August 2025
“God so loved the world …”
One of the best-known verses in Scripture begins this way, reminding us of God’s unmerited, unmitigated, unending love for all people and creation.* The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a church body committed to love. In a world where hate, division and judgment are as infectious and deadly as the plague, we believe that love — love rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus — is the cure.
We aren’t talking about the fleeting love of romance. We’re talking about love that never ends. Love that stands at the margins and in the shadows. Love that wraps its arms around those who are lost and broken. Love that seeks the dignity of every person on earth. Love that demands justice for all. Love that embraces even enemies. Love that forgives. Love that heals. Love that saves.
Jesus showed us the ultimate picture of love when he died on the cross for you, me and all creation. The ELCA is committed to reflecting God’s love with action.
Speaking of God’s love made real, that’s what we’re calling our commitment. GOD’S LOVE MADE REAL is shorthand for the ELCA’s vision statement and encompasses all the ways our congregations, synods and ministries are helping the world around us know the love of God in Jesus.
This work is about the ELCA’s part in a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation. The whole church, together, is called to share that grace and love in word and deed, because God’s love is real.
Here are a few among countless examples of how God’s love is being made real across our church:
a congregation’s “bold” decision to reconstruct a food pantry to help increase their capacity to serve more people
a Christmas-in-July celebration for a single mom and her five children experiencing homelessness
a Queer youth poetry open mic event
a partially gutted parsonage that was renovated to provide long-term housing for survivors of human trafficking
an ecumenical ministry group that developed a community center that feeds people with meals and spiritual connections
Our goal is to engage faithfully in God’s world. We know that this work happens in every part of our church and is woven into the fabric of who we are and who we are called to be.
Every day, through every part of this church — from the churchwide organization to our ministries abroad — we live that promise. Our continued commitment to supporting and serving you helps to make a difference in God's world. We hope that the grace and love of God is experienced by all our neighbors and siblings in Christ.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16 -reprinted from www.elca.org
MEMORIAL LUNCHEON
The family of Geraldine “Gerry” Hanson will be celebrating her life here at First on Friday, August 8 th at 12 noon. No service, but a light lunch will be served, and you are invited to come and see the family and share your memories of Gerry. Gerry passed away April 3 rd , 2024.
ECUMENICAL VBS IS COMING SOON!
It’s not too late to register your child, grandchildren or next-door neighbors’ kids for a week of VBS! Monday, August 4 th thru Friday the 8 th the church will be full of excited kids and adults all ready to start their “True North” adventure. A light meal will be served each night. Check the attached flyer for all the information!
PRAYER REQUEST for Linda Dow, Grace Haugen, Linda Muhlenbruch, all our home- bound members and those residing in local care centers.
REMINDER Worship time will switch on Sunday, September 7 th along with the start of another year of Sunday school and confirmation. Watch for more information in next month’s newsletter.
AUGUST VOLUNTEERS
SUPPLY ACOLYTES
Aug 3 – Corn Days worship @ 10
Aug 10 – Beth Hurt
Aug 17- Steve Schwendemann
Aug 24 – Pastor Mike Sherer Madi Muhlenbruch
Aug 31 – Pastor Mike Sherer
USHERS ALTAR GUILD
Craig Russell Judy Gorder
Jean Swanson Jeanne Russell
DEACON BREAD BAKER
Kim Brinkman Jeanette Wenzel
COMMUNION August 24 th
FLCW QUILTERS Aug 6 at 1:00 p.m.
FIRST COUNCIL MEETING Wednesday, August 13 th at 6:00 p.m. Please note this is the 2 nd Wednesday due to VBS
FREE COMMUNITY MEAL
Wednesday, August 20 th
Menu: Beefburgers, chips Salads & bars
Serving will be from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Bring a friend or two!
FIRST LUTHERAN COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 3, 2025
President, Larry Klatt, opened the meeting with 11 members present. A motion by Mary Anderson to approve of the agenda as presented was seconded by Mary Haugen. Motion carried.
Devotions: Larry led us in devotion.
President’s Report: Larry Klatt The church received a thank you from the Bonjour family and from the Dows Senior Citizen Center. Those thank you cards were passed around to the council members.
Secretary’s Report: Jeanne Russell
Jeanne read the minutes from the May 7th meeting. A motion by Kathy Thelke to accept the minutes as read was seconded by Bev Weidemann. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: Shelly Howard
Shelly told us that W&H sent a credit for the end of the year. CD’s were done for the year. A motion to approve of the report was made by Mary Haugen and seconded by Mary Anderson. Motion carried.
Deacon’s Report: Members are being visited and receiving communion on a regular
basis.
Trustee’s Report: Mary reported that weeding had been done around the Church. The lights outside the education door need to be looked at. There is a leak on one of the sinks in the kitchen and it has been looked at and will be fixed.
Stewardship Report: Larry Klatt - Nothing new to report
Old Business: The Church is still looking for a person to attend the Convention in Waverly on June 7th. Kathy Thelke cannot attend. Please contact Shelly as soon as possible, if interested in going.
New Business: Craig Russell brought to the Council’s attention the Dows Pool was in need of extra funding. Mary Anderson made a motion to donate the June Community Meal donations on June 18th to the pool. There was discussion on this, and the motion died for a second. Kathy Thelke made a motion to put out a canister at the next Community Meal to receive donations to go to the pool. David Ziesman seconded this motion. This idea will be discussed with the Community Meal organizers.
There are lights in the chapel that are out and need to be replaced. David Ziesman said that we could put in new LED lights and two new ceiling fans in that room which would help to cool it down since there is no AC in that area of the church. David made a motion to change out the ceiling lights and add two new fans in the chapel. This motion was seconded by Troy Srigley. Motion carried.
Shelly mentioned that we should do a plaque to recognize the donors who gave towards the new education wing door. Larry Klatt said he would look into doing that.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mary Anderson and seconded by David Ziesman. The meeting in August will be on the 13th due to VBS going on the first week.
We all closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Submitted by, Jeanne Russell Council Secretary
CALL COMMITTEE & FIRST COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 15, 2025
The Call Committee and First Council members met with Pastor Steve Brackett’s following our church service. The discussion was held to update us on possibilities for a Pastor. With Pastors retiring, Pastors going to bigger cities or specific locations or specific Congregations, there are very few available for rural congregations. There were only 7 candidates that interviewed for ministry in the NEIA Synod this year. Pastor Bracket’s did mention that someone was interested in some additional part-time ministry. She was going to be contacted by Tammy Klatt to set us a time to visit with her. Pastor Brackett’s said for us to pray, network and look at sharing with other congregations. The Synod does offer a 2 year Lay Ministry Training program that could help us in times of transition, visitation and the candidate would be trained as a “Synod Authorized Minister”.
We closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Submitted by, Jeanne Russell Council Secretary
FIRST LUTHERAN COUNCIL MEETING JULY 2, 2025
President Larry Klatt opened the meeting with 9 council members present. A motion to approve of the agenda as presented was made by Shelly Howard and seconded by Jean Swanson. Motion carried.
Devotions: Larry Klatt Larry read a prayer for peace to start the meeting.
President’s Report: Larry Klatt Information will be in the new business.
Secretary’s Report: Jeanne Russell
Jeanne read the minutes from the June 3rd meeting. A motion by Tammy Klatt to accept the minutes as read was seconded by Mary Anderson. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: Shelly Howard
Z & Z Glass was here to fix the 2 broken windows in the Sunday School area. They sent the bill and it has been paid. Shelly reported that she has paid for one child to attend Riverside Bible Camp this summer. The church received a donation of $1000 from CGD for using our building for the CGD Summer School program in June. A motion to approve of the Treasurer’s Report was made by Mary Anderson and econded by Kathy Thelke. Motion carried.
Deacon’s Report: Members who are in care centers and home-bound, are receiving visits from the Deacons monthly and getting communion.
Trustee’s Report: Mary Anderson weeded around the church and the parking lot. The other kitchen sink will be fixed soon.
Stewardship Report: Tammy & Larry Klatt – nothing new to report
New Business: The new elevator needed an adjustment and it was taken care of. When we do not have an acolyte for a service, the reader will do all 3 readings going forward.
Shelly said that the prepay LP contract was for 3000 gallons at $1.40 totaling $4494.00. We received a $505 credit earlier. The summer fill was done. A motion by Jean Swanson and seconded by Bev Weidemann to pay this bill, was carried.
Other New Business: A discussion was held on doing a donation to Corn Days from our church. Mary Anderson made a motion to donate $100 and that motion was seconded by Jean Swanson. Carried
Pastor Steve Bracketts sent a message to Tammy Klatt, Chairman of the Call Committee, that the person whose name was given as a person to contact, was no longer available.
Shelly Howard said that the church’s insurance premium was going up considerably this year. She was going to talk to Shannon concerning that large increase and see what we could do to lower it.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mary Anderson and seconded by Jean Swanson. Meeting adjourned and we closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Next meeting will be on August 13th due to VBS.
Submitted by, Jeanne Russell Council Secretary
A New Beginning: Carmen’s Journey to Safety and Self-Reliance
Carmen Ortiz was born in Charco, Nariño, Colombia. At 11, her family relocated to Buenaventura, where she finished high school and watched her father build a small business. Violence in the region forced the family to move again — this time to Bogotá, in search of safety and stability. In Bogotá, Carmen reconnected with a childhood friend who would become her life partner. Together, they launched Frutería, a fruit-selling business Carmen successfully operated for 17 years. During that time, she also became a mother to her son, Adiel Jesús. In 2023, violence once again disrupted their lives. Fearing for their safety, Carmen and Adiel fled to Ecuador and applied for asylum through the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Life in Ecuador was grueling.
“We were homeless. I had to sleep with my son under a bridge,” she recalls. “He got sick and had to be hospitalized.”
After more than a year, IOM helped process their immigration status and arranged travel to the U.S. In July 2024, they arrived in Houston — exhausted, hungry, and unsure of what came next. The guide assigned to help them was rarely available. Desperate for help and food, Carmen approached airline staff to ask about a delayed flight.
“We were so hungry. I just wanted to know when our flight would leave and instead, three employees brought us full meals. I started to cry. I had just arrived, and people were already helping me.”
Their flight to Des Moines departed at midnight and landed at 2 a.m., where they were welcomed by Chuck, a caseworker from LSI (Lutheran Services in Iowa). He brought them to a hotel, where Carmen remembers feeling overwhelmed.
“I was scared and confused. I remember thinking: Are we safe? Are we okay?”
Sixteen days later, LSI helped Carmen and Adiel move into their first apartment. From that point, life began to change. Carmen enrolled in English classes, received assistance with legal paperwork, healthcare, and food — and soon found two jobs: one with Des Moines Public Schools, and another at Sam’s Club.
“I’m incredibly grateful. LSI helped me with everything.”
But life without a car in a Midwestern winter was difficult. Carmen walked long distances through the snow, waited for buses, or spent $60 a week on rideshares, just to get to work and get her son to school. During a routine check-in, Carmen’s caseworker Shaima heard about these challenges and referred her to Duaa, an IDA Specialist at LSI. Duaa introduced her to the matched savings program, which helps participants purchase essential assets — like a car — through financial education and support.
“I’d wake up my son very early so we could catch the school bus from our old address. Then I’d rush to work and still be late.”
Carmen had already saved $2,000 on her own, knowing a car would be vital for her family's stability. Through LSI’s Individual Development Accounts program, she opened an account at Veridian Credit Union, completed budgeting and asset-specific classes, and received one-on-one coaching from Juan Lourido, Business Development Specialist at LSI. Juan helped her understand financing, credit, and how to identify reliable used cars online. With his help, Carmen purchased a safe, fuel-efficient 2015 Toyota Prius that fits her family’s needs and budget. “I never thought I could buy a car especially one that was safe and good quality. Now I take my son to school and go to work. That means everything to me.”
She also opened a secured $500 credit card to begin building her credit history.
“These classes helped me prepare for when income slows down in the summer. I feel independent now, especially with the car.”
Today, Carmen is preparing for her driving test, building a new life, and planning for the future. “When we left Colombia, we were running from threats and violence. Now I’m getting used to a new life, looking for opportunities to grow, maybe buy a house, and support my son’s education.” When asked to describe her journey in one word, she answers without hesitation:
“Apoyo” — Support.