutheran to come and have refreshments while honoring our Pastor for this

mile stone in his life.  

As our Transitional Minister, Pastor Glen has been on the job for eight months. During those months, he has been instrumental in helping First Lutheran move forward with our mission. He has been a rock for us during a very difficult time of transition. Please take this time to honor Pastor Glen by your presence at this reception.

If you are unable to attend, but would like to thank and recognize him, please consider sending letters or cards to him prior to the reception. He would certainly appreciate such a kindness.     

Voting on the Updates to the Constitution will be on October 14th, 15th, and 18th.

You can visit the link below to see the Updates to the Call Process.

Any recommendations by members of the congregation to add or eliminate the updates will be given to the church council for action at their October meeting. Voting on the updates to the Constitution will happen on October 14th, 15th and 18th. Because of this unique meeting format, there will be no further opportunity for motions or amendments at that time – this will be a simple YES or NO vote. Members who disapprove of the updates may, of course, vote against the updated constitution and it will be reconsidered at a later date.

You can see and review the proposed changes to the Constitution, MSP, and other updates regarding the call process. You can click the link below to

get all the information.

Printed copies of the Constitution are available on request.

https://firstlutheranblair.org/call-process/

Flu Shot Clinic on Sunday, October 15th at FLC!

2023 Blair CROP HUNGER WALK is coming up on Sunday, October 8th

Our 2023 BLAIR CROP HUNGER WALK sponsored by Church World Service will take place on Sunday, October 8, gathering at FLC around 12:30pm and leaving the church at 1:00pm.  We will be joined by First United Methodist Church. There will be both a 5k and 3k route, and we will return to FLC where we will enjoy some treats. Twenty-five percent of the Walk proceeds will be returned to our own Washington County Food Pantry. These flyers will also have a Donor Tracking Form on the back so that you can keep track of both your donors online and your "in person" contributions. Donations can be solicited through an online campaign or by asking your friends and family to make contributions with cash or checks made out to CWS with Blair Crop Hunger Walk on the memo line.

 To collect online you need to click on Register at https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2023/event/blairne. You may sign up as a solo walker or form a team. For online donations click on DONATE. You may contribute to a specific walker, team, or make a general donation. You may also give a contribution directly to a walker or leave a check in the church office. All funds collected should be brought with you and turned in on the day of the Walk. Representatives will be available to give you information and accept your donations after worship services at the CROP TABLE in the narthex after subsequent worship services between now and through October 8. If you need help with your registration or making a donation please contact one of the following and we can assist you: 

John Mark Nielsen: 402-427-4443 or Pastor Glen: 402-426-4073.

SAVE THE DATE! 

November 18, 2023, is the annual craft fair sponsored by the church women at First Lutheran. Vendors and shoppers are needed. Bring your Christmas wish list! For more information, contact

Rhonda McMurtry, 402-427-3341.

In the next several months it is our goal to educate the congregation on the

activities of the Committees at First Lutheran. We will plan to highlight the

activities of one of these committees each month. In doing this we will plan two separate activities for each committee. These include:

1. A presentation by the committee chair person or representative of the

committee to the Church Council regarding the committee’s activities. This

would include the goals of the committee, who makes up the committee,

what some of the activities of committee are, and how the Church Council

could assist the committee in their work.

2. Following the presentation to the Council, a short summary of the

committee’s activities will be included in the weekly E-Blasts sent to the

congregation.

The goal of this summary again will be to highlight the activities of the committee and hopefully increase the interest in the committees by the congregation and possibly help In the recruitment of the members to the committees.

This month's report is from the Social Concerns Committee. Please click button below to view Social Concerns

Committee Report.

New Christ in Our Homes are here

Christ in Our Homes-If you would like a Christ in Our Homes daily devotional they are available at the Welcome Center in the Narthex and also on the usher table outside of the LIFE Center for October, November, and December. The Christ in Our Homes is a book that has a daily devotional to read and pray. Please stop by and pick one up if you would like or if you need one delivered please call the church office at (402) 426-4073.

Please add your prayer to our "Prayer Tree"!!

Stop in the Narthex and write your prayer on a leaf. As a community at FLC, we will "leaf" all our prayers to God.

W.O.W. Meal is back on Wednesdays!

Rushed on Wednesdays? 

Let us do the cooking!

Join us for the W.O.W. Meal

in the Fellowship Hall from 5:30 pm – 6:15 pm

prior to Worship Lab.

** Free-will offering **

  Come at 5:30 to fuel your body and then

stay for Worship Lab at 6:15

to feed your soul.

Advanced Planning Workshop at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home

Choir News

Could the Spirit be calling you to add your voice to the choir?

If so, we can promise with great certainty:

You will feel welcome, comfortable, and involved 

The choir began rehearsals on Tuesday, September 5th at 6:30 pm in the choir room (take the elevator to the second floor and turn left).

Regular attendance is encouraged but don't be discouraged if you can't make it each week.

You are welcome to join as often as you can.

For more information and questions, contact Vince at VKrysl@firstlutheranblair.org

Come, join us in making a joyful noise!

NEEDED!! MID WEEK MEAL DELIVERY DRIVERS!!

Could you give one hour per month and deliver our Mid Week Meal to our neighbors in Blair?

We have added another route to our list, and we need more help in order to spread the work among more people.

Contact Erika if you could deliver one hour/month on a Wednesday around 5:15 or 5:30pm.

Social Concerns Committee:

Thank you to all who are bringing garden produce, flowers, or baked goods to our SUMMER GARDEN MARKET.  Products may be brought to the church and placed on the Garden Cart any time the church is open--preferably prior to 3:00 P.M. on Fridays and between 4:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. on Saturdays. This provides us "non-gardeners" a great opportunity to buy some home grown produce! All proceeds will go to ELCA WORLD HUNGER.  Let us pay generously for what we buy so that others may be fed! 

GOD'S WORK/OUR HANDS is a program that has been taking place throughout the entire ELCA for the last nine years during the month of September.  This year we at FLC are encouraged to do "random acts of kindness" for others throughout the month. Following your "act of kindness" we invite you to take a heart shaped stickie note from the rolling chalk board located in the narthex and describe the kindness you have done and stick it on the rolling chalk board. You may add your name if you wish, but names are optional. Also at the rolling chalk board you will find "kindness stickers" and we invite you to wear one to show your support for this program. We encourage everyone to do and post at least one random act of kindness during the month of September, and hope that many of us will do these acts often. If you wish, you may submit a photo of the act and either place it on the rolling chalkboard or post it on the FLC Facebook page. You will receive a suggestion sheet of possible random acts of kindness at the worship services on Wednesday night September 6, Saturday evening September 9, and Sunday September 10.  

Here are a few quotes from a letter FLC recently received from Daniel Rift, Director of ELCA WORLD HUNGER and LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE FUND. "Congregations such as yours play a critical role in making it possible to support neighbors around the globe who experience the effects of hunger and poverty and support them for the long haul. . . With economic uncertainty impacting so many, we are also experiencing a reduction in the donations we count on to make the critical work of ELCA WORLD HUNGER happen. If you are in a position to do so we are asking you to give as generously as you can today. A gift of any size makes a difference for families facing hunger and poverty. Even during times of crisis we have an opportunity to reflect Christ's light to the world in hope and love." Gifts to either ELCA WORLD HUNGER or LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE FUND can be mailed to 8765 Higgins Road - Chicago IL 60631-4101. 

Women's Bible Study

The Friday Morning Women’s Bible Study will begin Season 2 of the series “The Chosen”. This study will combine the movie with eight sessions in a study guide. This Bible study meets on Friday mornings from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the Ark, which is in the lower level of First Lutheran. If interested in coming to this Bible study, contact Susie Pinquoch at (402) 426-8182 or spinquoch@gpcom.net.

Lutheran Disaster Relief Donations for Hawaii

If you would like to make a donation to help victims of the wildfires in Hawaii, one of the best options is Lutheran Disaster Relief. Every dollar goes directly to aid victims, and LDS is already there and will be there long after other relief agencies leave. Go to elca.org and click on the banner to Give Now to Wildfire Relief. You an also put a check in the offering at church and we can forward

it through the synod.

WE NEED COOKIES/BARS

FOR OCTOBER!

We are needing cookies for October!

Please help if you can!

The Mid Week Meal needs your help.

We serve 240 people EACH WEEK.  That's 20 dozen cookies/bars EACH WEEK.

Please sign up to provide a treat for these folks!! We are especially in need in October!

Signup here or call Erika

(402-533-0918):  https://signup.com/go/hfewWuF

Communion Update:

Thank you for helping with this accommodation for Pastor Glen: because it is difficult for Pastor to bring communion to members in the pews, if you find it physically difficult to come forward during communion, we invite you to pick up the communion elements as you come into the Sanctuary and receive them during the communion liturgy when the Pastor indicates.

Pastor Glen's contact information

Pastor Glen's email is pastorglen@firstlutheranblair.org and his cell phone number is (402) 740-6395

if you need to contact him. 

Quick Update-Building Locked on the Weekend

Please see when the building will be open

Fridays - 8:30am-3:00pm

Saturdays - 4:00pm-7:00pm

Sundays - 8:00am-12:00 Noon

If you need to make arrangements to meet or come into the church please contact the church office at (402) 426-4073.  Thank you!

Wednesday, October

4th, 2023

We will be serving Ham & Rice Casserole, fruit, and dessert.

WE REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYERS

Please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers