Dear Family and Friends of First Lutheran January 2012 A.D.

Praise is awaiting You, O God in Zion. Psalm 65:1

There is nothing better that greets us in the new year than words of

faith to God from His people! Praise God indeed you Lutherans! Praise

Him in His holy house you dear Christians! The name and grace of Jesus

greets us again this year. And since we’re celebrating 65 years of God’s

faithfulness to First Lutheran (6 decades!) we indeed have much to remem-

ber and give thanks. Jesus separates us from all our sin from the past, so that we can look

back to the year that’s ended with joy and peace. And Jesus makes us bold, so that we face

the future with great hope. With the saving faith God has given us, we always have crosses

and troubles, and yet our life is so beautiful that we could not be happier. We lived in the

Lord in the year that has ended. We’ve entered in Jesus’ name, with His saving love,

preached, read, sung, prayed, poured and placed in our mouths, tucked in our hearts, as we

begin the New Year. Could anything better meet us in the morning of our life than Jesus with

His saving name in Holy Baptism? Could anything better greet us the first month of this year

than the promises of Jesus to give us forgiveness, life and peace? Can we wish for any

greater Guest to come celebrate 65 years with the family of First Lutheran than Jesus? Or

would we want anyone else at our side, when our last year comes, than to die in Jesus’ name?

The merciful God has given us His Son as Saviour and has let Him take on Himself

the curse of the Law and all our sin. From the moment we were Baptized, we entered into

Christ’s friendship and left Satan’s kingdom, into life and out of death. What a reason to

praise God with His people in His house! What Jesus became for us and the entire world by

fulfilling all righteousness is ours. Jesus is the heart of God’s saving grace and lives in the

middle of everything we say, think, feel, do and love. Jesus is your Saviour, that is, He has

paid in full for your sin, closed the door to hell, crushed the devil’s head and opened Heaven

for you. This He did with His life, death, resurrection and glorious ascension. God has picked

us out of the devil’s camp and our own solitary prisons and given us Himself and each other

as family surrounded by His fellowship of grace. This He did by Baptism. He keeps you safe

from the threat of punishment every minute, gives you His fresh grace and innocence every

day, lives at the right hand of the Father and intercedes for you 24/7, lifts up your soul with

His Gospel and nourishes your faith with His Body and Blood. These are the reasons our

praise is given to God in Zion (Church). The One Who was dead is alive forever, your King

and God, your Prince of peace and Life and Saviour, your Shepherd and Guardian of your

soul, your Brother and Bridegroom, He is the One Who kept you safe in the faith throughout

the year now past and greets you in the new one! And because God keeps all His promises,

that means from the beginning of the year you have been united with Him and He with you

and will live with His redeeming, comforting, saving friendship all year long. The whole new

year rests on Jesus as your Saviour, and everything in your life has to serve for your salvation.

God will make sure of that. You will not be left alone for one day or one moment. Jesus will

be with you. And this entire year with Christ’s promises given and tucked inside your heart

you will live in holiness and patience, honoring Him, living under the cross and serving your

brothers and sisters in love. Yes, great God, this little band of believers at First Lutheran will

praise You in 2012 and hereafter in eternity. O what a happy new year this will be dear Lord,

for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

CROSS CURRENTS

Fir st Lutheran Church January/February 2012

Pastor

Rev. Kevin Kolander

Music Director

Gail Christiansen

CHURCH COUNCIL

President

Mike Haworth

Vice President

Leonard Cloer

Secretary

Mary Kenagy

Treasurer

Cheryl Cheek

Financial Secretary

Beverly Leckie

Education Director

Heather Haworth

Evangelism Director

Susan Kaneshiro

Stewardship Director

Ray Knight

Trustees

Maurice Kaneshiro

Tom McDermott

Jim Smith

Jesse Washington

Honorary Trustees

Frank Crow

David Dick

Rick Wellington

Elders

Bob Brown

Don Crow

Justin Morris

William Neebe

Michael Sunshine

Page 2

ATTENDANCE

January/February 2012

JANUARY

BIRTHDAYS

5 — Caroline Porter

7 — Ralph Purcha

8 — Maurine Hahn

11 — Brian Christensen

12 — Jim Rohrbach

16 — Michael Sunshine

17 — Jean Eilers

18 — Dave Anton

19 — Jordan DiBella

21 — David Brannon

22 — Madeline Dulmatch

22 — Ray Knight

22 — Jamie Wilson

23 — Judy Diehl

25 — Bill Schroeder

27 — Ron Romanek

28 — Zachary Anton

FEBRUARY

BIRTHDAYS

1 — Janis Fuhr

2 — Helene Peterson

4 — Kevin Kolander

4 — Daygin Porter

7 — Pat Kyle

8 — Gail Christensen

8 — Par Eide

9 — Ernie Alber

12 — Chris Bieber

13 — Irene Rieger

19 — Bud Leonhart

23 — Phyllis Werner

25 — Leah DiBella

25 — Adam Kolander

27 — Mollie Rosenbladt

28 — Helen Winchester

NOVEMBER 6 13 20 27

Worship 100 101 110 120

Communed 94 92

Bible Class 42 38 38 38

Sun. School 9 8 10 8

Offerings $3216. $2601. $3552. $2001.35.

THANKSGIVING EVE: Attendance Comm Offerings

71 61 $415.36

ADVENT November 30 Attendance Offerings

62 $1097.00

DECEMBER 4 11 18 25

Worship 90 104 122 68

Communed 87 101 42

Bible Class 36 33 37

Sun. School 10 * *

Offerings. 2873.01 $3556.77 $2305. $1291.

ADVENT 7 14

Worship 51 40

Offerings $901.25 $445.00

CHRISTMAS EVE 24TH

Worship — 130

Offerings — $2125.00 NEY YEARS EVE. .31ST Worship — 51

W E PRAY FOR O U R F AMI LY A ND F R I E ND S

Pray for Our Church Family & Loved Ones Dot Mericle; Bud Leon-

hart; Tom McCaleb (tests); Irene Rieger; Nancy Purcha (daughter

Kathy, husband Ralph); Lore Tucker (friend Marshall); Andrea Hall;

Madeline Dulmatch; Courtney Rosenbladt (sister Coleen); Sharon

Timms (husband Ken); Don & Kay Foster (daughter Terri); Eshetchu

Abateh (professor at Concordia Irvine needs liver transplant).

Loved Ones Recently Died Pat Crow (brother); Delores Zegestosky (sister);

Don Foster (brother); Courtney Rosenbladt (grandma). Work David Dick; Steve Byrnes; Ted Rosenbladt; Pat Kyle; John Klek; Meagan

Bergman (teaching/Kuwait); Seminarian Blaise Marin (adopted by the LWML); Brian

Christensen (college/MN).

Members and Loved Ones Serving in the Armed Forces Robert Steiner; Debbie

Bergman (nephew); Mary Kenagy (nephew Joshua); Emily & Austin Reinitz

(grandsons); Erla Cloer (grandson); Nancy Purcha (3 grandsons); Brenda Romanek

(brother); Alan & Helene Peterson (son Erick); Mary Gainey (grandson & great

nephew); Rick & Francine Wellington (grandson); Jean Eilers (grandson); Andrea

Hall (nephew); Don & Ruth Detviler (grandson); Chris Underwood (friend of the

Eilers family who was seriously wounded in Afghanistan).

Our Homebound Betty Leonhart; Ruby Atkinson; Clara Morgan; Helen Winchester;

Anna Mevis.

Caption describing picture or graphic.

CROSS CURRENTS

LUTHERAN WOMENS Missionary league

LMML CHRISTMAS PARTY 2011

A presentation by Nancy Purcha,

“History of our Christmas Tree”

with “Symbols of our Faith”

LWML QUILTING LADIES 1983

Making a Christmas gift for

Pastor Yount

Page 3

JANUARY

ANNIVERSARIES

28—Larry and Andrea Hall

FEBRUARY

ANNIVERSARIES

27—Jack & Madeline Dulmatch

OFFICIAL ACTS

TRANSFERS

BONNIE LINDSEY to

Good Shepherd, Menifee

October 16, 2011

BOB ARP from

Pilgrim Lutheran, Chula Vista

December 11, 2011

BAPTIZED

JAZMIN MARIE CHOLULA

Parents: Rachel & Jose Cholula

December 18, 2011

CHURCH CLEANING

SCHEDULE

JANUARY

Wilson and Brannon Families

First Lutheran found its start in early 1946 as a mission congregation when Pastor A.C.

Young of Grace Church in Corona surveyed the Lake Elsinore area to determine the feasi-

bility of starting a Lutheran congregation. And it was determined that there was a need for a

mission congregation. The first service was held at the Seventh Day Adventist church on

Kellogg St. with 28 people attending an evening service. Charter members of the church

were A. Kropel, Winston Holton, Andrew Stuhr, and Fred Rathke with P. Barnes, C. Bai-

ley, H. Kreiter, H.M. Brady, F.F. Koehler and G. F. Hansel joining soon after. The first

year was a year of organization.

The first voters’ meeting was held May 28, 1946 and officers were selected, a name for the

church, a constitution adopted and the Ladies Society was organized. Sunday School was

started and a confirmation class of seven children and eight adults was also started. The

church joined the English District of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and

other states in 1947 and remained until 1952 when it transferred to the Southern California

District of the Missouri Synod. Serving during this mission period were pastors from Co-

rona and Perris; Rev. Albert C. Young, Rev. A.H. Herkamp, Rev. Luther P.J. Steiner, Rev.

Ronald Kusel and Rev. Henry C. Elfman.

Pastor Knotek. Pastor Gredvig, Pastor Kusel Pastor Yount Pastor Christenson Pastor Kolander

The church remained in mission status until 1974 when Rev. Rodger Gedvig was installed

as the first “called minister” to the pulpit. Rev. Gedvig was succeeded by Rev. Robert

Yount who served until 1988, followed by Rev. James Knotek who served until 1995, Rev.

Scott Christenson from 1996-1997 and since September 1998, the Rev. Keven L. Kolander

has served the congregation.

Early services were held at the local Seventh Day Adventist Church at a rental charge of

$20 (later raised to $25.) In late 1946 and early 1947, the United States Government was

disposing of surplus buildings erected for wartime needs, and the Church purchased a build-

ing from Camp Haan, which was located near March Field, to convert to a church. In Octo-

ber of 1947 two lots and the building were purchased at our present location through contri-

butions and loans from various individuals and the District Extension Service. During the

next year and a half, the church was built and dedicated on February 28, 1949. In 1978 the

congregation began planning for a new church structure which was completed and dedi-

cated on March 1982. This was quite a challenge for a relatively small debt-free congrega-

tion. Under the Lord’s guidance, First Lutheran continued to grow leading to the need for a

larger Fellowship Hall which could accommodate the membership.

The expansion of the Fellowship Hall entered the planning phase in 1998, with construction

starting in January 2002. Major portion of the financing was provided by the generous con-

Page 4

FIRST LUTHERAN - LAKE ELSINORE

65 YEARS OF MINISTRY

January/February 2012

REFRESHMENTS

JANUARY

1st Andrea Hall

Marion Schmedake

Sharon Timms

8th Cheryl Cheek

Beverly Christensen

Delores Zegestosky

15th Shirely Brown

Erla Cloer

Christina Kolander

22nd Joline Terry

Lore Tucker

Jaime Wilson

29th Potluck

Frieda Bartsch

Sandra Brannon

Bonnie Harlow

FFEBRUARY

5th Sue Rohrbach

Francine Wellington

Susie Wysong

12th 65th Anniversary

Celebration

19th Ruth Detviler

Susan Kaneshiro

Ida Williams

26th Potluck

Mary Gainey

Maurine Hahn

Heather Haworth

CROSS CURRENTS Page 5

FLOWER SCHEDULE

JANUARY

1—

8—Maurine Hahn

In Memory of Guy

15—

22—Lore Tucker

Birthday Blessings for

Marshall, Peter, Richard

29—

FEBRUARY

5—

12—

19—

26—Kolander Family

For Adam’s 20th

Birthday

ONGOING MINISTRIES

E-Prayer—Pastor Kolander

H.O.P.E. Basket —1st & 3rd

Sunday—McCaleb’s, Gerry

Connellan & Delores

Zegestosky

Ladies Prayer Chain—

Bev Leckie

Newsletter—Ruth Detviler

Publicity—Maurine Hahn

Greeters—Contact person

Melody Anton

tributions of members and friends , with additional support through the Lutheran

Church Extension Fund. With the Lord’s blessing First Lutheran dedicated the

new facilities on November 24, 2002, and completed an upgrade of the kitchen

facilities in 2004 and looks forward to continued service and growth in the Lake

Elsinore community.

First Lutheran 1948

First Lutheran 1982

First Lutheran 2012

Thank you from Gail CHRISTENSEN

“I was reflecting the other day about people who are servants in our church - those

who quietly go about doing whatever the Lord's work is with a cheerful heart in

thankfulness for their blessings. There are so many, but there are two that I would

specifically like to thank this Christmas season for just "taking care of business."

They are Bob and Janis Fuhr. Bob sneaks in several times a year - always before

the major Festivals - and makes sure that our four pianos are in tune. What a gift he

has! Did you know that he rebuilds pianos? Ask Pastor sometime about the baby

grand in his living room. And, of course, Janis. Her thousands of hours in the prac-

tice room with her violin produced an amazingly talented musician. I often call her

on a Wednesday night when we're at choir practice and ask if she will play with us

on Sunday. She gladly says yes. I have the privilege of watching her as she plays

her instrument. Her face reflects that she is transcended to another place by the mu-

sic and for that gift we give God the glory.

There are so many, many others who have servant hearts in our congregation, those

who faithfully week after week show up for choir practice, and joyfully put up with

the director. To each of you I also would like to express my gratitude. The gifts

Christ freely gives are ours to use. Thank you, all, and a Blessed New Year!.”

600 West Sumner Avenue

Lake Elsinore, CA 9250

F ir st Lutheran

Church

Phone: (951) 674-2757

Web Page: www.firstluth.com

E-mail: pastor@firstluth.com

? That one of our organs was constructed by two members of First Lutheran? Retired

Lutheran minister Herbert Munderloh saw his dream materialize a when he and fel-

low First Lutheran member, Paul Rubke ,finished constructing a large recital organ

for our church, completing it in 1985. That organ was replaced with the one we now

have and it was dedicated on February 12, 1995.

? That the stained glass windows in the sanctuary were made by a church member,

Randi Edwards and her partner, Sherry McCullough? The windows adorn the church

walls in a sequential pattern that visually describes biblical events from Genesis to

Revelation. The windows were dedicated by Pastor Yount on the 42nd Anniversary

of the church.

? That one of our past pastors was referred to in a local newspaper as “The Minister on

a Motorcycle”? No it was not Pastor Kolander, it was Pastor Gredvig in 1972!

? That in the “80’s” First Lutheran had an active “Singles Club”?

? That in 1996 First Lutheran sponsored a Lake Elsinore soccer team called the “Lil

Angels”?

? That our church has maintained several scrapbooks over the years, recording in pic-

tures the history of our church? And that Anna Mevis is responsible for putting to-

gether many of those books? When researching those scrapbooks, I found a common

thread, First Lutheran loves to fellowship!!

FIRST LUTHERAN—FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP

BIBLE STUDIES

AT

FIRST LUTHERAN

Sunday 9:00—10:00AM

Praying the

Book of Psalms

Wednesday

10:30 AM—12:00 Noon

Book of Matthew

Friday

Chain the Cat

6:00 PM—Supper

6:30 PM—Prayers

7:00 PM—Bible Study

Page 6 January/February 2012

DID YOU KNOW? ? ?

Choir will start again on January 11th at 5:30. Beginning on

February 22nd, it will start at 4:30. Just a little note you don’t have to

be able to read music to join choir, you just have to be able to carry a

tune and we’ll help with the rest.

Have you checked out FLC’s homepage on the internet? Go to the internet and type

in www.firstluth.com, and you will find our web page. It is a great web page and has

a current calendar, Bible Study information, our Sunday sermons that you can

click on and hear, a history of our church, and our Cross Currents Newsletter is

posted every month. This month look for additional pictures from our past..

Lent begins on Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) February 22., Soup Supper starting at

6:00 PM and Vespers at 7:15 PM.

December 20, 2011

To the Sponsors, Donors, Supporters and Friends of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church (Port-au

-Prince, Haiti):

Dear Friends, Brothers and Sisters in the living God,

Brotherly greetings to you in the name of the incarnate Son and Savior of the world. Advent is a special mo-

ment for us Christians. It reminds us of God’s love for each one of us and also it reminds us of Jesus Second

Coming.

As I am thinking of God’s love for us all, I think also of your Christian love for the members of the Good

Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church. As I am praising God and rejoicing in Him for the blessings received,

I am thinking also of all the blessings you are sharing with us down here.

In the name of the members of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church at Delmas 75, Village of

Peace, Leogane and in my own name, I thank you so much for all the blessings you are sharing with us since

the day of our first acquaintance up to now.

In regard of all you have helped us accomplished through the past years, I wish you a blessed Christmas and a

Happy New Year! May God fill your hearts with joy and peace, may he keep you in His Word so that when

He comes soon to take us up above we will all be ready.

LETTER FROM PASTOR BERNARD

First Lutheran through the years

SUNDAY SCHOOL 1972

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

SUNDAY SCHOOL 1984

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 1983

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 1997

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

TEACHERS 1999

VETERANS DAY 1996

50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

1996

50TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER AT SIZZLERS 1996

GROUND BREAKING 2000

CHOIR 1985

GOOD FRIDAY 1998

FEBRUARY 2012

JANUARY 2012

FEBRUARY 2012

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 New Year's Day

1st Sunday after Christmas

9:00 AM SS/Bible Class

10:30 AM Worship

w/Communion

2

AA Meeting

3

10:00 AM LWML

4

10:30 AM

Bible Class

5 6 Epiphany

6:00 PM

Chain the Cat

7

8

Epiphany Sunday

9:00 AM SS/Bible Class

10:30 AM Worship Service

Elders Meeting after church E

9

AA Meeting

10 11

10:30 AM

Bible Class

5:30 PM

Choir Practice

7:00 PM

Church Council

12

7:00 PM Handbells

13

6:00 PM

Chain the Cat

14

15

Epiphany 2 Sunday

9:00 AM SS/Bible Class

10:30 AM Worship

w/Communion

16

AA Meeting

17 18

10:30 AM

Bible Class

5:30 PM

Choir Practice

19

7:00 PM Handbells

20

6:00 PM

Chain the Cat

21

22

Epiphany 3 Sunday

9:00 AM SS/Bible Class

10:30 AM Worship Service

23

AA Meeting

24 25

10:30 AM

Bible Class

5:30 PM

Choir Practice

26

7:00 PM Handbells

27

6:00 PM

Chain the Cat

28

29

Epiphany 4 Sunday

9:00 AM SS/Bible Class

10:30 AM Matins

Potluck Sunday

30

AA Meeting

31 1

10:30 AM Bible

Class

5:30 PM Choir

Practice

2

Groundhog Day

7:00 PM Handbells

3

6:00 PM Chain

the Cat

4

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

29

Epiphany 4 Sunday

Potluck Sunday

9:00 AM SS/Bible Class

10:30 AM Matins

30

AA Meeting

31 1

10:30 AM

Bible Class

5:30 PM

Choir Practice

2

Groundhog Day

7:00 PM

Handbells

3

6:00 PM

Chain the Cat

4

5

Epiphany 5 Sunday

9:00 AM SS/Bible Class

10:30 AM Worship

w/Communion

6

AA Meeting

7

10:00 AM

LWML

8

10:30 AM

Bible Class

5:30 PM

Choir Practice

7:00 PM

Church Council

9

7:00 PM

Handbells

10

6:00 PM

Chain the Cat

11

12 65th ANNIVERSARY

Epiphany 6 Sunday

9:00 AM SS/Bible Class

10:30 AM Worship Service

ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATION

13

AA Meeting

14

Valentine's

Day

15

10:30 AM

Bible Class

5:30 PM

Choir Practice

16

7:00 PM

Handbells

17 18

19

Transfiguration Sunday

9:00 AM SS/Bible Class

10:30 AM Worship

w/Communion

20

AA Meeting

Presidents' Day

21 22

ASH WEDNESDAY

4:30 PM

Choir Practice

6:00 PM

Soup Supper

7:15 PM Vespers

23

7:00 PM

Handbells

24

6:00 PM

Chain the Cat

25

26

First Sunday in Lent

9:00 AM SS/Bible Class

10:30 PM Matins

10:30 PM Potluck Sunday

27

AA Meeting

28 29

4:30 PM

Choir Practice

6:00 PM

Soup Supper

7:15 PM Vespers

1

7:00 PM Handbel

ls

2

6:00 PM Chain

the Cat

3

“I was glad when they said

unto me, Let us go into the house

of the LORD.” Psalm 122:1