Announcements

Our vision is to become a visible, outreaching community resource consisting of diverse, active, enthusiastic and supportive Christians of all ages, working together with dynamic leadership and ministering to the spiritual and social needs of the congregation and community.

Celebrating the love of Christ...
Growing in faith and love...
Serving God and our neighbor...
... First Evangelical Lutheran Church!

The following links are available:

1. Read Pastor Hilston's retirement letter to the congregation.
2. Listen to the audio of Pastor Hilston's retirement announcement to the congregation.
3. Read remarks to the congregation in response to Pastor Hilston's announcement of retirement by James E. Benson, Vice President of the Church Council.
4. Listen to the audio of remarks to the congregation in response to Pastor Hilston's announcement of retirement by James E. Benson, Vice President of the Church Council.
5. Listen to the audio of the congregation singing "Now Thank We All Our God" in honor of Pastor Hilston's ministry among us.

Prayers of the church are requested for:

The altar flowers on Sunday, August 17, 2008 are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Leo and Thelma Flanagan and Mildred Anderson, by their loving children Andy and Dottie Anderson.

Our Radio Ministry on Sunday, August 17, 2008 is in memory of Carl and Margery Pearson, and is made possible by their loving family.

The 9:00 am Sunday worship service is broadcast on WXBR, 1460 on the AM dial. You can also hear the broadcast on Brockton cable television channel 9, or by clicking on the WXBR website: www.1460wxbr.com. The streaming audio version on the web has a very clear sound and can be heard anywhere in the world using your computer.

The following persons have been appointed to the Call Committee by the Church Council:

The members of the Call Committee welcome your ideas, suggestions and recommendations regarding the future of First Evangelical Lutheran Church and the kind of pastor the congregation needs. You can use our online feedback form to send them your ideas.

1. Our financial goal for the new hymnals is $6,000.00. As of August 10, the current income for hymnals is $3,720.00.
2. Our budgeted income per week is $4,465.00. Last week our offering was $2,043.00.
3. Donations to the organ restoration fund: $7,100.00.

Sunday, August 10: 8:00 am service - 23; 9:00 am service - 48.

In the Fall of 2000, the ELCA Church Council authorized the development of a new primary worship resource for the next generation of American Lutherans. Thousands of people across the church were invited to contribute to the effort that produced Evangelical Lutheran Worship. The new worship book offers the best of our Lutheran heritage along with a rich assortment of new hymns and worship resources.

At the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 20, 2008, First Evangelical Lutheran Church voted to adopt Evangelical Lutheran Worship as its primary worship book. The new book is already in use at the 8:00 am Sunday service in Christ Chapel. The next step will be to provide enough copies for the 9:00 am service in the nave. In order to fill all the pew racks, we will need to purchase at least 300 hymnals! Hymnals will only be purchased as donations are received.

If you would like to donate the cost of one or more hymnals, an order form is available at the church office. Copies of Evangelical Lutheran Worship are $20 apiece. If purchased as a memorial a face plate will be placed on the inside front cover with the name(s) of those remembered or honored.

To date we have received $3,720 toward the new Evangelical Lutheran Worship book. Copies of the new "cranberry" book are now placed in the pew racks in the nave alongside the green LBW hymnals. Hymns will be listed for both ELW and LBW, so the congregation can use the new books during this time of transition.

Anyone who is interested in ordering a new cranberry hymnal for their own personal use, and would like to have it imprinted with a name on the cover, may pick up an Augsburg Fortress order form from the church office. The order form is also available online at www.augsburgfortress.org.

On August 5, 2007 the congregation passed the following resolutions unanimously:

That the Congregation authorize the expenditure of up to $300,000.00 for the sole purpose of the restoration, repair, and upgrading of the 1968 Schantz pipe organ and associated repairs, painting, etc. of the chancel area, East wall, organ chambers and choir loft areas and that funding for such project be taken from the accrued earnings of the Permanent Fund of First Evangelical Lutheran Church.

And:

Although the cost of this project is being funded by the income realized on gifts given by past generations, the members of the Congregation are encouraged to make special gifts to the organ restoration project as their gift to future generations.

In the spirit of the latter motion the Church Council on March 11, 2008 authorized the establishment of an Organ Restoration Fund. Members and Friends of the Congregation are encouraged to make gifts in honor or memory of loved ones to this fund to help offset the costs involved. A plaque will be placed appropriately on the organ or in the choir loft naming your memorial. If you wish to contribute to this fund please fill out the Organ Restoration Fund slip (available in the Church Office) and place it in the offering plate or leave it at the Church Office. Please make checks payable to First Evangelical Lutheran Church and note "Organ Fund".

We thank you for your generosity.

The following dates are available to the congregation for 2008 Radio Ministry Sponsorship. Please contact the church office for a form to fill out if you are interested in sponsoring a Sunday this year. The cost is $75.00 for 1/2 hour and $150.00 for a full hour sponsorship. Thank you!

It's Brockton After Dark time again. This year's program will offer FREE summer activities for youth ages 13-20 at various locations around Brockton. Brockton After Dark runs from June 30 to August 22 from 6-10:00 pm five nights a week. One of the sites will be at the Fruth Center, coordinated by the Boys and Girls Club of Brockton. Volunteers are needed. For more information, please contact Pastor Norris or call Kate Perry, Volunteer Coordinator.

The August opening for Food For Friends was busy as always. We served 42 families on Saturday, August 9. HarborOne Credit Union donated environmentally friendly grocery bags that were distributed on Saturday. Our next opening is Saturday, September 13.

The following items are needed in the pantry for the next opening:

• Cereal (all kinds)
• Cornmeal (bags)
• Fruit (all kinds)
• Fruit juices (all kinds)
• Peanut Butter
• Canned meats
• Creamed corn
• Sugar (2 lb bags)
• Flour (2 lb bags)
• Macaroni and cheese
• Canned pasta

These are items that the pantry has either run out of or is low on. However, any donations of non-perishable items are gratefully accepted. Thank you to all who help by donating food items and Shaw's receipts.

Bring a friend or bring your family! You can have some fun and help raise money for the food pantry at the same time. Food for Friends has reserved the tall ship Formidable to take First Lutheran members and friends on a 2 hour cruise of Boston Harbor. The date is Sunday September 14 at 1:00 PM. The price per person is $12.50, a considerable discount from the regular price of $25.00 per person charged by the harbor cruise company. Your $12.50 will go directly to the food pantry as a donation.

Transportation and parking are not included in the ticket price, but if you are interested in going on this cruise we can try to match you up with someone who is driving in. Directions will be available in the office.

Anyone interested in sailing can contact Cheryl Ruby or Cathy Chaplic. If you're not sure how to reach us, our phone numbers are available through the church office. We need a minimum of 10 people to sign up for this harbor cruise. The deadline for sign up will be September 7.