August Messenger

Why is the church always asking for money?

The church does not exist to collect your money. While the church does need money to carry out its work, neither the church nor God wants money given grudgingly. God doesn’t beg for anything from us. Why should he? He already owns everything – even our money. It’s all a gift from him. And God wants to give us much more than he ever expects to receive. In fact, hasn’t God given us his most treasured possession? He gave his own Son, who willingly died that we might inherit all the riches of heaven.

So, why talk about money at all? Though God doesn’t demand anything in return for giving us his Son, he does appreciate our thanks. One way we thank God is by serving others with our money.

I recently read an email by Dave Liggett, the WELS director of Christian giving, that explained how our financial gifts help others. Here’s a portion:

One of the epistle lessons for the seventh Sunday of Pentecost, which is one of the Sundays in July this year, is taken from Galatians 6:1-10, 14-16. In this reading the apostle Paul encourages us “10) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” There are many ways we do good to our fellow human beings and fellow members of the family of God. We pray for them, watch out for them, and protect them.

One of the ways we do good to all people is with our money. When we pay our taxes we are providing for our elderly and poor, ensuring there is police and fire protection in our communities, and making sure that all of our fellow citizens have an opportunity for some form of education. When we give our money to our local congregation and other charities we are making sure they have adequate funds to do good to those in the areas they serve. When our congregations share a portion of their gift income with WELS, they are making sure WELS can do good to all people throughout the world, especially the family of believers.

What is some of the good that is done with the funds that come to WELS? World Missions is able to take the gospel to people in faraway places. Home Missions is able to make the most of the many opportunities they have to share the gospel with our fellow Americans. Parish Services makes it possible that our called workers can spend their time making calls on present and future members of the Lord’s church and still have great materials for Sunday school, vacation Bible school, Christian day school, early childhood school, prison ministry, and the list goes on. Ministerial Education recruits, trains, and sends out pastors, teachers and staff ministers who are well trained to preach, teach, and do many other things that assist a congregation in sharing the gospel with their community.

Summary of Council Meeting on July 16, 2007

Board of Member Ministry
Pastor Kleist, Tom Welch, and Don Gurgel are delegates to the Synod convention.  They will report convention highlights to the congregation on August 12.

Board of Evangelism
Mount Olive will once again have a booth at Octoberfest on September 29th.

Board of Finance
The Board decided that the audit would be postponed until 2008. The last audit revealed mostly only procedural issues that have since been corrected and this postponement will give the committee additional time to get the audit team in place to begin their work in early 2008.

Church Council
An Open Forum that will review God’s blessings to the congregation is scheduled be held between services on Sunday, August 12th.
The Pastors and Principle Doug Enter met with the Pastors and the Principle from Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Menomonee Falls at Mount Olive to discuss the parallels of the ministry efforts between the two congregations and schools.
           
Member Changes:

Transfer Out
Mrs. Melissa Esler to Bethany Lutheran, Appleton, WI
Miss Heather Treptow to St. Marcus Lutheran, Milwaukee
           
Released
Mrs Debbie Ratliff-Gendron
Miss Nicole Ratliff
Mr. Jason Schultz

The next Council Meeting will be held on August 20, 2007.

Respectfully submitted,

Special Voters’ Meeting Summary July 16, 2007

Teacher Call
Clay Funk presented a resolution on behalf of the Board of Education for the authority to place a call for a teacher to replace Mr. Rosenthal who resigned his call in June.  The Board requested the authority to extend a one-year call to a qualified candidate of the Board’s choice while the long-term needs of the school are analyzed.  The Board also requested the authority to continue the calling process until the vacancy if filled.  District President Rev. Douglas Engelbrecht will provide a list of qualified candidates to the Board for review.

A motion to accept the proposed resolution carried.

Other Business
Bob Johnson indicated that there were two old tables available for the taking as a result of the placement of new tables in the fellowship hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Building Together Up

In November, 2004, Mount Olive members pledged approximately $1.7 million to support the expansion of our church and school facilities.  As of July 16, 2007, $1.398 million has been received by those who made pledges 2.5 years ago.  We praise God for this outpouring of gifts!  We also pray that God will allow the majority of our members to fulfill the commitments that have made.  To date over a third of those who pledged have already met or exceeded their pledged amount.  To God be the glory!

In addition, $227,962 has been received in the form of matching gifts and non-pledged offerings.  These gifts, coupled with the gifts given prior to Building Together, have allowed us to direct $1.9 million toward the total building project cost of $2.681 million.  The balance due on our mortgage is now $770,000.  Every dollar given to Building Together will now help us pay off our mortgage and reduce the monthly interest payments we are currently making.  Please continue to remember this important project in your prayers and offerings.

Mount Olive Church Library News
Featured This Month

Adult:
Fiction: “Love’s Long Journey,” by Janette Oke.  Book #3 in the Love Comes Softly series.  After all their dreaming and planning, Missie and her beloved Willie are actually on the trail west in a covered wagon, leaving behind her also-beloved family.  Her memories are bittersweet as she faces the hardships of the westward trek – the rain, the mud, the impassable rivers, and even death.  Will their love for each other and faith in God survive the bewildering surprise at journey’s end?

Nonfiction: “Is God Always With Me?” by Crystal Bowman.  From the Little Blessings line of books.  Introduce your children to the idea that God is a part of their everyday lives.  A read-to-me book with beautiful illustrations and pleasant rhyming verses that convey the comforting truth that God is with us wherever we go, no matter what.  Ages 3 – 6

“Tell Me About Eternity,” by Joel Anderson.  With it’s unique dual story line, this book illustrates to children how life continues forever.  In two simultaneous events, a baby begins it’s life on earth and an old man enters his new home in heaven.  Ages 4 – 8.

For those that shop at Family Christian Stores (FCS), please help our church library grow:  How?  With filled Ministry Builder cards.  Every $5 that you spend at FCS is good for one stamp, to be placed inside your Ministry Builder card.  When your card is full (20 stamps), drop it into the card slot at the church library check out counter.  The church library can use each filled card for $5 off resources purchased at Family Christian Stores.

Return all materials to the “Book Return” slot at the check out counter.

ESL News!

Noticias de ESL!
Two ESL students and their families came to Mt. Olive's church picnic on June 24th.  The adults enjoyed the food and Bingo.  Their children enjoyed the outdoor games, candy, and popsicles.
    
The ESL class had its own picnic on July 1st at Bay Beach in Green Bay.  Six families, two students and the three volunteer helpers enjoyed the great weather and had fun on the mechanical rides.  Everyone enjoyed the potluck dinner and the fellowship.

Cradle Roll

We need EVERYONE'S help!!  The Mount Olive Cradle Roll Program has materials available to aid expectant parents in preparing for and beginning the spiritual training of their child--even before their child is born!  The earlier in the pregnancy that the parents receive the materials, the more useful and beneficial they are to both the parents and their child.  

We could use YOUR help in identifying who our expectant parents are as early in the pregnancy as possible.  Please let us know if you know of any Mount Olive member--now or at any time in the future--who is expecting a baby. 
Also, if YOU have just found out that you are expecting a baby, when you decide to share the news with family and friends, please let Mount Olive know as well.  If you are expecting and have known for a while, please let us know now, so that we can get the materials to you as soon as possible.  Call the church office (739-9194) or talk to one of the pastors. 

Women’s Fellowship Park Gatherings

Summer of 2007
10 a.m.

Come join us as we enjoy fellowship and our children make use of the Appleton playgrounds this summer. Our schedule is as follows:

Tues., August 14 — Memorial Park

Ladies Aid

Ladies Aid will meet on Wednesday, August 1st at Noon, in the Atrium. (If there is rain we will meet in the Teen Room).

Instead of our regular meeting, we will be gathering for our Annual Potluck Picnic. All members are reminded to bring a dish to pass.

Altar Guild

The Altar Guild purchased two wreaths with the Carol Galleske memorial monies. They are located in the Narthex.

WELS Apple Valley Food Pantry

The pantry collection is on  August  19th, the third Sunday of the month.

For August the items are most needed: cereal, pancake mix, syrup, canned meats, soups regular and chunky, hamburger helper, meal in a can, can vegetables, baked and pork & beans, spaghetti sauce, spaghetti noodles, rice (white & brown), pasta in a box, boxed or canned potatoes, macaroni & cheese, canned fruits, peanut butter, jam & jelly, snack crackers, cookies, frostings, pudding, jello, laundry soap, dish soap, shampoos, lotions, toothpaste, bar soap.

Financial Update - Month Ending June 2007

We’re pleased to report that at the end of June, General Fund revenues from all sources (including offerings, tuition and matching funds) are nearly 9% or $49,000 higher than our budget forecast.  Of this amount, $24,300 is from offerings.  Also encouraging to note is the fact that if revenues continue to come in at this higher than expected rate for the remainder of the year, it would help us to reach a balanced budget by December 31st. Keep in mind that the budget we passed for the year anticipated a deficit of nearly $100,000. What a blessing it would be to finish the year in the black!

A number of Mount Olive members continue to match their offerings either through their employer or through a fraternal benefits program. If you haven’t already done so, check and see if such a program is available to you.

At the end of June, expenses were tracking below budget by about $25,500. For the most part, this variance is a timing issue. We are expecting that by year end, expenses will be more in line with budget.

Actual goal distributions for 2007 are $82,920.  The goal distributions were trued up at the end of June to equal the budgeted amount.  This required a draw on our line of credit. If offerings continue to come in strong for the remainder of the summer, we should be able to repay the loan soon.

FVL Report to the Federation 2007

FACULTY/STAFF NEWS: 
We extend our thanks to Ms. Julie Miller,  who will be leaving her Communication’s Assistant  position as she completes her art education degree and pursues a teaching position in that area.  We wish her the Lord’s blessings as she begins her new career.  We plan to hire Julie’s replacement sometime in July.

OTHER SCHOOL NEWS: 
More than $275,000 in financial aid was granted to 130 students, representing 105 different families. Requests for aid continue to come in, and gifts for this purpose are always appreciated.  If you are able, please consider a gift to assist this effort.

FINANCIAL UPDATE: 
Great news regarding the Federation operational commitment!  The 39 Federation congregations collectively exceeded their goal of $802,000 for the fiscal year.  June’s total was a strong $109,000, resulting in a total of $822, 795 for the fiscal year.  FVL is grateful that the congregations have exceeded their commitment total, which results in a balanced budget, and may allow us to “carry over” some surplus for next year.  We thank all of your for your efforts and give God the glory!

Growing In Grace receipts for the month of June totaled $63,098.  The total for the fiscal year was $545,368, which exceeded the $500,000 goal!  We are thankful that so many donors and churches continue to faithfully support this debt retirement effort, which is “on track” to retire the building debt no later than 2020, or three years ahead of the original goal.  Give thanks to the Lord – He is good.